I believe it was Tolkien who wrote, “It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life“, and that is what I endeavour to do in my Small Things posts. Today’s post is particularly simple, as I return to the blog’s roots and share a straightforward gratitude list. As I write, there is illness and…
Author: Amy T
I am a writer, reader, adopter and teacher. I have started a new project called Feel Good Education and also write at Life Lived blog.
2025, Year of Fullness
2025 was a year in which spaces that had been made in our family life, by loss and letting go, were filled, gradually and wonderfully. Circumstances had led to a reduction of our friends; a narrowing of our social circle to the point of some feelings of isolation. 2025 brought the return of old friends…
12 Great Books
I was in a bookshop recently and, having got carried away, needed to buy a bag for life. I was asked to choose a slogan, and plumped for “Life is better with books”. As they put my purchases through the till, the cashiers discussed how inapplicable the slogan was to their own lives, and that…
Small Things, and Retreat
Recently, I feel a deep pull towards the idea of retreat. Perhaps it is a seasonal thing. In the summer, I wanted to explore and broaden my horizons. Now, in this darker, busier, colder time of year, I want to hunker down, to live ‘smaller’. I want to rest. I crave quiet and I long…
My Family and Other Animals
Our home is starting to feel like the Durrells’ place: full of eccentricity and animals. Like Gerald Durrell, I loved animals as a child. My parents signed me up for the RSPCA’s Animal Action magazine, which, as a true 90’s kid, I loved. I pored over the little quizzes, fact pages and letters. I entered…
When it is time to finish
He had been so happy playing with the ball, watching it bounce again and again, out in the Autumn sunshine. When the adult told him it was time to come inside, time for Circle Time, he found it hard to register her words fully. The ball was still there, big and bright and bouncy. He…
The Hill
I sat on the monument and leaned back. I felt the wind lifting my hair and cooling my face. There are few places where the birdsong is so bright and clear, and I listened. I watched the birds swooping and soaring over the fields. Autumn colours spread out before me. I looked out, across the…
September
Much like life, writing sometimes comes easily. At other times, both take a little more concentration. Putting together this post has been an example of the latter, and things have felt stilted. But reaching for the right words has always been important to me. Sitting down to scribble or type is how I feel my…
Wild and Precious
Last week was the end of the holidays. For me, it mostly consisted of errands, “DIY”, planning and sorting. Perimenopausal hormones were getting me down and the children’s school anxiety was steadily building. It was a transitional week, a return to work and focus and the normal demands of normal life. I listened to an…
What I’ve been Reading
Each summer, I know the holidays are coming to an end when I complete a row of Woman Alive’s book bingo. This year, this is the eclectic selection I ended up with: A book that has been translated into English: Before the Coffee gets Cold, Toshikazu Kawaguchi A book published around the time your parents…
Holiday Notes 3
The summer rolls on. There are leaves turning now; the blackberries are ripe; we are collecting apples, and I am switching gears. Now is the time for running errands, getting things done around the house and preparing for a new term at work. We are still enjoying plenty of rest and play, but the transition…
Holiday Notes 2
The holidays allow more time for dreamy days, adventures, talking more, playing more, and escaping from routine. Of course, in these times, at least as much as in other times, we are still facing our own challenges, edging around complicated feelings and finding our way in our relationships. In all the seasons, we do our…
Life Lived 