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…

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…

Small Things

It’s about time for a “Small Things” post. My Small Things posts are sweet, simple lists of the things I am grateful for, and I write them as much for myself as for anyone reading. Stopping to note some of the good things never fails to brighten my mood. The past few weekends, I have…

Lenny and the lost art of patience

Let me introduce you to Lenny, the leopard gecko. He’s the newest member of our family and, honestly, preparing for him, welcoming him and trying to take care of him has taken a huge amount of dedication, perseverance, and, above all, patience. First, we had to get a suitable home for him, full of suitable…

Small Things

Perhaps I will one day drive a camper van and go on road trips with my family. Maybe I will, at some point in my life, have a golden retriever to walk along the beach, before returning to my coastal cottage for a coffee. Perhaps I will one day achieve the dream of having an…

Writing Prompt: Freedom

When the furthest I can go is the local garage to buy milk, freedom is listening to my favourite music, putting the window down, and driving the extra minute to see the way the sun sparkles on the river. When those minutes in that car are limited, freedom is soaking in every moment, all the…

Dear 2025 (featuring a few of the books I read in 2024)

Dear 2025, Well, here you are, another year! The world carries on spinning and, frankly, it can all be rather dizzying. As you arrive, 2025, there’s a whole lot of madness going on. Good leaders are few and far between, and in almost every country, things are being allowed to happen that are troubling. This…