In 1989, a very strident (and quite frankly, as mad as a mongoose) marxist lass at my college, told me that ‘you can’t be a feminist if you wear make-up, shave your arm-pits and dye your hair’. Of course, me being me, I felt compelled to waltz into the building each day, gurning my frosted […]
Just Listen To Yourself!
Things that I vowed that I would never to say to my own kids, that my own dear parents said to me and my brother, back in the 70’s and 80’s. Utterances that …. guess what? I have actually said MYSELF during the past fortnight. I know this, because after the first two ‘dawned on […]
Harassment? Or Hilarity.
An elderly chap named Gerry told me the other day; “Saw you out running, love. I beeped at you. But you didn’t notice. Blind as a bat, you are.” I gave him a look. “Just count yourself lucky,” I replied “That you didn’t get two fingers from me. Or one. Because that’s my standard response […]
A Blanket Descends.
(Howling from the kitchen) ME: (coming downstairs). Go on then. Is that happy howling? 12 yr old GIRL: Noooo Nooooooo! He’s got in. Trump. It’s Trump! My God! What is WRONG with these people? ME: (that’s dumbstruck silence) 8 yr old BOY: (coming downstairs) What? Trump got […]
Skimmed? Or Devoured.
As a life-long bookworm, it came a bit of a shock to me when I noticed that my 6 year old daughter would do anything not to read. Indeed, we soon noticed that the kid was hiding her school reading books down the back of the settee (which in my household is a remarkably risky […]
Listen Up. BBC at Best.
Me n’ mine have been asked to feature in the BBC’s ‘Listening Project’ on a few occasions. Thanks largely, to the matters that involve my family’s background, experiences, international work, kids and views on consumerism – and of course, our proclivities for nude rambling across the Trans-Pennine Trail … ok, ok – I’m joshing about […]