This week marked the first time I’ve been inside a church since lockdown. It was masks, no singing, handgel before/after communion and no shaking of hands during the Sign of the Peace (good – because I always hated that bit anyway. Enforced touching. Bleugh.) But Joy still abounds! For the vicar in particular – as […]
African Pride?
Discussing daughter’s forthcoming 16th birthday… ME: At last – I’ve thought of something to buy for your 16th!DAUGHTER: Yeah?ME: Yup. And I know you’re into using local artisans and producers and that for gifts. So I’ve found us one. They do fab, ‘individually inspired’ gifts.DAUGHTER: Cool. So…what’s the thinking?ME: They do T-shirts, hoodies. Ethically sourced […]
Return – or Run Away?
THE BIG RETURN TO SCHOOL DAY, POST LOCKDOWN 25 WEEKS OF NO SCHOOL. In kitchen with kids: ME: Oh no! I totally forgot. Your school said I was meant to sit and talk to you about your anxieties and fears – before you go back. SON: What about? Why? What’s happening? ME: (Ignoring him. He […]
Terrors and Fears
High school return post-lockdown and kids – and parents’ – fears: ME: I can totally relate to the fears that kids have right now. I spent an entire year – when I was about 10 – worrying whether I’d spontaneously combust. It’s frightening, How anxious you can become. So fast. HUSBAND: Was that the same […]
Effective Punishment
“Hey, Mum”, my daughter said. “We’ve just got, like 10 pages of guidance on returning to school. Most of it’s about nail varnish, trousers, new form allocations and parents-using-cars for drop-off-coz-they’re-scared-so-which-entrances n exits in case we catch the Pox on the way to school because if they don’t drive us there, we’ll be like – […]
Join me – LIVE (or … not)
If you wander over to my Writer in Residence page, you’ll find out more about my year-long residency with Kirklees Libraries.It’s all still a bit new and scary, but I’d absolutely love as many of you as possible to join me for my first online session this THURS 3 Sep at 11:00 GMT. The session […]
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