Blog

Box ticking

Poor Child 2. This week is the start of a new term at school – her very last. If it weren’t for the looming A2s, I bet she would be excited. Life is about to open up and reveal all its splendours. But first, she has to clamber over yet another hurdle and finish off …

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The most gripping radio broadcast since the Abdication

It’s a terrible thing to say, and I’m not a violent person, but it’s such a relief that Helen has finally stabbed Rob. Apologies if that’s ruined your enjoyment of the Archers Omnibus on Sunday, but come on, surely everyone knows what happened in the Blossom Cottage kitchen by now. Rob, who is now hovering …

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Easy come, easy go

I was having lunch in a nice cafe today with both my daughters – a rare pleasure these days since Child 1 is at uni and Child 2 is *supposed* to be too busy with revision to leave her desk for an instant – when a man on the next door table leant over and …

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Granny socks

I’ve had a lot of fun this week with socks. That’s not a misspelling. It’s been really cold in London, and I am now established in a pretty good writing routine, sitting in the kitchen every morning typing away for two hours. Unfortunately, I am sitting in a howling draught. To make this a little …

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Happy ever after

I rather love the idea of marrying yourself, which was all over the Guardian magazine on Saturday. There was a lovely glossy spread on a forty-something journalist getting all done up in a white dress and posing pensively amid gorgeous Japanese cherry blossoms (the company offering ‘me-weddings’ is Japanese), with no groom in sight. When …

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Stuff and nonsense

There was a great long article in the Guardian’s G2 section today about how we’re all buying less stuff. As a decluttering enthusiast (my nearest and dearest would say deranged fanatic) this sounded like terrific news. If it were true, then I would no longer be the only person I know who gets a thrill …

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Guys and Dolls

I went to see such a brilliant performance of Guys and Dolls on Monday night, it’s kept me going all week. It was at the Savoy Theatre, which is tucked away at the side of, and I suppose underneath, the Savoy Hotel. It’s really easy to get to for me, just a stroll from Charing …

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A Mother’s Reckoning

Did you hear the Woman’s Hour interview with Sue Klebold, the mother of Columbine killer Dylan Klebold, yesterday? She comes over – and clearly is – an intelligent, thoughtful woman, who had tried to do her best as a mother. It was very troubling, and I realised that I dearly wanted to blame her son’s …

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