It was dawn on Christmas day. The puddles had turned to ice, the muddy swamps were frozen solid, and the grass was covered in a pretty layer of white frost. But instead of being tucked up in a warm bed, we were wrapped in extra layers, sitting atop our local hillfort, waiting for the sun … More A Different Christmas
It was the final day of the hardest week of my life. And I was exhausted. My heart was a-twitching, my lungs a-panting, and I felt sick. After seven days of pushing myself to the extreme, my body was screaming for rest. But I barely noticed. 🙂 Instead, I had the biggest smile on my … More The Longest Walk
It was late afternoon. In the middle of the Firth of Clyde. Phil was swimming in the sea, Lottie was sniffing the seaweed, and I was peering through the binoculars trying to spy on bobbing boats. The sun was shining, the waves were lapping, and there wasn’t a soul to be seen… just us, and … More A Memorable Arran Adventure
Last week I had a birthday. A big one! I am now the grand old age of forty! 😛 And although I can no longer describe myself as a ‘young’ lady, and will now have to tick the middle age box on official forms… I am beyond elated to be entering my fifth decade. It’s … More Reaching 40
It’s Thursday. In life before lockdown, it was just another evening. Maybe a game, maybe some cleaning, maybe catching up with the box. But for the past seventeen weeks, ever since the coronavirus forced us all to stay in to safe safe, Thursday has become ‘Theatre Night’! Drinks and snacks and rushing to get seated … More Life In Lockdown
For the past five months, a handmade poster has been blue-tacked to my front door. Throughout March and April and May and June and July, it has stood like a sentry on the threshold of my castle. Greeting visitors, thanking visitors, advising visitors we won’t be answering the door. We. Are. Shielding. The colours are … More The End Of Shielding
It was the last place on earth I wanted to be during a pandemic. The last place. After four months of shielding, of staying home, of seeing no one. After 16 weeks of washing my shopping, quarantining my mail, not answering the door. After 113 days of doing everything I could do to keep myself … More Going Into The Lion’s Den
It was early. The sun hadn’t yet broken through the hazy clouds. The grass was still damp from the overnight dew. The birds were in full chorus welcoming in the new day. And that is when we spotted them. Two little deer, just ahead of us in the field. Their ears pricked up and their … More An Illicit Adventure
The fridge is looking a little empty, the wine has run out and I’ve been craving ice cream all week. But even though Mr Tesco is delivering us some indulgent chocolate Haagan-Dazs later this afternoon… we’ll have to resist it for another couple of days. And it will have to be thoroughly washed in soapy … More Trying To Keep Safe
Fifty days ago I’d never used Zoom before. In fact I’d never heard of it. I’d also never bought flour from a local miller, never washed my lettuce in soapy water, and never quarantined my mail. Fifty days ago, I’d not met the kind stranger who delivered my medicines today, not made coconut milk from … More Finding A New Normal
