Phil’s brother rang me on Wednesday. He had just tested positive for Covid. At the mere mention of the virus, my stomach dropped. Worry. He’s the first close person I know to have caught it. The news headlines have reached us. But then my head started whirring, and my heart started thumping. I thought back. … More The Wait
For the past seven weeks, I’ve been living in a storm. A lone tree flailing around during a dark monsoon. As Autumn has pummeled the world outside my window, with its battering winds and drowning rain and overcast skies… my own inner gale has mirrored it exactly and pummeled me. At times it has been … More A Perfect Storm
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
On the day the first UK case of Coronavirus was announced on the news, the birds moved in. A troop of tiny, chirping, colorful feathered creatures took roost in my head. My own personal town-criers. For the past month or so, they’ve been constant -unwanted- companions. Reminding me of what to worry about, who to … More The Chirping Birds
My phone beeps every time there is a breaking news story. Whereas once that noise signaled another Brexit saga to roll my eyes at… now that ding makes my stomach drop. Every. Single. Time. Butterflies swarm my tummy, I subconsciously hold my breath, and I brace myself to read the latest. ‘Cause these days the … More The Approaching Monster
The other evening Phil and I had a date night. In our own home. 🙂 We dressed to the nines, decorated the room with (battery operated! 😛 ) candles, and cooked a delicious Mexican feast. Later, over Chocolate Orange fudge cake, we started chatting about our year. Reflecting on 2019. Looking back.It’s become a bit … More Looking Back
Last month I had to move back to my childhood home. Back to my teenage bedroom, my Mum’s home-cooked dinners, my old village haunts. For two weeks I slept in my single bed, enveloped by brightly coloured walls, and surrounded by photos of my high school days. Meanwhile Phil remained back at our house alone.  No … More Moving Out
I arrived at Harefield in a bright mood. The sun was shining, I’d spotted ten Red Kites en-route, and had met a friend for lunch beforehand. Moreover with my recent positive test results suggesting stability, I was confident I wouldn’t need to be reactivated on the transplant list just yet. But four hours later, I … More Bursting My Bubble
At the weekend I turned my central heating on for the first time. I debated whether to take that significant step for a few hours, before eventually my shivering body and blue fingers convinced me it was time. It was the day. It couldn’t be put off any longer. So I did. And although it … More Saying Goodbye To My Superpowers
Today I woke up crying that I wasn’t a teacher.  It always surprises me when this happens. When I was first ill, I would regularly think about my former job, and pine for the life I’d lost. But then over time, I slowly accepted it, and moved on, and found happiness again in my new … More I Miss Being A Teacher
We Can Adjust The Sails 