Setting: a mid-western, large country town. Karen and Adam have left the kids with their Grandmother to escape for a nice lunch by themselves. The cafe they are at is the busiest in town, and is currently packed to the rafters.
Adam (squirming uncomfortably): I think I’m a bit overdressed.
[Adam is wearing his usual attire of […]

Why is it after a night out at the pub; a perfectly modest occasion, I didn’t even drink, just had a few dances on the dance floor with a half dozen children; why have I woken up feeling like I’ve just been on a university orgy of drinking and tabledancing, of the likes I haven’t […]

Thanks to you all for your kind wishes yesterday, both in the comments and by private email.
I am afraid I don’t have anything more scintillating to add right now because my brain has gone on holidays too, as it always does, and all the work I brought with me has sat at the bottom of […]

One year ago today, I became a blogger. Come good and bad–there’s been a bit of both– I haven’t regretted the decision.
I’ve made friends with some fantastic people, discovered writers who I cannot do without a daily syntaxical-injection of, and had a modicum of success myself (how that happened, I don’t know!).
I want to thank […]

Well, after 8.5 hours in a car yesterday, we’re out here with Adam’s folk in the cold west. The kids behaved extremely well considering - but more on that later when I have a moment.
I may or may not be around over the next few days. I will try though, but if I’m not, stay […]

Recently, I escaped for a moment for a shower. Notice I said a moment, because within minutes I’d been tracked down by three individuals with heating-seeking capabilities, ever vigilant in case mum should ever get some time alone.
So, I’m standing there naked. Two children and husband are in front of me. Riley comes up and […]

A moving book; one I should pick up again now I’ve got children. James was a master in piqued subtlety.
What does the ‘what’ in What Maisie Knew mean? Very good question. Maisie is a small child, caught between the relationship breakdown of her parents. Very few writers would be able to lace a pronoun such […]