This blog is a great example of the Universe stepping in and giving you what you need! My amazing mum Pam, who will be 90 in December, only gave up working a year ago. She finally has some time and has been working on her side of my family tree. My parents divorced back in the 70s when she was 40. I was 16 and my sister was 12. I adored my dad. He was a selfish, hedonistic man who…
(Part One) Something happened to me in London last week. On a hot Wednesday night in a beautiful church in the centre of the city. It was a culmination of an incredible six months. Months which have challenged and terrified me but have also brought me so much beauty and joy that at times they have taken my breath away. I was in London to finally meet one of my spiritual heroes, Michael Neill. I have spent many hours on…
This is Ruby Ruby is a Labrador. Loyal. Protective. She loves her humans unconditionally. She makes friends with strangers wherever she goes. She is fearless! Except when faced with a laminate floor. We have just been away for a few days in beautiful Northumberland. Our little cottage was small and beautifully formed. With laminate throughout. I opened the door to let the dogs in when we arrived. As usual Ruby was excited, keen to see what new adventure awaited her…
Whenever we used to go on holiday to Greece I would often spend the whole time we were there trying to pluck up the courage to step off the edge and into the water. Invariably on the last day I always managed it…but by the time we returned I would have to go through the whole process again. My head knows that I can swim, and that the water will catch me and return me to the surface. But my…
My Year of Connection During my recent period of ill health, I finally decided to give Audible a go. Taking advantage of an introductory offer, I signed up and started listening. I was hooked! I have burned through about 15 books: a combination of autobiographies, fiction, and self-help. I listen when I am resting, cooking, or doing some mundane task, one that allows me to lose myself in the words. Recently I have listened to two books that have both…
At some point in the early hours of Boxing Day I gave up. Propped upright; unable to sleep; coughing incessantly. A sense of despair began to overwhelm me. Then outside in the corridor I heard the two Chinese nurses chirruping gently to each other in their shared language. It took me out of the misery of the moment and reminded me that outside of the little acute ward where I was incarcerated ‘normal’ life was still going on. And whatever…
Do you remember when I swam the channel? OK – so I did it in my local pool between February and May in 2019. But with your help I raised over £1.500 for Diabetes UK. At the end of it I was fitter and stronger than I had been for many years. Then in January 2020, before we even knew what was coming, I was very ill for three weeks. Although I was not diagnosed, I know now that it…