This week, I had to go away for work and stay in a hotel and, for about the first time in 18 months, I had a long hot bath. On my own. In absolute silence (apart from the bubbles fizzing as they melted away). For me, this is the stuff of dreams and because it is such a step removed from my normal reality, I...
Let the February health kick commence… I know it’s a bit late and it is the 7th, but I have had to polish off all the beer, gin, crisps and biscuits in order to remove temptation. I am now ready. We got the bikes out today, mine had a flat tyre, so I had to go out on foot – for those of you who think this was...
I was googling present ideas for inspiration for the boys and came across several posts about the 4 gift rule. It’s kind of the ‘thing’ this year for Christmas. You are supposed to get something to wear, something to read, something you want and something you need. I read lots of comments and articles about this and encounter lots of positivity, but, but, but,...
We have just moved house and have to hand back the keys to the old one at the end of this week. This means I have to clean. Mirrors, tiles, floors, sinks, everything. The problem is that I only ever have a major blitz when there’s someone coming to stay, because mess is quite comforting, because I am always ‘too busy’ to do more...
We have a friend who buys fabulous gifts – original, funny and useful (that’s you Mrs Walsh). Having finally unpacked all the boxes and bags which have been stowed in cupboards since we moved (ahem, only 7 1/2 months ago…), I re-discovered the ‘I’m as big as’ height chart and we all dutifully marked our current positions: Husband – height requirement for a sumo...
It is late and I have – as usual – left a whole load of things that need doing right til the last minute. So I am sitting up working and finishing things off while the rest of the family sleeps. The only thing that keeps me going during these late night/early morning sessions is tea and sugar based products. So, I find myself...
My youngest brother started Uni last week (everyone say Ahhh), and it got me reminicising about student life and all the things we used to do to. My lasting memories of Uni were over-drinking (mainly nasty coloured liquids on a Wednesday night- I did go to Loughborough after all); over-sleeping (missing half of my ten hours of lectures in a week was not unusual) and all the jobs...
It is my husband’s birthday. He is a great baker and loves cake. I love cake, but am not a great baker. It is mostly a good thing that we are able to do different things, apart from when it comes to birthdays. I refuse to buy him a cake and every year insist on torturing myself by attempting to make the cake myself. This becomes...
I firmly believe that it does not matter where you live, the tax office is designed to have the most complex set of systems and rules possible in order to dissuade you from paying the correct amount of tax, or indeed, any tax at all. We moved six months ago, I have been trying to register my paltry little business here for the last...
Last time my husband went away, I indulged in a 3 day romcom fest. Now, romcoms are not generally known for their Oscar-worthiness. They won’t challenge your mind or address current social and political issues, but they do make you feel good. The feeling of being in a warm, fluffy, pink cloud and knowing that everything is going to end happily is really re-assuring....
So.. the half marathon is over. I ran it all too – despite feeling like I was going to die at 18km – I knocked 7 minutes off my previous best time and I had awesome people shouting for me all along the course. I am not aching anymore and I have reverted to form, eating crisps and biscuits and spending more time in front of the screen...
I do not have a jetset lifestyle, but sometimes, I am lucky enough to be able to combine a bit of work with a bit of socialising and so 2 weeks ago, I set off on a 34 hour return business trip to the UK, which was to include more eating and drinking with friends than actual work. And there was a distinct lack...
When I started running again, I was aiming to lose weight. I have lost a bit, but the ever present lure of cake and beer continues to cause me some problems in that department. Instead I have lost a number of other things instead… a toenail. Yes, it hurt, apparently it is normal for long distance runners (it’s ok people, I am an athlete,...
I had this brilliant idea to adorn a friend’s garden with a crowd of gnomes for his 40th birthday. This would be done in the middle of the night, so that when he woke up, there they all were… he hates tat, typical Swede, all perfectly placed minimalism and practicality. Note to all my Swedish friends: I am only jealous… Unfortunately, because I am...