“Spirituality is when the inside of things is bigger than the outside” – Richard Rohr.
I came across that quote while I was taking a look at the new website of St Saviour’s, Bridge of Allan where my brother is rector. Continue reading ““Spirituality” slows down blogging” →
I have always said that the hallmark of a good writer is one who is changed through her words.
The purpose of writing is to make a difference. If words don’t make a difference to the author, then why should they have an effect upon anybody else? Continue reading “I no longer weigh myself – how NHS local is changing my life” →
The problem with Christmas is that it’s based on the notion that having dinner with our extended families is a jolly good thing.
I wonder where that idea came from. Continue reading “Who put the word ‘merry’ next to ‘Christmas’?” →
Last time I blogged, I was asking for help.
My pride at my four-year-old son, Arch, felt so overwhelming I felt it should not be seen in public. I wondered how other parents handled (or concealed) this obscenely primitive emotion. Continue reading “Why I was not proud to see Arch being a star in his nativity play” →
There’s pride and there’s parental pride and they are two different things.
The pride I take in my own achievements, I can handle – after all my achievements aren’t all that great. Continue reading “Help parents help! My pride is obscene” →
PLEASURE.
That’s it, I’ve said it.
I was leading a workshop for Birmingham Book Festival last weekend called Finding Your Blogging Voice. One of the first things we did was brainstorm our reasons for blogging. Between us we said: Continue reading “The number one reason why I blog” →
There were tears, of course, when Arch had his first day at school – and they were all mine.
They started on Friday when I dropped him off at nursery for his last day there. I came home and wept those kind of from-the-belly tears that go on for a long time. Continue reading “First day at school” →
I’d love to take the credit for this poem but I can’t. My only credit is knowing the utterly brilliant Rosie Miles. Fans of Greenbelt Festival, read and enjoy.
If heaven (2) Continue reading “Greenbelt 10 – (heaven might be a racecourse full of people)” →
I get heartily sick of the challenge of raising a family being characterised in terms of work-life balance.
Who thought of that phrase? Continue reading “Work-life balance? That’s the least of it.” →
When I announced in my last post that I’d got a new business card – deputy site editor of NHS local – I made a mistake.
Do you know that feeling of having told a half-truth? It’s not about telling a lie. It’s about settling for less than the truth deserves, neglecting to tell the most important part of a story. Continue reading “I take it back (new business card)” →