Monthly Archives: August 2007

I am tired, tired, tired. Tired beyond the distant rigours of night-feeds and toddler tantrum time. The six, long weeks which polka-ed into view at the end if June, promising a temporary end to after-school clubs, to early morning arguments … Continue reading →

For the second time since I started blogging, I have reason to wish I were doing this anonymously. I suspect this is frustrating for you to read, as it hints at more interesting, perhaps salacious material hiding behind this “isn’t … Continue reading →

I have been tagged by Jolene to disclose what I like about blogging. At first I could think of more things I don’t like about it – the time it takes up, the obsession, the feeling that I should be … Continue reading →

The guinea pigs are getting the hang of personal freedom – especially Phoebe. Twice this summer she’s escaped, and was fast, furious and determined not to be caught. The first time Ben had taken them outside the front of the … Continue reading →

I had a grandparent moment this week. I was watching the news, and an item about the climate change protest at Heathrow came up. I listened to the chief spokesperson, who’s young, articulate and committed to the importance of their … Continue reading →

I’d assumed it was just tabloid journalists exaggerating, finding one or two examples and talking them up, to make a good story. But no. It’s true. People with sat nav in their cars believe the software rather than their own … Continue reading →

It was my fault. I should never have considered writing about the comparative merits of Europe’s hospital casualty departments. Now we’ve visited another one, with Hannah this time, and the news was bad. She has a greenstick fracture and an … Continue reading →

“Mummy, that man’s smoking,” says Ben, a sense of outrage tingeing his voice as we sit in a French bar. “He’s not allowed to do that.” It’s an illustration one of the many differences between our country and this, but … Continue reading →

I’m top aunt – at least for one of the children’s many cousins. When “the cousins” (so dubbed by Hannah four Christmases ago) came to stay I emerged from my normal role of boring old aunty Cathy to Aunty Cathy … Continue reading →

We’ve noticed a new phenomenon which we’ve dubbed – “the English tax”. It’s not something newly imposed by the Brits on unsuspecting Johnny Foreigners – it’s more of a “fleece the bloody Rosbiffs until they bugger off back across the … Continue reading →