There is much excitement in my household at the moment as we prepare for this weekend's book launch. Harnessing my creative side, and that of my children (the girls in particular), we've been busy creating props and displays for the party. Called 'The Mystery of the...
Out with the old, in with the new. I don't know about you, but with the appearance of that big yellow thing in the sky and the lighter nights, I have more energy. That is, once I got over the loss of the hour following the clock changes (when did that start to be a...
Is it the fear of missing out that drives us to spend so much time on social media? I wonder about this, as I sit watching a group of teenage girls, supposedly hanging out together. Each of them is individually engrossed in something on the screens of their...
It looks as though testing in primary schools may be changing once again, with the abolition of SATS at Key Stage 1. Almost a year ago, my son was due to sit the new-style SATS tests and I was one of the thousands of parents who took part in the Kids Strike in...
Mindfulness is the practice of bringing one’s awareness to the present moment There is some evidence that mindfulness may be helpful in reducing anxiety, depression and stress, as well as improving wellbeing, attention, focus and cognitive skills. The Government are...
Like many children growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, our childhood was all about the outdoors I often talk to my children about the street where I grew up. It was a 1960’s-built cul-de-sac, not untypical of that era, lined on each side with matching semi-detached...
Diverse or niche, which is the best way for a freelance writer to go? I went to a marketing lecture for small business owners recently and came away wondering what it is I actually do. I don't have a niche: my writing covers many fields, from copywriting for other...
Baby X is a clever debut by Rebecca Ann Smith that asks so many questions about the ethics of modern science as it delves into the world of IVF. Dr Alex Mansfield, a pioneer in the world of reproductive research, known as IVG, has gestated a fetus in an artificial...
Follow my blog with Bloglovin We watched a film called Zootropolis last weekend. The animals live together in a civilised society until one day, some of them begin to turn savage. The protagonist (a bunny cop!) makes the connection that these savage animals are...
Why is it whenever I encounter someone with an inspiring attitude, nine times out of ten that person has suffered, or is suffering some adversity? The most positive people I know, understand what it is to feel loss, pain or suffering and yet you would never know. They...
There's been no post from me this year about new year's resolutions. I don't tend to do them anymore. This time last year I was ill, so despite a shaky start to the year, it's already been an improvement on the last one. There hasn't been much writing going on though....