Grief is the price we pay for love. Queen Elizabeth II The 31st of January is no ordinary day for us. It is a day of memory and loss, grief and love. On this day, twenty years ago, our lives were changed forever. My husband Rob, the father of Dan and Bec, died suddenly from … Continue reading Twenty Years
grief
Not the Best of Times
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it … Continue reading Not the Best of Times
A Sadder Mothers’ Day This Year
This week our dear mother and grandmother, Joy, passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning with her lifelong partner and dearly loved husband, Hedley, by her side. It was only just Mothers’ Day last year that I wrote about her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. It seems sadly bittersweet then, that this Mothers’ Day … Continue reading A Sadder Mothers’ Day This Year
i4Give Week
“There is Freedom in Forgiveness” Two years ago a horrible and tragic accident took the lives of four children, Sienna, Antony and Angelina Abdullah, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, when a man, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, lost control of his vehicle and mounted the footpath. The tragic loss of four young … Continue reading i4Give Week
#BookSnapSunday – The Elegance of the Hedgehog
When something is bothering me, I seek refuge. No need to travel far; a trip to the realm of literary memory will suffice. For where can one find more noble distraction, more entertaining company, more delightful enchantment than in literature? If you like a fast-paced, action-packed plot, then this book is probably not for you. … Continue reading #BookSnapSunday – The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Hope in the Midst of Pain
The New Year is just around the corner and I imagine there are many of us who cannot wait to see the end of 2020. The Corona Virus has delivered a major hit to our communities and our way of life during this year and our New Year celebrations will be no different. Large gatherings … Continue reading Hope in the Midst of Pain
#BookSnapSunday – Leap
Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame they fearful symmetry? (William Blake 1794) From the striking cover, tigers have a presence in Myfanwy Jones’ novel Leap, shortlisted for the 2016 Miles Franklin Literary Award. Every week, on the same day, … Continue reading #BookSnapSunday – Leap
Bec Turns 21
We have just celebrated Bec's 21st birthday. It feels a little strange to have both children over the age of 21. I don't know where all the years went. One minute I had two small children and the next they are full grown adults. How did that happen? Twenty-firsts are becoming a thing of the … Continue reading Bec Turns 21
Family Time
In our hectic modern lifestyles, it can be hard to carve out spaces for quality family time. It often becomes a matter of minutes snatched here and there, in between ferrying children all over the place, never-ending domestic chores, and work or study related activity. Until one of those significant life events occur that draws … Continue reading Family Time
Wear Red for Valentines
Happy Valentines Day. A day for all things red and heart-shaped. A day for celebrating the mystery of love in all its shapes and forms. A day for flowers and chocolates, hugs and kisses, and walks down memory lane. Hearts are amazing things. They flip at the sight of the beloved. They pour out in times … Continue reading Wear Red for Valentines
Living on the Downs 