I have a weekend away booked for next week, to Leamington Spa. It’s a beautiful town in the Midlands that made it as a spa town in the early 19th Century when spa towns were *the* place to be. It’s a romantic little break, just Mr Hygge Jem and me, and we will spend our time wandering through the streets of Leamington, Stratford and Warwick, … Continue reading Five Words for August.
It’s the morning after the night before. Italy won the Euro2020 competition (I’m happy for Italy, of course I am. After failing to qualify for the last World Cup, coming back to win the next tournament shows a determination to succeed and a willingness to work for it) but England did so well to make it to the final. We had a young team, and … Continue reading This Isn’t The Summer I was Looking For.
2016 and the height of Great British Bake Off. My daughter’s favourite contestant was Candice Brown, a young, smiling Siren of a baker who always had immaculate lipstick on. Candice Brown made the headlines for winning that year and then, like many a famous woman in the public eye, faced headlines about every part of her life. Privacy? No way. Her engagement, marriage and subsequent … Continue reading Book Friday: Happy Cooking by Candice Brown (Easy uplifting meals and comforting treats)
It’s Friday, yeay! Even better, it’s the Friday before my birthday this Sunday!! I love being a May baby. It means that I can always guarantee a warm, sunny, dry day to hold a party on and so often May is actually the best month weather-wise in the UK. Calm, warm, wonderful weather….. okay. So not this year. I write this on the third (fourth?) … Continue reading Book Friday: Make Yourself at Home by Moorea Seal
The last few weeks have been lovely. I’ve consciously been on social media less, read less and done less than ever before. I’ve kept no to do list handy, planned no activities or thought ahead by no more than 24 hours a day. Even what we eat each evening is chosen from a variety of meats and ingredients bought in the weekly shop. And it … Continue reading Press Pause.
I’ve been enjoying myself this week reading up on ancient philosophies, specifically the Stoics. I know. Don’t ask. Philosophy (root words: philo meaning love and sophia meaning wisdom) is described by Wikipedia as the “study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about reason, existence, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved.” Or, as … Continue reading Lessons from the Porches of Antiquity
March 29th 2021 and England has taken another step towards freedom. A little less locked down. In England, from today, the rules are now that six people can meet outside, two households can get together inside, outdoor sports are allowed again and weddings can begin again, although they’re limited to only six attending. Time to crawl out of the cave and start blinking at sunlight … Continue reading I May Come Out of the Cave, but I’m NOT Leaving it For Good.
Today’s title is freely nicked from a hymn I remember singing in my school days. The chorus (which is the bit that has stuck with me forever, or at least 45 years whichever is longest) goes like this: Freely, freely You have received, Freely, freely give…. The hymn is actually about receiving God’s grace and forgiveness of sin. Whether you believe in God or not, … Continue reading Freely, Freely You Have Received…..
