Of Not Much At All

Yesterday was fun, but exhausting.  I took Spud and his cousins for a long walk along the Trans-Pennine Trail which, I recently discovered, crosses our path not five minutes from here.  Another of the unexpected benefits of becoming a dog owner: bored with the same daily walk, I try new directions and discover places I [...]

He’s A Little Punk Sometimes

Spud went out in a mood every morning last week: one day he couldn’t find a book he needed to do his homework in the library; another day, he was cross because I reminded him of the time at 7:30, 7:40 and 7:45, and he knows when the bus comes and doesn’t need to leave [...]

Let Them Eat Cake

I’m having a fabulous day. Much better than yesterday, which was marred by the news that I have to have a wisdom tooth cut out. Without going into details that will put you off your food (because I know you are reading this in your lunch break and not on work’s time), it is causing [...]

Autumn Is On Its Way

Sometimes Even Nature Can’t Fight Nature
Let the wind blow where
it may: today, it was up
a pigeon’s backside
in the tree outside,
knocking him off his screeching
mate. I swear they sighed.
I think autumn started in June this year. We have had relentless grey skies, rain and windy days and no summer to speak of (again). This [...]

My Name Is Tilly Bud, And I Am A Housewife

I woke up in the middle of last night with the thought in my head that I made a mistake in my post ‘Sadderdays’ (September 12). I wrote: ‘I don’t go out to work.’ That’s not strictly true in any sense. What I should have said was, ‘I don’t go out for [...]

Sports Bored

Spud is back at school and rugby season has started. He and the Hub were out by nine this morning, taking Tory Boy along for the ride. TB has a chequered history in sports: from playing table tennis after school with his games teacher because he was the only one to turn up [...]

Hot Cross Spud

It is Spud’s first day back at school. I had intended to take a photograph for you, but the best laid plans of mousey women and all that…. Every morning before school is a drama with Spud, and has been since he started formal education. When he was small it could have [...]