Family, Home & Garden, Lessons in Loss

Having a clear out

I am genetically not predisposed to letting go of stuff. I am biologically prone to keeping hold of things. Maybe it's nurture too. My mum and her mum both have houses full of many many bits and bobs. For my grandma, that's fair enough; she's been on her own since the mid-80s. However, my dad… Continue reading Having a clear out

Family, Food, Home & Garden, Making stuff

Sweet chestnuts

When I was a little girl, and indeed a teenager, my parents would buy sweet chestnuts on a stall at their town market. They'd roast them and then we'd burn our finger tips deshelling them. I've had, very occasionally, roast chestnuts from a street seller. But they've always been coated in sugar and way too… Continue reading Sweet chestnuts

Home & Garden, Making stuff

Making stuff 21: gin and jam 2022

I think we've established by now that my only claim to any goddess-like levels of domesticity is my habit of making gin, jam, and chutney. Last year (2021) focus was on the gins, with a bit of hedgerow jelly for completeness. In 2020, I made a ridiculous 6 gins but just one jelly. The year… Continue reading Making stuff 21: gin and jam 2022

Family, Home & Garden, Self-care, Writing

I ought to be…

I ought to be blogging but I'm playing Lego Star Wars I ought to be working but I'm doing the laundry I ought to be reading for my leadership training but I'm absorbed in detectives I ought to be running but I'm working through lunch time I ought to be making dinner but I'm hugging… Continue reading I ought to be…

Nick Baker's Worm World
Children, Home & Garden, Review, Science, STEM

Review: Worm World

Small boy was very pleased to receive My Living World Worm World for his sixth birthday, back at the end of June 2021. He's always loved being in the garden and getting dirty, forever turning over plant pots to see what's lurking beneath. He was sticking his hands in the soil before he was one… Continue reading Review: Worm World