Some of you may know that I enjoy cycling in my spare time. However, I might be known as a “fair weather” cyclist. The night before and again on the morning of a planned ride I study the weather forecast for the precipitation risk and wind speeds. Having satisfied myself that all looked set fair…

When my husband and I attended parent’s evenings at my elder son’s school, the teachers always said as we approached, “I don’t have to ask whose parents you are.” My son is the spitting image of his father, in fact it is only because one photo is in black and white and the other in…

One of the things I try and put off as long as possible is housework! I’m possibly not the only one. Eventually I can put it off no longer and out come the cleaning bottles, J-clothes and dusters. Of course, once I have knuckled down it doesn’t take too long and the house once more…

This thought was first published in 2021 “The best thing of all is God is with us.” These were the last words of John Wesley as he lay on his death bed. The reality of God’s presence was what he held onto in his final moments. We are fortunate to have the legacy of those…

Last week I accidentally cut the top of my thumb. This necessitated a trip to A&E and resulted with a very impressive bandage on the injured digit. I had plenty of time to reflect whilst waiting to be seen by a nurse in the Urgent Treatment Centre. (Actually the wait wasn’t excessively long). It was…

I have to admit that occasionally when I have been out late celebrating, the next day feels like an anticlimax. If we have been entertaining at home, the next morning often greets me with dirty dishes, and leftover food to clear away. The day after Easter Sunday greets the disciples feeling, “hungover” – Sunday had…

My husband was recently complaining how it was really hard to push the plunger down on our cafetière – only posh coffee in our house! So I set to, with a pair of pliers to dismantle it, only to discover layers of coffee sludge and calcium carbonate blocking the filters. After a good scrub, and…

Two weeks ago I mentioned my sister’s “significant” birthday. This last weekend we all celebrated together near where she lives in Chinnor, Oxfordshire. The following morning my husband and I walked along the Ridgeway Walk and up onto the top of the Chiltern Hills. We were nearing the end of our walk and as we…

Last week I was clearing brambles, of which there are many, from our garden. I managed to get a thorn in my finger. However I didn’t notice it until a few days later when my finger became rather sore, particularly when putting pressure on it. I looked at my finger which was becoming rather red…

This week my sister has a significant birthday and I was faced with the dilemma of what to get her. (I won’t let on what I decided on, in case she reads this!) Should it be something useful, or something funny? Should I ask her what she wants, or should I make it a surprise?…