Last weekend I took part in a cycling event in Oxfordshire. The intention was to cycle with my sister and her friend but at 9.30pm the night before my niece suddenly announced that she would like to join us. So, with zero training and a bike that was possibly OK we set off early the…

My son and his fiancee recently came to stay, bringing their 4 month old dog, Bill. “Mum, will you look after Bill whilst we go to a friend’s wedding, please?” How could I refuse? However, what he failed to tell us was that, looking after Bill meant him staying with us for nearly 4 whole…

Another of the highlights of my trip to Athens, (a previous TFTD mentioned the Museum of Cycladic Art), was watching the ceremonial changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. The guards change every hour throughout the day, and stand absolutely still in between times, staring straight ahead. Their dress and their…

How often do we step on a metaphorical banana skin? We  think everything is going smoothly and something “trips” us up? Or we think we have the solution and it turns out not to be so? We come up against a problem and rather than face up to it, we run in the opposite direction.…

I have recently returned from a short holiday in Athens – thoroughly recommended. We walked for miles and visited all the important ancient sites, including the Acropolis and the Parthenon. These were impressive places, steeped in history. But for me one of the highlights of the holiday was visiting the Museum of Cycladic Art. Apologies…

I don’t particularly like it when the wind is blowing at night. I lie in bed listening to watering cans clattering across the back yard, rubbish bins being blown over. I can see all my recycling rubbish being strewn across the neighbouring fields. I live in a sturdy house but it still feels like one…

Following on from my TFTD last week, but the time you are reading this, I will have hopefully completed the Ride Suffolk cycle ride. This cycle ride was previously called Suffolk Sunrise, and much as I enjoy an early morning pedal, getting up to start out at sunrise (5am) is not something I look forward…

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…