I've hurt my knee - my previously "good" knee - to the extent that I'm now wearing a knee brace. My Osteopath suggested I get a proper one and, after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, I said I'd found one which was suitable for a torn lateral meniscus, adding: "even though my meniscus isn't... Continue Reading →

In in early autumn (fall) of last year, Himself and I made an attempt to have a week's leave together - this time one which wasn't interrupted by outside influences (his car, my work, our neighbour). The previous attempt had ended up being remarkably stressful, nearly resulting in my resignation and him having to purchase... Continue Reading →

In my family, we called the TV remote a tweekie - I suspect the word came from one of the sci-fi programmes my mother loved to watch. My ex's family called theirs a hoofer-doofer which I long believed was some form of regional anachronism, my ex's family having originated from the north of England in... Continue Reading →

Y'all know I love everything about Christmas - and music is a big part of that. I grew up with Christmas music rather than carols - mostly Rat Pack, 'cos that's what my parents liked. But I've come to love the more traditional stuff, and to abhor British favourites like Slade's Merry Christmas Everybody, Wing's... Continue Reading →

My family enjoyed an old Hollywood musical and, as we spent most of our Christmases growing up in warmer climes, we were particularly drawn to White Christmas, believing it to be how Christmas was meant to be - snow, cozy jumpers, open fires, log cabins, and pine trees. While we did have the traditional fare... Continue Reading →

This year has been a bit tricky, such that I considered skipping over my (now regular) Thanksgiving post as a result. But the reason I decided it was important to continue with it forms the first item on my list.... During a casual conversation with a coach friend, upon hearing things were tricky, she asked... Continue Reading →

My trusty workhorse desktop PC died last Friday morning... It's given me multiple years of good service, but has been slowing down in the past few months. I've considered whether it was time to replace it but - you know what it's like - it's a faff, an upheaval, a downright PITA in fact. Also... Continue Reading →

In 2016, I decided that as a self-proclaimed reader, it was time I celebrated my favourite season with Christmassy books and not just Christmassy films. That little experiment worked so well, I've continued it year-upon-year. In 2019, I expanded the experiment to include wintry reads - books which take place in the darker months of... Continue Reading →

Twelve years ago, when my father was diagnosed with two forms of dementia, my mother decided he would be cared for at home. But my Dad was a big man - 6' 4" and broad of build - while my mother is only 5' 2", so I moved in to help with his care. I... Continue Reading →

Ridden in a cable car?I rode the cable car from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island in NYC to have dinner with work friends, back when I travelled down the east coast of America some 40 years ago. Despite being so close to 24-hour-on-the-go Manhattan, Roosevelt Island was such an oasis of calm that the experience has stayed with... Continue Reading →