“Guess what we have at school today?” Suzie’s message comes through at 10.33am. “A real live reindeer :). Do you want to come say hello? You free at 1pm? Can get you in for a cuddle.” Ahhhhh love reindeer. Used to look after them at the zoo. They’re the only animal with a completely furry […]
“Hello,” I say answering the flat phone last night. “Hello my lovely,” Seb says. “I’ve made it back to my Mum’s house so…” “Oh good,” I say, chopping some broccoli for The Omelette and sweeping it into the frying pan. “Did you have a good weekend?” “Wonderful,” Seb says. “Such beautiful scenery. It was magical.” […]
“Thank you for coming to see me my lovely,” Seb says, pulling me towards him. Resting my face on his broad chest, closing my eyes, I breathe in his familiar scent. “Thank you for having me,” I say. All around us on this little station platform, student couples are saying goodbye to each other. On […]
“Scott Finebaum has just had his fifth daughter’s bat mitzvah. Funny – I didn’t realise that he had five daughters,” one elderly lady says to another. They’re in the front row and I’m in the one behind them. We’re waiting for the class to start: “Modern British Prime Ministers: 1900 -2015.” “That’s private insurance for […]
“Oh, Seb, hello,” my Dad says, answering the house phone. “Yes, here she is. Tanya – it’s Seb,” Dad says, passing the phone to me. “Hi darling,” I say. “How is Friday?” “Well we did the bird-ringing today,” Seb says. “Wow, how was it?” I say. “It was good: we caught the little birds in […]
Waking up with a start from my afternoon sleep, I switch my phone on. 7.09pm. It’s dark outside. Autumn has arrived. Argh. “Well you don’t seem to have done any unpacking,” the panther says, gazing at the two suitcases on the floor, stretching so that he takes up most of my bed. “I’ve hung my […]
“You go in there and help your father. You’re better at wine than I am,” Mum says, as we park at the warehouse. “I’ll stay in the car.” Pulling my raincoat on, I run after Dad, who’s striding towards the building. It’s raining. It’s been pouring non-stop all day. Inside, the wine warehouse has various […]
“When you wake up, let me know. You should have a bath, Mum xx.” Mum’s message comes through when I turn my phone on at 4.58pm today, after a failed attempt at an afternoon sleep. The parental room has a bath whereas my one doesn’t. Am going to disobey my mother and write this […]
“I have to write the blog,” I say to the parentals, on arrival at our hotel. It’s the little Art Deco establishment where we spent a night earlier in the week. “Don’t you want a bath? Or to change for dinner?” Mum says, gazing at my pink dress. Have been sleeping in it in the […]
“So, these two boys are both from the same police force,” the retired detective says, as he stands by their stable door, stroking the face of one of the horses. “One came here, and then two years later his friend arrived. They cantered up to each other and wrapped their necks around each other. If […]
Scars, Tears and Training Bras 