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BUBBLE & SQUEAK

BUBBLE & SQUEAK

It is very early on the last day of 2023, and I have crept out of bed and into the lounge that houses my office. The smaller of my Christmas trees, bedecked in red and gold, provides a gentle and benevolent light for me to reflect on a challenging year. And of course, to wonder what is in store in the New Year that is fast approaching. Last night I woke up at 1:15 am and struggled to get back…

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Mind the gap…

Mind the gap…

The day I first walked into The Corner House nearly 7 years ago I said to my husband Nigel, “Oh…this is a 3-Christmas Tree House!” This year there are three, one on each floor. This is the biggest. Approximately twelve feet tall, standing proudly in the corner of the dining room, which used to be the shop -this house was built in 1890 as a corner shop and remained that way until at least the 1970s. I have been collecting…

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My Mum…

My Mum…

I spent last week with my mum, back in Bishop’s Stortford. When I stepped onto the train to Tottenham Hale after she dropped me off on Friday morning, I felt a moment of blind panic and tears welled up. All week I had meant to take a picture of us together, but I forgot. Mum hates her picture being taken but it felt important. For the purpose of this blog, I have chosen my favourite picture of us together on…

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She…

She…

There is this woman I know. I see her sometimes and I admire her so much. I watch her going about her life; competent, confident, and caring.She is strong and brave. She is a loving wife, a tender mother, a devoted grandmother, and a compassionate friend. She laughs a lot, and her face reflects this. Laughter lines shape her face. But there are also deeper lines, deposited by other unspoken, painful experiences. Her face tells the story of her life….

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Remember to breathe…

Remember to breathe…

I have never been to the Grand Canyon. But I have often wondered what it would feel like to stand high up on the edge, gazing at the immense raw beauty laid out below. I imagine it must take your breath away, filling your body with a heady mixture of awe and fear. It would be one of those life affirming moments that stays with you forever. Last week I had such a moment. I was not standing on the…

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Insight…

Insight…

insight (definition) “…a clear, deep, and sometimes sudden understanding of a complicated problem or situation, or the ability to have such an understanding.” It’s been a week. It’s been a bit like watching a car crash in slow motion. A physical crash, the worst since March, which started on Saturday and peaked on Tuesday. Do not worry – I am on the mend. As usual my body took over, forcing me to take a little time out and get the…

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My Rebel Heart…

My Rebel Heart…

My Rebel Heart When I was young, I wanted to conform. I listened and observed. Learned what was expected of me. Obeyed the rules. But something inside me ached. Occasionally I followed my heart. Went wild, struck out, reached for something else. But the guilt and the shame that followed my transgressions were too hard to bear and left scars. As I grew older, I knew what was expected of me. It did not matter what I wanted; what I…

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Shame…

Shame…

Happy to say that although I felt awful after my eye jab yesterday, this morning my vision is back, and I feel a lot better. I am still incredibly grateful for the care I have received from the Macular unit at Westmoreland hospital over the last couple of years. From the team who do the eye tests, put the drops in, take the pictures, right through to the skilled injectors – I have experienced nothing but kindness and compassion. The…

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Balance…

Balance…

Saturday marks the Autumn Equinox. The moment in year when the Sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night are of equal length. The perfect balance of light and dark. From Sunday onwards we will begin our gradual descent into Winter which will be hastened by the dramatic clock change at the end of October. Nature is great at creating balance. Left to her own devices she creates a level playing field that benefits every participant. Creating symbiotic relationships that feed and…

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CarFest 2023…

CarFest 2023…

Well, there is always a post-CarFest blog, isn’t there? Yesterday I was sore, tired but still euphoric. Today my body is broken! But nothing can dull the euphoria. The CarFest Buddies Facebook group that I help admin is buzzing and many of us wish we were still down on Laverstoke Farm! This year I am more grateful than ever before. Back at Easter when more tickets went on sale, I was pretty sure that I was not going to be…

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