When I first read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain, I found myself nodding along in agreement. I breathed a sigh of relief as so many things clicked into place. I saw parts of my life flashing before me and I was ecstatic that someone else actually understood the workings of my brain. For many years, I struggled with parts of my personality (I still do if I’m honest), but at…
As I found myself typing the words into Google, I knew I shouldn’t be doing it. My whole body was screaming no – but I couldn’t help myself – I had to. I’d first read about it last year. I’d seen the images, signed the petition and shared it across social media. But if I was going to write about it, I felt like I needed to know more. Photo credit: Google Images I hesitated before allowing my finger to…
I have a love-hate relationship with meditation. Well, perhaps hate is a strong word. Maybe it’s more of a love/can’t be arsed attitude with it. Even though I know I feel so much better when I’m regular with my practice, sometimes I convince myself I don’t have time. But as the old Zen proverb goes: ‘You should sit in meditation for twenty minutes every day — unless you’re too busy. Then you should sit for an hour’ Although, I often crave…
If you’re a regular reader, you’ll know that in November 2016 I moved into a 1950s bungalow that needed completely renovating. It was the perfect project Ian and I had been looking for – or so we thought. We’d always wanted to renovate a house, but talking about it and actually doing it, are two very different things. And as the months pass by, we’ve both realised that it’s not really for us. Not the renovation part – but the…
Walking up the windy road of Skelghyll Lane I snuggled down into my scarf, then zipped up my coat as far as it would go. I pulled my gloves over my fingers and then immediately reached into my pockets to find my mittens. Ian looked at me and shook his head. I laughed and gave him a high pitched ‘what?’ all the time struggling to get my mittens on over my gloves. It was the 2nd of January and we…
Having recently moved into a house that needs renovating – like, completely renovating – I feel compelled to share some wisdom on the subject. If ever you feel the urge to move into a property and live in it while doing it up, I have one word for you. Don’t. For as long as I can remember, I thought it would be fun to renovate a property. Growing up, I was addicted to changing rooms. I would watch in awe…
For as long as I can remember, I’d hated that house. I whined and moaned, showing general dissatisfaction for the home we’d lived in for 12 years. Rooms were left undecorated for over a decade and we argued over clutter, space and storage. But that’s not to say we never cared for it. It was always clean and I did my best to make Monica Geller proud. We built the garden from the ground up – literally. We did everything…
As I tentatively step into the second week of January, I find myself looking back over the past 12 months. I know some people like to reflect between Christmas and New Year, but for me, I like to see the old year out and welcome the new one in before I check my rear-view mirror. Personally, I found 2016 to be an uphill struggle and the hustle was hard. Given the opportunity, I would have run away about 15 times…
Earlier in the year I completed a content writing course. Run by Karen, owner of Untamed Writing, it contained all the information I needed to build my writing business. Along with tips on how to structure my website, figure out my prices and find my ideal clients, it also lit a fire under my ass and made me punch the air – Team America stylee. Unfortunately, life got in the way. Being busy with my printing business and preparing to…