Today is International Women’s Day which got me thinking about the female protagonists who have inspired me over the years. Scarlett O’Hara has always been at the top of my list because, when the world she was raised to be part of is wiped out, and she is faced with either sinking into bitter povertyContinueContinue reading “Three Fictional Women Who Inspire Me”
Category Archives: Ramblings
What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
I doubt there’s a question a child learns to hate more, which is why I make a point of never asking it. Nothing stomps on your dreams and brings on any insecurities faster than a well-meaning adult trying to guide you as you navigate those early aspirations. I want to be a doctor – that’sContinueContinue reading “What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?”
Snow Days
Elsa is my favourite Disney princess. If you can have a favourite Disney princess at 47. She can make it snow. She’s fine with being along if it means she can finally be herself. I also agree with Mind the Flap that there’s a strong case for Elsa being autistic. But back to snow. SomeContinueContinue reading “Snow Days”
Comfort Books
No doubt this has been one of the most peculiar weeks I have lived through. It started with fear and ended in anger with a small respite in between. I think this week was like that for a lot of people. It had been my plan – and still is – to read some ofContinueContinue reading “Comfort Books”
2026 Goals
This evening I was reviewing the 2025 stats for The Story Cellar. Just saying that makes me feel like I should be chewing a pen while wearing a green visor and punching in numbers on an old calculator. The Story Cellar opened in July and from then until December was open 12 times. Within thoseContinueContinue reading “2026 Goals”
Down the Pipe
There’s something special about the days between Christmas and New Year. For me, they’ve always been days that seem to exist outside of reality, in their own strange little bubble. There should be no work, no homework, just a week filled with books, good food and playing with the toys you got for Christmas. SpeakingContinueContinue reading “Down the Pipe”
It Begins
When my son was little, he and I made a pact every year to not do anything even remotely related to Christmas until 1 November. No matter how tempted we were when all the Christmas biscuits started appearing in the shops around the middle of October, and no matter how much I wanted to diveContinueContinue reading “It Begins”
Coffee, Cake and Conkers
October is my favourite month. That riot of colours wrapped in morning mist with the first hint of frost in the air tugs at my heartstrings every year. It reminds me of playing outside, running through the trees as the leaves fell, and my grandmother waiting at home with hot chocolate. Then, as I gotContinueContinue reading “Coffee, Cake and Conkers”
The Trousers of Time
Do you ever get the feeling that your life is re-writing itself around you? That somewhere out there, things are re-shaping themselves, like you’re clay on a potter’s wheel? Change is slowly creeping up on you, you can’t see it but you can feel it. There’s excitement in the air. That’s me at the moment.ContinueContinue reading “The Trousers of Time”
Five Copies of Shōgun
How many copies of the same book can you go through in twenty-five years. Apparently five when floods, puppies and evil ex-boyfriends get in the way.