I am annoyed. We could change the name of the blog to I AM ANNOYED, as I’m pretty much always annoyed, but that would be really annoying, as ANNOYED is one of the words I struggle to spell. Mind, so is the word RESISTANCE, and I put that in my book title. So, I’m annoyed.…
Greetings, gorgeous ones. How has your week been? I’ve been visited by the Lady Covidia; throat scarred with razor blades, mind numbing fatigue and muscle aches that have left me winded. After a long weekend in bed, I was feeling if not better then less ill, but then my sense of taste disappeared, I felt…
Bore da Chickens, I know you weren’t expecting to hear from me today after all the drama about my flaps (really, that joke never gets old). I could get badges made, ‘Ask me about my Flaps!’ You know how I might have mentioned I’d written a book? You know the one with the fabulous…
I have flaps! (Oi! You in the back, get your mind out of the gutter! ) Have I mentioned that I’ve written a book? No? I’m sure I have. Is there something wrong with your memory? Do you need to see someone? What is the name of the current Queen? What year is it? For…
This month, we're talking to Rebecca Beattie about her writing practice. I have loved reading The Way Through The Woods: A green witch’s guide to navigating life’s ups and downs. Immersed in nature, this is a deeply nourishing read, full of compassion, wisdom, and rituals for meeting life's challenges. I know a few of you…
Sorry, I’m late. I seem to be snowed under, but with what I’m not sure. The truth is I’ve been feeling a little anxious. Did I mention I’ve been writing a book, that has a title and a cover and everything? No? It must have slipped your mind. Well, the book is about to go…
Bore da, my lovelies. Did I mention I was writing a book? Funny, it must have slipped my mind... Well, the day is finally here, and I can reveal the cover and title of my new book. I am so excited to share it with you guys first. I can’t tell you how much I…
Can you guess what I'm saying? Ooh, I have news! Top secret news! I’m not allowed to share it with anyone, but you, dear reader, are not just anyone, so I will tell you anyway. But first, in other news, I was temporarily banned from Facebook. Do you want the long or the short version?…
I’ve fallen down another hole on Instagram. I’ve been learning how to get dressed. I’m aware some of you have seen me wearing clothes before. I do know how to get dressed, though, to be fair, it was fairly recent that I learned the label in your knickers goes on the left, meaning you never…
What are you reading my lovelies? Continuing to share books and writers I love, let me introduce the wonderful Vik Bennett and her memoir. I loved this book so much, an exploration of grief and motherhood and the making of something wild and magical to heal and grow. More than a book about gardening, this…
Well, Hello there my lovelies, How are you doing, and most importantly what are you reading? I've been reading this gem of a book, and excitingly the writer, fellow A Writing Chance Award winner, Tom Newlands is here to tell us all about it. TOM NEWLANDS is a multiply neurodivergent Scottish author. He is the…
How was your January, my lovely? How are your resolutions holding up? Did you go dry or become vegan? Did you make it to the gym? Have you started a diet? I’ve done none of these. I’m not a fan of New Year's resolutions. With an absolutist mindset, in the past, I’d make bold, sweeping…
The dog and I are wintering. Well, I am, the dog is being a dick but more on that another day. I am embracing the season and have slipped from the winter festivities into the warming embrace of hibernation. My health, always declining in the darker days like some Victorian invalid, requires this time of…
I’m struggling to read. I don’t know if it’s all the writing wearing out my eyes, or my brain sinking into a stupor, but after a morning writing in bed, all I want is some Disney + and my knitting. I’m missing books. The house is filled with them so it's not a lack of…
So, I’ve written a book. Well, to be fair it's nearly two-thirds done. It's a bit like this blog, only bigger and more personal, though I’m not sure how much more personal you can get than discussing your boobs on the internet. It’s a bit weird, writing about yourself. Even though I do it every…
No go I wanted to travel to London. I live in Mid-Wales, not the most connected of places but this is the 21st Century so how hard could it be? The Welsh National Legend, Micheal Sheen was giving a talk about underrepresented writers at the London Book Fair and he was going to mention my…
‘I’m off to Morrisons to collect my meds, do we need anything,’ the Mister asks? There was a time when a trip to Morrisons was all about a bottle of wine and a pizza, now it’s more likely to be a search for HRT and blood pressure pills. ‘Will you bring me something nice?’ I…
Love is in the air and with this in mind I thought it time to return to the Housewife’s Handy Book and explore all things love and marriage in the letters section. Romance is blooming, or not, as the case may be, for our two young lovers Harry and Agnes. Let me remind you that…
Today beauty advice from the Handy Housewife I for one will look forward to forcing myslef to take stock of my imperfections. Have a lovely day!
I was lucky enough to be chosen to be part of the first A Writing Chance Award and it changed how I felt about being a working class writer. It made me feel like a proper writer. Aplications are now open for A Writing Chance 2024/25. If you are from a working class or low…
I always struggle with this question as the answer changes from day to day. Often it's the last book I read. Sat looking at my book shelf I can see Maggie O'Farrell's Hamnet, which I adore, so today I shall say that's my favourite. Though that said I am listening to Agatha Christie’s The Adventure…
Have you ever wanted to know how to address the Eldest son of an Earl? Or how to whitewash your ceiling? Or mend a wicker chair? Then I have the book for you. I am currently obsessed with News Chronicles Housewife’s Handy Book. Printed in 1930 it declares itself a ‘firm, reliable friend in every…
I love stories. I love to read and watch and hear all kinds of tales. I love the sway and swoosh of words, the almost-not-there creak of the turn of the page. I love the sing and dance of stories in my ear, suspended in a world that, for a moment, only I can feel.…
It's my blog-aversary and coincidentally this is my 100th post. Two whole years writing to you, and I don’t even get a card! I told a friend that it was my blog-aversary and she looked at me sideways, ‘God, do you still have anything left to say?’ It sounds worse than how she meant it.…
Insomnia strikes again. Waking at 3 am rather than my usual 4 am seems spiteful and futile. One can conceivably get up at 4 but 3 is just bloody ridiculous. I turn over and try to go back to sleep, my mind racing as I groggily scrunch up pillows and gently elbow my husband to…
As autumn ended I lost reading. My energies, turning like the seasons, faded. I needed a little more rest, took a little longer to do things, but this is normal for me and is often a time to disappear into books, a cup of tea and a few biscuits to keep me going. This year…
According to the Internet, the average person in the UK reads ten books a year. This figure is inflated by those of us that read a lot, so the figure is more like four or five books a year, with just under half of all UK adults not reading books at all. I read a…
I am a writer of lists My life could be measured in my to-do lists, their contents varying depending on the stage of my life. Early lists might have included Do Homework Try not to argue with sister STOP BITING NAILS Find missing library books Early motherhood saw lists as the only way to function…
World book night is here! Whatcha reading? There are loads of really fabulous books on the book list, from some fantastic authors. But, as ever I am freestyling and so tonight, when I curl up under a throw with a cuppa and maybe something sweet to nibble on - I've said it once I will…
I am looking for a book, I wonder if you can help? It was my favourite read as a kid, repeatedly borrowed from the library, and read cover to cover. I’ve been searching for this book for years. On the cover was a black cat, possibly a girl, by some water with a dark Victorian…
Bordering Grey 