Author Archives: DorkyMum

Syria: A Day of Protest

June 1, 2012 By in Activism Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , 13 Comments

No matter how long you have been a writer for, how skilled you are with words, or how passionate you are about a subject; there are times when you just cannot find the right way to adequately express how you feel. There are times when the world is so dark that you feel your own small actions cannot possibly help create even the smallest spark of light.

I have been completely numbed this week by what I’ve read about the situation in Syria. I was shocked, in particular, by the Times article on Wednesday that set out in truly horrifying detail what took place in Houla. 49 children were killed – not in some accidental explosion, but deliberately, violently, one by one.

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Reasons to be Cheerful

May 31, 2012 By in Family, Harpenden Tags: , , , , 21 Comments

Usually when I feel compelled to join in with the Reasons to be Cheerful linky over at Mummy from the Heart, it’s because I’ve had some big news that I’m happy about.

That’s not really the case this week; it’s just that I’ve had a lovely couple of days, filled with small, special moments that I don’t want to forget.

DorkyDad has just arrived home after a two-day work conference, and as I type I can hear him and DorkySon giggling away. They are cuddled up, reading a book and catching up on each other’s news. I will never grow tired of seeing the two of them reunited after an absence.
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Lovely Jubilee.

May 29, 2012 By in Family, Harpenden Tags: , , , , , , 25 Comments

Queen's Jubilee Bunting

My heart sank when an email popped in to my inbox about a Jubilee Garden Party at DorkySon’s nursery. What a way to spend a Saturday.

I have documented my dislike of parties on the blog before, and when you add in the Jubilee element, that dislike only intensifies. I’m not massivly anti-monarchy; I just genuinely couldn’t care less about the Royal family. And flag-waving of any kind – be it Saltire or Jack – is not something that has ever appealed to me.
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A Love Story: Part Two

May 25, 2012 By in Family Tags: , , 29 Comments

Just over a year ago, I set myself a challenge. I decided to write about my marriage with DorkyDad publicly, for the first time. We were dealing with some nonsense in other areas of our life, and I felt the need to stand up and tell people how much I love my husband, and how proud of him I am.

So I wrote a short piece about us, which was first published on Offbeat Mama. Then a good friend at the Guardian suggested that their Family section might be interested in a longer piece. That was published right about this time last year.

It was my first attempt at getting us pinned down on paper. This is my second.
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