New Shoes

January 21, 2013 By in Family Tags: , , , , , , , 26 Comments

Clarks Boys Stomposaurus

Every so often, something unexpected will really take my breath away as it reminds me how much DorkySon is growing up.

It’s not usually something big or significant that startles me into that realisation. We have dispensed with naps and nappies, with a minimum of fuss. Sippy cups and sleep suits are a thing of the past, and I haven’t shed a tear over either. But this weekend I had one of those moments where I stopped and looked at my boy, shaking my head in disbelief. Wow.

DorkySon needed new shoes. Continue reading →

Live in the Now January

January 18, 2013 By in Family, Scotland, Travel Tags: , , , , , , , , 14 Comments

Edinburgh in the snow

Back in December I did a Live in the Now post, for the first time in months, where I took some time to just look around at our life and reflect on where we all are. I’m going to try and keep that going throughout 2013, as a way of remembering the little things that don’t really warrant a post to themselves. Continue reading →

Things We Love

January 16, 2013 By in Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , , 9 Comments

Every so often I like to do a quick roundup of things that I’m enjoying in life just now – mainly things I’ve encountered by chance, occasionally things I’ve been sent for review. I meant to do one before Christmas but ran out of time, so I thought I’d do one now instead.

Radio Paradise logo

Radio Paradise: Radio Paradise is a digital radio station, and it’s the only thing we ever listen to in this house. We’ve completely abandoned our own music collections since we found it. Based in Paradise, California, and run by husband and wife Bill and Rebecca Goldsmith, it is commercial-free, listener-supported, and they play nothing but brilliant music. There is no chat at all, just an eclectic mix of old and new music in almost every style. It’s a bit like Spotify, but with more chance of you finding previously unknown music that you love. Continue reading →

The Shovel List

January 9, 2013 By in Nostalgia Tags: , , , 76 Comments

Marian Keyes book

One of my favourite books of last year was The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes. If you haven’t read it, you really should.

One of the things from the book that has stuck with me is the concept of a ‘shovel list’. A lot of bloggers have been writing their ‘bucket lists’ recently, but a shovel list is not quite the same. As Helen Walsh (one of the book’s characters) describes it; ‘it’s a conceptual thing. It’s a list of all the people and things I hate so much I want to hit them in a face with a shovel.’

I decided I’d have a go at writing my own. I’ve had to limit this list to my top ten, otherwise it would be my longest post ever. But here goes… Continue reading →

Goodbye 2012

January 2, 2013 By in Blogging Tags: 9 Comments

Before I can say a proper hello to 2013, and look forward at our plans and hopes for this year, I think I need to say a proper goodbye to 2012. It was very much a year of transition for each of us – from Scotland to England, from the education sector to the charity sector, from toddler to preschooler. There were – as with any year – both ups and downs, but I am pretty proud of how well we have all adjusted, and I’m so pleased that I have taken the time to record many of the best moments on this blog.

DorkySon-DorkySon-0017 Continue reading →