Over the past few months, I’ve been copying and pasting all my previous blogs into Word, editing them, and in some cases, completely rewriting sections that were clearly not up to par. I set myself this task after being (thankfully) incorrectly diagnosed with bowel cancer, thinking it would make a rather meaningful Christmas present for… Continue Reading

The 17th of October found me in the dentist’s chair, enduring a filling for a tiny cavity that, according to the dentist, would “cause trouble down the line.” Personally, I’m sceptical. That cavity and I have coexisted peacefully for years, and even when the dentist jabbed at it with medieval enthusiasm, there wasn’t so much… Continue Reading

As September began, with the nights drawing in and a chill in the air, the weather took on a distinctly autumnal feel. Daytime temperatures have remained mild enough to avoid abandoning shorts for warmer trousers, but most days have been marked by drizzle. On the 15th, the builders were due to install glass sliding doors… Continue Reading

3rd September 2025 Earlier in the month, we’d had a parade of window installers round to price up some work. The aim: to replace our draughty old curtains separating the lounge and sun room, in the hope of retaining a bit of heat instead of donating it all to the National Grid. Sadly, the work… Continue Reading

10th August 2025 As hosepipe bans began to be implemented in large parts of the country, low pressure appeared, bringing much-needed rain to thirsty crops, lawns, reservoirs and rivers. On the same day, along with dozens of other candidates, Ellis began a walk with a full pack for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. It was… Continue Reading

14th July 2025 On the morning of Thursday, 26th June, Lee brought Mia to stay with us while the rest of the family headed off on holiday to the East Coast. The following day, Jamie and Nala also arrived to stay for the weekend while he and Ruth took a short break in Luxembourg. Tragically,… Continue Reading

27th June 2025 On a day when the temperature soared to a stifling 38 °C, following my morning bike ride through the sun-scorched fields of Leicestershire, Sarah, Charlotte, and Archie arrived at Willow Bank. Our two daughters had decided to take their father out for lunch as a belated Father’s Day treat. I suggested we dine… Continue Reading

18th June 2025 On 25th May, as usual, Sue rose early and headed to the Saddington car boot sale. She returned a little earlier than planned, as rain had begun to fall in Saddington. Many stalls were packing up, and she got soaked in the process. It was still dry in Harborough, and when she… Continue Reading

22nd May 2025 The end of April was unseasonably dry and remarkably warm. I took full advantage of the weather and busied myself with the usual springtime tasks in the garden and at the allotment. This year, I’ve given up the furthest of my plots, which has made a noticeable difference — instead of the… Continue Reading

22nd April 2025 Over the past year, I have revisited and edited previous blog posts for errors. Recently, I have been working on the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, which, interestingly, coincided with the first term of Donald Trump’s presidency. During this time, I frequently commented on his appalling conduct, narcissism, misogyny, and foolish and… Continue Reading