Christmas chaos
It’s August when I walk into a local pub only to come face-to-face with a life-sized Santa Claus. ‘Never!’ I say to Chris. ‘That’s just wrong.’ Being forced to confront Christmas so early in the…
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Off the Shelf, Festival of words
The Off the Shelf Festival of Words takes place every October in Sheffield. It’s a fantastic event with some big names in literature, media and the arts. With 130 events across the city, this year’s…
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Scheduling some ‘Me Time’
AT work I go on a health and wellbeing course where the instructor keeps stressing the importance of taking time for yourself. Me time, he writes on the white board. “It recharges the batteries,” he…
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My technology is failing me
Friday is a momentous day. I make a movie at work and it looks great, even if I do say so myself. I drive home feeling rather chuffed. When I’m stuck in traffic on the…
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We’re dog sitting but it all …
My sister is at a wedding, so I’ve offered to have her dog for the day, but when the dog turns up he’s got a large bag and enough food to last the month. “He’s…
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Ever struggled to find a moment to …
I wrote this piece back in 2015 when Olivia was only two. As part of my university module on contemporary literature I had to write a response to Kathleen Jamie’s Sightlines, focusing on moments of…
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Cape Cod, Summer Home of the Great …
“It’s a bit Jaws-esque,” Chris says as we climb out of the car. “What does that mean?” Olivia asks. “Nothing,” I say, shooting a warning look at Chris who really should know better than to…
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I am ill and convinced it’s …
I JUMP out of bed, race to the door, and start screaming. Someone is coming to murder me. I scream louder. I’m so loud I wake myself up. “What’re you doing?” Chris is sitting bolt…
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Making the daily commute more bearable
IT is Wednesday and the traffic is crawling along. It is only the third day back after our two-week holiday and already the 60-mile daily commute is bringing out the worst in me. I sit…
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Jon McGregor discussing Reservoir 13 at Waterstones Sheffield
I WENT to hear Jon McGregor read from his latest novel, Reservoir 13, on Wednesday night at Waterstones Sheffield. In the year since the book launched, it’s won the 2017 Costa Novel Award, been longlisted…
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