The rule of six

The rule of six

‘Do not get me anything with seventy written on it,’ Mum says. ‘I don’t want to be reminded.’ ‘It’s your birthday,’ I say. ‘I don’t want a fuss.’ ‘You do.’ ‘I don’t.’ I sigh. Whenever we mention anything about her forthcoming big birthday, the conversation always goes...
All insects great and small

All insects great and small

‘How’s the new house?’ my auntie asks when I meet her at the garden centre for a brew.  ‘It’s still standing,’ I say, thinking about the long snagging list that is getting longer by the day. ‘That’s what you get with new builds,’ she tells me. ‘One of my friends...
Woman-about-town

Woman-about-town

For the first time in five months, three weeks and two days, there’s somewhere I need to be. It’s written in the diary. Thursday 27th August — dentist, 9.30am. I start looking forward to it on Monday, planning what I’ll wear and where I’ll park and what I’ll take with...
Down by the river

Down by the river

‘We need a day out.’ Mum phones to tell me. ‘We need to go out and eat something. All of us. We’ve not had a meal out since March.’ ‘Where do you want to go?’ ‘Somewhere outside. It has to be outside. I’m not doing the indoors anymore.’ I look out of the window. The...
It’s my birthday and I’ll cry if I want to

It’s my birthday and I’ll cry if I want to

‘We need to do something for your birthday,’ Chris says, the day before I turn forty-one. ‘This time last year, we were in Crete,’ I say. ‘I know.’ ‘We had that meal looking out to sea, and that amazing chocolate pudding.’ ‘The grill pit,’ Chris says. ‘I ended up...
The scales don’t lie

The scales don’t lie

It is nine o’clock on Saturday morning, sixteen weeks and six days since lockdown began, when I finally stop procrastinating and step onto the scales. I stand as tall as I can, willing myself thinner. It takes a few seconds for the scales to give their verdict. In...