What It Takes to be Tough

Once in a while, I read a book which stays with me long after I've closed it. Given how much I read and how strong my opinions about literature are, this doesn't happen as often as you might think. Sometimes the lives of fictional characters linger in my mind, sometimes I replay storylines as if …

The Opposite of Cake is a Salad

Helena sat at her kitchen table. It was a dreary day in the middle of July, the sort of day that leaves you wondering if summer is ever going to arrive or questioning if that single day of sunshine that appeared last week was the only summer happening in this car crash dumpster fire of …

Life, Lemons and Melons – An Extract (3)

Over this week I have been sharing a chapter of my book Life, Lemons and Melons. Since October, I have been pouring my heart and my soul into a Scrivener document covering the last three years of my life. I’ve written about infertility, self confidence, chemotherapy, my exploding breast, notes from a mixed up mind …

Life, Lemons and Melons – An Extract (2)

Over the next week, I’m going to share a chapter of my book Life, Lemons and Melons. Since October, I have been pouring my heart and my soul into a Scrivener document covering the last three years of my life. I’ve written about infertility, self confidence, chemotherapy, my exploding breast, notes from a mixed up …

Life, Lemons and Melons – An Extract

Over the next week, I'm going to share a chapter of my book Life, Lemons and Melons. Since October, I have been pouring my heart and my soul into a Scrivener document covering the last three years of my life. I've written about infertility, self confidence, chemotherapy, my exploding breast, notes from a mixed up …

The Power of Words with Maggie’s

 Around the time I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, I wasn’t aware of anyone like me talking about their cancer experience in an open way. There were blogs and there were websites, but these were largely aimed at older women. I felt so far removed from the conversation these websites were having, I …

My Grandma Constance

My beloved Grandma Constance died on 24th February, four days after her 93rd birthday. She was an incredible woman and I am exceptionally proud to have called her my family. Here are two pieces of writing that I put together before and after her death. The first, I read at her funeral, the second I …

(IN) Equality

Every 8th of March the same question is asked “When did we celebrate International Men’s Day last?” “It’s the 19th November” voices reply But the questioners don’t notice, don’t bat an eye. “Well we don’t make a song and dance” they say “We don’t kick up a fuss in quite the same way Why are …

No Cure for Heartbreak

I have been watching a lot of Grey’s Anatomy recently. I discovered it was on Amazon Prime and I started watching it from the beginning. Some people say it’s depressing but in those early days, the dialogue was quick witted, sharp, moving and funny, while the storylines pushed the boundaries of medicine and beyond. You’d …

Perfection Paralysis

My Dad has always told me that "procrastination is the thief of time". It's something he told me a lot when I was growing up, and something I think about often in my working life. I've always been guilty of procrastinating. I often put things off for as long as possible, waiting until the absolute …