Author Terry Pratchett has revealed that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. I can only imagine how distressing it must be for someone who has spent his life as a wordsmith to start… Read More ›
relationships
All our relationships, not just partnerings
Those dreaded office Xmas parties
Working from home as I do, I miss out on most of this, and am glad of it, although we are having a neighbourhood party this evening. Last week, Someone (Who Shall Not Be Named) came home wearing this paraphernalia:… Read More ›
Preparing for the holidays
So, how’s everybody else doing? I’m panicking. Cards, gifts, decluttering – I’m behind on all of it. Today I have to drastically trim the rampant “La Nina summer” foliage in the garden (tomorrow is the fortnightly Green Waste collection that… Read More ›
Gratuitous John Barrowman blogging
I just realised (watching Torchwood from the beginning on cable) that John Barrowman is about to start this year’s panto season, starring as Aladdin at Birmingham’s Hippodrome. He’s a musical theatre lad from waaaaay back. As I look at his… Read More ›
Of magic and mythology: Reality-based parenting
[image source] “Mummy, what are ‘gods’?”. I was caught a little by surprise, but I think we did ok in the end. After a moment’s thought, I explained that they were figures invented by people. That different human civilisations share… Read More ›
Daria and other rebels
In comments to Lauredhel’s post about the princessification of Dora the Explorer, Helen and I have been discussing other animated girl characters whom we enjoy. We’re both fans of Daria, whom Helen epitomises beautifully as “dry as dust”. Daria is enduring high school until she can get away to further studies outside her conformist suburban community.
Weekend kid art: what’s on his mind
The lad has become rather fascinated with rules, robbers, and law and order. He is hopping mad that “squiggle-robbers” have graffitied the sign and wall at his kindy, and keeps coming up with plans to trap any robbers that try… Read More ›
“Seen And Heard”: Children in public spaces
The dearth of children in public spaces is too often decried purely in terms of The! Obesity! Crisis!!1! But there are much better reasons to encourage children back into the public world, and they’re reasons not readily addressed by a… Read More ›
So Similar
A draft I’ve had hanging around since last month: I’m trying to get these things out for some discussion even if I haven’t been able to wrap a bow around them to my entire satisfaction. Via Samara at The F-word… Read More ›
Sagacious Shakespeare & Hoydenalicious Margarita Mayhem
Assume a hoyden, if you have it not. Which work of Shakespeare was the original quote from? Get your own quotes: Meme yoinked from Lauredhel’s LJ. I spent the weekend overlooking Copacabana Beach on the Central Coast with three of… Read More ›
Hoyden About Town 