‘Hello darling it’s me; how was your week?’ ‘Hey mum, not too bad thanks – the kids have all had colds and Dan is lying on the sofa suffering from man-flu; but apart from that we’re all okay.’ I close the door on the noise from the lounge. Mum always rings on Sunday at 5.30 … More Christmas Traditions
Finally! Everything in the classroom washed and put away, every staple removed from every board, six weeks of bliss ahead and a mini heat-wave forecast by the Met office. Completely delicious! School is most definitely out for the summer! The children left just after three and then the hardest thing to do was work out … More School’s Out!
‘Did you see that old boy with his dog who walked right through the middle of where we were playing?’ asked David as they drove home. ‘Certainly did!’ replied Lynne. ‘His dog came and sat on my foot while he was putting money in my tin. Not that I was complaining – it was the warmest … More In the bleak midwinter
The annual Nativity Play in an Infants school. You might have thought that the hardest thing that needs to be done is to choose which little girl will look best in the pale blue dress to play Mary – but that’s only the beginning of the trouble! One year it was all going calmly enough, … More The Tale of the Nativity Play
Pam had enjoyed her weekly trip out with her friend Janet. She lived alone now, and looked forward to her regular meeting with one of her oldest friends. They usually met on a Saturday afternoon, and caught up on their news and gossip while they went for a bit of a walk through the country … More The Bus Ride Home
In my hallway I have a framed copy of the time my picture was on the front cover of a newspaper. A huge photo of me under the headline: ‘I WILL BE FAMOUS!’ I keep it in the hall so that I can see it every time I walk past and be inspired. It reminds me of just … More ‘I will be famous!’
She settled into a seat on the train at Clapham Junction and sighed with contentment – blue cloudless sky, the morning to herself and a trip to Hampton Court. Glancing round the carriage, Emma saw a group of German ladies kitted out in a variety of comfy shoes. Listening to their animated chatter, she assumed they too were looking forward to … More It could happen…
After clearing away the lunch things, she glanced out of the kitchen window into the garden. Waving to her husband Bob working away with his pruning shears, Pauline put on her jacket, picked up her bag and threw it casually onto the front seat, then she climbed into the rusty old banger affectionately known as … More In search of the perfect slice
One of the simplest pleasures in life is to spend a quiet hour in a coffee shop. I tend to go to the one upstairs in that big department store and have a cappuccino and a Belgian bun. It never gets all that busy, so I usually get my favourite table near the back; that way I don’t … More The Meeting
Looking out of the window in her kitchen it really was the most glorious sunny day. It was Sunday afternoon and Mel was just finishing off putting the plates away after lunch when the phone rang. ‘Hey Mels’ said the familiar voice of her friend Debbie, ‘Fancy a walk on the downs?’ ‘You read my … More A walk in the country
