17. Hoarding Forgiveness
As a child, I had a strong urge to be a collector. It's always seemed to me to be a rather virtuous attribute to have a passion for...
48 Things
48 Things
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16. Pressure Can Bring Out the Best in You
Wander through almost any town or city in the UK and you will, most likely, spot at least one house with a slate roof—perhaps even your...
15. Don't Forget to Open the Box!
Imagine this. In front of you is the most beautifully wrapped box you’ve ever seen. It’s shiny and sparkly, and finished with an enormous...
14. There’s Happiness To Be Found If You Wear The Right Glasses
It must be about five years ago that I suffered a very public humiliation. It wasn’t the first time and it definitely won’t be the last,...
13. Fear Is A Liar
February 2021 was a month like no other. Not for me personally, you understand. For the life of me I can’t remember what I was doing or...
12. Cherish Your Challenges
We've all experienced those times when we wonder what on earth we're doing. Bobbing along quite nicely, we suddenly turn an unexpected...
11. Don't Let Failure Get You Down
As the lights went down, I peered out into that historic hall, squinting through the dimness, as thousands of pairs of eyes looked back...
10. Autumn Shows Us How Beautiful It Is To Let Things Go
(If I've unwittingly encouraged you to hum 'Let It Go' like some frozen Disney princess, I apologise now for the ear worm that it will...
09. Priority is Singular
On Monday morning I went for a walk. 'Big deal!' you may say. But it was 6:30am, and instead of rolling over for another forty-five...
08. I Am Braver Than I Know
Look at the girl in this picture with her 'butcher's wife arms', strong legs and love of accessories. She's probably wearing one of the...
07. The Greener Grass Still Needs Mowing
Cissie and Ada. Remember them? Cissie Braithwaite and Ada Shufflebottom. Although both Les Dawson and Roy Barraclough have long passed,...
06. Big Heads and Roller Skates Don't Mix
I was nine or ten years old when I realised I was top-heavy. It was the early-80s and I'd longed for a pair of roller boots. I mean, who...
05. Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should
'Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.' This is something your mum used to say, right? No? Your dad then? No?! Grandparents??...
04. You Don't Have To Come First To Be A Winner
As we looked across that parched sports field, squinting out from under a minute tree on the hottest day of the year, and as sweat...
03. Polar Bears Aren't White
This is true. Polar bears aren't white. I feel fairly confident that most of you will already know, but for those who like to travel...
48 things I've learned in 48 years
Not long after I turned 48 years old, I realised half a century is a long time to live without picking up some bits of wisdom here and...
01. Cats Don't Always Land On Their Feet
Long ago, in a land far, far away, there was a king who had a daughter who loved cats. Tabby ones, ginger ones, black or white or both....
02. Join The Dots
I am hopeless at quizzes. My general knowledge is generally lacking, and I'm embarrassed to say I know very little that's particularly...