stop it where it starts

Just when you think that we are making small steps towards safety and understanding… An Under 17’s football match makes you realise that there is a long way to go. That there will be many more victims. The little girls growing up today will be struggling with the same injustice and violence their mothers and […]

a crazy year

Well, it’s been a bugger of a year really. I say this knowing that not all of it has been awful. There have been some beautiful moments which have been like stars piercing through the cloak of a dark night. We have not been the only ones who have had some challenges. In the centre […]

3 teens

My youngest boy turned 13 recently. I now have three teen boys – 17, 16, 13. I find myself savouring the moments that I have with the boys. They are funny and thoughtful. I don’t always agree with them, but I do respect that they have an opinion on many things. They are aware of […]

nearly 17

He had some challenges a few years ago and made some big mistakes. We remained calm, guided him through his troubles, whilst allowing him to face up to the consequences. From this experience, he got the strong impression that we had his back, no matter what. Kipling said “keep your head when all about you are losing […]

snapshot – january twenty-eighteen

I am… Making: plans! for: gardens at the farm; making beeswax products from our bees; digging up all of the Black Cyprus Pine seedlings that self-seed on the farm and offering them as living native Christmas trees. Cooking: Summer = Salads, and salads are happy food. Drinking: Natures Cuppa organic English Breakfast tea. Real tea, with milk and sugar. And coffee […]

12,15,16

I didn’t know that it was possble to love your children MORE every day, especially in the teen years. Well, it is. This trio of boys never fails to surprise and delight. They are all so different. Despite their differences they are quietly tolerant of each other, and frequently kind. 12 My youngest boy is now […]

this old dog

Two days ago, we lost this old dog. He was 14 years and 7 months old. the wildlife menace the dog of small brain but big heart the tenacious and plucky the loyal, sit by the back door dog the dog with the ear piercing yip, the most cheerful disposition, and the waggiest tail the dog that was […]

15

  I am the official owner of a 15 year-old now. My eldest turned 15 last week. It’s not too bad. I was dreading the teen years because I enjoyed my young ones so much, and I do reflect on those days almost every day. However, this boy has restored my faith and hope in […]

and so it goes

Well, our middle boy who has Coeliac Disease has taken us on quite a journey. A few weeks into his new diet, I put out some syrup for the other boys to have with their pancakes. I wasn’t paying attention, and neither was my middle boy. I heard an “uh oh”. He had poured the syrup […]

it’s been a week

It’s been a week since we started the gluten-free diet for the middle boy. He’s doing very well coming to terms with being coeliac. He has been extremely tired and wrung-out. We figure he has to get used to the new diet, and give his body time to heal. Now we think the youngest boy […]