It was Mother's Day in America last Sunday but not in the UK. I did not mean to be blogging about parenting so soon after this 'celebration' but last night after a long day of being a mum I still somehow ended up on my iPad searching for great apps for my 4 year old... Continue Reading →
Live Below the Line – Day 1
I should (I have been trying not to use this word as life should not be full of 'shoulds' - but its been one of those days - you know, one of those days that you live like someone who doesn't have many choices in life even though you do) be praying or asleep or... Continue Reading →
Leaving Edinburgh and growing up
DH and I are bathed in late afternoon sunshine. We're speeding our way back to London after enjoying two days reminiscing in Edinburgh. We stayed with friends and caught up with others and had a great time walking and laughing, eating and remembering. Edinburgh has a unique place in our lives and hearts. The place... Continue Reading →
Rhythms, neighbours and food…
Living in TH naturally means that I have Muslim neighbours. It is part of the reason that our family moved to Tower Hamlets: to live our lives alongside people of different faiths, cultures and backgrounds to us. I love that my children will grow up with children from such different places and cultures than their... Continue Reading →
The BBC making me cry… again
I never normally cry watching documentaries about cabbies. But this evening I ended up watching 'Toughest Place to be a Taxi Driver' from the BBC. A number of people had commented on Facebook about it and my curiosity got the better of me... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01r9yw6/Toughest_Place_to_be_a..._Series_4_Taxi_Driver/ It's the story of Mason, a London cabbie, who goes to... Continue Reading →
I am a mother…
Today is Mother's Day in the UK, or 'Mothering Sunday' in Christian circles (a name which, for some reason I can't explain, I hate...) I have been a mother on Mother's Day for 5 years now - my first one was in 2009, and DD was only a few weeks old. It is a strange... Continue Reading →
Women of valour!
Ladies coffee mornings, women's Bible studies and books with pink flowery lettering 'devotions for women' on them have always made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Often these could be incredibly gender-stereptyped cringey-type things and so discomfort was probably justified, but I didn't get the significance of women-only stuff. In the past I also would have... Continue Reading →
Tuesday Tune – You’re my home
- Billy Joel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4D40r-E7yk This has been a hard week. I'm not sure exactly why, although for some strange reason spending time with my extended family often makes me feel unsettled. I think it comes from a clash of the different things that I want from my life being crystallised in some way. On one... Continue Reading →
Tuesday Tune – Switching Off
- Elbow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxOWVmcZ2Y4 A while ago DH and I noticed that even once the kids were in bed and dishes were done, we didn't actually get to relax for any reasonable chunk of time in the evening. For me this is particularly difficult because my 'work'/'ministry' is here and happens any time and in a... Continue Reading →
I’m not busy – Giving up Busyness
Yes - this! Giving up Busyness for Lent: 10 Top Tips 1. Decide never to describe yourself as busy. 2. Don’t let others get away with saying “I thought you’d be too busy”. 3. Take some time out to do nothing every day. Time it. Sit still. Let life be. 4. Make a two-column To... Continue Reading →
stumbling hopefully in the right direction 