When I was a child, my dad taught biology at the local high school. Injured and orphaned wild animals were often brought to our house so they could rest and recuperate before being set free again. It wasn’t uncommon for us to have a lizard convalescing in the kitchen or a snake draped around my…
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I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging when I say my life is charmed, but it is. If I need something, it’s usually in the house and ready for me to grab. Last vitamin in the pack? No worries, there are three additional packs in the cupboard. Birds need fed and the feed tub…
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Personal growth is hard work. Admitting mistakes is painful. Dealing with the shame of realising you’ve not done your best is embarrassing and exhausting. Yet if we don’t do these things, we don’t learn or grow or become better people. And it should always be our goal to do better, even just a little bit.…
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Watching the UK Government break down into lawlessness has been an experience. My gut reaction is to flee, but I’m not leaving my home. I’m going to stay and fight because I believe in doing what’s right, and there are certain ideals I feel bound to defend. At 53, I’ve accepted that I have a…
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A few weeks ago, my husband told me that he’d nearly freaked himself out by over-thinking the origin of eggs. A few days later, I did exactly the same and haven’t had one since. In fact, I don’t think I’ll be having any ever again. It isn’t something I’d ever have imagined, but I’m happy…
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When lockdown caused a long delay in my being able to obtain the box hair dye I like, I decided to let my hair go grey. It seemed like the perfect time as I wasn’t going out and I wouldn’t be seeing anyone. I was also really fed up with the expense and the process…
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Despair might seem like the most natural – possibly only – response to the conveyer belt of crises coming at us all. So much so that it’s easy to forget one simple fact: Collectively, we have a lot more power than those in Westminster understand. There are steps we can take right now to –…
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I rarely review skincare these days because I’m happy with the routine I have. I don’t see a need to try new things when my current regime works so well. I did have one niggle, though. My favourite hydrating serum is made by a company who sell their products in China. This means that there…
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They turned up a few weeks ago, sitting on top of the greenhouse watching my husband locking up the hens for the night – two snowy white birds and one muted grey. I was looking out from the kitchen window and noticed they didn’t seem at all bothered by humans. Later that evening, they were…
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When I first moved towards a plant-based diet, I relied on a few processed vegan foods. Pre-made burgers, mock cheeses, and pretend hotdogs were a big part of my diet, and I must credit them with making the transition to vegan eating much easier. Eventually, it occurred to me that I should view these foods…
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It’s been exactly a month since I rang my warehouse manager at 7am to tell her I didn’t think we could continue safely working as a team. We took the decision to keep staff at home and advised everyone to stay put. I ran payroll early, paid everyone through the end of the month, and…
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I’ve sat down to write so many times since the lockdown began, but nothing materialises. Even though the universe has grabbed the small, settled snow globe of my life and given it a good shake, I can see quite clearly that my position is one of privilege. The steps my family took to prepare for…
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This dish is loosely adapted from one of my favourite Brazilian recipes for feijoada. It’s typically made with meat, but it’s just as delicious without. I like using dried black beans in this, but you can use any pulses you have to hand – pinto beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, or even butter beans – and…
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We might be feeling a bit panicky at the moment as our way of life moves away from us at frightening speed. Everything feels out of control and we need to find ways to bring a sense of normality and calm into our lives. I realise that we all have very different situations, and things…
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I find it hard to believe I used to write in a journal nearly every day. Where did I find the time? What did I write about? What happened to my mental capacity to produce subject matter and text? My guess is that it all resided in my addiction to nicotine. Nothing made me type…
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