Cooking on the barbeque in the summer and having just grilled meat with salad for most of our meals is the best. I know this is true. I am not cut out to be a primary teacher. Spending a couple of hours with some Year One age children (i.e. Austin's age) whilst I chaperoned at… Continue reading I Know This is True
Category: Words
Five Things that Made Me Smile Today
Finishing marking a whole set of books;Harper's attempts to scam an extra meal out of Evelina;Rich's return home from London;Having a healthy debate with some Year 9 students about the value of English as a subject (and the meaning of life);Watching Evelina read the opening of one of my favourite books (/ book series) of… Continue reading Five Things that Made Me Smile Today
Today’s Ta-dah List
A while back, I wrote about the beauty of keeping a ta-dah list, one that notes all the accomplishments of the day (as opposed to a regular to-do list which can sometimes sit in judgment of you for the whole day as you blithely ignore it). Here is my (our) ta-dah list for today: Sold… Continue reading Today’s Ta-dah List
Keeping it Fresh
The previous incarnation of this blog, Single Glorious Thing, marked a shift in gears. As the pandemic struck in 2020, I had been struggling to find a rhythm in writing and so I tried something different. For a while, it was helpful to focus on those simple (and sometimes not so simple) pleasures and glories… Continue reading Keeping it Fresh
A Little Acceptance
One of my most frustrating traits is that I find it impossible to stick to a routine. I do not do the same things every day in the same order, even the most basic things. I regularly forget to put on deodorant! So when I realised I wanted to write, every single piece of advice… Continue reading A Little Acceptance
A Good Listen
One of the ways I hit my reading goal last year was by listening to audiobooks. As a rule, I do not enjoy fiction on audio - I find myself drifting off for some reason - but I love memoirs and other non-fiction books. Here are my favourite audiobooks from 2021: Four Thousand Weeks by… Continue reading A Good Listen
A Knowing List
Five Things I Know: I know how to analyse the writer's use of language and structure. I studied English Literature at GSCE, A-Level, and degree level but it was only when I started teaching English that I think really mastered the art of analysis. I love pulling the words apart and interrogating the text to… Continue reading A Knowing List
A Little Promise
One of the things that I put on my 22 in 2022 list was to find a writing accountability partner. This is somebody preferably another writer who will help keep you accountable for your writing goals. As well as supporting and encouraging you with your writing. Ideally, this is a mutually beneficial arrangement where you… Continue reading A Little Promise
A New Book
The Bloganuary prompt yesterday was to post about what book you will read next. Since I have already written about books I want to read, I thought I would share what book I will buy next, once my book buying moratorium has expired. Laura Tremaine shared this book as her favourite non-fiction book of 2021.… Continue reading A New Book
A Pretty Little City
I spent the weekend in the city of Bath. While my friends took advantage of the Thermae Spa, I decided to explore the city. The timing of this trip with me reading Northanger Abbey for the first time was a happy accident. A large portion of this novel takes place in Bath at the end… Continue reading A Pretty Little City