It’s not a dark night. The moon is high over the water and the sky is inky. There’s a breeze, just enough that you feel it on your skin. Cool, but not cold. I’m standing tall on the edge of a cliff; my toes are over. I’m steady, but I’m waiting for someone else to push me so that I can fall, silent,...

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I'll start with a disclaimer: this is about me, it's not about you. It's not directed at anyone personally, especially not any of my lovely friends who have only the best intentions, and who are supportive and positive when I am being a black cloud of doom. I appreciate you, and I appreciate that you are trying to help. It's just that sometimes,...

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Every 8 weeks, round about this time, I start to get very nervous. I start to think, “Is today the day?” Dread. My gut feeling (hah) is dread. We’re going to talk about bums for a bit. Sorry, if that offends you, please stop reading now. I decided to write this up because I am feeling anxious about my health at the moment,...

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I remember the moment exactly, sitting around the table eating dinner on a summer evening. It was still light outside, and apropros of nothing he said, “Ellie, I bought you a dog.” There are three kinds of people in life: dog people, cat people, and people who have something wrong with them. I have always been a dog person. Do you like my...

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At seventeen I was desperate to leave my small country hometown. With its population of 22,000 and shops that close on Sundays, I felt stifled. Someone always knows your business or asks about your mum’s knees.* *Her knees are ok: she had her first replacement on Tuesday and is doing well. Thank you for asking. Yes, she'll be back in a  couple of...

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Have you read about global man-about-town Dan Bacon*? And his series guiding men with no clue re how to talk to women**?? I'm a bit embarrassed because when I read "How to talk to a woman wearing headphones" I wasn't outraged.... mainly because it's so creepy and objectionable that I truly believed it was satire, and thus thought it was quite funny. Turns...

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Fika. That precious Swedish custom. Both a thing and an action. It is more than a coffee break; it may or may not involve coffee. It can be out, or at home, it doesn’t matter. But at its best it involves buns. Cinnamon buns and lots of them. Glorious kanelbullar - Swedes eat 316 of them per year. Each.  Sadly I don't have...

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