You Only See It When You Stop

We were walking our local lanes when Mrs H paused and pointed to a juniper tree.    We’d walked past it just an hour earlier and hadn’t noticed any berries.   Yet when we stopped and looked, we (well she) spotted several of the purple fruits.    Then more.    Then dozens.       It was as if the […][...]

3 Deadly Words

Certain words and phrases just roll off the tongue. Easily said, without much thought or consideration of their impact.   ‘In a minute’ is one.   It starts with pressured parents doing their best to juggle life with a demanding two-year-old needing immediate gratification. Relationships stay still because one or both will do that important […][...]

Is it still summer?

Here, in the UK, we’re exhibiting shock and awe at hosepipe bans (tabloid favourite). Revelling in the hottest summer since… the last hottest one. Meanwhile, in England, we’re bemused that the kids are STILL on holiday. Bedraggled parents are counting the days to the new school term and bemoaning the ridiculous holiday teachers enjoy. All […][...]

10 ways to find time to write

10 ways to find time to write Schedule it You put birthdays and appointments in your diary, how about an appointment with you and your keyboard? What gets scheduled, gets done.   Dictate One of the greatest innovations in recent years is modern dictation software. You can install it on your phone, tablet or computer. […][...]

Play the part

Would you rather play a minor role in someone else’s story or the major part in your own? If all the world’s a stage, and this life is your ‘one shot’, what’s it going to be? I’m not saying you shouldn’t play a minor role. If that should bring you joy and you leave this […][...]

Two types of error

I would always forget something when I went on holiday.   Often a little thing.   It didn’t spoil the trip, but it was irksome.   I’d instruct myself to remember it next time.   The next time would come. Yes, I’d remember that thing, but I’d forget something else. Then I set up a […][...]

Why we exaggerate

If I’ve told you once I’ve told you a hundred million times… stop exaggerating! We all do it. A little exaggeration to enhance a story is acceptable. Isn’t it? Then you get the pro exaggerators. You know the ones… If you’ve been to Tenerife they’ve been to Elevenerife. Why do we exaggerate? Because it’s not […][...]

The eyes have it

I was enjoying a Friday gin and tonic with our neighbours when we witnessed the most spectacular sunset. I did that ridiculous thing (that almost everyone with a smartphone has) and tried to take a photograph of it. Of course, it looked pants. The reason?   Eyes are brilliant.   In fact, they are so […][...]

Think you’re better than air conditioning?

Air conditioning has been used more in the past few days than in the last few years. My friend Steve got a bit of a shock when he had a two-hundred-mile car journey and found his had stopped working. He took his motor to the garage where he was told his air con needed to […][...]

Three Routes To Mastery  

If it’s important enough.     And if you’re prepared to do what’s necessary.     Then mastery can be an appealing place.     But what makes a Master?    Natural Talent  Some (very few) are born with it. Top sports stars have the physical attributes to be the best – it’s in their DNA.     Some […][...]

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