This is the one day of the year that makes sense of the rest for me. That says, there is hope, don’t give in, worse has been endured, your pain is understood, someone has been along and absorbed it all already, scooped up the fall-out and is offering a hand, saying, come on, it’s this …
Kids home, still writing
Coping strategies for a guilt free, child-happy, writing-is-happening time... The Secret to Being Both a Successful Writer and a Mother: Have Just One Kid. (Article by Lauren Sandler, The Atlantic, 2013).Well that’s me out then. I have four. And we still have three full weeks of the summer holidays to run. Don’t get me wrong, I am …
How I found my literary agent
So I have a literary agent: Anne Williams of the Kate Hordern Literary Agency. How did that happen, I have been asked. Isn’t that really hard? I know I am incredibly lucky. I also know that I have worked incredibly hard, though that doesn’t automatically entitle me to anything. My badger book has been on …
For the love of sparrows
This house sparrow was caught on our Bushnell nature cam, seed in her mouth, her relaxed feet hanging loose as her wings do what comes naturally to them, beating perhaps fifteen times a second. These short wings allow for a quick lift off, though she’s not built for speed, rather a swift exit when the …
New Welsh Writing Awards 2017
I am DELIGHTED to be on the longlist for the 2017 New Welsh Writing Awards. I'm not Welsh, but apparently that doesn't matter! Wales does feature in the piece, but the main focus is on my role as a local badger contact. Follow the link if you are interested. Thank you! http://www.newwelshwritingawards.com/
Out-pranking a nine-year-old
A Saturday morning and a voice calls out from the downstairs loo – ‘It’s like a murder scene in here, ketchup everywhere. Clean it up Jemima.’ Rupert is getting ready for work, and none too pleased. Now he’s joining me in the upstairs bathroom. ‘Sorry, can I just get in and wash my hands? …
International Random Acts of Kindness Day
Februrary 17th, 2017. Mark the date and be on your guard. Today is the day 'gestures of kindness' will be performed in our unsuspecting communities: International Random Acts of Kindness Day is here. The picture above is of course very heart-warming. But my stomach is turning in anticipation of people following up on the official …
The Secret Life of Sheep
The other day I witnessed a display of sheep affection. A potato field has been given over to a flock of sheep, and there at the edge two ewes stood nose to muzzle in a lingering moment of closeness. They were in no hurry to move on, clearly enjoying each other's company. I had to …
Candlemas
Thursday 2nd February, 2017: ‘The feest of candlemas, or meetynge of candelles’.(1.) I drive through the little village of Coldred on my way to work, a place that according to Wikipedia holds ‘the county record for the longevity of its inhabitants’. It is claimed this title stretches back as far as 1700. There on the …
Caroline Greville 