I have included this section as a Postscript because it is the fruit of long years of reflection, rather than my immediate experience. It is also longer than the other…
The ancient Japanese art of kintsugi honours imperfection. When a ceramic pot or bowl is broken, it is painstakingly repaired with gold. The cracks become beautiful, giving the pot a…
There is an old Chinese story about cracked pots. You might have heard it before. A peasant farmer walks down the hill to the river every day to collect water.…
Martha started attending a local mainstream nursery shortly after her first birthday. The managers and staff could not have been more welcoming. Martha had a wonderful key-worker with whom she…
Martha’s six older siblings loved and accepted her from the start. That was never in question. So far as they were concerned, she was their baby sister; anything to do…
As Martha passed her first birthday and continued to grow, our focus was increasingly on her communication and development. Her health was generally good now. She had occasional heart check-ups…
It was just a few days before Christmas. Like a good Catholic, I had come to the church to make my Confession.* Coming in from the damp December gloom, I…
Christmas was approaching fast. Martha would soon be one year old. Outwardly we were doing ok. Martha was robust and thriving now. We were enjoying a busy round of weekly…
The speed of Martha’s recovery was startling. On her last day in the hospital she amazed me by sitting up unsupported for the first time ever. By the time we…
Martha’s hospital stay was a strange time out of time. After the first couple of days Adrian split his time between the hospital and home with our other children. I…
Martha’s heart surgery date was scheduled for Monday 4th September. It was not a date we would have chosen: our two sons, aged four and eleven, were both due to…
It was a strange summer of waiting. We took Martha to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London where she was reviewed in their outpatient clinic. We were told we would…
Martha was going to have open heart surgery, probably within the next few weeks. We were told it was a relatively straightforward operation, but nevertheless there was a small risk…
During my pregnancy I had very much looked forward to breastfeeding one last baby. I had loved breastfeeding all my babies. I loved the simplicity and the intimacy of that…
A changeling is a fairy, troll or elf left in a cradle in place of a human infant stolen by the fairies. The alien creature exchanged for the lost baby…
Telling people about Martha was difficult. I felt acutely that I was at the same time imparting good news - ‘we have a new baby girl’ - and bad news…
Warning: some people might find some of this content disturbing. I went to some dark places in those early weeks. Outwardly everything looked fine. I cared for my new baby…
The phone call came on a stormy afternoon. It was dark outside, a proper winter’s day, but cosy enough in my kitchen. Baby Martha was lolling in her bouncy chair…
Dr Shah said he needed to check Martha’s heart, there and then. He spent some minutes scanning with a portable machine. There might be a couple of small defects, he…
By the time the surgeon had finished stitching me back together after the c-section I had pretty much convinced myself there was nothing wrong. The doctors would have told me…
When I tell someone we have seven children I will usually get one (or more) of the following reactions: ‘How many?!’ ‘Oh my God, you must be superwoman!’ ‘Are you…
I had other plans for that day. The baby wasn’t due for another two weeks. It was a Saturday morning, and I was going to take Jerome and Verity, aged…
I have always loved the Bible. It’s been part of my life for longer than I can remember. Recently I had the idea of trying to re-tell Bible stories in…
I have just published my first book, thanks to Covid 19! 2020 has been a year of challenges for us all. It has been a year of dealing with disappointment…
Whose fault will it be if Christmas is cancelled this year, the Government’s or the people’s? I keep seeing memes like this on social media. Trying to apportion blame for…
‘We have nothing to learn from these people’ I recently read Unfollow, the autobiography of Megan Phelps-Roper. It was my most inspirational read this year. Megan’s beloved grandfather was the…
“I teach people to let themselves be creative” – Julia Cameron Several months ago, just before the Coronavirus lockdown, my coach Rosemary suggested I have a look at “The Artist’s…
Number one on my bucket list is my heartfelt desire to complete the long version of the Camino de Santiago. Five years ago I walked the final 100 kilometres of…
You are probably familiar with the legend of Pandora’s box. When it was opened, plagues and terrors were unleashed upon humanity. Only hope remained within. We could all do with…
I would love to keep you updated with my recent blogs and latest news about books and publications. Sign up here if you would like to receive my newsletters. You can unsubscribe at any time.