How many times have you bullied yourself?

November 11, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

In a recent interview, singer Melanie C describes therapy as ‘bloody great’. She’s dead right. During therapy, one of my biggest epiphanies was uncovering the link between my early life experiences and inner critic, then taking action to break the pattern. Let’s face it: we all trash talk ourselves. Everyone has an inner dialogue, both […]

Colourful autumn walks in Devon

November 2, 2019.Reading time 5 minutes.

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The changing season can fill us with lots of feelings – nostalgia for those hot summer days, grumpiness because it’s dark at 4pm and weariness from smashing the snooze button for the eighth time because, well, it’s pitch black outside and I am nice and warm here thanks. When we do drag ourselves outside, when […]

Staying alcohol free – each day at a time

October 31, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

You may have reached the end of Go Sober for October without touching a drop of booze. Or you’ve moderated your way through the month and feel full of resolve to erase alcohol completely. Either way, kudos to you for making such a positive change. Leading a life without alcohol in it, even just for […]

My story: dealing with grief after miscarriage

October 15, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

I spent ages debating whether to add to the conversation for Baby Loss Awareness Week. I thought perhaps it’s too personal but I keep coming back to how important it is to speak openly about issues many of us face, often in silence. You see, for me and millions of other women and their partners, […]

Teamwork is everywhere in running

October 12, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

Today we saw something incredible, awesome and off-the-chain inspiring when Eliud Kipchoge shattered the two-hour marathon. To get a sub-two time Kipchoge had to run an average of 2:50 per kilometre: he never dipped below 2:52min per km. He also needed to cover 100metres in 17secs and maintain a speed of 21.1kph (13.1mph). In the […]

A rest from running: my thoughts on taking time out

October 7, 2019.Reading time 4 minutes.

I vividly remember my first time running. It was a grey March evening and, despite never having run before, I had entered the Bristol half marathon that coming September. During those summer months training I fell in love with running. Since then, it has been my go-to medication when life went pear-shaped, my shoulder to […]

Go Sober for October: Be booze free and improve your life

October 1, 2019.Reading time 7 minutes.

Today marks the start of Go Sober for October and I’ve been thinking about how different my life is compared to the one where alcohol was part of it. At the weekend, I went to the Isle of Wight for a writing course. I woke early each day to go for a run and spent […]

Learn the art of doing nothing

September 22, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.” – John Lennon I’d forgotten how much I like doing nothing. By that I mean properly zoning out. This morning I spent time staring into space, watching clouds scudding across the sky. My mind wandering aimlessly. This came about after reading Editor Jo […]

Why it’s not OK to ask about babies

September 3, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

In a few days time I will be 41 and I don’t have children yet. I am childless. Or childfree depending on your view. There is, depressingly, a clumsy and at times insensitive approach towards women like me and it is this: ‘How do you feel about having babies?’ ‘Do you even want children?’ I […]