I’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to Italy with my family. We’re lucky enough to have some great friends out there, and recent events being as they are it had been far too long since we’d met. I love everything about Italy, the people, the delicious food, the stunning architecture, but most of all … Continue reading Parli Italiano? It’s all good in theory, but where’s the practice?
Blog
Weekly articles full of musings and observations on topics that are capturing my curiosity.
Write it out loud: dictation for writing
I've always found it easier to put words into writing than to say them out loud, there's something about the connection between my brain and my fingers that helps me find what I want to say, yet I struggle to access this level of coherence when I'm speaking. My friend rocked my world recently by … Continue reading Write it out loud: dictation for writing
Penis doodles: what’s that all about?
My ten year old son came home from school yesterday talking animatedly and knowledgably about penises and vagina's. I don't think I've seen him this excited about learning in school since the day they had a visit from an African drumming crew, he was enthralled! It was charming and hilarious at the same time (yes, … Continue reading Penis doodles: what’s that all about?
The Art of Compassionate Arguing
The Art of Compassionate Arguing I recently returned from a week’s holiday with eighteen relatives and friends to celebrate a family birthday. The trip was filled with love and laughter, but there were also some lively discussions (arguments, if you want to get technical) between me and another family member who we’ll call ‘Stevie.’ I … Continue reading The Art of Compassionate Arguing
Out of the Way
No ideas from the ether It’s like someone closed the door Chewed up spat out words Find their place upon the floor The puzzle pieces jar All edges and no fit The riverbed sits cracked and dry The bulb’s no longer lit But from the space within the small hours No expectation and no strain … Continue reading Out of the Way
Ten days of silence: My Vipassana Meditation Experience
The first question most people ask is, why? Why would you want to spend ten days meditating in complete silence: no phone, no books, no distractions? I still don’t have a good answer, I only know that I did, and that’s a good enough reason for me these days. I had a few last-minute nerves … Continue reading Ten days of silence: My Vipassana Meditation Experience
Parenting in Hindsight: the toddler years
Surrounded by toddlers and pre-schoolers at my nephew’s fourth birthday party, I looked on with empathetic amusement as the parents of these bundles of energy did their best to mitigate destruction and injury, and realised I have a lot to reflect on about parenting in the toddler years. I miss the sweetness of my kids, … Continue reading Parenting in Hindsight: the toddler years
Screw-ups: the school of life’s most successful teacher
I’ve been working hard over the years to cultivate a state of being that sweats the small stuff less. I’ve been more successful than I dared hope, but just when I think I’ve got it all figured out, a curve ball reminds me there’s always more work to do. I’ve just returned from a week’s … Continue reading Screw-ups: the school of life’s most successful teacher
Write it out
I used to be a great sleeper. If you asked me what my superpower was, it would be sleep. I was a sleep ninja, adept at drifting to the land of nod and staying cocooned there until morning (discounting those years when my children were young and a solid night's sleep was a distant memory: … Continue reading Write it out
Change: incremental or monumental?
I’ve been writing a poem on the theme of change for my poetry group next month and it started me thinking about change in relation to personal growth (to be fair, it’s not very often I’m not thinking about this in some capacity, being a bit of a self-improvement junkie). But is got me wondering: … Continue reading Change: incremental or monumental?
Rae Cod’s Writing 