The 15th April, 2010 was a day not much different to today. The autumn sun had slipped lower in the sky, making the day cool enough for a jacket. As I was putting my mascara on in the bathroom, ahead of a normal day at work, the telephone rang. The man on the other end of… Read More
Before I was married, I spent most of my time sampling a smorgasbord of lovers, without feeling any need to restrict my appetites to only one person. During those heady days of sexual freedom, there was always the thought in the back of my mind that I would one day ‘settle down’. I never questioned the expectation that… Read More
When I first met my boyfriend on the street outside my house five years ago, he hugged me and then kissed me on the lips. Just as they describe in books and songs, the heavens opened and the angels sang. This man was hands down the best kisser I’d ever met. They say you can… Read More
He is walking up the road in front of me, wearing the heavy boots he never took off, black jeans and a backpack slung over his shoulder. In his hand is a silver gift bag, like the ones they give away in expensive shops. When he gets to the top of the hill, he turns… Read More
Women of a certain age complain loudly about feeling invisible. They report being ignored in shops and restaurants, eyes glancing past them as though they weren’t even there. Many women are reluctant to stop colouring their hair because they think this will make the problem worse. In the society we live in, older people in general,… Read More
A long, long time ago, before many of you were born, Coca-Cola screened a television advertisement featuring the song, “I’d Like To Teach the World to Sing (in Perfect Harmony)”. The song became a world-wide hit and was recorded as a single by the New Seekers and the Hilltop Singers. I was seven years old in 1971, but… Read More
As soon as the taxi dropped me at home, I telephoned my mother to let her know I was safe and sound. “How long were you away this time?” she asked. “Nine weeks,” I said. “We had rehearsals in Tokyo and then performed at the Singapore Arts Festival.” There was a long silence on the other end… Read More
When I decided to enter a body-building competition in my forties, there was something the trainers and seasoned competitors forgot to tell me. They forgot to warn me that once you’ve experienced being so thin that your tailbone digs into the chair, any weight higher than that will feel fat. So from my point of view, I spend… Read More
The pastor stared at his hands as if he were avoiding looking at me. “Are you sleeping with him?” he asked. I wondered for a moment if I should lie and tell him no. But lying was as much of a sin as fornication. Maybe it was less of a sin. I wasn’t sure anymore.… Read More
He’s my dad but I like to call him Bob. When I was a little he used to say “When people say ‘Bob’s your uncle’, you can say ‘actually, Bob’s my father.’” In the photos I have of him when he was young, I can see a spark of mischief in his brown eyes. It seemed… Read More
I am fifty years old and my ovaries are on their last legs. They manage to muster up enough effort to squeeze out a tired old egg every couple of months or so, but to be honest, we’ve reached the bottom of the barrel. Very soon there will be none left. I could be accused… Read More
If I had a daughter, against all advice to the contrary, I would tell her she is beautiful. I would also tell her she is clever, important and capable of great love, but I would still insist she is beautiful. Some feminists believe that claiming the label of beautiful means women are striving to meet some predetermined… Read More
The advertisement promises: Triple anti-aging action: anti-wrinkle, firming and radiance boosting. When it comes to younger looking skin, we all want immediate results, but also improved skin for the future. This skin care range boosts your skin with moisture and radiance, leaving it softer and smoother within seconds. The regenerative plant cells work continuously on your skin to improve… Read More