Not much happens out of the blue. The snakes of lightning across one’s vision before a migraine, the same argument verbatim every few weeks before a break-up, the sudden dread when you know someone’s about to break unwanted news – signs, more often than not, are there in plain sight. I’ve been thinking a lot… Continue reading On the good side
Category: politics
Call it what it is
I wish they’d just be honest, you know? I wish the 25 Alabama senators who voted to pass a bill effectively banning abortion could just be honest about their reasoning. Because of course, they say it’s about protecting the unborn child. Protecting a potential new life. They turn it into an argument about defending the defenceless,… Continue reading Call it what it is
For your eyes and ears
You’ll be pleased to know I’m down off my political soapbox for moment. Here’s what I’ve been reading and listening to over the last week or so… The books Conversations With Friends, Sally Rooney This has been on my to-read list for months, as it was widely praised upon its release last year, and most of… Continue reading For your eyes and ears
Leave no woman behind
I know I’ve been something of a one-issue pony over the last week or so, but funnily enough, as a woman, a referendum in a country just across the water on whether women should be forced to continue with pregnancies they don’t want feels quite personal. I don’t buy the often-trotted-out line that “feminism will… Continue reading Leave no woman behind
On politics and anger
It was about twenty years ago that, following one of her traditional Sunday roasts, my darling Granny managed to serve someone’s portion of rhubarb crumble with mayonnaise. It went down in Parnell-Helyer history, and became a kind of family shorthand for an act of foolishness: “it’s all gone a bit mayonnaise-on-the-rhubarb”. Whenever I recall it… Continue reading On politics and anger
The price of power
There’s a talk by American activist and media pundit Dan Savage about romantic relationships and their “price of admission”. Essentially, the price of admission is the thing(s) you’re willing to put up with to have your partner in your life. It might be a bad habit, an obscure fetish, or a political belief. A friend… Continue reading The price of power
Better than this
I’ve been trying to write about tomorrow’s election for a couple of weeks now, but I’ve struggled. I read Dave Eggers’ 2013 novel The Circle over the weekend – binged on it, really, and if you haven’t read it, I urge you to – and it made me incredibly conscious of how many opinions we now try… Continue reading Better than this
When fear is the easy option
I’m quite excitable by nature – it doesn’t take much to give me one of those mini-rushes of everyday joy*. The mere sight of Brighton’s white buildings against blue skies. Meeting dogs – any dogs – on the street or at the beach. Plump-cheeked toddlers. Pretty skirts and dresses. Pretty skirts and dresses that have… Continue reading When fear is the easy option
Awareness is not enough
If like me, you spend most of your waking hours refreshing Twitter, on the look-out for cute puppy gifs, excellent puns and headlines to get outraged about, you’ll know that this week is Mental Health Awareness Week. And I don’t want to get all Piers “Sentient Ham” Morgan on you, but I’m fresh out of… Continue reading Awareness is not enough
Hypocrisy in bloom
When I started writing this post in my head earlier this week, I thought I was turning into one of those people – you know, the type who always has to have the controversial opinion, the kind of person who’d manage to play Devil’s Advocate in a discussion about kittens, or cake, if they could.… Continue reading Hypocrisy in bloom
Inbetween Girl 