Free range kids roll on

Last Saturday was a day designated by Lenore Skenazy as “Take your kids to the park and leave them there” day. The goal behind this day was to encourage helicopter parents (those who hover) to give their kids a little free reign and let them learn to be independent. And we’re talking 7 years old and up, not toddlers.

In the lead up to the actual day, I read the comments and reactions to the idea with interest. I expected people to express doubt and disagreement, there was no surprise there. What had me rather flummoxed was the notion that apparently some parents don’t let their kids out of their sight – even in their own homes.

Maybe I should say “allegedly” rather than “apparently” – because I simply don’t believe that it’s true…

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camping in the woods

  • By Alison
  • 29 May, 2010
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We spent Saturday of last weekend at a scout camp, doing organised activities, playing in the woods and camping. And also, snapping some photos.


Here’s a post for all the stabby people out there

  • By Alison
  • 23 May, 2010
  • Comments Off on Here’s a post for all the stabby people out there

Have you had it up to here with rude pushy people?

Are you sick of people making demands of you all the time?

Do you hate it when self obsessed people yack on and on about themselves?

Is your day filled with annoying folk who don’t know how stupid they are?

Does that slow little old lady meandering down the street in front of you make you want to scream?

Are you getting stabby?

Well, here’s a post for you!

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in which I play with iphone apps

I’ve been using a couple of iphone apps to adjust and edit my photos (just for a laugh) so here are the results!


In which I try, and fail to beat Pygmalion

Before I moved to England, I was able to do a pretty impressive Scottish accent. And a not too shabby Irish one.

But then I stepped off the plane and arrived in Old Blighty and realised that what I thought was pretty amusing – wasn’t. And that also – England is a land of absurdly complex and varied accents, which can’t be generalised under the main headers of “posh toff” or “cockney herbert”.

In the early days, when I still behaved like a tourist, and did silly things like going and getting really drunk at The Church – or worse, getting really drunk at somewhere NOT The Church because The Church was full, and we didn’t get in – I often got into arguements with people who were insulted that I didn’t recognise their accent.

Invariably, these people were – almost without fail – Welsh.

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The one in which I start a war with my neighbours. Or have sex with them.

I start so many blog posts in my head, get to about the third paragraph, then forget the entire thing. Which is a real shame, because I am hugely witty … Continue Reading →


cat on a (not) hot (or) tin roof

It’s not summer yet, but as the eternal optimist I’ve put the shade sails up. And the cat loves it. Makes for some funky photos too!


How to train your husband

I was going to write a quick guide on how to train your husband this week. But my first port of call was some research into the matter, and I … Continue Reading →


painting rocks in the backyard

  • By Alison
  • 28 April, 2010
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Why my children will hate me now.

I’m not what you’d call a technical prude. Quite the opposite in fact. I embrace technology whole heartedly, then let it consume me and take over my life, with potentially … Continue Reading →