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Why is it that before you go away, children are at their very sweetest? We are about to go away for 2 nights, on our own, to a perfect little hotel in Spain. I went there initially, on my first honeymoon. Few rooms, delicious food, discreet service and peace in the sunshine. It took a little encouraging to persuade my husband that just because I'd been there with my first husband, shouldn't mean that we can't ever go there. Once over that rather odd hurdle, we had a wonderful time there a few years ago. This morning at breakfast, as...

I am very aware that whatever I write about the silent meditation retreat, will seem unbelievable, but I mean every word. My mind has been blown. Guy Burgs was the most extraordinary teacher, and I can't really explain properly in words, but it was profoundly life changing. The not speaking  and not being spoken to, for a week, was as blissful as I had imagined. Peace. We spent our days either on a cushion being taught, or meditating, or doing yoga or chi gong. I have never felt more rested or at peace. There were 50 of us from all over...

"Mum, why don't you cook for us like this" my eldest said, when I had prepared a supper for the headmaster who was coming for supper. He was talking about the chocolate roulade which takes 13 minutes to make, and looks exciting. Full of whipped cream, a chocolate sauce and light sponge. The eldest has just got into the school he wanted to go to, a big moment. His life feels like it is set now, and he will go in a year's time, without a backward glance. He will adore it, and I better start making more roulades for...

Tonight I typed 'child muzzle' into Amazon. Needless to say, they don't exist, unless you want to get one for a pug and try that, but the threat of buying one I think did. My youngest has been endlessly whiney, and I finally had enough this evening watching the football. My mother told me to watch it on sky, not something I have ever done before, watch a football match, as my brother was there and she thought the camera might zoom in on her dauphin. I resorted to muzzling him with my hand and then we fell about with...

I have just returned from a week at home in Scotland, with my mother. Going home is a sanctuary for me, heaven on earth. My mother collects us all in her beetle, we squish in, all the children piled on top of each other, and if we're lucky, without the dog breathing all over us. Mum always looks a little shell shocked at the end of the first day, since my Father died, she has become used to life on her own . By the 2nd day, she has acclimatised to the change in gear, and by the end of the week,...