Typecast

After I shared my 2022 planner/diary blog post I received some messages about what pens I use, especially from people who were new to considering Tomoe River paper (in the Hobonichi) or wondering why I was raving about 120gms paper (for the Filofax refill). For me, the paper I use has to be responsive to the ink in my pen, so here's a quick overview of the pens I use regularly...   Fountain Pentel JM20  : This is basically a disposable fountain pen with a plastic nib that feels firm on one side and flexible on the other which will generate a thick and thin line, depending on which side you use.  It has black ink, a plastic barrel and a clip on the cap.  I appreciate that this isn't exactly environmentally friendly but I off-set that in other ways, hopefully.  Monteverde Prima Rollerball : I received this to review five years ago  and it quickly became one of my favourite writing implements because of the chunky barrel which is actually unique in its desig...

Around mid-November, I always start thinking about what diary and planning system I'm going to use next year. I have a few tried and tested favourites but there's always something new that piques my interest. For 2022 I did consider returning to a travellers notebook system and seriously looked at the Jibun Techo , however, I am going to be fairly traditional with my choices but will be splitting business and personal. It's always worth remembering that I treat my diaries and planners as a B.O.A.T - my Book Of All Things. It's always to hand and I scribble ideas, reminders, shopping lists and to-do lists down alongside regular notable dates and appointments. It's my portable brain dump. So let's dive in...  Hobonichi Techo (A6) I first used a Hobonichi Techo back in 2015 because I thought the 'page a day' journal style layout would be great for the variation of the bullet journal system I use. However, the blank space gave me a sense of overwhelm so ...

It's that time of the year again and you're either SUPER organised and finished your Christmas shopping in July or you are - like me - panicking about a couple of presents because they are 'at a funny age' (like my granddaughter or 'they don't need anything' (at least one of my sons). So here is my annual gift guide which will hopefully help you find that amazing, inexpensive present that you'd never thought of! (Please do keep an eye on this page because I tend to add to it as I find inspiration) Big Bobble Hats I've been an ambassador for Big Bobble Hats for a couple of years now and have about six of their designs, plus some of their matching buffs.  These are a great stocking filler and I'm sure there's a colour combination to match your outfit, your running club colours or just something hugely fun.  This one here is the one I wear for parkrun because it matches the high-viz jacket I wear when volunteering!   If you use the code TC15 w...

This is the Knife Angel , currently on display in Blackburn, Lancashire. It has taken four years to make and was created by artist, Alfie Bradley at the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire. It stands 27 feet tall and is made from 100,000 seized and surrendered blades.   It has already toured thirteen UK towns and cities, making significant impact to individuals, families and communities. It is much more than just a sculpture as, whilst on display, there are amnesty boxes where knives can be safely deposited, a peace vigil has been held and there are core educational programme for schools and community groups. I've now seen it during the day and at night and it had a different impact on me both times. You can't just wander past it and muse about knife crimes. You have to pause, look closely at the craftsmanship, take into account that some of those blades had been used - or intended to be used - to hurt, maim or kill someone.  If you're in the area, take some ...

Your backyard isn't just a place for your dog to bury things or empty outside space. It can be a new section of your home that works well for entertainment or a spot where you get in shape. Renovating your backyard can make your house feel much more of a home. Here are some of the benefits of renovating your backyard. Gives Your Unused Space Purpose The backyard tends to be neglected, especially during the winter season. However, you can get backyard contractors to help you create a better space. Maybe you can have a swing set or a play area for your kids to encourage them to play outside. You can watch your younger kids play around in the comfort of home. It's better than going to a local park because you have personal space to allow them to express themselves. Not to mention, you can have a place to relax and spend some quality time with your little ones. Brings Your Loved Ones Together You don't have to go to a bar or a restaurant to enjoy some time with friends and fam...

Now the nights are drawing in and the temperature is dropping, there's definitely a need to wrap up in all kinds of soft and snuggly clothing.  I have my one of my crocheted blankets on the back of the sofa ready to tuck around me, a lovely fluffy dressing gown to snuggle up in when I get changed into my pajamas and my slipper socks to keep my feet warm and toasty.  Yes, slipper socks are my current guilty pleasure (and I'm wearing my penguin ones right now) and much better than traditional slippers, so here are some recommendations.  Fair Isle Pattern The Fair Isle pattern is very classic and traditional but there's so many colour combinations that you can mix and match your splash of colour to help cheer you up. These slipper socks which I bought from Amazon are quite short but have a great grip on the sole to stop me from skidding across our laminate flooring!  Cable Knit  These cute cable knit slipper socks are just perfect with the bit of faux fur peepin...

What would you do with an extra hour? I hate the phrase : "We all have the same 24 hours in the day". I hear it bandied about by all manner of life coaches and even used to use it myself when mentoring young adults. Yes we DO have the same 24 hours in the day but we don't all have the same opportunities or financial security. Earlier this month, another of Arnold Schwarzenegger's newsletter sections resonated with me and it was this... Use the 24 hours that we are given wisely - and include sleep in that time too. That hour scrolling on social media (ironic, huh?) could be spent reading a book. Another hour could be spent as quality time with family or a friend. Another hour could be spent learning a new skill or working on your personal development. This way of thinking has given me a new perspective on my 24 hours. PS: please do click that link to Arnie's newsletter. It's the highlight of my inbox each month and I put aside at least half an hour to devour i...

This little girl is me. She had big ideas and huge dreams. She wanted to smash all the stereotypes and really did start making waves by being one of the first girls to join the traditionally all-male "Air Training Corps". She wanted to be a pilot in the RAF. She wanted to be a successful athlete. Over time, her confidence was chipped away because people didn't believe in her. They didn't give her the encouragement she needed. They laughed at her for lots of reasons, including some that she had no control over; changes couldn't be made. But life has a way of presenting a path that provides challenges to mould a person you never thought you could be. There are opportunities that you would never have considered. Success cannot be defined by one action or outcome - it is a collaboration of many events. And that is where I am at right now. I am not where I expected to be at almost 50 years old. I didn't expect a car accident to stop my promising athletics career w...

I live in a mill town in the north of England.  The local area is back-to-back terraced houses with an alleyway separating each road. It's very traditional - we've even still got cobbles!  However, that cobbled alleyway is an embarrassment - and has been for a LONG time. There's a mix of home-owners and rental properties - and the rental properties experience a lot of short-term tenancies.  I've always found that the pride in looking after your house and surrounding area varies dramatically depending on the expectancy of stay in your home. Long-term tenants and home owners want to make a comfortable living space that they can enjoy year after year.  Short-term tenants will only see the end of their tenancy and wonder why they should improve their house only to benefit the landlord and the next occupants.  Over the past few years, there's been a HUGE problem with waste being dumped in the alley.  There's everything from the mixing of rubbish (contamination)...

I live in an area where EVERYONE is encouraged to go for their Covid vaccine, regardless of age due to the high number of cases. There is also a drive to bring forward the second vaccination for those who are eligible and I'm MASSIVELY in favour of this. However, scrolling through social media, I am seeing some "Millennials" or "Gen Y" aged people saying that now they are "vaxed" they are going to ditch their mask. I've also seen so-called "influencers" posting videos of them tossing a mask over their shoulder whilst dressed, ready to go "out out". I'm not going to start spouting off about who, why, how, etc but (1) the vaccine works with your immune system to fight the virus if exposed and (2) masks will block respiratory droplets when talking, both of which help SLOW the spread of Covid-19. Anyone sharing on social media can influence someone else so people prepared to share their own "message" need to GET IT RIG...

Years ago, I used to buy colouring books with patterns rather than pictures and, armed with freshly sharpened pencil crayons or a brand new pack of felt tipped pens, I lost myself for a while. It was my escape from the real world. I was recently reminded of this when a friend suggested that I do some colouring to help me 'meditate' after feeling low with my mental health. I'd totally forgotten how brilliant it was. I also took this time to map out a couple of patterns for a crochet blanket that I want to make over the next few weeks. It was all very therapeutic. And this gave me an idea. I did a bit of research around colouring for therapy and it's increase in popularity over the last few years. I found that full colouring books were sometimes very expensive - especially in the current climate - and once they were completed, that was that. Why not create an affordable digital download so that once the pages are purchased, they can be printed as many times as you like? S...

Photo by C D-X Living with a disability can be incredibly isolating, especially after the last year’s social distancing measures. You can feel lonely and as though you’re the only person you know who’s struggling. There are ways to manage this feeling of loneliness and ways to minimise its impact on your mental health. Sometimes talking to someone about the way you’re feeling can be too overwhelming. A podcast is a brilliant way to bridge this gap without needing to feel vulnerable and exposed to someone else. You can listen to people talking about their experiences with disability, and the chances are, you might just relate to what they say. Podcasts are hugely beneficial and can help you to feel less alone. Here are a few podcasts that focus on disability and the challenges disability can bring. Airing Pain The presenters of Airing Pain talk about chronic forms of pain with specialists and also share some fantastic resources available for those suffering. This podcast connects people...

Many of my peers - also known as " women of a certain age " - are going through the menopause at the moment and in a weird sort of way, I feel like I'm missing out on being able to join the movement to break down some stigma about it. During my menopause, I blogged about my experiences but I deleted that content (along with a whole load of other blog posts) when I rebooted my blog in 2009 and it's something I totally regret. I can't fully recapture the emotion behind how I felt at the time. It is being spoken about more freely thanks to people like  Davina McCall  who has used her social standing and fame to bring this issue to the forefront of the media and shatter taboos. I had my hysterectomy in 2003 when I was 30 due to a long history of gynaecological problems. It really was the only solution to combat a number of problems which included cysts, fibroids, a prolapsed womb, and endometriosis. It wasn't an ideal situation for someone so 'young' but ...

Our homes can get cluttered from time to time. Especially when we spend lots of time at home, as many of us have over the last year. Now we can have guests over to stay at our homes and host more social events  with lockdown being eased across the country , it is time to tidy up our pandemic messes and declutter our homes. Decluttering can feel like a monumental task.  All those miscellaneous household purchased made throughout the lockdowns have piled up , storage is at a premium and everything needs organising. Although we have all become accustomed to our own comfort, it is now time to sort out our homes and enjoy life again. In this article, we look at some top tips for getting your home decluttered quickly and with ease. Photo by Mikael Cho Tidy Up The first step in getting your home decluttered is to tidy up. Simply ironing and folding away your laundry; folding cost blankets off the couch; putting away clean dishes and tidying away your mess is a good start. Failure to ...

Interior design can sound daunting for those who haven’t tried it yet, but with these simple tips you’ll be able to make minor renovations to your home in a doddle. Image by Jason Briscoe Budgeting, planning, and finances Having a clear idea of what your budget is when designing your home and how this price point will help to achieve your DIY goals will allow you to make a plan and stick to it. Having a clear direction of where you want to go, how long it might take, and whether there could be any additional costs or setbacks along the way means you can take charge of your project and also prepares you for any outcome. Breaking it down By breaking your interior design projects down into more manageable chunks, you’ll be able to take your time and devise a method that suits you best. This way, if it becomes too difficult or you’re beginning to get pushed for time, you won’t have bitten off more than you can chew, and you should still be able to make some home amendments. Start by prior...

Imagine searching for something for twenty-odd years and never finding it. Imagine blogging about it twelve years ago and still no leads. Imagine randomly mentioning it on a Facebook group in 2021 and someone saying "I can help"... In the early 1990s I signed up to a book club. You would receive a selection of books each month and you could choose to keep them and pay for them, or send them back in a pre-paid envelope. One of the bundles I bought was three 'chick lit' style novels and the storylines gave me a bit of light relief when the kids were in bed. I always kept books. I love to dip in and out of old favourites and used some as starting points for my creative writing. Nowadays, my Kindle is always nearby and I never have to worry about storage or books getting lost or damaged. Which is where this story starts... One of the books disappeard in a house-move. It had become a bit battered and dog-eared but, to me, that is the sign of a much-loved tome. I d...