It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything. It’s all happening here. Kids off in all different directions – one in Athens for work and then Bulgaria to a festival in the mountains, another has come back from Australia and I’ve been on un petit week-end en Provence for a […]
We have just had our annual dose of The Hay Festival in Wales. Our sixth year in a row. Always guaranteed to surprise, delight and challenge – you get to see a huge range of talks on virtually every subject you could hope for, given by some of the most […]
Just home from my first visit to the glorious Mauritius, a former French and English colony situated in the Indian Ocean. Geographically positioned between two fast developing continents of Africa and Asia it is currently attracting lots of financial and entrepreneurial interest. Situated next to Reunion Island, below the Seychelles […]
For International Day of Families we all got together to celebrate my mother’s 75th birthday with a curry. All except my daughter who is currently in Australia. Nothing better than a gathering of the troops. So that, coupled with the splendid royal wedding yesterday it’s been a great week for […]
Tacita Dean’s takeover of London is now complete with the opening of her third and final exhibition last night at the Royal Academy which I was lucky enough to attend. Her sister, Antigone, is one of my closest friends and the new film Antigone, part of the Landscape exhibition is […]
A Love That Never Dies is an important new documentary that is being released into UK cinemas from the 18th May. Lovingly made by the parents of their son Josh who died in a road accident in South East Asia seven years ago. Jane Harris and Jimmy Edmonds honour the […]
I’ve just had to have one of our cat’s put down and it’s been a massive trauma for us all. She has been our much loved family cat for over 15 years, surviving a car accident and several house moves. With us through all the ups and downs of the […]
After all these years of single parenting my job is nearly done. I have empty nest syndrome occurring before my very eyes and am beginning to realise that if I’m not careful I will end up home alone with two cats, covered in hair (me, not the cats). One who […]
Over here at Family Affairs headquarters, this little blog has been inadvertently giving out inexpert parenting advice for over ten years now. I say “inexpert” because what parent can give “expert” parenting advice? Even if fully trained in the art of parenting. Even if you’ve read all the books and […]
Rathfinny Estate launched their Sussex sparkling wines this week to the great and the good (and me) at Somerset House and it was a triumph to behold. On March 31st 2012 a whole crowd of family and friends planted the first vines at Rathfinny Estate in Alfriston, East Sussex and […]
I was going to do a post about National Sibling’s Day, but I’m a bit late owing to life getting in the way, so I’m catching up with blog posts now and thought I’d redefine the title and call it “National Bloody Great Children’s Day” instead so that I can […]
Ask any embattled parent about their teenager’s attitude to risk and you will get the same worldwide answer. In fact they don’t really need to say anything – the look of sheer terror is another universally recognised badge of honour. We all know that teenagers are a danger to themselves […]
The sun was shining as we ambled around Paris in the spring, exploring the capital with an extremely relaxed itinerary and comfortable walking shoes. Interesting iconic buildings, cool people, great brasseries and shops seem to appear around almost every corner infused with that intangible joie de vivre the French do […]
