I was at a business networking event recently where the speaker was from a charity. I sat back expecting to hear about the vital work that the charity do – and I did hear that. I then expected to hear about the struggles the charity faces to provide its much needed services in the face… Read more »
Posts Categorized: HNM Column
The most agonising decision. And a happy bed.
How would you react if your dying child asked to be cryogenically preserved? I’ve not experienced it first hand, but I imagine the death of a child must be the most distressing of all losses. It’s against the natural order of things and in a perfect world would never happen. But children do die. There… Read more »
The power of Christmas Adverts
The real power of advertisers this Christmas The power of advertising can’t be underestimated. If that were ever in doubt, just look at the John Lewis Christmas ad. Not only was it released a day ahead of schedule, ostensibly to ‘cheer us all up’ from Donald Trump’s victory across the pond, but the news of… Read more »
Farewell to Fort George
For months my social media has been dominated by American politics but on Monday a new topic was dominating; the announced closure in 2032 of Fort George as a working army barracks. Kinross Barracks, also in the firing line, appear to have been spared. The announcement came in spite of a bravely fought campaign by… Read more »
Turning 50 (with help from friends) isn’t half bad.
Turning 50 (with help from friends) isn’t half bad. ‘So what does it feel like to be 50, Mum?’ my nearly 20 year old daughter asked me last Friday. And at that point in the morning – in the midst of opening presents and cards from friends and family, with a cup of tea in… Read more »
Whatever happened to ‘Doctor knows best’?
Whatever happened to ‘Doctor knows best’? The days of the paternalistic Dr Finlay were finally laid to rest this week with a report from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AOMRC), telling us that we need to question our doctors more. According to the report 40 common treatments have been identified that offer little or… Read more »
Confused about sexual consent? Tea helps.
About 18 months ago I watched a clip on YouTube called Tea Consent. This week, with all the furore in the media about footballer Ched Evans having his rape conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal, I watched it again. It was well worth another three minutes of my time. In case you’ve not seen… Read more »
Could you be a Home-Start volunteer?
Home-Start need volunteers to give families a helping hand Our girls have left home now, both living in Glasgow, both presumably getting up to all sorts of shenanigans that I’d really rather not know about. But our parenting journey wasn’t always straightforward, and it doesn’t take much for me to remember how tough it occasionally… Read more »
Highland Blindcraft. So much more than beds.
Highland Blindcraft. I bet you think you know all about it…? Not every workplace has a ‘station’ for guide dogs. Not every workplace has staff who can multi-task and turn their hand to every part of the operation, from start to finish. Not every workplace has one employee who boasts he has been there ‘for… Read more »
We are officially empty-nesters. Celebrations, tinged with sadness.
We are officially empty-nesters. I’m not sure whether to celebrate or cry. In spite of all my bravado, I’m not sure I was quite ready for Daughter #2 to leave home. Having been through it all before – with Daughter #1’s dramatic departure to Honduras for a year at the age of 17, and with… Read more »