Oh hiiiiiiiii. It’s been ages. So much has happened, yet as I go to write about what that was, my is blank. Oh, I changed my hair colour which is a nice change. But I guess the main thing is probably that I turned 41 since my last post. Like most years, I feel noContinue reading “Happy birthday houses”
Author Archives: Paps
Having your shit together
A couple of people have commented recently about how I’ve got my life / shit together. My instant thought was to say ‘oh hell no, no I haven’t, no one’s got their shit together’ but that reaction felt like a deflection of a compliment, and as soon as I thought about saying it, I couldContinue reading “Having your shit together”
Tales from lockdown revisited – author’s note
Well that’s it folks, the final Tales From Lockdown – Revisited has been published. What an absolute JOY it’s been to chat again to these people and tell more of their life stories. Nearly two years have passed yet the first conversations seem like only yesterday. So many different things to talk about, I hopeContinue reading “Tales from lockdown revisited – author’s note”
Babies and back to work
‘We last chatted in May 2020, so it’s been nearly 2 years since we last spoke,’ I say to the screen. ‘How’s it been for you?’ Natalie looks at me and laughs. ‘Well, this,’ she says, holding up the cutest little baby in a pink babygrow. ‘This happened! We’ve been pretty busy, it’s been aContinue reading “Babies and back to work”
My 40th year – April (month #12)
Well it’s been quite the year. I started it terribly burnt out and am ending it feeling much better. Slightly battered and bruised, but much, much better. I’d known I was burnt out, I’d already spent months trying all sorts of things to keep a handle on it. Float pods, reflexology, exercise, you name it,Continue reading “My 40th year – April (month #12)”
My 40th year – March (month #11)
This is the penultimate post in this series, the second to last nurturing activity, and I’m trying to work out whether I think it’s gone quickly or not. And I don’t just mean trotting out the usual ‘ooh well I just don’t know where this year’s gone to’ phrase, I mean has it actually goneContinue reading “My 40th year – March (month #11)”
Covid Culture
‘I’ve got wine, is that OK?’ Katie asks me, holding a glass of red up to the screen. I laugh. ‘Of course!’ She laughs too, and I think how different the start of this interview is to the previous one, where she started crying before she’d hardly said a word. ‘So I’m in a uniqueContinue reading “Covid Culture”
Project Ruth
‘Is this when you want a really horrible camera angle?’ Ruth laughs, looking down into the camera that shows her face and a beamed ceiling. She’s in the same kitchen as she was for our first interview, and yet again I picture her little country cottage nestled in a picture perfect Cotswold village, surrounded byContinue reading “Project Ruth”
Greenpeace and gourmet takeaways
‘My gosh, that is such an interesting question,’ Abi says, when I ask her how the last 18 months has been. ‘Weird. My life has never been how I planned but this, well, this is super weird.’ It’s November 2021, and Abi’s in a prolonged lockdown in Auckland. ‘It started just after my 40th birthday,Continue reading “Greenpeace and gourmet takeaways”
The Paps Life 