There’s another mystery out my window.  An immaculately dressed, fully made-up lady walks past at least four times a day.  From this angle, it would be even more puzzling, but when I stand up, I see a tall, graceful dog bouncing on a lead in front of her.  In a stange kind of way, the…

He’s been told that the cancer has not been eliminated, but has spread.  There was no-one with him when he heard the news.  His wife is herself too incapacitated and confused to leave the nursing home, and their two children live abroad. He didn’t know how he was going to tell any of them.  He…

Usually when I’m sitting waiting for my bi-annual neurology check-up, nobody gives me a second glance.  But today, I sat one seat away from a lady who clearly wanted to talk.  After discussing the consultant, and the woman’s 20 year experience of MS, she was called in.  As she passed me on her way out,…

You would think, three women, what’s scary about that?  But let me tell you, I have never come across a more intimidating group, not in Govan, not in the classroom, not anywhere.  I know for a fact that if you have these three on your side, you’ll get things done and nobody will stand in…

I’m beginning to learn that happiness is not necessarily about extravagant, traditionally significant things.  Last week, I thought it would be a good idea to take my little boy’s bike to school.  Barely out the gate, I realised this was going to be more awkward than I had anticipated.  Leaning over the handlebars, having to…

…more than somebody who walks like they’re permanently on a wobble-board.  Somebody who, all of a sudden, sheds the image of mild disability to become like anybody else.  I can speak of the lengths I have done, and not the length of naps I’ve had or how hard I’ve found the day. Nobody knows, in…

He had lived here for 60 years now.  It was his main task to ring the bell for prayer, meals and sleeping times.  He had to use a stick to get to the tower now, but he was determined to always be that person, to be of some use.  At the beginning of his time…

You might have been laughing, or chatting loudly, as you approached the open door in the yellow house, but once you crossed the threshold, all noise and cheer were instantly snuffed out.  The shop itself was crammed full of happy things, like ice lollies, crisps and sweets, but you selected and paid for them in…

I’ve lost count of the number of people who’ve said that to me recently.  Nearly every time I’ve said told them Ciara’s going to pre-school.  But I’m wondering, what does it mean?  Am I going to leave my ordinary self behind somewhere for 3 hours, then pick it up again when I collect my daughter? …

There was this boy at school who once brought in a song that he said defined him – Paul Simon’s “I am a rock, I am an island.” He kept himself apart, so no-one could ever laugh at him, or make him feel foolish. It worked for about five years, until this girl came along…