I first realised the capacity for heroism in children when I was nine years old.  After years of terrorist threats to his and his family’s life, my dad was forced to take us all away from our home to a safe and secret place.  All of a sudden what was known and certain crumbled, and…

I can’t believe that after all my spouting about new pencil cases back in September, it’s taken the new year to bring me back here.  I wonder how many people have dreams of writing as I do and then are too uncertain to begin.  It’s all about putting something, anything down, but if you’ve got…

It’s that time of year – school’s back, leaves are falling, wasps are frantic and the sun has grudgingly decided it’s time to come out.  Going to get my wee boy’s first pair of shoes yesterday gave me that September feeling, and just like I used to get a new pencil-case every year for school,…