Stan took out his pocket watch and tapped it. Dead. He glanced at the small number of blank faces dotted around the railway carriage and tried to catch someone’s eye. Nobody looked up. He coughed apologetically. The stony-faced woman closest to him shifted in her seat. “Excuse me?” A whisper of a man jerked his…

My mum sent this photo a few days ago, marvelling at how something so amazing came from a tiny seed, dropped by a bird as he flew over her garden. She welcomed it as a promise that one day she too will be given a new, lasting life to replace the old tired version she…

My granny always said it. My mum did too, usually when we’d been packed into a boiling caravan playing relentless card games all day long- ‘would you go out and get some fresh air?!’ I suppose when I was more able I never paid attention to it, but now I’m noticing the times and days…

Surviving. Do you ever feel like you’re counting down the days until something is over, hoping for a positive change or gritting your teeth until the bad spell passes?

There’s so much dark around us isn’t there? Cases and deaths are rising, people are giving up, our world is battling with violence, injustice, poverty and disease. Our climate is facing catastrophe.

I’ve had a bothersome morning. The family are out. It was supposed to be a restful time for me in our beautiful holiday cottage.

Lonely. I was sitting by myself, naturally, when a swan slowly wandered around me. As I watched her it struck me she was perfectly happy being there on her own.

Sorry about this folks but it’s all I can do right now. Hope you still enjoy Pat feels he’s…

When you can’t do much.

It has been chokingly hot this past fortnight. People have been opening all the windows and doors in their houses searching for the tiniest of draughts, scuttling into the darkest corners and hiding their dogs indoors lest they pass out from the heat. Gardens are yellow, filled with shriveled plants. Some people haven’t said it,…