Relationships

The case of the swelling narrative – or how one book becomes three. Or four. Or ten.

My mother always used to say that concentrating your words to a succinct few was the hallmark of a good speaker—or writer. I’m guessing she’s sighing heavily wherever she is whenever she takes a peek at my work, because dear peeps, it seems to me abbreviation is a skill I am not good at. I …

The case of the swelling narrative – or how one book becomes three. Or four. Or ten. Read More »

I do, I do – until I don’t.

This year, hubby and I will be celebrating thirty-five years of marriage. OMG!!! I’ve been married to the same guy for almost as long as my PT has been on this earth.  Given that close to 50% of all marriages end in divorce, hubby and I deserve a badge of some sort. I did a …

I do, I do – until I don’t. Read More »

Lost and Found – a reflection on friendship

Our lives are defined by relationships: parents, siblings, spouses/partners, children – they all affect who we are and how we evolve. As do friends. My BFF once gave me a magnet which says “Friends are the family we choose ourselves”, and while I am (mostly) quite happy with the family I have, she does have …

Lost and Found – a reflection on friendship Read More »

Under the Weeping Willow – welcoming Jenny Knipfer to my blog

We all have a mother. Some of us, have complicated relationships with the person who gave birth to us. The older I get, the more I realise that we are many, many daughters who have felt we don’t quite live up to expectations when it comes to our mamas. I loved my mother – dearly. …

Under the Weeping Willow – welcoming Jenny Knipfer to my blog Read More »

A surfeit of brothers doth a spicy soup make

Back in the good old days, men wanted sons. Well, OK: back in the really, really old good old days, mothers wanted daughters as most early societies seem to have been matrilineal—but that all changed when our nomadic ancestors settled down and started amassing belongings. Once you have things that belong to you, it becomes …

A surfeit of brothers doth a spicy soup make Read More »

I want out! – or how the history of divorce can inspire a book

It is estimated that approximately 40-50% of all present-day marriages in the Western Hemisphere end in divorce. A rather depressing statistic, some say. A consequence of longer lifespans, the anthropologist will counter, adding that few marriages in the past spanned several decades—usually they ended due to the untimely death of one of the parties. According …

I want out! – or how the history of divorce can inspire a book Read More »

Not every Christmas is a good Christmas – a story of treachery, vengeance and death

So, it is Christmas. Well, not quite, we are still some days away, but all the same, the holiday season is upon us. A season of love and peace, of happy family reunions and the joyful sound of children laughing in the snow. Ha! Sometimes, Christmas is much, much grimmer. Like in the year 1317, …

Not every Christmas is a good Christmas – a story of treachery, vengeance and death Read More »

In Memoriam – of graveyards and mothers

A recent survey here in Sweden has concluded that a majority of Swedish people feel we should spread the ashes of those that have died in the great outdoors. A gust of wind and what little remains of a human after cremation would soar upwards, spread and eventually settle back on the ground. No need, …

In Memoriam – of graveyards and mothers Read More »

Reminiscing in the Tower

When I was a child, I lived in South America. I attended an English school, learnt to read and write in English, sang English songs and studied English history. In third grade, I had a teacher named Mrs Miller who was charged with teaching us about The Hundred Years’ War as well as with starting …

Reminiscing in the Tower Read More »