Acts of Kindness
When I was in hospital last year, a friend wrote to me. She wanted to send me flowers but they were not allowed on the ward I was in. Rules is rules so, instead, she said she was going to plant up pot...
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Editorial - Sally Brampton
Comparing Ourselves to Others
When my daughter was a teenager, she spent a great deal of time thinking about appearance, just like every other teenage girl in the known universe. I’m too fat, my hair is too frizzy, my face is too...
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Gardening
This is my favourite time of year, when Mother Nature wakes from the long, deep sleep of winter. The branches of trees are dusted with fresh new green, and the woods are alive with the gentle colours...
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Change
Last week, my life changed irrevocably. It took all of three minutes. I was sitting in my study at home on a sunny morning, when the telephone rang. It was the editor of the newspaper for whom I write...
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Letting Go
I like to collect quotes and one of my favourites is this, by Rudyard Kipling. “Never look backwards or you’ll fall down the stairs.” It is such a hilarious image but so undoubtedly true; perfect for...
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Gratitude
You know those days when everything seems to go wrong? Well, it is only 9am and it is one of those days. The problems have piled up like dirty laundry. Oh, and the washing machine has broken. The floo...
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