Sometimes the universe sends a sign — Is grief easier if you are religious? I suspect faith provides a certain comfort. Yet, here I am, drifting between agnostic and atheist. Whilst my mind does not subscribe to religion, I wish, to some extent, I had faith. I consider myself spiritual. If we pay attention to the whisperings…

How to find happiness again, after hitting rock bottom — TW: this piece discusses the death of a young baby, and the impact of grief. As I draw closer to the couple walking ahead, they seem familiar. I realize how I recognize them and my heart sinks. I hold back, to allow them space. They appear to be shadows of…

The love of a special dog, and the impact of grief when she passed — I remember the day I brought her home like it was yesterday. She was so tiny, so innocent, so sweet. I was a bundle of nerves; suddenly my carefree life vanished and I was responsible for this vulnerable little being. What if I failed? What if we did not bond…

You have destroyed my sister — Dear Alcohol, We used to be friends, we used to have fun. There were times you made me sick, but I always came back for more. We shared many special occasions together. You were part of the group. Nights out just weren’t the same without you. …

Sorry for your loss — “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” Thanks to Roger Caras for such eloquent words. Dogs are part of the family. If you are lucky enough to experience the love and loyalty of a dog, you may also know the crushing void left with their…

Why I no longer give flowers — Plant your own garden and decorate your soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. — Veronica Shoffstall I don’t give flowers, after reading this, you may not either. Are flowers an international language of love and empathy? We give flowers as recognition of celebration and commiseration. We…

Is collecting babies an acceptable hobby? — How many children are too many? We all have our own views on what makes a perfect family setup and how many children this involves. For a rising number of people like myself, the right number of children is a big fat zero. Whilst others may opt for anything from…

Not all twins are close. — “Twins, Marian, Gordon, dinner’s ready.” No matter how many times we object to people calling us “twins” we are fighting a losing battle. We even try to prove our point by calling our other siblings “single”. It doesn’t work. This is a repeat assault on my sense of identity and…

Dogs have love figured out — Looking back, he was never going to last. My dogs wriggled and jiggled with excitement and love when I returned home. Heck, they positively sang to me. Whilst he barely looked up from whatever he was doing. That said, I rushed home for the reunion with my dogs, not him…

Is it ever ok to discipline children if you are not their parent? — Oh, the controversy. I listened with curiosity to the voice on the radio. She was encouraging her audience to call in with their views on her latest topic. Is it ever ok to discipline some else’s children? Fed up with a couple of kids running amuck in her shop. A…