I was almost a headline. ‘Elderly woman rescued from motel spa bath.’ Even if I’d kept silent and not called in the emergency services I’d have recognized myself in ‘Sharp rise in Spa bath accidents’ and it was all because the nice man at reception had recommended using the spa bath in the motel unit. … More Stretch and Core
A few weeks ago my sister told me she was planning for a funeral. My mind immediately leapt to court cases and the cost of airfares to Western Australia, while hers, I discovered, was on buying a pair of smart, black trousers for the imminent farewell to one of her husband’s relatives. My sister spoke … More A Pair of Smart, Black Trousers.
I am on holiday somewhere in the hills beyond Bangkok. Well, no, I’m not, the Bangkokians are but yesterday I spent literally two hours hearing all about it so it does feel as though I’m there. I definitely know not have cereal for breakfast. Chloe had me psyched up for that the other day as … More On Holiday
We came back to NZ late in 2009 and began living in a flat. As our stuff was still on an ocean voyage needed to buy the sort of things your independent children ‘borrow’ from your long term storage unit and never replace. So I did what I understood everyone did and went to Briscoes. … More Changes
Being old in the world of old is an eye opener. I’ve joined one of those gyms they advertise on telly – you know the ones associated with ‘LifeStyle’ villages that are filled with happy couples ‘gamboling’ (yep, first time I’ve ever used it), over the manicured lawns, drink in hand and a well-behaved little … More Me and Gym
Its been a weird few weeks. I’ve been doing a LOT of writing. It’s very satisfying to bend and shape these figments of my imagination into a coherant story and each day I’m visiting places in my mind that I’ve truly loved. That doesn’t take up every minute of the day and my latest project … More Sourdough
Sometimes I look around me and all the young women I see are rushing. I assume it’s off to work because a lot of time they’re carrying a car load of kids they drop off at day care and school. Some are still putting on make-up when they stop at the lights and most of … More Every day is WOMEN’S day
This morning I wrote the good news that my husband is now officially cancer free (thank you Bowel Screening Programme). I saved my draft fully intending this to be the subject of the blog but at lunchtime I read one of the funniest and coolest pieces of prose I’ve read in ages and changed my … More Ode to Fredrik Backman
“The Operation” went so well that rather than the predicted five days in hospital recovering, he was home in two and a half. I couldn’t believe it. I’d been allowed to visit and only ever saw him in bed hugging a hottie so how the hell they thought he was good to go was beyond … More The Return to Normal
Bowel cancer invaded our lives just before Christmas. My husband took one of the stick tests sent out by the screening programme and was told he needed to have a colonoscopy. That happened in January and instead of being sent home to wait, we had a deputation appear and draw the curtain around the bed. … More Bowel Cancer
Robyn Anderson 