With the recent scandal that’s come to light about acts of sexual abuse in two English monasteries over the last forty years, it’s made me think about my own experiences at a certain Benedictine monastery. Ampleforth Abbey, to be precise, tucked deep into the sweeping hills, yawning valleys and mythical forests of North Yorkshire, as [...]
When I visited the exquisite country of Rwanda eighteen months ago, together with my daughter and Errant Hubby (who was not yet errant back then, needless to say), I had no idea what was in store for me. I’m sure most people will automatically associate the name ‘Rwanda’ with the genocide against the Tutsi that [...]
I’ve recently come back from a school reunion in Vienna. A reunion celebrating not just one year group, but a whole decade that is now nostalgic to those who remember it, and retro to those who weren’t even born yet. Or just being born. Okay, so that rather dates me - but I’m being brave [...]
Hmm. That is the question. Oh come on, it’s just the same as any other day of the year, isn’t it? That’s what all the sceptics and non-superstitious folk will claim. And in terms of having sex - or not, as the case may be - I guess it is just the same as any [...]
“I hope we can still be friends.” “Please let’s still keep in touch.” “I’ll always treasure the time we had together.” “You’ll still always mean a lot to me.” Any of the above phrases sound familiar? Or should I say the above clichés, because at the end of the day, that’s what they are. You [...]
I wonder how many relationships are marred, possibly even destroyed, by a partner’s addiction to porn. Typically the male partner. Is it a harmless addiction – far less harmful than, for instance, alcohol, drugs, gambling or having compulsive affairs? Or is watching porn in itself on a par with having an affair, in the sense [...]
One love to last us our entire lives. Isn’t that a beautiful thought? And isn’t it what we’re brought up to believe, right from earliest childhood? It might be influenced by our own parents as role models, if they had a happy marriage (they should be so lucky!) or, more likely, by fairy tales and [...]
