How often have you heard an interview with a politician where, despite repeatedly being presented with a straightforward line of questioning, they manage to avoid giving a single relevant answer?
I recently came across a video promoting the new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book, The Twits. It featured Greg James and Chris Smith discussing how they might go about creating the most “revolting” character. The illustrator asks them if they'd like a glass eye to be included, to which James and Smith respond, “A glass eye! She needs a glass eye. That's it. What a disgusting pair of twits!”.
As someone with food intolerances, I have quite a strict routine when ordering from restaurants. Regardless of whether it’s sitting in or taking away, I always have to phone beforehand so I can check if they can accommodate me. If not, no worries, plenty more fish (suppers) in the sea.
I recently took part in a BBC Disclosure documentary detailing my experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse and stalking. The documentary featured the stories of seven women, all from different parts of Scotland, as we navigate life after leaving abuse.
If the concept of a public library were proposed today, there is no doubt in my mind that it would be rejected by a great number of people as some kind of socialist utopian pipe dream.
It often seems that with every technological breakthrough humanity makes, there soon exists a way for it to be used to hurt people.
One of my very favourite cliches is: “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” You can pick your origin story and exact wording, but the meaning remains consistent: with the right investment and care, we have the ability to lay the groundwork for future generations, so that long after we are gone, they may live a more peaceful, content and enjoyable life than we could.
I was recently asked by a male survivor of sexual assault why I don't write poetry about men who have experienced abuse. I had to sit with this for a while and consider it, as it wasn't something I intentionally omitted to alienate or exclude men. I do write a lot about my experiences as a woman, but it's never been my goal to leave men out of the conversation as I have the utmost respect and compassion for all survivors.
ageing seem as though it’s a moral failing, or something that can't be considered beautiful I was watching a video made by a dermatologist about anti-ageing skincare, under which I saw multiple comments from pre-teens asking if it was too early to start preventative anti-ageing treatments, and how they should go about asking their parents to buy them.
Overly restrictive and complex diets aren’t easily sustainable and studies have shown that people who frequently diet can actually end up gaining more weight in the long term.
