Start as You Mean to Continue

This may seem like a morbid start to the year, but we took the wee one to St Andrews Cathedral a couple of days ago to let off some steam (read: pursue the enemy alien baddies and use the force to rescue the goodies) and this message captivated me entirely. The topic of mortality is a bit of a […]

Magic Enough

We have had so much delight getting ready for the magic of the festive season this year. When we put up the tree, the little guy danced around the room in between hanging decorations singing ‘this is going to be the happiest Christmas ever!’ He loves every little tiny detail and has been as full […]

Making Ourselves at Home

The weekend has finally arrived. It is time for a new look here at ‘Not Working’… As I mentioned earlier in the week, on Monday I enter the potentially crazy world of workinginsideandoutsidethehome. I am shying away from saying I am going back to work, since it is abundantly clear to me…and most people who […]

Mama Came Back

In younger days, when I contemplated parenthood, I had this idyllic dream of raising my children in community – surrounded by family and friends who loved and helped to nurture them. My children, I mused, would be confident and relaxed and outgoing…and happy to spend time with any caring adults who came their way. They would […]

Working…or not…

I began writing here a couple of years ago when we landed in the USA and I suddenly had no paid employment prospects on the near horizon. At the time I was searching for a new sense of worth…convincing myself that being at home/unemployable (for reasons of immigration policy, not a sudden lack of competence, […]

Charmed By…

With thoughts of creating a thrifty yet homely and hospitable space in Scotland that finally brings ALL our beloved things from around the world into one place, I have been casting about in my spare time for inspiration. In the meantime, I have also tripped over a few things that have me longing for disposable […]

Ten Things of Happiness

Right now there is a lot buzzing about in my head…here are few things that are making me happy. How about you? 1. The wonderful images created by Bianca Gomez, especially the wonderful birds she created for Poolga.com: 2. Cucumbers, they taste so good right now…looking forward to when they will grow in my yard: […]

Getting Your Heart Set

Today is one of those days when I am trying not to get too excited about the prospects of our relocation to the UK. It was one thing not to get too worked up about the possibility of the job Akira has been offered…but now that is a done deal, there are other massive unknowns […]

All Change

So a week ago, I wanted to write and tell you about the crazy night we’d had. In fact I had so many other things going on too…bubbling up and running over…and wanted to let them all blog out of me. Then it got a little hard to get to the PC. And then I […]

In Which She Dreams of Spring…

…and wakes to find it is still -6degC outside. Spring… will you be here soon?