So. I'm not positive I've adequately conveyed the full horror of the last wee while, and I have to, in order to express the joy I'm feeling right now ( Read more... )

There's a special bread you have to make for Orthodox Easter that my grandmother has made every year since the dawn of time. Approximately *thrice* others - interlopers, poor fools - have tried their hands. The result has always been loaf upon loaf of uneaten bread, and much scorn and derision. Cooking at our place, you see, is a competition. ( Read more... )

I just wanted to let you all know I'm still alive and apologise in advance - or in arrears - for any delays in replying to emails/comments etc. I usually like to reply immediately, but this has been the busiest ten days of my life, and it's not quite over yet. New job, new house, why I had to do both in a week I don't know. And I can't check non ( Read more... )

I darkened my family church's door for the first time in years yesterday, for my youngest cousin's christening. Miraculously, I did not, in fact, burst into flames crossing the threshold.

Despite leaving home two hours early, I managed to get distracted at a friend's house by a dusty pile of old Blake's 7 zines she'd unearthed while shifting. ( Read more... )

My family is a Greek tragedy. Literally and metaphorically. If I had to choose, I'd say we're the Trojan Women. There hasn't actually been a war, but it's an all female cast, with the men as unseen malevolent forces ( Read more... )

So my birthday officially finished three minutes ago... I survived the entire day without crying once, so I hereby acclaim it as one of the most successful in my twenty-eight years on planet earth ( Read more... )

I spoke to my grandfather tonight for the first time in eleven years. It was a very strange experience. The last time I set foot in his house, I climbed up the fire escape in the middle of the night, bundled a number of my grandmother's most treasured belongings into a sheet, and made my escape, humming the theme to Mission Impossible the whole ( Read more... )

alleluia! alleluia! alleluia!

Friends, Romans, Countrymen! Everyone I've ever complained bitterly to! Join me now in a moment of the purest happiness, relief, and yes, joy I've felt all year.

The child formerly known as the anti-Alexander has been officially called Heracles instead!After almost two months without a name, the poor wee boy was ( Read more... )

I am infuriated. I'm also irate. Incensed. Indignant. Insulted.

And over such a small thing. Such a little thing. But that's the trouble, isn't it? Because sometimes the little things make you maddest. And noone sympathises, or even realises how upset you really are ( Read more... )

My baby sister just gave me the most beautiful birthday present I think I've ever received. The more so because we haven't been getting on particularly well for the last couple of months. A million reasons, and none. I'm almost old enough to be her mother (she's young enough to be my daughter?) and she really doesn't appreciate it when I act ( Read more... )