This is part of a series on the experience of re-reading LM Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables books as an adult. This one focuses on book two, Anne of Avonlea, so you may want to wait till you’ve read the first book to catch up here, though it’s not really full of spoilers if you’ve read […]
Hooked by these fabulous, science-based happiness infographics (I’ll pop one at the bottom of the post – too much scrolling otherwise!), Iâve started using Happify, an online service full of activities and prompts to help lift mood and build happiness in your life. A couple of weeks in and Iâm a fan. As you know, Iâm […]
Being smug is such a treat. Not only do you get the warm glow of being right but if you add a smidge of righteous into the mix it goes all scrumptious. What fun to sneer at people and tell them how wrong they are! Smugness is shiveringly satisfying, but it’s also a cheap thrill, and I’d love […]
Stuck at the traffic lights? Is your honey at your side? Have a kiss. Every time! That’s a micro-tip, but the much more serious and important point it’s part of is this: take every opportunity for a positive, loving interaction. Small is fine. A recent study found that couples in thriving marriages have at least […]
I often tell my husband he needs to write a book about how to be an awesome partner to a pregnant person. It seems more likely that I’ll write a blog post about it though, so here we are. My husband was a superhero supporter through my pregnancy (and beyond). When your partner’s pregnant, it’s […]
I make a smoothie most days of the week when I’m at home, but for today’s New Year’s Guide I’ve called in an official expert. Until recently, smoothologist Nicholas owned The Juicery in Auckland, so he’s got all the cred you could need. He’s five years younger than me, holds the odd national athletics title […]
I wrote this a few weeks ago. It’s part of a long-running series on my experience of severe postnatal depression, which has been part of my life for over two years now. You can find the whole series here, and the first post here. One of the reasons I can’t sleep tonight is the […]
I did not turn 30 recently. But my friend Nicola did! Nicola Burrows is a coffee-drinking, book-loving associate pastor, a group fitness instructor and dance enthusiast. She’s also the inventor of the 30-olution list, which she’s introducing us to today. Welcome, Nic! I donât remember when it all started, but my friends and I have […]
‘It is a tragedy when the human spirit dies before the body. But the answer is not to kill the body too, but to revive the spirit.’  So said Prof Margaret Somerville at a conference on euthanasia held in Wellington a couple of years ago. On Sunday I tried to canvass the arguments on both sides of […]
What should a doctor do when a terminally ill patient asks her to âend it allâ with morphine? What are the implications of expectant parents having Downâs Syndrome screening for their unborn babies? How do we cope and make sense of the world when our ageing parents no longer recognise us? I’m filling in […]