It's funny what stays with you. Nearly twenty years have passed since my parents divorced, but I can still remember the phone call as though it happened last week. I was around 26, working on an oil refinery, and had managed to catch a few minutes on my lunch break when my phone rang. It was my mum, which was unusual because she rarely rang during working hours. I wasn't normally allowed to have my phone on me while I was on site, so I suppose it was fortunate that I happened

Understanding My Relationship with Money My dad used to say I was so tight I could peel an orange in my pocket. He particularly enjoyed telling people this when it was my round in the pub. There I’d be, perfectly happy with my blackcurrant and soda water, while he announced to everyone within earshot that his son was tighter than a duck’s arse. To be fair, he probably had a point. I’ve always liked having savings, hated owing people money, and felt considerably more comfortab

My mum phoned me last night to ask if my ears were burning. I didn't have a fucking clue what she was talking about, so naturally I said no. I'd accidentally posted one of my Wildly Gentle pieces onto Facebook as a Reel. I'm still getting the hang of putting my writing out there and, although I wasn't particularly bothered, I've generally kept most of it away from Facebook and the people who actually know me. I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe some of the things I write show a

For the last ten years, I have religiously taken my son swimming on a Thursday. Afterwards, I get him something to eat, he usually runs around the gym like a madman, and I have a pint or two. I love my Thursdays. We swim quite a lot anyway, but there has always been something slightly different about Thursday. It feels like the point in the week where everything starts to slow down a bit. Work is nearly done, the weekend is not far away, and for an hour or so we are just in t