Phyl's Blog

Amaia: The other day the teacher was going over the letter O with us. Me: So did you all have to put up your hands if you knew any words...

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After Marcel moved out, we promised the girls we'd redecorate their room (and then Léon's). In the days when we had only the oldest ...

One of those amusing parenting moments: Amaia: Mummy? Me: Yes? Amaia (pensive): Can you only get Wee Willie Winkie's sausages...

Yeah, I know I'm a soppy old fool but this made me cry. As I get older, it never ceases to amaze me how short life really is. Yesterda...

Charlotte has been helping out at Amaia's old nursery this week as part of the compulsory work experience scheme in her school. Today sh...

This week HONY's photographing refugees arriving in Europe and having them recount their stories. Read them.

Leafing through this month's Waitrose magazine with a view to finding the recipe for their ghost meringue Halloween cake, featured o...

I love to discover subtle cultural differences. This amused me last week. My father-in-law brought it from Denmark as the kids miss it, gi...

A friend sent me this link last week. We often joke with each other on social media as both her kids' photos and mine are often use ...

Today Marcel moved to Edinburgh. It feels odd not knowing if he's in or out or when he is in for the night. It's not the first ti...

Amaia and I were walking round Waitrose yesterday when she came out with the following piece of  wisdom... Amaia: Mummy, can we buy banan...

This is how you run a family with this many kids... well it is how we do anyway, and it works. Every three months or so Thomas produces ...

"You realize, mum, that when I move out in ten days time, we will probably never live together again? I know I'll come back for ext...

I love modern day assumptions... Charlotte has a new Spanish teacher this year. He's new to the school. So in the first lesson he ta...

Sorting through my Amaia's 'first day at school' photos just now and having a wee trip down memory lane something struck me and ...

At 1m40 and just 32kg Léon is a gazelle-like nine year old who springs everywhere he goes. He rarely sits still or quietly. At 1m80...

I check Hony every day in life. The photographer, Brandon, always meets the most interesting people and somehow manages to get their story. ...

Love this photo Lots captured of her wee sister in Edinburgh on Monday - it is just her: the shy smile, the freckles, the bright eyes! ...

Léon is a wee bit of a goody two-shoes when it comes to swearing. Just shy of ten and he won't even say 'Shut up!' , not e...