Phyl's Blog

Amaia has been a great sleeper since she was about one. I can honestly say I can't remember the last time she (or for that matter, an...

Today, in some parallel universe, I am celebrating my silver wedding anniversary! Even writing that down seems insane as I don't fe...

Fed up with always having to wear her dreary uniform, Amaia sweetly asked this morning: ' When's the next dress if you please day,...

Here's a photo of my parents' wedding, 51 years ago. On the right of the picture is my dad's dad (William Buchanan) and my mu...

Given my husband has worked here paying taxes for 14 years and his kids have UK citizenship, I am beyond appalled (though not surprised) t...

With Pancake Day on Tuesday, and Fastelavn last Sunday, I think Amaia has being hearing a little about Lent over the past week from variou...

Driving to school today, Anna came out with a very sweet attempt at emotional blackmail! Anna: We had PE yesterday, mum. Me: Was ...

Charlotte has been going by the surname Buchanan since she was about twelve but without her (absent) biological father's consent she cou...

I had a very sweet conversation with Anna yesterday. She's eight now and becoming aware of boys. She came in and announced: I think ...

I was at the optician today with my mum. She and the kids go every January for new specs. Every other year I join them for new reading gl...

When I divorced my first husband, my biggest regret was losing his family. Old-fashioned, more rural and from an earlier generation, there w...

I spied this in Asda the other night while I was shopping for culinary items to celebrate what the kids fondly refer to as 'the night d...

Growing up, I loved Creamola Foam. We went to visit my gran on Friday evenings and the first thing we'd do was check what flavour ...

Like all six-year-olds-to-be Amaia had fixed plans and ideas for her birthday. For about ten months she'd been telling me which...

On the Sunday before uni began, I drove my eighteen year old son to Edinburgh to move into university halls. He was upbeat and excited but a...

...when the box is always so much more fun? Me: What are you up to guys? Anna: Oh, we're just sitting in this box and I'm readin...

If you've read me before, you know I'm a big fan of Humans of New York . Once again, Brandon's left New York and is currently in...

Last week we went to Ikea's Xmas party to celebrate St Lucia in true Scandinavian style. The kids had a ball as always, as they danced...

As honorary Scandinavians, we made our annual pilgrimage to Ikea canteen last week for salmon, meatballs and a selection of Swedish d...

"Listen Mummy, I can play my jumper!"