Phyl's Blog

This ad and in particular  the Guardian article written about it moved me because it found a way to put into words the only adult life I...

Charlotte: I might make something from my chocolate cookbook. (Picks up this book) Come see my book. Can you read it, Amaia? What'...

Little Lily has gone. Whereas Rosie was a bright and wild escapologist, Lily was a cuddly, loyal and sweet pet. She loved to be take...

Anna is sitting flicking through the Guinness Book of Records with Amaia. So we now know the oldest person, the person with the longest nai...

Seven or eight years ago when Marcel's voice broke, I have to say I wasn't really aware of it happening. Was I too busy with life...

Sadly the Scottish climate doesn't often lend itself to marble making. It can be miserable for months on end in winter but it's usua...

I showed the kids Sunshine on Leith the other week - they all love musicals, they all love Edinburgh because their big brother lives the...

Parenting in the early years is all about paying attention. If you don't, you miss the sweetest gems... Today's school run was ...

Amaia comes out of school today and I ask as always how her day has been. Amaia: Well, I fell out with X (one of her best friends) - he...

"Anyone who risks a life with someone outside of his in-group — not only across lines of nationality, but also those of religion, race ...

I can't have been a very confident child. I was never brave enough to ask my grandparents to explain half of their Scottishisms when I...

It's been a long week. No, in fact, it's been a loooooong week. When you work from home and you have five kids, albeit only four a...

Amaia was on dinner tonight so came up with a list of what she needed to make our meal. I miss this phonetic spelling stage once they ge...

I feel these days like we're just clinging on the last seconds of childhood with Léon. First it was his distinct lack of interest in...

I probably didn't have my glasses on, and I like lilac so would have lifted this in my shopping rush based on its colour more than any...

I've done precious little work today and it's all the fault of those fucking Tories. I don't remember the last time I swore in...

I was always fascinated by language. Even before I was taught any French or German at school, I used to spend my weekends at my grandparent...

There's nothing quite as acerbic as a smaller sibling! Anna bounced down wearing this T-shirt earlier. Amaia read it slowly, shook h...

Today Thomas and Amaia went out rollerblading together. Amaia is just learning so wanted me to take photos. Afterwards, as I was upload...

I should probably get round to blogging my holiday (in instalments, for posterity) at some point before it is next summer, but I'm just ...