Book of the Month - The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan. Full review here.

Since our four-month-old son was born, our lives have been turned upside down. He’s our second child, so we were expecting it. But you forget the gritty reality of those first few months, when sleep never seems to come and your arms burn from the leaden weight of their tiny body. Minute tasks swell to epic proportions and popping to the shops with the children becomes an expedition. Amid all of this, I’ve found it hard to make time amongst the pressing to do-list for the daily chats that are the lifeblood of any relationship.

Fiction Bite - Thank you

Dave pushed open the door to a verbal barrage from the living room.

‘You’re late.’

‘Sorry, I—’

‘Clean the kitchen, your parents are arriving soon and it’s a state.’

‘In a minute, can—’

‘And can you please learn to pick your own underwear off the bathroom floor? I’m not a goddamn cleaning fairy!’

‘Sure. Sorry. Look I—’

‘Did you get the ice?’

‘I forgot. I’ll go back and—’

‘I ask you for one thing! I’ve been working my butt off all day, jugging the kids, and you can’t do the one thing…’ Jane storms round the doorway, her shout trailing as she sees the package in his hands. ‘What’s that?’

‘It’s for you.’

She opened the black velvet box, spilling light on a sea glass necklace, the wave worn chunks mounted in glistening bronze.

‘It’s not my birthday until May.’

‘I know. I wanted to say thank you.’

Quote of the Week

Most people’s minds are almost always too busy for them to feel their skins being caressed by the wind or the sun. ― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Final Words

Thankfully my family are wonderful at dragging me out of my task list. A cup of tea and a natter later, technicolour has seeped back into the world. In my determination to stay on top of things, I’ve a tendency to squish out the joy that fuels me. I’m grateful for those that remind me. And I’m grateful for you for joining me here, for one of my favourite things to do each week.

With Love

Joe

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