Although Summer is not my favourite season, it offers so many little joys and sweet moments that I truly appreciate every day. Today is a humble and heartfelt tribute to the things I like best about Summer. Spoiler alert: heat and blazing sun do not belong here (I live in Scotland, you know!) Wild Flower Meadows How can I convey the utter joy, peaceful contentment and sparkling magic that flood me when I stand amongst millions of wild flowers on a mid-Summer’s day? All those glowing little faces nodding gently in the breeze, giggling appreciatively as they open to the warmer weather and colour the landscape… there is nothing quite like it, and it is one of my very favourite things about Summer. Longer Daylight Hours Throughout the year I am never too keen on artificial light, so one thing I always appreciate during the warmer months is having more natural light so that I get extra time to do more of what I love and still stay in tune with the pace of the Sun. More time for crochet, rea...

From my youngest years I have gained much comfort when connecting to nature and getting immersed in a book. Books by and for nature lovers get bonus points, so today I want to suggest a list of books you can refer to if you need a bit of extra comfort and a delightful, nature-filled break from it all. Any book by James Herriot I can’t think of any other books that have the simultaneous power to make me laugh so much and move me to tears from one page to the next. James Herriot’s account of his life as a vet in the Yorkshire Dales is a delightful immersion in the company of the many animals he took care of, and contains very evocative descriptions of the beautiful Yorkshire scenery through the seasons. If you love animals and enjoy observing the natural world around you, you will fall in love with these books, which are amongst my top favourites. The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame A timeless classic rich with brilliant animal characters that are at once touching, familiar and i...

Disclaimer: this post is not a substitute for therapy. If you significantly struggle with your relationship to food, enjoy this post in a light-hearted way while also considering caring and professional support. Is snacking good therapy? Can snacking really be used as a form of self-care? The more I hear that snacking is bad for you, the more I enjoy it. Not because of some perverse wish to self-sabotage, but because, like everything else, whether it is good or bad for us depends on how and why we do it.  To say that life was unmanageable growing up would be an understatement. But one thing that was always certain was that at some point, I would get time alone to sit in front of the TV with a supportive pile of snacks next to me. That was my go-to and the only reliable way I had to create comfort and self-soothing. For the many years that ensued, I resorted to this comforting bubble every time life would get challenging and unmanageable. At various points in my life, snacking looke...