Women’s Weekly: The Pantry Women’s Weekly: The Pantry
Today I bring you the next in my series of little domestic ditties from the oh so lovely 1935 edition of The Woman’s Weekly Bedside Book, this one…
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Suspended Animation Suspended Animation
The sky is a creamy blue and the rooves dusted with icing sugar. And in here, in the flocked walls of home, I have been quite certain that…
Waiting Waiting
I have lost my voice again. I open my mouth and nothing comes out, though the words exist fully formed and spoken. I have lost my voice and…
The (New) tiny Joy List Is Here The (New) tiny Joy List Is Here
Well heavens to Betsy I haven’t been this excited since I accidentally tripped a member of Take That up and bashed him on the head with a roll…
Woman’s Weekly: Homely Tasks Woman’s Weekly: Homely Tasks
My sister gave me a walnut box for Christmas, filled with tiny little somethings: fortunes cookies and teeny golden shoes, Lady Macbeth’s soap (out damned spot) and a…
Hi Ren Hi Ren
One of the things that I am committed to seeking is awe. That mysterious emotion we cannot chase but have to happen across. An emotion that stops us…
Housekeeper’s Diary Housekeeper’s Diary
And then there was one. After three lovely weeks of a festive Finley, and then a weekend spent clearing my mind with my Dad, the house was suddenly…
Bonne année Bonne année
Well now, one minute I was fretting about whether Father Christmas had managed to stuff Finn’s stocking with all that a nineteen year old man-boy could desire and…
Let the Renaissance Begin Let the Renaissance Begin
I cannot tell you how often I find myself sitting listening to conversations about ageing. empty nests and all the associated delights of the menopause with my friends…
The New Year House The New Year House
While I do adore layering the house in Christmas, there is something deliciously cathartic about its undressing in the New Year, and as this year I want January…
The book of Days – A Very Brocante January The book of Days – A Very Brocante January
A few years ago, I started writing a little book called The BrocanteHome Book of Days, and with your Patreon support, I created a list of 365 to-do’s…
Housekeeper’s Diary Housekeeper’s Diary
It’s been an odd few weeks. As if the reality of what life will now be like has finally hit home and I find myself not quite knowing…
Why I’m Giving Away Everything I Have Ever Created for Just 99.00 Per Year! Why I’m Giving Away Everything I Have Ever Created for Just 99.00 Per Year!
Brocantehome turned 18 last week and I quite forgot to mention it, because in my perpetual muddle I would frankly forget to put my teeth in if they…
Housekeeper’s Diary Housekeeper’s Diary
Well now, I think you should now that what turned out to be the astonishing peace of the empty nest was abruptly disrupted when my little fledgling decided…
By the Skin of My Teeth By the Skin of My Teeth
Well, I said I would be back in September and while obviously I meant at the very beginning of the month, instead of on this, the 28th, consider…
Back In September Back In September
August has arrived and the time has come for me to down tools and take my annual month long holiday away from BrocanteHome. As you know the past…
101 More Things About Me (At Fifty) 101 More Things About Me (At Fifty)
I have written a few of these posts over the years, and thought it was time for another to reflect on who I am now, at fifty. You…
The Progress Report – Learning To See Myself The Progress Report – Learning To See Myself
I was once crazy head over heels in love with a lovely man who told me that he showered in the dark because he couldn’t bear to look…
Akēru Akēru
In Japan, the word akēru means “to pierce, to end, to begin” – the aftermath of something broken making room for something new to blossom like so many…
The Put Alison Back Together Plan – Part Two The Put Alison Back Together Plan – Part Two
And so I have had to let him go and there is no point talking about it because it has been confusing, terrible and so very, very sad,…