Fig and Pen – a blog by Elizabeth
I’ve come to the conclusion that grief is a state of being rather than an emotion. This is based on the fact that I’ve always been quite good at controlling my emotions, but for the past couple of months I’ve been unpredictable and unsteady. I forget important daily tasks. I burst into tears without provocation.…
Staying Cool in Heatwave
Having grown up in south Alabama, I’m no stranger to hot weather. I was lucky enough to have air conditioning most of the time, but on the occasions when I didn’t, I used a few tricks to stay cool. I hope these tips help you to stay comfortable as the mercury climbs. Keep your feet…
It’s been a hard couple of weeks. Rhett, the male bird from our bonded pair, died and left Debra to look after two very demanding babies on her own. I’m trying my best to help her, but I don’t possess the skills needed to feed them. I have been handling them daily to give her…
Contributing vs Working
Imagine having the money you need to live on without sacrificing most of your waking hours to work.
I was cleaning the aviary yesterday and was a bit careless with the door. Rhett flew away. I tried not to panic because I knew both Debra and their eggs were still in the aviary, and that he’d be back. I left the door open and kept a close eye on it. A few hours…
As I’ve said many times, I don’t do resolutions. I prefer instead to look back over the year to see what I’ve accomplished. 2020 was rough, and the accomplishment I’m most proud of is being here at the end of it. My business is still alive (for now – Boris is doing his best to…
I won’t waste time telling you that the deal the UK has negotiated with the EU is awful. There are plenty of experts about to do that, and if there is one thing I’ve learned in the 4.5 years since the referendum, it’s that no one cares what I think. My fifteen years experience as…
Mushroom and Walnut Wellington
It’s rare I get a recipe right the first time I try it, but this mushroom and walnut wellington is a happy exception. It’s beautiful, impressive, and delicious. If you’re looking for a vegan or vegetarian option for your Christmas table, I promise this won’t disappoint. Mushroom and Walnut Wellington:1 tablespoon vegetable oil1 medium onion,…
General Minimising November 23, 2020
Making Peace with Disaster
As an exporter, the dangers of Brexit were glaringly obvious to me well before the referendum. And for years after that awful result, I did all I could to warn of the coming disaster – blogging, TV and radio appearances, newspaper interviews. Whenever I tried to warn others of the impending shitstorm, I was often…
It’s been a month since I found Debra in an awful state. Yesterday morning, she and her mate moved into their new digs. There are still a few minor things to do to make their new home just right, but they seem quite happy. They’ve had a bath in their new bathtub, spent some time…
Debra went to the vet yesterday for a progress check on her injured wing. She was seen by a bird specialist who was absolutely smitten with her. He said that it was a bad wound, but that it didn’t appear any bone was missing from her wing which is very good news. The not-so-great news…
A Quick and Difficult Decision
When I was a child, my dad taught biology at the local high school. Injured and orphaned wild animals were often brought to our house so they could rest and recuperate before being set free again. It wasn’t uncommon for us to have a lizard convalescing in the kitchen or a snake draped around my…
Losing My Inner Janet
I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging when I say my life is charmed, but it is. If I need something, it’s usually in the house and ready for me to grab. Last vitamin in the pack? No worries, there are three additional packs in the cupboard. Birds need fed and the feed tub…
Personal growth is hard work. Admitting mistakes is painful. Dealing with the shame of realising you’ve not done your best is embarrassing and exhausting. Yet if we don’t do these things, we don’t learn or grow or become better people. And it should always be our goal to do better, even just a little bit.…
Watching the UK Government break down into lawlessness has been an experience. My gut reaction is to flee, but I’m not leaving my home. I’m going to stay and fight because I believe in doing what’s right, and there are certain ideals I feel bound to defend. At 53, I’ve accepted that I have a…