Author Archives: jenp
Should I waste so much time and energy pursuing things that are never going to change?
Many years ago, when I was doing my MA, some of my fellow students made a complaint about the course. It wasn’t MA standard, they argued. It should be downgraded to a diploma or a certificate or something! They’d written … Continue reading
What do we do in the “living” room? We watch telly! Oh the irony….
In his book The Moneyless Man, author Mark Boyle points out the irony that in the room we call the living room, the activity that we do most is watching TV. Does that count as living? I watch less TV … Continue reading
What else could that ring buy?
“What else could that ring buy?” asks Laura Vanderkam in her book All the money in the world. The average couple in the States spends $5.392 on an engagement ring and, according to Laura, it’s not necessarily money well spent. … Continue reading
A history of Jennifer in 100 objects
Neil MacGregor’s Radio 4 series, A History of the World in 100 Objects, seemed to drag on interminably during 2010, annoying fans of Book of the Week like me. Now he’s back again on Radio 4 – with yet more … Continue reading
94 year old woman attacked in her bed – I’m praying for her, but should I be praying for her attacker too?
I was driving home one day this week when I heard that a 94 year old woman had been attacked in her bed and had suffered a fractured skull. There was seemingly no motive for the attack: it didn’t appear … Continue reading
The joy of making things
My last post was about the satisfaction of doing things for yourself rather than paying someone else to do them and I’m still thinking about making things. A doctor friend once said he envied my job at the BBC. The … Continue reading
Is doing something yourself much more satisfying than paying someone to do it for you?
In Tuesday’s post about 18 Inspiring Stories of Real People Doing Inspiring Things, I mentioned John-Paul Flintoff, a journalist who started making his own clothes. As if making his own clothes wasn’t enough, rather than getting a professional rat-catcher in … Continue reading
18 Inspiring Stories of Real People Doing Inspiring Things
I love reading real-life stories of people changing their lives and living in a different way. It started when I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love and practically had withdrawal symptoms when I finished it. I loved it. It made … Continue reading
What I learnt about life from last week’s episode of The Apprentice
Last Wednesday’s episode of The Apprentice reminded me of a lesson that I was very slow to learn in life. A lesson I wish I’d been taught as a child. A lesson that I still find difficult to believe. A … Continue reading
Can I enjoy a few days away in London on my own without spending a fortune?
I went to London twice in March for a few days each time. Given that I’ve only just got work after a period of unemployment, I wondered whether I could really have a good time on my own in the … Continue reading
