Jeni Barnett

In the beginning I didn’t know I was alone. What baby does? In the beginning there was solace and safety. In the beginning who knew what separation meant. And then like peeling chewing gum off the pavement, there’s a stretch and a tug, and you are no longer attached. I was a lonely child, although … Read more

Our cottage is built for relaxation. When tiredness grabs you there’s a three person settee to slouch on, newly covered in burgundy stripes; big feathery cushions ideal for sinking in. There are two armchairs with grubby arms, but they are equally comfortable. The old git’s armchair is next to the fire and mine/anybodies is under … Read more

When I learnt that the Persians weave mistakes into their rugs, I relaxed. Perfection doesn’t exist in man made art, perfection only exists in God, so sayeth the Iranians. Luckily I am not a perfectionist. The old git is, well was, But me, I’m a slovenly old boot who relies on inspiration, intuition and the … Read more

I finally got pregnant after living with the old git for eleven years. It had nothing to do with a biological cock up (if you’ll forgive the pun) but the youngest step daughter didn’t want another sibling. She looked at me aged 4 and asked whether she could call me mummy. ‘Certainly not’ I replied. … Read more

My father mowed the lawn with a petrol mower. Dead straight lines, dark green, light green. It could have been Wimbledon. As it was it was a newly built council house with a patch of green big enough for a tennis net. We never played tennis. My father laid a concrete path around the lawn. … Read more

Loads of people write about ageing. It’s nothing new. Everybody has a perspective on growing old since we all go through it. The cosmic joke is that whatever we do is a passing trifle. Whatever we do we are leaving this plane for somewhere else, or not if you believe that death is the end … Read more

I was given a book by Rose Elliot, she of the vegetarian cuisine. It’s not a vegetarian cook book with beans and lentil recipes, it’s a book about change. ‘LIFE CYCLES’ takes the reader from their 20’s to the Knackers Yard. Each decade part of a life’s journey. If we’re luckily enough to live into … Read more

Ideas are elusive. There are those who say if you don’t grab an idea when it comes to you it’ll fly off to somebody else. Them creatives always say if an idea arrives in your brain box they’ll be five other bastards who have the same idea at the same time. An idea is tangible. … Read more

My house, growing up, was never silent. The Home Service ( Radio 4) blaring out. Radio 3’s classical music blaring out and jazz blaring out from my father’s quadrophonic speakers. Nobody talked in our house; parents screamed at each other. I took refuge in my room trying to dodge the cacophony. Homework was achieved, somehow. … Read more

Walking in the city is quite unlike walking in the countryside. When I worked on ‘Good Food Live’, my bosses didn’t want me running home after each show. We had prerecords and meetings, so they rented me a flat. Well I found the flat and they paid for it. A beautiful, riverside apartment with two … Read more