XXL

What does size have to do with anything you ask.
Well speaking as a person who has fought with her weight since 1949 I can tell you it has everything to do with everything. We live in a society that reads us by our adipose tissue.
Do I agree with it?
Of course not.
Am I subject to it?
Of course I am.
My reason for describing the nurse as obese is because she is. Does it matter in a hospital environment – well it’s obvious aint it? Would you go to a hairdresser who had dandruff, a comb over and a seriously misbeshaving rug?
I don’t think so.
I don’t have a problem with her being hugely overweight but there are some who do. My reason for describing her thus was to give you a picture of my day on the ward.

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You lodgee

Whiskey and water help to ease my head that feels like its caught in a vice. Joanna, as usual you misunderstand me. But hey ho you too are part of the process. My mother has pink cheeks tonight and two new nightdresses I bought her. My cousin bought her a furry housecoat. My mother will … Read more

None of us get out alive

Ron Mueck is an Australian hyperrealist sculptor he started as a model maker and puppeteer for children’s television and films. I saw his sculptor, ‘Dead Dad’, a few years ago and it stayed with me.
It’s a tiny version of his father, naked, lying on the floor. A life reduced. A life curled up and utterly vulnerable. A life, however it was lived, honoured in silicone and seen by thousands of people walking round it, over it, past it. Discussing it, criticising it, crying over it – but at least acknowledging it.

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Discipline

Well the Chinese New Year came and went. I opened a big bottle of Sake and heated the contents up in the microwave. I know those ovens are lethal but then so is Sake. After a long, hard afternoon I finally gave in and watched THE PEOPLES SUPERMARKET I want the project to work with … Read more

I haven’t got it right yeti…

I went to borrow a red dress for a big charity do I’m going to on Saturday, Okay so I tried the dresses on over my trainers and jeans, but I still looked like a Yeti who had found some garments in a skip behind the bins in Balham.
I will have to revert to my old dress I have had for so many years now its come back into fashion.

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rabbit’s eve

I’ve just heard a Northern expression from Sybil. ‘Cry more pee less’
Well if thats anything to go by then I’ll be out of the bathroom for a fortnight.
I don’t know whether it’s the moon, whether it’s the Year of the Rabbit, whether its my age, whether it’s the lack of sun whether its because I have just sent off 107 pages of the book, I don’t know what it is but what ever it is I’m peeing less.

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Bikram begins again.

Bikram this morning. My balance is coming, it’s very exciting. Even had a shower in the communal showers. I pretended that I looked like all the young women with their Brazilians. Even though I know I look like an old woman with a Mohican. Grocery shopping. Too much money for not a lot of stuff. … Read more

Lokshen – Jewish vermicelli

The alarm was set for 6.15 a.m. but none of us slept.
B was up first, then Gods Gift fell out of bed.
I had set out my funereal garb the night before but changed my plans when I felt the temperature. It was absolutely freezing.
The three of us left the flat and bumped into Simba the golden labrador and Paul. ‘You’re up early’ said Paul brightly.
‘We’re off to a funeral’ I said and tickled the dogs head.
We climbed into Jim’s car and set off just after 7.00

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BBC LONDON

BBC LONDON 94.9 for those of you who dont know where I am. I am doing my fourth show this Sunday with Toby Jones, the actor. You can call 020 7244 2000 I think thats the number, twitter me, facebook me or email me at [email protected] I have been up to me ears in paragraphs … Read more