Being A Girl . Being A Mum . British Stuff . Cooking . My Father . My Mother
Other People’s Hams
On September 22, 2025 by Speranza
I’ve been a food enthusiast for most of my adult life and I have even been paid regularly to write about it. I enjoy reading about the history of food, what other people are eating and of course how to make it myself. It’s especially fascinating to me how many similarities, world-wide, there are. For example, every culture seems to have their own version of a “sandwich.” I’ll leave you to ponder examples for yourself.
The interesting thing is that as a child I was often branded as a “terribly picky eater” and it was widely hoped that being subjected to school dinners in the UK - a militaristic, character building ordeal - would be “the making of me” and presumably, would sort me out once and for all.
But first, let me offer my own defence and perspective.
Childhood . My Mother . Nostalgia
Make Mine a Troll
On May 29, 2026 by Speranza
Anyone who knows me well has heard about my devotion to “Trolls” (aka “Gonks” in the UK) the popular, hi-liter haired dolls that were very popular in the sixties. While other girls were collecting the newest Barbie, it’s probably quite telling in some weird psychological way that I was never impressed or even remotely interested in regular dolls and instead much preferred my growing tribe of Trolls. Each one had a different hair colour, including two with striking, snow-white tresses whom I presumed to be elderly and accordingly named Martha and Frank. I saved diligently to increase my collection whenever possible and expanded to include the tiny Trolls sold as pencil toppers or key-chain danglers although their hair was never the same caliber as the larger ones and would routinely tear off in one piece, like a bright conical flame with a stiff headband of adhesive.
This was always a sad moment because a bald Troll is suddenly a bit too close to a perverted uncle for anyone’s liking.
British Stuff . My Father . My Mother . Self-Esteem
Shoes I Have Known
On May 3, 2026 by Speranza
Although I am not an introvert in the typical sense, I know that I am not a “joiner” either. I had a deep loathing for both Brownies and Girl Guides although I liked the accessories – who wouldn’t want that interlocking belt or that much coveted pencil on a retractable cord? But even though I kept forcing myself to join (book clubs, school committees, yoga) when the appointed night came around, I couldn’t bear the thought of going. Surprisingly then, it was unusual for me to attend not one, but three sessions of writing classes at our little library, where a wonderful writer – talented, gentle and quirky – was leading creative writing classes. One of the suggestions she offered for a daily writing warm-up was to choose any random word and write, stream of conscious style if we liked, about whatever drifted forward.
And to date, this method has never failed me.
