The general parent category for most of the things I write about on here.
One of the more interesting Louisa-centric sub-categories is biodata (where I explore my personal history with graphs, maps and whatnot), and if you’re that way inclined, you can read about the wonderful felines and canines with whom I’ve shared my life too.
1. Two pleasantly dull sounds within ten minutes of each other – the sound of vomit hitting a window in a cartoon and the knock of wood on wood as I throw logs onto a pile.
2. Boron watches us from the wall then when I rest, he pads over to sit on my knee. One of his longest stints in the garden for a long time – spring must be on its way.
3. We stand by the beck – deep in the woods but still in our garden – holding hands and talking about our future.
1. The journey through Calverley is always great for dog spotting.
2. Following G’s lead, I have saltfish and callaloo for lunch. I go from being not sure I like the cabbage-like vegetable to loving it within a few mouthfuls.
3. As stray comment earlier in the day inspires us to watch ‘Wayne’s World’ in the evening. We giggle throughout the whole thing.
1. The doorbell rings and the delivery man is holding a large box: John had ordered 12 boxes of my favourite cereal to arrive just as I was running out.
2. Our neighbours return from their holiday and bring us wine & flowers to thank us for keeping an eye on their house while they were away. I carry the flowers around the house looking for something to use as a vase and my hands smell perfumed all afternoon.
3. We finish the rest of the cottage pie for dinner and because it was improvised, I realise it’s a George’s Marvellous Medicine dinner, never to repeated in the same form.
1. When we wake up, there is an email waiting for us — a video submission for Ukepedia. We smile and laugh as James sings about Fozzie Bear, delighted at the effort he’s put in (8 minutes, 16 seconds!) and amused by how it came about.
2. The sun is setting as I walk back from the post office and the old stone cottages at the other end of the road look glorious in the warm light.
3. The tart is sharp to start but that fades away to leave behind a soft, buttery conclusion.
1. We hear some great, if unsurprising, news from friends.
2. We take Boron back to the vets for a blood test to make sure his dicky tummy is nothing more serious – after Sili’s stomach cancer last year, we’re paranoid. At lunchtime, the vet phones to say everything has come back completely normal, he’s probably just eaten something that’s disagreed with him. His little shaved patch on his neck feels like suede.
3. When I get ready to make it, I realise I’m missing some key ingredients for our cottage pie. I improvise with what I have got and it turns out a lot lighter & more flavourful than the more traditional version.
© 2025 Louisa Parry