Maddie's Musings

Scaffolding

Maddie — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:01:01 +0000

As my son begins his last year at school, I think of all things that will come to an end next year. This is the beginning of the end. I no longer have to worry about buying school uniforms in summer and altering the lengths of trousers. No more after school classes to plan, no …

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Vada pav and Mumbai

Maddie — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 09:47:08 +0000

The vada pav connects a Mumbaikar like no other. From a quick grab before taking the train to burning the midnight oil, it has seen it all. It has witnessed the 5:47 fast local pull away from Dadar, a sweaty hand clutching the paper wrap before the train slips away. It knows the language of …

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Autumn Adventures: A Week in Andalusia and Fringe Fest Fun

Maddie — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 15:15:00 +0000

Happy autumn, everyone! My favourite time of year is finally here. The weather is cooling, and I can feel the crispness in the air. The sun hangs lower in the sky now, and while it’s still bright, there’s none of the oppressive heat that comes with summer. I love this in-between season, when everything feels …

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The Assistant by Nicole Trope

Maddie — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 10:58:15 +0000

“The Assistant” by Nicole Trope is a riveting novel that centers around Grace and Ava, two women whose lives become intricately entwined. Grace, with a troubled past marked by poor choices, seeks redemption and a fresh start by taking on a new role as an assistant. Her new employer, Ava Green, is grappling with the …

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April update

Maddie — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:15:00 +0000

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying bird watching from home. It’s truly a joy to witness the tiny beings relishing the bird food I set out for them. They’ve become regular visitors to the little corner in the garden where I place the food and they quickly devour it all within just a couple of days. It …

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Reviving the blog – Hello!

Maddie — Sun, 28 Apr 2024 16:15:00 +0000

Hello! Is anyone still here? Do you visit this blog? Is blogging still alive? Who reads blogs in 2024? I’m trying to revive this blog. I read some of my posts from a decade ago and it refreshed a lot of memories and I thought I should keep the diary going and record all random …

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We made some songs…

Maddie — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 08:49:49 +0000

Found this post from 2014 hidden in my drafts. The son must be around 5 years old when he came up with this song. The fish is in the pool the fish is in the pool f f f f f the fish is in the pool A cat is running by a cat is running …

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The boy turned 14

Maddie — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 09:05:53 +0000

In the yearly update, the boy has turned 14! The screen is his best friend. There’s a lock now on the phone and am trying to crack the password without success. The early morning hugs continue but are sometimes forced or forgotten. There’s some role reversal. He comes to tuck me in bed now. I …

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A corruption of blood

Maddie — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 14:06:03 +0000

Thanks to Canongate for a review copy. A Corruption of Blood is the third chapter in this wonderful historical medical mystery series set in Victorian Edinburgh. Although each book is a complete story, the larger and ongoing character arc of Raven and Fisher builds up with each book. I think they should be read in …

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The boy turned 13

Maddie — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 10:48:07 +0000

Last week, I completed 13 years as a mother in this world. Such a long span of time that went by in a whirl. The son/kiddo/brat has turned into a fine young man, though he spends too much time in front of the screen. The bane for all parents in this age. Having met his …

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