Life on the B Side

Autumn has always felt like a natural reset — a season for slowing down, turning inward, and finding comfort in small rituals. And I am going ti milk autumn as an excuse for all of the above this year.

In this episode, I talk about how past therapy now helps me mirror the rhythm of the seasons, why ROMO (Relief of Missing Out) feels especially powerful right now, and the comfort TV that makes my autumn evenings feel just right.

I also need suggestions for new comfort TV please…

Today I am celebrating 21 years of marriage to a man I met at a work event.

And with that in mind, I decided to share (without planning or script or anything for that matter) the brief story of how that happened.

Unlike my marriage, this episode is short, sweet and without incident ;)

No, but honestly, this is just me sharing a meet-cute that I think set us off on the right foot…

It's a bit of a stretch to say that there are life lessons to be found in foam parties and champagne diving in the Med. But as I've had cause to think about the holidays I took in my twenties, I thought there MUST be something in those escapades, something that is more than just memories of questionable decisions, cheap cocktails and painful sunburn.

And I am I the only one dreading the sound of that Saga Holiday brochure hitting the door mat and it actually being relevant to my age group????

Need some life coaching? Best place to start? Classic 1980s John Hughes films…

What does a day off with Ferris Bueller have to do with how we see our own lives?

Quite a lot, actually. In this episode of Life on the B Side, I explore the power of perspective — from standing high above Newcastle at Grey’s Monument, to gazing at dots in an art gallery, to watching Ferris and his friends seize the day in Chicago.

We might not have realised how much advice Mr Hughes packed into his films when we were young, but rewatching them now is having a profound effect on me so I thought I’d share it with you.

P.S. You’re not dying, you just can’t think of anything good to do…

Camping isn’t just a holiday — it’s a crash course in family life.

Join me for campsite characters, family mishaps, and a reminder that sometimes the soggiest trips make the best stories and teach us the most about ourselves.

Bit of a nostalgia trip in this episode — but not the dreamy, golden kind.

Today I’m taking you back to the summer I was 16. A holiday that was meant to be a break from real life... but turned into two long, emotional weeks that I’ve never quite forgotten.

It involved:

It’s raw, it’s honest, and — looking back — it taught me more about boundaries, expectations, and emotional survival than any sunny postcard moment ever could.

Because not all holidays are fun.

Ever feel like you're the glue holding everything (and everyone) together?

Same.

In this episode, I dive into the reality of being the family linchpin and the trap of being a ‘capable woman’. And I accidentally discover what drove me to become the Carlsberg Wife and the decision I have taken to step into something new, whatever that might be…

I gave up booze – and it wasn’t all gains.

In this episode, I talk honestly about what I lost, what I found, and what surprised me when I stepped away from alcohol.

No preaching, just real talk about sober curiosity, social shifts, and what’s left behind.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction issues, head to  www.drinkaware.co.uk and click on support lines – there's a dozen places you can call for support or advice.

This episode is 4 days late. 4 days! And that’s all down to the one skill I have comprehensively mastered, honed and turned into an art form. Procrastination.

Come with me to discover how you too can achieve boss-level procrastination. You might never get anything done again, and you will feel uncomfortable the whole time but then where’s the fun in feeling accomplished?

Send help. Please.

Yes, I have been missing for two weeks!

But I come back and bring you tales of post-natal ghosts, house-buying and my very own Nurse Ratched.

And yes they are all linked!!