Since this is the first summer in five years that I've not had a PhD to write, I've taken to reading on the various planes, trains and automobiles across America - and the Kindle has finally come into its own.  I've been editing and proof-reading some more very good novels-in-progress (watch this space) and one that's out and about right now is Victoria Murray's debut 'Live Hate Die'.  Vicky has chosen to go the self-published e-book route in order to get the finished novel out there as soon as possible.  Take a look at the link:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Live-Hate-Die-Victoria-Murray-ebookVicky's book has challenged a lot of my preconceptions about certain genres!  It's the story of Jake Devlin, lead singer in an up-and-coming heavy metal band.  He just happens to be haunted by a ghost (a real one, not a metaphorical one) from his troubled past and when paranormal investigator, Tayla MacRae, sets out to...

Photo timePlay timeTime to laughGirl timeTime to phone homeBoy timeMore time to play Bed timeAnne x 

I began this blog in the summer of 2010, a lead-up to the publication of A Blonde Bengali Wife (and, as it happens, the birth of my little boy, Simon).  'Time flies' is a cliché and feels so wrong during those more challenging days/weeks/months - when it all but stands still - but looking back over the last five years, I am certainly joining that middle-aged (no...never...help!) chorus of wondering where the years have gone?We're often poor at concentrating more on what we haven't done rather than what we have. During my Family Group Conference work (a whole other story) I learned and taught that listing the positives in a situation is not only vital to present well-being and future planning, but that's it often very surprising - and affirming.  Do it, and it's likely you've achieved far more than you thought, and okay, they might be small things (getting the baby bathed before you...

I'm late writing this month... for many reasons but the most important one being, I wanted to be able to pass on accurate and honest news from Bhola.  Things have been difficult; they are emerging into a new chapter of strength and positivity - and most importantly the children are thriving!  I'm posting Dinah, our Chief Trustee's, letter in full; it's long, it's shocking, but please read to the end... and hopefully, stay with Bhola's Children...  *******Dear friends,I know many of you have wondered at the lack of any report following my visit with Freda in February.   Now, after a worrying time, I can send you our official report on the situation in Bhola.  We are immensely proud of how much we have achieved with your help for the children of Bhola, an island of two million people where poverty and lack of proper hospital facilities led to high rates of disability...

Where The Mind Is Without Fear by Rabindranath Tagore Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragmentsBy narrow domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit Where the mind is led forward by thee Into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake  Bangladesh Flag  ï»¿ï»¿ï»¿ï»¿ï»¿ï»¿ï»¿ï»¿ï»¿Independence Day in the People's Republic of Bangladesh commemorates the country's declaration of independence, achieved on 26th March, 1971.  Formerly East Pakistan, the Bangladesh War of Liberation lasted nine months in which thousands of civilians died (the Bangladeshi Authorities say it was 3 million), there was an exodus of 10 million refugees into this new country, and 30 million others were left displaced.  Somewhere...