Author Archives: Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

About Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Bouncing into middle age armed with courage, ambition and a pair of tweezers (chin hairs for anyone over the age of 45 reading this) I am a writer with a mission: to redefine this midway point in my life when the last thing I want to do is hang up my high heels and become invisible. This is the end of the beginning, not the beginning of the end. A single mum to 3 fabulous girls, an author, and a fundraising consultant, both ends of my candle are on fire. As I enter this new stage of my life, I want to explore what it means for 'mid-aged' women today, who were promised they could have it all, ended up doing it all, and just do not identify with the traditional image of middle age.

The Payback begins…

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

It would not be an understatement to say it hasn’t been a struggle. Six pregnancies, three children under six, and several life-changing events, untold dramas, adventures and crises. Then let’s not forget the mundane – the endless, endless, endless, endless, … Continue reading →

Posted in children, parenting | 1 Comment

Donegal Daydreams 3

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

They are indeed daydreams now. The bubble has burst and reality is seeping back in. Home and happy and determined to keep my Donegal Spirit alive -more living, less letting the minuite cast a shadow over the big picture. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Donegal Daydreams 2

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Donegal is like one of those boys your mother always warned you about.. moody and unreliable, glorious one moment, dumping on you the next, but always, irrisistable. It’s the same as it always was. I came here every year as … Continue reading →

Posted in Donegal, memories, mum | 3 Comments

Donegal Daydreams

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Aghh. That first deep breath. The suck in of freedom. The exhale of space and landscape and horizon. Booked a year in advance. Months of planning. Weeks of lists. Days of shopping, packing, sorting. Hours of driving – screaming baby, … Continue reading →

Posted in Donegal | 4 Comments

The right way down a wrong way street

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Things are going wrong. Drastically wrong. A sure sign I suspect, that things are beginning to go right. There aren’t many people who know me well who wouldn’t use the words ‘anally retentive’ at least once in a three word … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Tap Tap

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

I don’t know about you, but 6 years and three children in, I still look over my shoulder occassionally to see who might be coming close enough to tap me on the shoulder and tell me I’m not a real … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, friends, mum | 3 Comments

Family Friends

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

When you become a parent you don’t think that your children will start having an influence on who you become friends with. But they do! One of my best friends is the mum of Daisy’s best friend. How weird is … Continue reading →

Posted in children, friends, stroke | 5 Comments

Simply complicated

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

There is one phrase I’ve been saying a lot of over the last couple of years….. “how did life get so complicated?” Never mind the added extras – hubby’s job insecurities and working away, miscarriages, chromosome disorders, mum’s stroke, Poppy’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Four and Fabulous

Posted on May 28, 2011 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

So Poppy is four. For so long she has been my little baby, and now – with a shock almost – I realise she is a little big girl (as she calls herself). Little because, yes, she is petit and … Continue reading →

Posted in ceoliac, gluten | 7 Comments

Birthday love

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Today is my mum’s birthday. As she lies locked in her body and mind in Belfast, for the first time in probably 15 years I won’t be spending the day with her. Since I had children, she would come down … Continue reading →

Posted in birthday, mum, stroke | 5 Comments