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.

Why did I wait so long?

Posted on November 12, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

I’ve lost my mum when I need her most. She’s still alive, but her life is over. She lies in a bed, trapped in her body, confused by her thoughts. I still have her, but I’ve lost her guidance, her … Continue reading →

Posted in age, fertility, older parents | 5 Comments

a new phase

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

The doctor warned us this would be a rollercoaster. I’ve always rather liked exciting rides. Not this one. This is a ride I can’t get off. But, after the desperate dips of the last few weeks, we now seem to … Continue reading →

Posted in baby, stroke | 6 Comments

Life on the edge

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

As I cling to my new baby’s life, I watch my mum’s old one slipping away. Old, but not done. Not by a long shot. She may have been in her 70’s but she was as lively and vivacious as … Continue reading →

Posted in mum | 6 Comments

The eyes say it all

Posted on September 29, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

How can one week change my life so completely? The second photo is the picture I wanted to show the world, to go with the blog I wrote in my hospital room 5 days ago when life was as perfect … Continue reading →

Posted in new baby, stroke | 8 Comments

The extraordinary ordinary

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Tomorrow, I’m having a baby. How strange to write that, to know that, but there it is. About lunchtime actually. Such an ordinary, everyday event. Yet such an extraordinary, primeval, earth-shattering, life-changing event too. Tomorrow I meet my daughter, a … Continue reading →

Posted in new baby | 7 Comments

Great Expectations

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Now I know it’s not looking good, beginning a blog about great expectations with an apology, an excuse for laziness, a blagging of blogging failure. But I am. So there. My name is Alana Kirk and I am a blogging … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, exhaustion, pregnant at 40 | 7 Comments

Snooze Button Defect

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Kids just don’t get the concept of snoozing. It’s ‘awake’ or ‘asleep’ – no warm, fuzzy, lazy lazing in bed, eyes closed, thoughts open, aware the day has begun but not quite ready to face it. That bastion of parental … Continue reading →

Posted in parenting, sleep, snoozing | 3 Comments

Fitting it all in…..

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Despite only seven (yes!!!!!! only seven!!!!) weeks to go until I can lift this enormous boulder that is my stomach off my spine, and cradle a light little lump of loveliness in my arms instead.. this title does not actually … Continue reading →

Posted in lists, motherhood, new baby | 3 Comments

Who’s the Dummy?

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Dummy. Soother. Whatever they are called, babies love them and parents hate them. In our house, Poppy called hers her Mee Mee (an indication perhaps of just how personally and emotionally she was attached to it). We have been through … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

creepy crawlies and all things nice..

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

I know I’ve written about the wondrous wilds of Donegal before. How the light shines in such an extraordinary way, as if the sun and clouds are dancing with each other; how the beaches are more spectacular than any tropical … Continue reading →

Posted in Donegal | 2 Comments