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.

… and my universe shifts again

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

I’ve been changing nappies for nearly five years now. I can change nappies with them standing up, lying down, awake, asleep, in a car, on a floor, on a table. I can change nappies with my eyes open, my eyes … Continue reading →

Posted in children, nappies | 7 Comments

Retreating into Myself

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

They don’t call life a rollercoaster for nothing. You have a dip, and then suddenly before you know it, you are climbing back up the ladder of life and squealing with delight at the top of the world. Does the … Continue reading →

Posted in writing, writing retreat | 9 Comments

TV is good for kids!

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

Now before you all report me to the PC Police, let me explain my New Found, U-Turned philosophy. Before I had children I was one of those Pre-Parents who arrogantly (it has to be said) and confidently announced that no … Continue reading →

Posted in children, Peppa Pig, TV | 3 Comments

Fabulous Forty – Part 2

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

Sorry – that was a long intermission. The nausea fog is clearing, but the clouds of exhaustion still hang low…. anyway, back to my list. My Forty Fabulous Things I Love about Life (in no particular order) Part 2: The … Continue reading →

Posted in forty, parenting | 5 Comments

40 and fabulous – Part 1

Posted on February 25, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Yes, it’s been quite a week. An extra heartbeat and an extra decade – I’ve finally left my 30’s behind. I don’t actually mind getting older, and despite what we’re going through at the moment, I believe my life is … Continue reading →

Posted in forty, love, pregnancy | 6 Comments

First hurdle

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

A heartbeat. A glorious, furious, tiny, fragile little heartbeat. We have reached 8 weeks (is it only 8 weeks?? I feel I’ve been pregnant for 8 months!) and our early scan showed a beautiful beating baby. I know it’s still … Continue reading →

Posted in pregnancy, scan | 11 Comments

Wild at Heart

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

I’ve been to the dark side – and emersed myself in some of the realities I might have to face over the coming weeks and months. But I didn’t like it there, so didn’t dwell, deciding for now that it … Continue reading →

Posted in pregnancy | 10 Comments

Swirling and Whirling

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

Firstly I have to say thank you. Thank you to all my on-line friends for your words of love and support. And thank you to my off-line friends for all your hugs, emails, and endless cups of tea. This has … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

My Own Personal X-Factor

Posted on January 31, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Sometimes when you ask a question, you get a different answer. I think every person in the world hopes they are unique, standing out a little from the crowd. But now I wish I was a little more like every … Continue reading →

Posted in chromosome disorders, pericentric inversion, X Chromosome | 13 Comments

The Green Eyed Monster

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

Following on from my last post, I’ve moved on from Swine envy to child envy – from Mummy Pig to the Green Eyed Monster. Maybe because my 40th birthday is breathing down my neck like a dirty old man on … Continue reading →

Posted in envy, jealous | 9 Comments