Author Archives: Grin & Tonic by Alana Kirk

I’m coming out of the closet.  For those who know me well, I came out of the closet a while ago, painted it, decoupaged it and upholstered the matching chair beside it. I’m outing myself as a lover of ‘doing … Continue reading →

It’s been one of those weeks in our house. If we were a TV station, we would be called Drama Central, a series of shocking shows were reality and madness are entwined in a farcical folly of frantic antics, or … Continue reading →

The heat from the summer sun is diminishing in strength. It’s a little chillier, a little earlier in the day.  I apply sun cream in the morning, and light the fire in the evening. Autumn is tapping it’s feet in … Continue reading →

Memories are moments remembered.  Often I say my brain is like a sieve because it loses everything (including my children’s names at times, as like my mum I call them all three, or sometimes the pets names until I find … Continue reading →

I used to pride myself on perfection.  (In my head at least.)  I liked to think of myself as a perfectionist. My mum would disagree. She actually was a perfectionist, and could sew and knit to professional standard while my … Continue reading →

We’re back. Me and the girls. Sucking in that endless sky and the sea-brazen air that blows around our heads, rustling our hair and filtering through our brains so that only the moment remains.   It blows away all the … Continue reading →

Lovely as my dog and kitten are,  they can be a bit naughty at times (my super cool cat however is never naughty, only a haughty purring panther perfection). I love it when a new idea changes my life.  I’ve a … Continue reading →

Last night I had to admit I’m a fairy.  My daughter looked at me dubiously. A sustained campaign of Gin and chocolate do not a waif-like woman make. But I fluttered my invisible wings and confessed, a fairy I have … Continue reading →

My nine year old daughter still doesn’t quite believe me about the first time I got a mobile phone. “How old were you?” she asked hoping my age would be similar to hers so she could get one. “32.” She … Continue reading →

Sometimes my children know better than me. After 3 hours of solid singing in the garden, Ruby flopped on the bed and proclaimed: “I’m out of battery. Plug me in to recharge!” And she’s right.  Sometimes we just need to … Continue reading →