Ma Wa Gray

Inspired by various families I have witnessed while on holiday... The family chat group that Kevin begrudgingly belonges to exploded sometime in February when one of his in-laws suggested that they all celebrate the coming Christmas together at a hotel. It would coincide perfectly with his mother in law's 70th birthday. Everyone on the chat group, apart from Kevin, agreed that they could think of no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to spend seven solid days in each other's company, including nine children all under the age of 10. Since then the chat group has been riddled with extreme holiday expectations and awkward reminders to pay for accommodation. Kevin spent the next 9 and a half months in mild therapy with his padel partner, Brian. Their final post game beer, sometime at the beginning of December, ended in a bracing hug with Brian reminding Kevin that he is only a phone call away if things get too much.  It is now two days into the seven day Christmas ext...

 On the eve of my 42nd birthday I found myself alone in the gym at eight in the evening, running. Stephen had given me strict instructions to keep my heart rate up in order to get his crucial Vitality points. I pointed out to him that my wearing his watch would earn him Vitality points no matter what activity I do, even if it's just walking to the fridge. I'm not exactly ready to run a marathon, or run in general.  I also checked myself into the gym last night because my reflexologist, (shout out to the phenomenal Lauren Shattock Hammersley) mentioned in my last treatment that my legs might be feeling a bit heavy. Legs do generally feel heavy if you haven't bothered to lift them in over six months.  The good thing about running in a gym, alone at eight o'clock at night is that no one can hear you breathing. Not even I could hear myself breathing. If it weren't for headphones I would never, ever exercise. It's a lot easier to punish a treadmill with one's slu...