Author Archives: sarahsouthwest

About sarahsouthwest

I'm now in my early 50s. I started writing again as a way of exploring the world, and feel that over the last 2 years I have really grown as a writer. By day I work with children and young people with mental health difficulties. I juggle my own two children, my work, my writing practice, generally managing to keep all the balls up in the air.

Funerals and stuff.

Posted on March 13, 2023 by sarahsouthwest

I’ve been AFK, as my son would say. I’ve been away for good reasons – I was offered a treatment break back in September. It was a bit of a shock. I got a call saying that my consultant would … Continue reading →

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Things I love 27: cherry blossom

Posted on September 19, 2022 by sarahsouthwest

The first house I remember living in had an ornamental cherry tree in the back garden. It was a prolific blossomer: brash and unashamedly pink. And it came out for my birthday! It was my tree. I mourned it when … Continue reading →

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100 things I love 26: airport departure boards

Posted on September 12, 2022 by sarahsouthwest

Before this summer, when was I last on a plane? 2018 – a disastrous trip to Amsterdam for a friend’s 60th, when I managed to be so ill I barely left the extremely underwhelming hotel room. And before that…can’t remember. … Continue reading →

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100 things I love 25: The Master and Margarita

Posted on August 8, 2022 by sarahsouthwest

I think my copy came from my dad. I have no idea why he had it – it’s not his kind of thing at all. And I picked it up in my teens, so it’s been with me for a … Continue reading →

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100 things I love: a good cafe

Posted on August 1, 2022 by sarahsouthwest

A good cafe should offer comfort. Maybe it’s raining, or cold – that damp, bitter cold that gets under your skin. There should be people in there already, but there should be a table free for you. The table itself … Continue reading →

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Update. You know, health and stuff. And food.

Posted on July 30, 2022 by sarahsouthwest

So, the good news is that the chemotherapy is holding the cancer in check for now. Next scan in a month. The bad news is that the chemo is hard. And the worse news is that after this, when this … Continue reading →

Posted in breast cancer, Living with dying | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

100 things I love 23: Breakfast

Posted on July 18, 2022 by sarahsouthwest

I am one of those people who always wakes up hungry. Obviously there were times in the dim and distant past when I maybe woke up hungover and didn’t feel well enough to eat, but other than that, I NEVER … Continue reading →

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100 things I love 22: snow days

Posted on July 11, 2022 by sarahsouthwest

Ally ally aster, snow snow faster. I’ve never lived with snow. It’s always been a short lived treat, a holiday destination, a gift. The excitement of watching it start, through the window at school. The hope of being sent home … Continue reading →

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100 things I love 21: soap

Posted on July 4, 2022 by sarahsouthwest

I love soap. Solid bars of soap. I just do. Why? Well, it’s much more ecologically sound, for a start. And I like the feel of a brick of soap in my hands – though I hate hate hate soap … Continue reading →

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100 things I love 20: my DryRobe

Posted on June 27, 2022 by sarahsouthwest

This one is contraversial, I know, but you can call me all the names you like. I love my DryRobe, and I have one for Genuine Reasons. So leave me alone. I have it for swimming. Or, rather, for before … Continue reading →

Posted in 100 things I love | 6 Comments