Ann Richardson’s most popular book, The Granny Who Stands on Her Head, offers a series of reflections on growing older. Subscribe to her free Substack newsletter, where she writes fortnightly on any subject that captures her imagination. Ann lives in London, England with her husband of sixty years. Please visit her website for information on all her books: http://annrichardson.co.uk.

Latest Posts By Ann Richardson

6 months ago

You Don’t Need to Know Everything

It was probably 1947 – a very long time ago in any case. It was my first day in first grade – and my class had ceremoniously paraded from the room for the kindergarten to the first-grade room to mark the moment. We were all asked to sit in a circle…

Read More
6 months ago

What Does It Take to Enjoy Cheap Luxuries?

Years ago, I coined the term ‘cheap luxury’ in my household, but I think it is a good time to spread it around. See if you think it has meaning for you. The term first arose, if I am not mistaken, over a jar of mustard. We were in a supermarket…

Read More
7 months ago

What We Remember from Our School Years

It all began with the opening of an Indian luxury hotel in early 2017 in inner London, near Tower Bridge. This was situated in the former premises of a boys’ grammar (secondary) school, which my husband had happened to attend in the mid-1950s…

Read More
7 months ago

Thinking About Dying Doesn’t Have to Be Morbid

Death and dying do not make for a jolly subject of any conversation, but it is part of life. And none of us is getting any younger. Is death or dying something you think about very much? You may prefer to think it will never happen…

Read More
7 months ago

The Fascinating World of Dreams

I am captivated by dreams and what they tell us. But I am not an expert. Just someone who has tried to interpret my own dreams – and occasionally those of my family, when asked. Do you dream a lot? It can be very interesting to try to make sense of dreams…

Read More
8 months ago

Pulling the “Old person” Card

I am on the phone to a major department store in London from which we have just bought a new television (current one bought in 2006, so it was well time). We think we may need an additional part, but we’re a bit unclear, so I try the telephone…

Read More
8 months ago

Are We Sentimental About Simple Things We Use Every Day?

I made some soup earlier today and, in order to serve it, I reached for my ladle. It is absolutely not a classy ladle – it has a red plastic handle. It probably came from Woolworth’s or the equivalent. But I suddenly had a memory of how and when I got it…

Read More
8 months ago

Making Amends After Making Mistakes

There is some part of human nature that encourages people to make amends. We all make mistakes – however much we don’t like that fact – and it makes us feel better if we can put them right. Particularly sizeable ones…

Read More
8 months ago

Will AI Write Your Novels Soon?

I have never been particularly excited by the idea of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It seemed something remote to my everyday life, although I have undoubtedly been exposed to numerous examples without my ever knowing it…

Read More
9 months ago

What Is the Best Thing About Seeing Your Adult Children Grow Older?

Have your adult children reached 50? My daughter has. How did that happen? I was 50 myself only a few months ago – or so it seems. When it comes to our children, time seems to work at a different pace. We do what we do…

Read More