Tempo markings tell us how fast or slow to play a piece. Tempo is another way we add expression to our playing; playing slowly, or at a medium walking tempo, or at a quick, lively speed definitely affects the emotion of the music…
Read MoreSometimes we don’t have time for a big decluttering project, and we want something quick and impactful. To that end, here are 10 things you can throw away right here right now. If you have flowers in a vase that are past their best, take the opportunity…
Read MoreIf you knew Gayle and Marc, you would think that it was entirely Marc’s idea for them to move into a cottage home. For years, Marc led a fairly frugal life. He carried the same briefcase to work. He had the same lunch with leftovers from the previous night…
Read MoreEven in the tidiest and most organised of homes, there is one thing that never ceases to cause problems and that is the dreaded paperwork. And half of it we never even asked for – we can’t even blame ourselves for the little piles everywhere!
Read More“Who do I leave my belongings to?” is one of the most common questions amongst those who are childless, who are estranged from their children for some reason, or whose children live on the other side of the world. Bethany, aged 70, has never had children…
Read MoreIf there is one thing we all noticed a little more of during the Covid lockdown, it was the amount of clutter we had accumulated and the impact it can have on how we feel in our own homes. Perhaps for the first time, you clearly felt the impact…
Read MoreHangers – I bet you’ve never given them a second thought. They are just there, they just exist functionally to hang your clothes in your wardrobe or closet. It’s not the number one thing on your agenda, what’s the big deal? If you are not 100% happy with your…
Read MoreOne of the joys of being a writer in my mid-60s is editing out of my life all the things I really don’t want to do, don’t have time to do, or that other people mistakenly think I ought to do. Take running, for instance. I don’t run. I won’t run. I utterly refuse to run…
Read MoreConflicted feelings and emotions are at an all-time high after the transition through divorce. Sometimes it’s terribly challenging to control and channel reactions to people or situations in a positive, constructive way; and as a result…
Read MoreMy best friend was forced into an early retirement. While she was within a year of wanting to retire anyway, it came as a bit of a shock when her job position was eliminated, and she was faced with trying to occupy the hours in the day…
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