Five Things I Can’t Live Without
by Rachel Ragg
As I froze my way home from school drop-off today, I was trying to find something good to say about December. Nothing came to mind, apart from the fact that it would be over in 24 days’ time. However, it did get me thinking. While I could gladly live without November and December, what could I not live without?
1. Brora fingerless gloves. I do not have many luxuries in life (I don’t even have a bedroom radiator at the moment), but I could not be without my marvellous cashmere fingerless gloves. They make me feel happy even when the rest of me is old and scruffy.
2. Charlie and Lola mug. Lotta and Lola, in fact. My daughter rejected it on the grounds that she is far too grown up for such things. Yesssss!!! Tea does not taste the same from any other mug.
3. My walk to school. It’s 8 miles a day (a four-mile round trip twice over), which I need for my own sanity – but even if you don’t like walking: look at that view.
4. Curly Wurlys. A snip at £1 for 5 in Poundland (conveniently located on the walk home from school). The disadvantage of Curly Wurlys is that they are not solid chocolate. But if you store them in the freezer, they take about 30 minutes to eat, so you can trick your brain into thinking that you’ve had far more chocolate than you have actually had. Which outweighs the trips to the dentist when they pull your fillings out.
5. Easy Reading. I have a doctorate in 19th century literature, so am something of a keen reader. Since having children, however, my brain can’t cope with
a) anything involving children getting hurt/lost/upset
b) anything involving any kind of natural disaster (because my children might one day get caught in an earthquake)
c) anything involving illness, death (even of a pet), unhappiness or family problems
d) anything even remotely taxing, because I am too tired to think. I fall asleep upright after a page.
The answer? Billy Bunter. Whatever happens to my children, they are unlikely to be caned by their headmaster. Phew.
So what I want to know is: what can’t you live without?
