Just Emma

Hello, lovelies.             For as long as I can remember, the big C was only spoken about in hushed tones. Those that had ‘it’ were kept away for the rest of us. Was it for their benefit? To keep them safe and away from the unwanted stares and misplaced, if not well meaning, sympathy? Or to keep them away from the rest of us? To stop us from catching the debilitating and terminal disease? We’ve been told that we can bring cancer to our own front doorsteps by smoking, staying out in the sun for too long and eating the wrong kinds of foods. By drinking, obesity and our diet and unhealthy eating. Lack of physical activity and breathing in air pollution and radon gasses. Even using our mobile phones could bring the disease into our lives. But is that all there is to cancer? A terrifying, deadly and evil monster that can and will change our lives forever? Or is the diagnosis of cancer really just the start of a journey that is no where near as scary as you th...

Hello, lovelies.          Life is ever changing. One day we’re up on this whole adulting thing, and the next we want to give up, climb back into bed and sleep the day off. But one thing is for certain and that is we know our own bodies. Okay, so as we get older bits of us start to hurt, our ability to remember why we walked into a room can be shaky, but by and large we know ourselves and what we can expect from our mind, bodies and spirits. But what happens when our bodies change and stop doing what they’ve always done? What happens when all our tricks and tips stop, and we are left feeling different or odd and as far away from what is normal? Does it mean that this is the end of life as we know it? Should we give up and walk away? Or is it at that very moment that it is more important stop, breathe and fight with all we’ve got for ourselves.           Growing up I never really understood the concept of what personal boundaries meant. H...

Hello, lovelies.         Friends come it all wonderful shapes and sizes. Some of us have vast friend groups, whilst others can count on a very select few to be there for us when the going gets tough. We have our BBF’s, our long distant friends, fair weather friends, and those friends that are wolves dressed up in sheep’s clothing that will happily stab us in the back at any given moment. And then there are those friends who actually run towards us when things start to fall to pieces. But what makes a good friend? Are we ourselves a good friend to others? Or are we only good friends when we get something out of the friendship? How important are friends in our lives? They say that no person is an island, but aren’t we better off being alone than surrounded by our disingenuous friends? And if they are so important, we better make sure that we choose them wisely.           I have the amazing ability to see only the very best in people, ...

Hello, lovelies. After 40 long days of Lent, we can now celebrate with our families, eat our entire body weight in chocolate and enjoy ever increasing the sunshine. Easter has always been one of my favourite holidays. And not just because chocolate is one of my favourite food groups. But does Easter mean the same to me as everyone else? Have we lost sight of what the true meaning of Easter is? Does history and religion still have the same importance in our day to day lives? Or is there a hidden Easter egg hidden in plain sight? And that we need to look past all the pomp and expense and look for the true everyday meaning behind Easter. It is no secret that I live for chocolate. It’s my one true love. It’s not that I prefer it to my children, but it’s a close call. Nothing lifts my spirits more than the sight of shelf after shelf, row after row of beautifully wrapped, delicious chocolate eggs. What could mean more to the meaning of Easter than heavily packaged and processed,...

Hello, lovelies.             Sticks and stones my break my bones, but a joke will never hurt me. Never has a single slap been heard across the globe and divided so many. Was it the right reaction in the defence of a wife and loved one? Have we all collectively lost our sense of humour? Have we lost the ability to laugh at a pretty lame joke, that to be honest I didn’t even understand? And, so what? Standing up for those that we love should be commended, shouldn’t it? And it was only a slap. A simple swing of the arm. No thought. No intent. Just a simple reaction to a badly thought out joke. And so what if Will Smith put his hands on another human being in anger and violence. I mean, it’s the norm isn’t it? We’re all able to hit anyone one we want for saying anything about us. Or are we missing the big picture? Have we been blinded by our love for a Hollywood super star? And putting our hands on anyone, regardless of the circumstances, is never the ans...

Hello, lovelies.          London is an amazing and diverse place. All day every day we are fortunate enough to have the pick of all kinds of foods. If we had a taste for almost anything, all we would have to do is open our phones and within seconds we could find exactly what it was that we were hungering for. From a costly a la carte menu to a humble pie and mash. From the exotic to the mundane. We are spoilt for choice. More than that, we couldn’t even attempt to try every dish that is on offer. That cannot be fair, we can have everything we want, whilst 8.9% of the worlds’ population is hungry. That acquaints to 690 million people. And yet, for most of us, with a few simple clicks of the keyboard and we can have anything we want delivered. Is that right and fair? But what can we really do for all those people living in far off places? Are we just a privileged nation that has earnt the right to have what we want? Or should we be getting our human priorities in...

Hello, lovelies.             Teaching, one of the noblest professions, a job that is never taken lightly, finds itself, once again, under threat. But why? Shouldn’t we raise up those who have dedicated their lives to moulding and shaping our children’s futures. They can take a difficult or challenging subject and bring it to life. They can inspire our children to go out into the world and be the very best that they can be. Why, then, are these hard working and life changing teachers under even more pressure? The hare-brained scheme of the government to fire and rehire our teachers, all so they can reduce their pensions, pile on more hours all for the benefit of saving a few extra pounds. Where is the logic in that? Why chastise our teachers that do, all so these who don’t have a clue about shaping the minds of our children can dream up ways to keep our children in the dark? Should we stay quiet, allow the steal to happen? Or does our society deserve better...