The Blog
Read about Sonia and her mum’s hilarious antics, where she tells personal stories and highlights the issues of growing up with a mentally ill parent.
Wimbledon’t
It's tennis season and memories of being turned away at the Wimbledon turnstiles still haunt me. Not even a frilly white frock, pretend tennis racquet and packet of strawberries was going to convince the security guards to let us in. I was probably 8 or 9 and Mum...
Instru-mental
I was just about to give up the trumpet when my precious mum bought me one. It was dusted aluminium with shiny slides and inner bell. I loved it, but sadly it didn't love me. Having had tonsil and adenoid surgery I couldn't maintain the air pressure needed to get a...
Bells and Whistles
We've all done it haven't we? Made up our own words to misheard lyrics and sung them at top volume much to the amusement of our fellow singers - or is that just me? Mum did it all the time, although I suspect she knew exactly what she was doing and enjoyed the...
When the red red robin comes
A robin has been visiting our home for the past month. Every day she gets bolder, braver and cheekier. I've even managed to get her to eat out of my hand by dangling old bits of spaghetti to make them look like worms. Having posted a few pictures of the robin eating...
Air Hair Lair
My beloved mum used to put on silly voices and invent preposterous names to get on LBC radio. She especially loved Brian Hayes and I was also an avid listener to his show prior to working with him on BBC Radio 2 many years later. I could spot her a mile off. One...
With a little lock
Have you ever used the bottom of a glass as a magnifying device? Mum did. She worked out that she could spy on her carers and see what numbers they were pressing into the security locks. And then, when nobody was watching, she escaped. I still feel bad for that...
Maggie Get Your Gun
My mum was arrested in 2010 for threatening a violent teenage gang with her antique WW1 tin gun. Yes, really. It frightened them off for a bit, until they realised that she was about to stagger through a wooded pathway on her way to the off licence to pick up another...
All we need is Radio Ma Ma
Radio, whats new? Someone still loves you. Someone? In these days of complex technology, digital life soundtracks and connectivity, we've started listening in our millions to simple voices telling simple stories again. Podcasting and radio in its purest form. Real...
Tell your story!
My precious mum, Margaret Beldom, passed away peacefully on 12th November. She loved hearing all the stories that people shared about their own lives with people with mental health issues. A new conversation is starting, and it’s extraordinary. Please read “Surprise, surprise” and share some stories of your own.