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.
Stomach Cake
A very short blog to remember my precious mum in the run up to Christmas. I’d spent all night creating this special cake and Mum’s reaction was - Why do the reindeers have Square legs? And His stomach looks like he’s about to explode. We did eventually eat the cake...
Take five
Mum passed five years ago and it seems like the day before yesterday. I stayed and talked to her for hours after she died and even though I know she’s gone, I always feel her mischievous presence everywhere. I’m sitting in the chemo clinic waiting for treatment and...
The chemo chameleon
“You’re just like you’re mother” or “ Meet the mother, know the daughter”. Sentences I lived in dread of hearing until Mum and I came to really understand and honour each other once she reached 80 and was placed by the mental health authorities into a secure care...
Children’s Mental Health Week
I danced, sang, and did anything to distract people from my mum's crazy behaviour and until recently, I thought this was normal and "cute". However, conversations with a therapist who is helping me process the death of four close friends and the sudden passing of my...
Twinkle, Twinkle, Giant Star
I wrote a little poem for my darling Dad's funeral and nearly got through it without crumbling into a soggy heap. For safety I printed out two sheets of A4 - one with "We apologise for the interruption", followed by "Normal service will be resumed soon." When I lost...
Writer’s blog
"Neither am I." quipped Peter Cook when he met a man who said he was writing a book. A great agent friend of mine said he had a cupboard full of clients who were "just finishing." theirs. My beloved husband is compiling showbiz anecdotes to go into his book and I...
Flights of Precious Angels
When my mumbelievable mum died it felt fitting to remember her with a golden plaque on a wall of remembrance, as she was a woman who spent her life breaking them down. She didn't give a hoot about protocol, socially acceptable behaviour or speaking her mind. The...
Mumbelievably emotional
"It'll be quite emotional", they said. "No, I'm sure it won't." said I. "You'll need to dig deep." they said. "I've spent my lifetime talking about this, so I doubt it." said I. "Do you ever listen to grown-ups?" they asked. "Rarely" said I. Deep down, I've always...
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.