Author Archives: fortewinks
In memory of lost friends: funny, clever, kind … and usually badly behaved.
The last 12 months have been melancholy with the loss of a dear friend, one whom I celebrate here. In so doing, it is timely to remember others who passed away in years gone by, but of whom I have … Continue reading
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Pledge to an NHS Pay Rise: C.A Halpin takes art into the Surgery … and onto the Street with a Kickstarter Campaign
“Over the past year, NHS staff have worked tirelessly to cope with the challenge of the Covid19 global pandemic,” says artist C.A Halpin. “We the public have marched, we have clapped, we’ve cried, we’ve mourned, we have all been humbled by the … Continue reading
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Tagged acute, cleaner, Cook, gp, hospital, mortician, NHS, nurse, pay risr, physiotherapist, porters, primary care, public health, receptionist, workers
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My mother makes me: a child’s letter to her working mother.
I publish this blog on the day I am due to speak with Sistr, The Professional Woman’s Network about my career trajectory; I woke up thinking about the day that FirstBorn and I reminisced about her childhood and my role … Continue reading
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Costa del Wick: meadows, marshes and meanders.
A hen party nailed it. Enforced listening to fifteen twenty-something women singing Bohemian Rhapsody at un-rhapsodic volume just fifty yards from our bedroom was not making us happy; the fifth rendition at 5am broke our will to live … there. … Continue reading
Posted in AirB&B, architecture, Buildings, Design and architecture, Health, holiday, Home, Life and romance, London, property, Travel, Uncategorized
Tagged Bicycle, birds, bridges, bushes, canals, countryside, East London, fish, grass, greenery, Hackney, Hackney wick, heron, holiday, lockdown, magpie, parkland, riding, skies, wetland
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In praise of A Certain Age
“Not too bad for an Old Bird?” my question to BB was rhetorical: I felt fabulous. Older, better? Not quite better, but different – fabulous is allowed. The necessary mindshift for women of a certain age has to be in … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Feminism, Friends, Health, Life and romance, Uncategorized
Tagged 50, aging, beauty, Body, face, Feminism, Fun, happy, humour, life, middle age, midlife, mrs robinson, Women
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Mind the Vulture! Cautionary fundraising tales.
Writing about business on Fortewinks is unusual … but SMEs are the lifeblood of British economy and COVID is not their friend. Many of mine run their own businesses and this is important right now. As Forte Medical approaches reopening … Continue reading
Posted in Business, design, Economy, Health, Uncategorized
Tagged Angels, business, enterprise, Entrepreneur, finance, fundraise, investment, sme, VC
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Frames, facades, finials and flourishes: how buildings tell stories.
I have a window fetish. There, I’ve said it. Mullions or muntins* of different widths make my hair stand on end; they let the building down, its facade a jumble. Simply put, both God and the Devil are in the detail … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, Buildings, Craft, design, Design and architecture, Life and romance, London, property, Uncategorized
Tagged architecture, Art, balconies, brick, building design, Buildings, cities, Craft, design, finials, glass, history, life, modernism, sculpture, sculture, steel, streetscape, towns, urban design
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Female health and routine jiggery-pokery
I feel a caption competition coming on. Framed by my open thighs, the two women’s faces looked up and laughed. This check-up Down There was another reminder that internal female furniture requires all manner of routine maintenance to keeps things … Continue reading
Posted in Family, Feminism, Friends, Health, Hospital, Life and romance, Motherhood, Uncategorized
Tagged clinic, colo-rectal, female, gynaecologist, Health, health check, menopause, nurse
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Landlords, tenants and an uneven playing field.
“Remember, tenants should be aware that at any time, in the periodical phase of their tenancy, they can be evicted by landlords – tenants should bear this in mind when standing up for their rights.” This telling phrase appears in … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Consumer rights, Design and architecture, Family, Home, Landlords, Life and romance, London, property, Property agents, Property rental, Tenant rights, Uncategorized
Tagged banks, building society, business, councils, Family, Home, housing, Innovation, Landlords, legal, life, Local Authority, London, maintenance, mortgage, private tenancy, property, property law, Property rental, rent, repairs, rights, tenants
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