The Library
Wonder, nature, folklore, culture, creativity.
I write about all sorts.
This is a selection of my writing.
More recent work is on Substack.
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The Quiet Cost of Convenience
Today is International Zero Waste Day. Right now, we’re using the resources of 1.75 Earths every year.Earth Overshoot Day gets earlier every single year.We’re borrowing from the future just to get through the present. I spent 15 years building a business that helped parents reduce waste.I thought reusing was the answer.But over time, I realised…
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The Woman Who Collects Signs
We got married in Italy. And for a country famous for love and grand romantic gestures, the wedding vows were surprisingly practical. I remember reading them for the first time and being a bit disappointed at how unromantic they were. No poetry. No promises of eternal love. They were more like a job description. All…
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When We Stopped Marking the Seasons
The Spring Equinox arrives around the 20th or 21st March each year. A moment of perfect balance. When day and night are equal in length. A turning point. A shift from winter into longer days and lighter nights. The cold loosens its grip. Green shoots start to appear. The world feels different, even if we…
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Honouring the Women Who Built Us
I’m writing this on International Women’s Day. I love this day seeing all the stories about women. Making a mark on their own worlds in their own ways. I feel so lucky to have been surrounded by remarkable and strong women growing up. And now as I am older, I have women who lift me…
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When We Borrow From Tomorrow
I went to the theatre on Friday night to see Maxine Peake, my favourite actress. She always leaves me with thoughts that either make me spin or make me ponder. This time it was the latter. In the play called Doubt, her character said ‘Easy choices today mean consequences tomorrow.’ The line cut through me,…
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The Courage to Speak Out
Last week, I wrote a post about parents’ evening and a Mother Teresa quote that had been echoing in my mind. I don’t often receive replies to my newsletters, though I treasure them when I do (please write back if you ever feel moved to). Last Sunday, I heard from Ana. Ana is a long-time…
By Eve Bell 