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 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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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 Classroom We Don’t See
My first parents evening was spent on a tiny chair, looking through a tray of scribbles. I spent my last one sat at home looking at a screen on Zoom. Reflecting on how much the role of ‘school mum’ has shaped my life. I was crying before it even started. I’m awe of teachers but…
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In the Space Between Doing and Being
Last Christmas was so different. It is usually a much needed rest followed by a surge of energy ready to make plans for the new year ahead. A few days before Christmas, on the winter solstice, I had closed the doors on a business that had been my life for years. It wasn’t just a…
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Messy Life, New Mantra
I had my children very close together. For one chaotic year, my mornings started with a playgroup drop-off in one place before a dash to school to drop my son off. We’d just moved house, and I wasn’t used to the new driveway. One morning, as I was reversing in a hurry, I crunched the…
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A Gift That Keeps Moving
“I read a book about that.” This is something I say often during conversations with friends. It’s become a bit of a joke now. It is always met with, “Of course you have.” This week, we were talking about Black Friday and the barrage of ads screaming at us from every direction. My feed is…
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Recapturing Sundays: A Quiet Revolution
Once upon a time, Sundays carried an air of enforced tranquility. Shops were shut, activities were limited, and the world collectively agreed to simmer down. The Sabbath, as it was traditionally known, was rooted in religious practice. A day of rest and worship. Even for the non-religious, it was a chance to pause. A day…
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Kindness in a Box: Can We Post Our Way to a Better World?
On Thursday it was World Kindness Day. Social media was awash with heartwarming quotes, encouraging messages, and brands taking a brief moment to tout their commitment to kindness. When I was running Baba+Boo, I found myself caught in the whirlwind of these days that seemed to come at me faster than I could keep up.…
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The Beauty in Watching Life
We spent half term in Dubai. I’ve been a few times as my husband works out there for periods through the year. I will never get used to the speed of it, I have to brace myself for it. A city that feels like it is never enough. With a skyline of tall buildings that…
By Eve Bell 