The Qashqai has served me well for these past years but it’s an old car now and as a family of six we were starting to outgrow it.

Diaries like these, however cringe-making, are artefacts of our own histories, pathways back to parts of ourselves that would otherwise remain inaccessible, a map to see how we have changed over time.

"My kids were still going for night-time sea swims but the trees were laden with conkers; the Christmas tree is up in Brown Thomas but the Mr Whippy van was also still out on the prom selling ice-cream cones."

"We just have to stop worrying about what people will think of us if we join a hula-hooping group or a roller-skating group."

I’ve a lot of fond memories of Electric Picnic. I went every year for the guts of 10 years but as detailed in previous columns, I only camped once. I never felt like I was missing out. 

"I think Molly Mae has done us all a favour by showing that her apparently perfect body has to adjust for size in different shops too."

'There are years where it’s a struggle to keep working even at the smallest level at all and sometimes it will be a thankless, low-paid struggle. But I think that struggle is worth it'

"What could be more inspiring and motivating than the idea of living a free and independent life in your old age?"

"...Millennials and Gen Zers have come of age in a cynical and opportunistic world that has influenced their own worldview..."

"Arnie and I might be at different stages of our lives, and at different ends of the fitness scale, but his advice and experience on his daily podcast offers a lot of wisdom and inspiration."