At least, that’s how it was for me. To be more accurate, I didn’t realise I’d been going through a breakdown until after it had happened. After I’d hit rock bottom. After I’d unravelled emotionally and psychologically. The PC brigade tell me I shouldn’t use the term ‘breakdown’ any more – that it should be […]

It’s coming up to Valentine’s Day – that time of the year when we’re expected to go all squishy-gooey-romantic and woo the person of our dreams. The secret love cards, the over-priced bouquets of roses, the chocolates, the heart-shaped balloons, the cuddly toys holding ‘Be Mine’ signs… it’s an overload of sickly-sweet emotion. And I […]

There’s no such word as can’t. Don’t diss ability in disability. I want to tell you about someone who inspires me every day. A woman who has turned my ideas upside down and who smashes down barriers and limiting beliefs like you wouldn’t believe. I want to talk to you about Emma Sheardown – a […]

Life isn’t always fair or easy, but it can be a damn sight easier than we allow it to be. The fairness? We can’t do anything about that – nobody hands us some special guarantee, signed in rainbows at the point of birth, promising us that life will be fair – but – it’s still […]

‘New year, new you’ didn’t quite pan out for me this year. I was full of high hopes and enthusiasm, but then it happened. On New Year’s Day, I was knocked on my ass (metaphorically, of course) in the most mundane way. It was an accident that would effectively bench me, leave me watching life […]

Here it is – the new year. The interweb is full of saccharine advice and positive quotes, so I’m back with a bang to give you MY take on things. You could say it’s the anti-twee. You ready? Buckle up, folks – here we go! 1) LEARN TO LOVE YOUR COCK-UPS Because you’ll learn from […]

We’re a few weeks out and it’s already begun. People are driving like jackasses, car parks have become unruly concrete jungles filled with two-legged hyenas and supermarkets and shopping malls feel like overcrowded watering holes after a drought. Can we all please pause for a moment and remember what this time of year is supposed […]

“Hey Taz, I see you’re speaking at that event. Can you get me on the programme next year?” “Hey Taz, I see you know that person I want to meet. Can you just introduce me?” “Hey Taz, can I just pick your brains over coffee?” The answer to all these questions, most of the time, […]

I really didn’t want to write this column today. Seriously. My brain has been whirring with excuses for the past hour or so. Even now, tapping away on my laptop, I’m experiencing massive resistance. Why so? I love writing. I love inspiring and motivating people. I love being part of America Out Loud. Well, this […]

Last week I finally got around to watching A Star Is Born at the cinema. If you haven’t seen the movie yet and you don’t want to have the plot spoiled, you’d better stop reading right now. My nutshell review: Gaga was excellent, Cooper was equally amazing. This incarnation of the story has so much […]