There’s no getting away from the fact that I was a shy child. All through my school years my reports praised my conscientiousness and good standard of work but repeatedly criticised me for not speaking up. A typical comment was: “Beverley is a quiet girl who would benefit from participating more in class discussions.” My teachers didn’t seem to consider my shyness might be a factor in this, or … [Read more...] about The thrill of appearing outside yourself
My Personal Stories
I hurt, therefore I’m telling a story…
In the early part of 2012 I was churning out a blog every day. But when an emotional tsunami hit me in June of that year, I barely wrote a word. However, there was one piece that did emerge around that time, about the nature of suffering. I was certainly suffering at the time, so I have a useful benchmark. I know that I am not suffering now. But the understanding that suffering is just a story … [Read more...] about I hurt, therefore I’m telling a story…
How I changed my life with my own breath
When you come across a therapy that is measurably life-changing, you want to shout it from the rooftops. And, trust me, I rarely describe anything as life-changing. So here’s the thing: breath work changed my life. So much so that I have now qualified as a Breath4Life™ Breath Work practitioner to help other people change their lives. It’s not easy to put into words how powerful this process … [Read more...] about How I changed my life with my own breath
A birthday story about reaching grandmother age
Let's play a numbers game. I was born in 1957. I am 57 years old today. Two of my grandparents were born in 1900, so they were 57 when I was born. I have zero children, therefore zero grandchildren. Yet I have reached grandmother age. What does this mean? I am indebted to my friend Mary Ann Mhina, who recently published a beautiful book of interviews with older women, Listening to our … [Read more...] about A birthday story about reaching grandmother age
The day Soft Cell saved me from the dance for perfection
In the fifth extract from my memoir Hit Girl: My Bizarre Double Life in the Pop World of the Eighties, I recall my first meeting with Marc Almond and Dave Ball - otherwise known as Soft Cell - who would play a big part in my unfolding story... I first became aware of Soft Cell in 1981, when I heard their haunting track The Girl With The Patent Leather Face. My alter ego Betty Page and I were … [Read more...] about The day Soft Cell saved me from the dance for perfection
The day I met four terrified teenagers called Depeche Mode
In the fourth extract from my Eighties memoir, another brand-new pop group gets interviewed by Sounds' Betty Page, who is fast establishing herself as the go-to writer for up-and-coming New Romantics and Futurists (early adopters of the latest in electronic music gadgetry). Depeche Mode had named themselves after a French fashion magazine. It was an unlikely handle for a bunch of … [Read more...] about The day I met four terrified teenagers called Depeche Mode