Annalisa Barbieri

1 week ago | observer.co.uk | Annalisa Barbieri

London, the bustle and brilliance of it is so familiar and yet – thanks to an absence of many months – so alien. I meet friends for breakfast, lunch, dinner (though not all on the same day). And then, as often happens, I crave chocolate. Every time I travel the conversation in my head goes like this: “Pack some chocolate,” to which the same voice always answers, “Nah, have a break or discover something new.”Sometimes I can’t find anything new or worthy of trying.

2 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Annalisa Barbieri

I’m in the fortunate position of owning my own home and some land without a mortgage (in a very affordable and somewhat remote area), and every week I hear more stories from friends about their struggles to get by. We’re all in our 30s, but I feel as if my stress levels are infinitely lower than theirs.

3 weeks ago | observer.co.uk | Annalisa Barbieri

I have been harbouring a secret these past few months. In September, I was diagnosed with cancer. Not really a jolly bit of news and I’m sorry. But there you go. It did mean that I’ve not been able to travel. So when I stepped off the train in Leeds recently and was met by my oldest, we both cried. Not because I hadn’t seen her all those months – as if! – but because this most normal of activities had been out of my reach. When all the other mummies were visiting their daughters, I was not.

3 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Annalisa Barbieri

It’s Easter and this seems the right time to be talking about Christmas. Only joking! I’ll not be eating very much chocolate today because, see past columns and just how much Easter chocolate I have tested. My big weakness at the moment is Luisa’s Sicilian Orange My big weakness at the moment is Luisa’s Sicilian Orange. Although for Easter this came in a flat egg or bunny shape (both were £10.50), it’s the bijou bar I really love, £5.25.

4 weeks ago | theguardian.com | Annalisa Barbieri

I’m a 40-year-old man and worried about my family. Since my sister (in her late 30s) became pregnant with her first child four years ago, there hasn’t been a period longer than a week without her and my mother getting into toxic fights. A couple of days ago, after my sister had resorted (yet again) to calling our mother names, she also ended up grabbing her by the throat.