Kelly Given

IT has been an absolutely insufferable week to be a woman. I’m unsure if there is something in the air besides the obvious stench of a Donald Trump election victory, or if we as a society are just dialling up the misogyny for jokes – but I feel like I’m losing my mind ...

RECRUDESCENCE. The return of something terrible after a time of reprieve ...

THERE was a post doing the rounds on social media yesterday, hailing Rachel Reeves’ Budget day as some kind of massive accomplishment for women. It said “today marks a historic moment in British history as Rachel Reeves, the first female Chancellor, is due to deliver the budget” ...

I’VE been dreading the arrival of this week for a while – the week my best friend in the world boards a one-way flight to Australia ...

I TRY to steer as clear as I possibly can from Labour commentary. It is not at all stimulating to muse over the same stale brand of disappointment repeatedly, but I actually can’t ignore it this week.

IT’S been hard to watch the news over the last couple of days and not feel like I am going completely insane ...

THE National, for me, represents the radical and unencumbered voice that most accurately represents Scottish political opinion. I have supported The National since its inception, but later intentionally chose it as a permanent home for my writing when the opportunity arose because it felt different to other outlets. 

I STARTED university a few weeks ago, and at the ripe age of 27, it’s been quite the culture shock – but a great one. Anyone who knows me knows that my goal has always been to study law, but the misdiagnosis of my autism and ADHD precluded me from chasing it any earlier than now.

THE thought of this experience coming to an end in just a matter of a couple of days is so emotional ...

OUR campers are finally here! After six months of looking at master lists and speaking to people over email, we finally put names to faces and have started getting to know each other.