The Memory Book Company

17/03/2026

Have you ever thought about capturing some of your precious family memories? I’m teaching a two-day life story writing course in London next month (18th and 19th April), with West Dean College. If any of you are interested, here are the details. It would be lovely to see you there! https://www.westdean.ac.uk/short-courses/d2d37881-life-story-writing-capturing-family-memories

24/12/2021

I'm sorry I've been away for so long. I had to take a break from The Memory Book but I'm now back and looking forward to being with you next year. I hope you have a very merry Christmas, make new memories and enjoy sharing memories of happy times with loved ones. xx

18/06/2021

I'm sorry that I've been away for so long. My darling mother became very ill and I took a break from my business to care for her. It's hard to write the words but this week she passed away. Many of you who follow my page, will have seen pictures and learned about her through some of my posts. She was part of my Life Story Club during the lockdown and attended my last Memory Lane Zoom workshop. I will miss her so very much. She was gracious, loving, kind and funny and I was beyond lucky to be her daughter.

23/03/2021

Workbooks have been sent out... Only two days to go to the Zoom Memory Lane Workshop!

There are still some places available if you or anyone you know would like to come. It should be great fun.

Here is the link to book your place. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/144238460117

19/03/2021

I'll be sending out your Memory Lane workbooks this weekend.

There are still some spaces left and I'd love to see you next Thursday. This time next week, you could have some childhood memories written down for your family!

I guarantee that they will thank you and that you will have fun with your trip down Memory Lane...

If you know anyone who might like to join in, I'd be very grateful if you could spread the word. It might be nice for friends to take part together.

Take a fun filled trip down memory lane and capture some early childhood memories that you can share with your family

18/03/2021

I had a lovely testimonial from someone who came to one of my workshops (when we were allowed to meet in person!)

"I really enjoyed your sessions. They were very interesting and the exercises you suggested really did work to bring our memories back to life. You were very organised whilst running the group but it was also like having a chat with a friend and I never felt talked down to. It was also interesting meeting complete strangers from lots of different backgrounds to hear snippets of their lives. People could impart personal information if they wanted to but, if they were more reserved, that was okay too."

There are still places available for my Zoom life story workshop, on the 25th of March. If you know anyone who might enjoy a trip down memory lane, Please spread the word!

The workshop is being ticketed through Eventbrite:

Take a fun filled trip down memory lane and capture some early childhood memories that you can share with your family

16/03/2021

Fancy getting some memories written down? I'd love to see you at my Memory Lane Morning Zoom workshop on the 25th of March. The event is being ticketed through Eventbrite. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions. Hopefully see you next week!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/144238460117

13/03/2021

A Mother's Day tribute that I hope will resonate with mothers and children. I wish you all a very happy Mothers’ Day and send love to any of you who have lost your mother or a child. Memories and family stories keep those precious threads in place and they can be celebrated every day.

The Thread of Maternal Love

The relationship between mother and child is a complex one, shifting and changing as the years pass. I have written life story books for many families over the last twelve years, I’ve learned about mothers who are also daughters, friends, sisters, wives, lovers, grandparents and great grandparents. They are adventurers, home makers, professionals and protectors. Their memories make them who they are and shape the lives of their own families.

I’m very close to my mother. Over the years, the dynamic of our relationship has changed and our roles continue to evolve. I have been lucky enough to be able to see her during this last year as she lives round the corner and has been in my ‘bubble’. However, her health has been very poor and the challenges of keeping her well and safe during lockdown have often been all consuming. I would like to give this little tribute to her and to all those mums out there as we celebrate Mother’s Day. I also want to acknowledge that relationships can be complicated and no one’s experiences are the same. This my experience.

The thread of love between mother and child expands and contracts with time and circumstance. Sometimes it stretches nearly to breaking point. However, if the thread is strong enough, the elasticity keeps the connection safe until it’s ready to tighten again.

Childhood love is supremely selfish. A child sees his or her parents in one dimension and the unconditional love that mothers may show their children can often only be understood when those children become parents themselves.

Teenage love is challenging. Like most children, I went through phases of being irritated by my mother. I was determined to enter womanhood on my own terms and without reference to the complexities of her life. I tested the strength of that elastic thread but I was puzzled. However hard I pushed away, the thread refused to snap.

Once I had children of my own, I needed my mother and pulled on the thread with as much force as I had pushed on it before. Together we made and shared memories and became co-conspirators in the game of motherhood. In all this, my mother was wise enough to keep the thread at an acceptable length for both of us. Not too tight but tight enough.

As my children test the strength of their own threads, I try to let the elastic stretch. It’s difficult and I know that I make mistakes, but I can only trust in that thread of love as I have trusted the thread to my own mother.

As the years go by, her thread grows ever closer and I now care for her as she cared for me as a child. I cherish her memories and her stories and our time is increasingly precious.

Thank you for reading this. I wish you all a very happy Mothers’ Day and send love to any of you who have lost your mother or a child. Memories and family stories keep those precious threads in place and they can be celebrated every day.

Sarah Lott
[email protected]
www.thememorybook.co.uk
Facebook: The Memory Book

08/03/2021

Today is International Women's Day. Who has been inspirational to you?

International Women's Day 2021 theme is 'Choose to Challenge' - |

04/03/2021

It's World Book Day today. What books did you love as a child?

I remember loving this book.

18/02/2021

When writing down memories, photos are always a fantastic resource and memory prompt but have you ever tried looking 'beyond' the photograph? You might find clues about a time in your life that you haven't noticed... For example, what can you glean from this photo?