Deer, deer - where's the time gone?

We've been going to see so many places and getting involved with so many things, finding time to post is getting difficult !

As you can see, we've been to the deer park!

We've also been to Fife Heritage Railway, an open studio at Collessie, the beaches at Dysart and Leven - and, I've entered a painting into a Fife-wide amateur art competition. We are off to the private view and prize giving soon. We don't know yet who has won!

Plus, we've seen some brown bears

and a harris hawk!

Plus, there are weekly dog training and socialising classes - which Paddy adores :-)

he's in a hurry to go!
Be back again soon with some more pics...

Life's a beach.. and a few other things!

Recently we've been enjoying the great outdoors here in Scotland.
We found a lovely beach which Paddy has great fun on.

As you can see, they don't get too crowded!

We've also explored the local woods

and we've been continuing the house renovations too. 

We have new double glazing, our living room is in the process of being insulated and plaster boarded - before we get to decorating. It will be warm and fresh looking when finished. Once that is done and the house is dusted - oh how dusty building works make it - then I am back on book 3 of my Leaves series. 

Hope you've had a wonderful summer!

Equilibrium, Coffee and Kilts.

Hello friends,
here I am, making online visits at six a.m. I am still trying to find an equilibrium in this new life in Scotland.
Outdoors here is so beautiful, as you can see in the pictures below, that at every possible opportunity, I want to be outside.

Plus, we found a little cafe in Cupar, called "Coffee and Kilts" where they allow you to bring your dog!
So after a walk in the countryside, all three of us can pop in for refreshment. In one of the photos, you'll see two bowls behind Paddy, one with water - and one with biscuits!
The human food is pretty delicious too. 

Because my outdoor life has been so enjoyable, it seems to be that I've neglected my internet life. I don't mean to, but there's so much here to do! I've also joined a new art club, which allows me to go along five days a week, should I so choose.
I will find a balance, because I've no wish to lose the online friends I've made; plus I've a book to finish, which is written online. Maybe I should take the netbook to the coffee shop. An internet cafe writer I would be ;-) 

Sparkles, sunshine, orchids, Paddy and book news.

Life in Fife continues to be delightful.
Despite getting an infected insect bite, (all healed now) it's been a lovely month.

I've created a new sparkly canvas to add a pop of colour in my new kitchen

We continue to be blessed with a very mild winter and some sunshine!

My darling hubby, instead of buying a bouquet of flowers to say get well soon, bought me some orchids

and throughout, I had a very attentive nurse. If I called for OH, Paddy would run and fetch him, barking all the while. He's a little treasure!

I am continuing to write "The House in the Leaves", book three of my Leaves Series. The editor and I have been conversing and we're getting it right! I hope to have it published sometime this year.

If you haven't seen the first two, look HERE

 

Paddy's Christmas and a new kitchen

Since we moved into the new house, we've had some work to do indoors, firstly a new kitchen!

I'm pleased to say that it's almost complete. We installed this ourselves and I'm delighted with how it's coming into shape. We're waiting for the sales to buy new flooring.

and little Paddy, like us, thoroughly enjoyed his first Christmas in our new house!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas - and wish you all the best for the New Year.

A breath of fresh air...

How would you like a breath of fresh air?

Come along with me, pictorially, to where the air is clean and the sun shone on us.

Paddy surveys the campsite and passes it as suitable!

We have hills and sea close by

We have more hills and mountains a short distance away

and cobbled streets for Paddy to explore

and the view from the top of one hill, outstanding!

We were staying at Strathkinness, near St Andrews... and what a beautiful place Fife is. I could happily live there. You know how some places grab a hold of you - well, that place did it to me! Where my father came from in Eire - and where I returned to, every summer break, as a youth- was a village in the countryside, near to the sea. This took me back there, in my mind. Beautiful scenery, lovely people. Well worth going, if you ever get the chance.

Almost a year!

It's almost a year since we adopted Paddy!
We've seen him grow in confidence daily, as well as becoming a very people friendly dog.
On his daily walks, we know he's enjoyed himself if he's had at least three fusses!

To celebrate this milestone, here are some Paddy pictures...

I hope you've enjoyed seeing the photos of our darling boy.
Many thanks to Battersea Dogs and Cats home, for allowing us to adopt him.

My writing notebooks, essential company and two Giveaways!

Good morning to you!

Before I write a novel, the seeds of the idea are written in one of my notebooks. I have a few notebooks, the black is the one that has all the details the book I am currently writing, 'The House in the Leaves.'
When I spoke to a police officer and a member of the coroner's office, this was the notebook that came with me. It was fascinating to learn what happens when there's a case going through the coroner's court system.

Sometimes, writing is a lonely experience. After the research, you really are there by yourself, bringing the characters and story to life, through your keyboard.

It's good at time to have someone for company, who tells you, STOP! Step away from the keyboard.....

and come play with me!

Why is Paddy's company so essential? Because dogs need attention, they need to be walked or played with, they need to be fed. It is so easy to lose yourself in the world you are creating, that you forget to step away from the computer. That doesn't do you any favours, physically. So having a dog makes me move - he's good for my health. Plus he makes me smile, which has its own benefits, as I'm sure you know.

Now, we come to the giveaways, there are two currently running.
Both for a 'Leaves for Chloe' tote bag

Firstly, one at A Book and Tea here which also has a whole post dedicated to the art of tea leaf reading
and secondly here at 'Becca's Books'

Good luck if you enter!

Dealing with the January blues, the lovely Paddy and some Chloe news!

It's January, traditionally a cold month and the month in which so many feel blue. Summer feels a long way off.
So how do you cope with the blues?
Here, we wrap up warm and take Paddy for long walks. Plus, we make sure we have a treat to look forward to.
Of course, there are days when Paddy would prefer to stay under the duvet..

but by mid morning he is ready to be out and about, even if he doesn't look deliriously happy about it. He certainly benefits from it - and so do we.

Keep moving is a way to fight the blues. So is laughing - and one of my Christmas presents is coming in handy there, the box set of 'Open All Hours'. The shenanigans of Arkwright never fail to make me laugh.

Plus, we're planning our first trip of the year in the folding camper

Sandringham is looking like the favourite... well, if it's good enough for the Queen... :-)

I am also writing some more to the third in the Leaves series... The house in the Leaves. Chapter Two is almost finished.
If you haven't read the first two books yet, give them a go. You can find a list of suppliers HERE

oh and there's something else to look forward to... The Chloe Tote Bag... these will be coming to a giveaway near you, very soon.... I will keep you informed!

A desperate year, pain and grief, then some rays of sunshine.

I've not been wholly present on either of my blogs. I have posted to keep them up, but I've not really interacted much this year.

It's been a desperate year, filled with pain and grief, but now, there's some sun breaking through.

At the beginning of the year, my husband was signed off sick from work with work related stress. His clinical depression came back full force. We had a matter of months to get him better before his salary would be cut by half, a few more months before it would be stopped altogether.

Everything I learned as a therapist was called into play. Every last bit of research - and all the help that research provided - got put into place. It was a very dark period, desperately trying everything to get him better, quickly.
Sadly the place of work were as helpful as a parasol in a hurricane. In fact, dealing with them was just as nasty as dealing with the depression. Human resources does not mean humane.
At one point, I stood in the garden and gave voice to an old Irish curse, which kind of involves giving certain souls to the Devil. There was a problem with this; it presumed the Devil didn't know his own! I can laugh about it now, because now I'm pretty sure he knows his own, precisely. I have every confidence he will claim them.

In all the darkness, we had some bright light.
The medical profession were fantastic; true rays of sunshine and respite. From the General Practitioner who was both appalled at work and so supportive of OH; to the Occupational Health Dr., who said that our GP hadn't gone far enough in supporting OH; he recommended the work did more and he sent that report to them.

He also said that 18 months to 2 years is the usual recovery time from such a deep depression - and he said to me, that I was the reason that OH was recovering so quickly. He said he'd never seen such a level of support and effort, from CBT to Reflexology, to diet and exercise therapy. To his mind, it was a shame that work hadn't matched it. With his intervention, he hoped they would.




Then, as OH was recovering, we lost our darling Missy. That on top of the six months of hell, nearly broke me. The pain and grief was immeasurable. I succumbed to a massive infection and had to be treated with umpteen rounds of antibiotics. What did I do at this point? The only thing which I think my darling Missy would have wanted. We went back to Battersea and adopted another in need of a home. At first, I wasn't bonding to Paddy, because I was still grieving. I consoled myself with the fact at least he had a home, where he would know nothing but kindness. After a few months, as I trained him, as he rested on my lap and snuggled next to me for comfort, I came to love him. It's simply the best tribute to Missy, that I wanted to give another what she had. We held a fundraising tea party for Battersea - and were overwhelmed at the support we received, that translated into over £500 in aid for the Home which cared so well for Missy and Paddy. Pure sunshine.

Paddy became a ray of sunshine and is greatly loved.
The other rays of sunshine included one of my neighbours, who, knowing what I was going through, used a bake a cake of soda bread for me, regularly, knowing that in the link to my Irish side, I would find some comfort.
The quiet support from people in his workplace. You know who you are and how you've helped. I thank God for you.
The people at Painting Friends, who allowed me a private space to rant and offered their virtual shoulders. You're priceless.
My reflexology friends, who never failed to cheer. Thank you.
My friends in far flung places, who wrote emails to me daily. Pure sunshine.

My book blogging friends, who kindly read and reviewed All in the Leaves. They hadn't a clue exactly what I was going through, but their kindness to a self published author touched me greatly. All rays of sunshine.

Writing Leaves for Chloe was a spell in the sunshine amidst the murk. Writing took me away from this reality, into one where I had total control. I loved it - and I hope when you get to read it, you will too.

I couldn't talk publicly about the ins and outs, I still can't. I simply wanted to say, it's been a desperate year, but we're coming out of it, with help from our friends.
Christmas is nearly here, the time of miracles. My favourite time of year. I thank God we've got through this year, and are now standing in the sunshine. That's a miracle, all to itself.


Thank you, for reading this. For your support. You too are rays of sunshine and priceless. Don't ever forget it. Cheers!