Author: sareenmclay

Friendship · Inspiration

Hope

sareenmclay2 Comments

If 2018 were a book, I’d choose it from the shelf.

Empty pages would beckon.

Waiting for me to write the first line.

What adventures and new experiences will I include?thumb_IMG_8278_1024

The characters will be my family, friends, strangers I meet.

I hope the happy chapters will be longer than the sad.

I wish there would not be anger or hurt.

I’ll tint the page edges with gold, a dusting of fairy magic to grant the wishes within.

I’ll hope to fill the pages with love and leave the book open to share with others.

When 2018 draws to a close and the book is written, I’ll have changed. I will have travelled many roads both old and new but I know, throughout it all, I will not travel them alone.

 

thumb_IMG_8266_1024

Flowers · Knitting · Nature

The Gift of Giving

sareenmclay3 Comments

thumb_IMG_E5936_1024

 

It’s the little things in life. Sometimes the small things are the ones that matter. 

Did I say thank you? Did I smile? Did I say hello? Did I help? Was I kind?

So today is a very small post. Just a reminder to myself really. Gifts come in all forms.

 

thumb_IMG_8181_1024

 

Books · Friendship · Inspiration · Nature

Twittering on about Technology

sareenmclay3 Comments

I found myself watching the last fifteen minutes of The Apprentice this week.

One of the finalists was accused of being too cautious when it came to her use of technology. Well now, I thought, that I can understand! In fact, I’m sure my family would consider there to be a real similarity between me and the contestant in this regard!

It has taken me years to begin writing a blog.  I only recently joined Twitter. I have been sporadic on Facebook and I opened a Pinterest account years ago and have only recently put anything on it! Oh well, c’est la vie!

thumb_IMG_8154_1024

So on this cold morning as Jack Frost spreads his swirling spirals ever further, I began to think about it all and realised that technology has opened some interesting doors.

Through Facebook I’ve become a member of bookclubs and stayed in contact with my family and so many lovely people I’ve met on my travels.

It was on Twitter I heard about the centenary celebrations for Muriel Spark (of ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ fame) including the exhibition at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh which is on my ‘to do’ list.

 

I discovered Robert Macfarlane’s ‘word of the day’ on Twitter. Linked to nature they are very inspiring and I love the way he adds in so many languages.

The lovely Rae Cowie introduced me to Goodreads and I’ve been having fun writing book reviews (and finding more book recommendations!).

I’m so encouraged by this way to share my love of reading, writing, nature, gardening and so on, there’s only one thing.

Just don’t tell my family! (They’ll never believe it!)

thumb_IMG_8147_1024

I couldn’t finish without saying a huge thank you to Small Beer Press for help with this website and to Shane Strachan and all at the Aberdeen Writers Room for their fantastic help and support!

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiration · Nature · Trees

Perfect Pawprints

sareenmclayLeave a comment

What to say about today? When snow has fallen?

Today is a day for play, to create, build a snowman, a snowdog, a reindeer. To laugh and say, ‘It’s the wrong type of snow to build a snowman!’

Perfect pawprints on winter’s parchment.thumb_IMG_8065_1024 The world softened, silenced under a fresh white duvet. Walking to the sounds of our own crunching and scrunching footsteps. Lichen replaced by a streak of white, light glistening low amongst the trees.thumb_IMG_8055_1024

 

 

 

 

To sledge and slide and glide and fly down hills of sugared ice. To search for icicles or to skate freely on frozen ponds.

 

If I don’t today, the snow may be gone tomorrow. Carpe diem!

What would you choose to do on a snowy day?

 

thumb_IMG_8054_1024

Books

A Book Lover’s Lunch

sareenmclayLeave a comment

This week is Book Week Scotland organised by the Scottish Book Trust.

One of the suggestions is to hold a ‘Reading Lunch’ tomorrow on November the 30th  which is incidentally also St Andrew’s Day.

This seems a great idea to me. What could be more relaxing than taking the time out to have lunch and enjoy a good book? I’m all for it!

Then again, this presents me with a dilemma. Which book to read? As usual, I have several on the go at one time.

The question is which one of these would go best with my cheese sandwich?

thumb_IMG_8035_1024

Well, as Muriel Spark’s protagonist is on a diet of eating only half of everything in order to lose weight and as I have bought some Dutch Edam cheese for a change, I think it will have to be The Miniaturist and I can picture myself in Amsterdam with Nella.

I wonder if I could get away with having a ‘Reading Dinner’ at night to celebrate St Andrew’s day and I could read my Muriel Spark book and eat shortbread? Sounds like a good day to me!

 

 

So which book will you read over lunch tomorrow and will your food choices influence the book or vice versa?

 

Worth a look! The Scottish Book Trust have published an e-book of stories on the theme of ‘Nourish’.

thumb_IMG_4336_1024

 

Inspiration · Nature · Trees

Nature’s Fairylights

sareenmclayLeave a comment

Outside is a day I would like to stay that way – outside!

thumb_IMG_8003_1024

Still I stomp along on my walk until slowly I realise where I am and what I am doing. I lift my head from the study of my welly boots. Visibility is poor, I can’t see further than the line of trees ahead. The world beyond is hidden, has become mystical and mysterious.

I tiptoe along the edge of mini lochs which appeared overnight. Coming to a standstill I see, what? What is it exactly that I am taking my time to see? What aspect of nature will I have the chance to appreciate today?

Raindrops.thumb_IMG_8017_1024

Crystal fairy lights clinging to bare branches.

I tuck away my camera. Not every day is a bright, sunny one but each one certainly has its own moment, its own beauty.

 

 

 

 

 

The following day …

thumb_IMG_8029_1024