Category: Inspiration

Books · Inspiration

Books, books everywhere

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A book upstairs, a book downstairs, one in the door of the car, if I don’t have a book near to hand then I’ll feel a bit lost to be honest.

Talking to others, I know I’m not the only one like this and I recently read the lovely Books in my Handbag Blog and felt I was totally at home.

On my own site I have the Cup of Tea booklist with the books people said they’d return to again and again. In the Books in my Handbag blog, Jessie Cahalin has a ‘Reader Recommends’ page where she has asked for the titles of books which have fed your reading addiction.

I sent my books in, of course I could not stick to one as I have so many favourites but The Chalet School and Anne of Green Gables certainly stand out in my memory. thumb_IMG_8314_1024

Perhaps it was the strong, independent characters or maybe it was because they were part of a series.

It could have been the beginning of learning to love the writing of a particular author and searching for the other books they have written.

Taking the time to think back to which books inspired me was so enjoyable I thought I’d like to pass it on.

 

Do you have any books you’d add to the Books in my Handbag Blog or My Cup of Tea booklist? I’d love to know. 

 

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Inspiration · Nature

A butterfly moment

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thumb_IMG_8368_1024You see shoes. One in front of the other. Marching. Hands jammed in your pockets. Head bent towards the ground. Your view narrow, restricted. For all you can see the rest of the world may not exist.

 

You hear your breath grow steadily louder. Unconsciously your head rises centimetre by centimetre. There is the path leading into the distance.

 

The daily fog is clearing, your head turns, appreciating the trees, the leaves, the birdsong.

Then at last. A sigh escapes. It is here. The moment on every walk when your thoughts begin to soar. Your shoulders drop, your head lifts up and there is the sky in all its glory.

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This is the moment ideas fly freely, the answers to the questions of the day appear, and often seem so obvious, you wonder, why didn’t you think of that before?

Well, now is the time. That beautiful, butterfly moment, to capture, embrace, enjoy and breathe.

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Flowers · Inspiration · swimming

Inspiration

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Another dull, dark, dreich day. It’s winter, after Christmas. I should be bouncing with New Year’s resolutions, fired up and ready to go.

Hmm. Well, easier said than done.

There is one resolution I make every year, to become fitter.

I know from past experience if I get into a routine of going swimming then I’ll be happier and fitter.

I have my bag packed at all times ready to go. The only thing stopping me? The thought of going out into the cold.

Recently I watched this very inspiring clip and now I think to myself, if this lady can go and swim in the sea (THE SEA!) then I can go and swim in a nice, warm pool.

I heard someone say they ‘never regret going for a run’. Well true enough, I never regret going for a swim.

As Dory says, ‘Just keep swimming’.

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Friendship · Inspiration

Hope

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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.

 

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Books · Friendship · Inspiration · Nature

Twittering on about Technology

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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!

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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!)

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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

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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?

 

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