Book Review:The Songs of Us

Headline Publishing Group

For the first few chapters I did wonder at the main character, Melody.  Her behaviour is somewhat 'different'/unusual/crazy.  But when you read this book you will soon be singing in your head, if not out aloud to the songs Melody knows.  By chapter 8 I was hooked into this lady's life, her children's view and the mystery and adventure that begins with a train journey.

My heartstrings were connected to this family, the situations they found themselves in and how they interact with one another in their realistic love/hate family way that teenagers do.

The book is edgy.  Melody is on a knife's edge between sanity and insanity, between normal behaviour and being overtaken by an affliction of mental strangeness following a car accident - or is it Tourette's syndrome?  Her unstable mind takes her over uncontrollably.  Life, for short bursts of time, is embarrassing for those around her.

You will laugh, cry and resonate with quirky family traits.  Emma Cooper has written a real page-turner.  What genre is it you may ask?  It is many - saga, contemporary fiction, mystery to be solved, romance, - all wrapped up in a mother, father, teenage boy and girl family where tragedy has disrupted and scarred their lives, where love leads them to search for truth and face life and death together. 

You will find my comments too on Goodreads and Amazon.  

One small step for our planet....

In my endeavour to make small changes to help the planet I have come across a new search engine that helps PLANT TREES with every 45 or so searches.

I don't know about you, but my laptop and mobile phone automatically put Google on screen or on top search favourite so that each time I want to research something, buy something or want to access information of any kind I use the BIG G.

Now though, I use Ecosia - the app symbol is as in the picture above.  Trees are being planted in Ethiopia, Morocco, Brazil, Nicaragua, Tanzania and so many other countries and Ecosia post news of how many trees have been financed this way.  You can read about them on their bog: blog.ecosia.org.

It is free to use.  I have been using it and am very satisfied with this alternative way of searching on-line sites.  Do give it a go and let me know how you get on.

An Italian and British merger

Book Review - The Lemon Tree Café  by Cathy Bramley

This book is a jam sandwich of emotions.  It is typically British with a flavour of Italy.  It will make you hungry and you will want more.

This family run business gets a revive when Maria's grand-daughter Rosie leaves a city job and makes a Derbyshire village her preferred place to be.  Love, loss and loving again is mirrored between the generations with tragedies, trauma and trouble befalling them both.  An old man called Stanley and a young man named Gabe and his son Noah, help them trust their hearts again.

From big business to small local concerns, this will tickle the taste buds of young and old alike.  When life gives you lemons, make lemonade...…..

This book made me seriously think about 'bitterness' and how it affects ones heart; about open doors that let the bitterness flow in and out in ways that damage relationships; and of closed doors where peace dwells, endings happen to hurtful situations; where hearts heal and become whole again.  This is clearly woven into the lives of the characters of the owners of The Lemon Tree Café. 

It's tangy, it's sharp and it's squiggy.  It'll make your eyes water and zing your mind with a zest for life.

Loved it.  *****

Booklovers.....

Twenty plus years ago I nearly bought a bookshop in Wales but plans fell through and I let the dream die a death.  Reading about Posy's inheritance had me champing for her to make a go of it despite the obstacles that present themselves in the process.  

For anyone who loves reading books, is writing a book, or fantasies about owning a bookshop this is the book for you.  You will be transported to a courtyard of shops, become a member of the family and circle of friends and like, or perhaps loathe, some of the characters. 

The struggle between Happy Ever Afters and Murder fiction is played out between Posy and Sebastian, Lavina's grandson who inherited the courtyard shops.  Whose side will you take, I wonder?  Will romance win in the end or will Posy be driven away from her desires?

It's the perfect book to curl up on the sofa with now the darker nights are here.

Well done Annie Darling and Harper Collins Publishers.  

A trip to Northumberland...

I stayed in a Northumberland Cottages property which is a company I have used before and I have to say both times the cottages have been immaculately clean, welcoming and in a good location.

                            

Homlea in Alnwick had everything anyone on holiday could need - big lounge, kitchen, utility room with ground floor toilet and washing machine; bath and seperate shower, sink and toilet in a spaceous first floor bathroom; three good sized bedrooms and a private garden to sit outdoors, weather permitting.  There was space for 2 cars to park and the property is dog friendly.

It was within walking distance to Alnwick town, Alnwick Castle and Gardens and Barter Books - see review of these on https://wisepurchases.home.blog.

A short drive away is Bamburgh Castle and village which is also on the coast so you can see the sea and beautiful sandy beach. 

Lindisfarne/Holy Island is another place to see following the causeway when the tide is out and entering life that saints have trod before us.  

My favourite place was Seahouses, having had a holiday there a few years back.  This little town has a harbour where boats go across to the Farne Islands where puffins and seals reside.  

On a blowy day you can get a drink inside the quayside pub and look out of the picture window at the seamen bringing in their catch for the day.

From there a short drive to Craster, where for walkers its a short coastal walk to the ruined castle, for others perhaps a smoked kipper lunch.

Bamburgh Castle

Any comments or questions please contact me on Twitter @tweetsue13.

   

Birthday Blog

Wow, what a fab week I've had, blessed every day with family and friends.  It started off on Bank Holiday Monday with the weather being at its best - 30 degrees!  A lazy pottering day and trip to Newton Regis Garden Centre for compost to plant some pansies in tubs in the garden.  Of course the obligatory coffee stop in the Two Sister's café was a must and hubby and I chatted an hour away.

Tuesday saw me at Tamworth Next store to have coffee and cake in Costa with Linda and she insisted on paying as a birthday treat and handed me a birthday gift too (which I saved until 31st).  In the afternoon I met Diane at Grangewood Garden Centre - just coffee this time!

Wednesday Suzanne and I went to a new place in town called No 18 for coffee and a toasted tea cake.  The décor of this place was very rustic - the tables were made of slatted doors still with their black hinges and nuts and bolts and number on them.  The menu was written on a roll of brown paper hanging behind the counter, they sold t-shirts and jumpers and there is a barber shop attached.  Very 'hip' if that's still a phrase!

On the same day I was treated to afternoon tea at The Tudor House café and Tapas Bar in town.  My sister-in-law had had a voucher for her birthday and wanted to share it with me for mine!  How lovely was that?

Thursday I visited Margaret, a friend recovering from her third (same hip) hip operation - don't ask! So coffee was served in her conservatory by her very patient husband.  On Friday I went to work off some of the week's calories at Lea Marston Hotel and Spa.  The gym and pool were busy and I left early to pop into Matalan at our out-of-town shopping centre - Ventura Park.  Everyone else from Tamworth were out shopping too - or so it seemed, but I picked up a bargain pair of black trousers in the sale and headed for home.  By now I had a lovely lot of birthday presents and a bunch of flowers.  And the post-lady delivered lots of cards too.

Tradition in this house on my birthday is that I open cards and pressies in bed with a cuppa (hot water and lemon) and it always feels like I am so much younger!  I was overwhelmed with all I received - such lovely thoughtful presents and cards.  I then dressed and had set myself a target to bake some cakes for visiting family.  My (now 5 year old) mixer came out of retirement and was soon mixing ingredients for blueberry muffins, which thankfully turned out quite nice.

Nanny Julie & Imogen Rose

My sister, neice and great-niece visited and my 'posh' cake stand came out of hiding.  Whilst they ate cake and drank coffee I had baby cuddles.  Imogen hardly woke except to take her bottle feed from me but her tiny hands and features fed my soul and melted my heart. 

On the evening my husband, daughter and I went out for a meal at Christopher's The Peel Hotel, Tamworth but first they wanted to show me The Tap, a Real Ale micro-brewery, and Gin Bar.  Well I'm not a fan normally of Gin but my sister had told me about Rhubarb gin which sounded lovely so I had one with lemonade, a slice of lime and lemon and lots of ice.  It was delicious.  So my daughter got me another only this time it was a double!  Well I was very squiffy!  

And so another year older and one more year to wait until I get my pension! I hope the ladies campaigning regarding the injustice served on us by the Government moving the goal post without enough warning win their cause.  How blessed I am to have a loving family and generous friends where others are not so fortunate.  

Oh and Jan, my new Swanwick Writers Summer School friend, I know you will be interested in this present.  My daughter recently visited the only Bookstore in Amsterdam and got my this wallet purse for my birthday.  

Yoshi, real leather wallet purse, made in Lichfield, Staffordshire

 

Perhaps on your travels you may visit this place? I look forward to reading your travel blogs.

Bag Lady

For some women bags are a 'thing'.  They cannot pass a shop or stall where there are bags.

"Oooooh that's nice."
"Wow look at this, isn't it fab"
"I know I have a lot of bags, but I really must buy this one"

These are some of the exclamations I hear when I shop with a certain someone.  I tag along behind her as she feels the material or leather.  She looks inside to see what extras are hidden from sight - a zip compartment, a phone holder, whether it is lined with nice material or just plain.  Considering what she will use it for is another lengthy process.

"I could take in on holiday"
"It would be perfect for such and such occasion"
"It matches my dress"
"I don't have one this size/colour/shape"

I have heard it all.  I am not particularly a 'bag lady'.  I'm very happy to use one bag for a very long time.  They take up space to store so if I don't use any bags I have they are sent to the charity shop or thrown out.  But then it happened to me.  Bag Love.  I fell hook, line and sinker for this beauty.

Never having bought a bag over £25 I crooned my love of this delight to my dearest saying he could keep it a few months and give it to me for Christmas.  And so it was a Santa Special.  I was like a child waiting for Christmas that year.

So it comes with me on my bookish outings - to Birmingham or Stoke on Trent when I attend Author & Blogger meetings; to book signing events or literary festivals and this year it went with me to Swanwick Writers Summer School. www.swanwickwritersschool.co.uk

There I met Jan Lloyd who had a dose of Bag Envy.  She admired it and touched it, looked inside, and marvelled at the matching purse too.  I promised her I would blog about it on return from Swanwick. So here it is Jan - just for you and all Bag Ladies who like owning quality handbags.

If you love dogs, cats, cafes, baking, books, bees etc. take a peak at the Yoshi website -  www.yoshi.co.uk.  There you will find similar bags, purses, card holders, glasses cases and pencil cases.  You wont be able to smell the soft leather, or feel the texture of the material inside, but you will be Wow'd by the designs and hopefully find your nearest stockist.

I acquired mine at Lichfield Cathedral Bookshop, Staffordshire but I feel sure that good quality department stores and gift/leather shops will stock them for you to peruse and handle before purchase.  It is handmade to a very high standard and is unique. Everyone speaks to me when I use it, admiring and asking where I got it.  It is my pride and joy to own.

Do contact me on Twitter @tweetsue13 to let me know if you enjoyed the blog and/or own/buy a bag.

Swanwick Writers Summer School 2019

Thursday morning:

This is the last day of courses, workshops etc.  Thoughts of packing in readiness for an after breakfast departure tomorrow morning already in my mind.  Then smiles cross my face as I remember the Page to Stage skits of last night.  Several writers had penned 5 minute plays that were directed and played by volunteers - drama and comedy sketches were all a delight to watch.

Today's menu for me is part 4 of 4 How to Write your First Novel by Della Galton then on a recommendation from the man I chatted with in the sunshine a few days ago, I will take the Non Fiction Books 2 part course led by Tarja Moles.  Later I have a 1-1 session booked with Bridget Holden where I will hear feedback of a piece of my novel and hopefully some helpful advice.  My tummy does a leap over at the thought of this meeting with the old, old script in my head of 'you're not good enough' telling me its 'rubbish'.  Go away negative voice!

 Graham Rayner has such a soothing voice and a fountain of knowledge to draw from.

Thursday afternoon:

Non-fiction writing workshops x 2 were extremely interesting.  Thankfully not many notes to write as all her very informative and interesting presentation notes were screened and will be available to download.  I now am more informed of where to start as and when I am ready to try this market too.  I have ideas but hadn't envisaged writing non-fiction until after I was an established novelist.  But.... perhaps I might.

My 1-1 with Bridget went well.  We climbed the stairs in the main house to a lounge that was quiet.  I had not been in this part of Swanwick before and it felt strange being just two people away from all the other delegates.  She had my work on her computer and highlighted areas to talk about.  Her comments were very helpful, confirming and encouraging.  I floated back down the stair assured I was on the right track.  My negative voice vanishes and positive voice is saying: You will be published.

Bridget Holden in the Main House upper Lounge

Next its Posh Frocks and Clean Socks for dinner when the men get out their bow ties or kilts or suits and ladies swish about in glamorous outfits (optional) followed by Awards evening, farewell entertainment and prize draws.  This usually includes our anthem which is led by John Lamont playing the guitar and singing his version of "I will walk 100 miles and I will walk 100 more" which is "I will write 100 words and I will write 100 more" it has us belly laughing and singing along to the chorus with gusto and sends us on our way with the song playing over in our minds for weeks afterwards.

For those of you reading this blog who have not experienced the place or the Summer School,  there are LOTS of other courses, workshops, entertainment etc that I have not mentioned or partaken of (you can read previous year blogs I have written by scrolling down my list and selecting).  I guess I should mention the CAKE - available at every tea break or biscuits and of course the BAR which is open twice a day.  Some bring their own drinks and before dinner this evening will be a Dregs Party - usually on the lawn if the weather holds out - where everyone brings their bottles and shares their left overs.  So you can see it will be a merry last night for those who imbibe.

I would also like to add that the Summer School accommodates a wide range of participants of all ages. I had the privilege of hearing one young woman, possibly in her 20s, sing a song called Atheist which was about her Grandma having suffered and died and the memories of moments and words spoken which have stayed with her and made her question about after-life.  Playing her guitar and vocalising this song was both touching and inspiring.  I later had chance to tell her she should be on Britian's Got Talent but what I meant to say was that she was excellent and could go far with her writing and singing.  Another young lady was brave enough to tell the tutor and delegates of a workshop we were attending of a devastating happening after winning a prize with a play she had written.  Thankfully it has not put her off her talent for writing and producing work to be staged.

I recommend this place, these courses, tutors and friends you haven't met yet who share your interest in learning to write and have walked the path to publishing before you or have had a successful career in some avenue of the writing world.  Look it up on www.swanwickwritersschool.org.uk.  The Hayes Conference Centre is disabled friendly and although Kay-Anne wasn't here this year other 'scooter' users whizzed about and had assistance with dinner plates to tables etc.  Whatever your circumstances or ability/agility you will find this place a writers delight.

Again please make any comments via Twitter @tweetsue13.

Swanwick Writers Summer School 2019

Wednesday

Having started to blog about my week I am feeling the pressure to keep it up.  Part of me wants to relax and write it up afterwards, and another part of me says 'do it now while its fresh'.  So the latter has won again and here I am fitting it in between the end of lunch and the beginning of the next exciting session.

Part 3 of 4 with Della Galton this morning was as enjoyable as ever.  We looked at Dialogue and colloquialisms ie. "Y'know what I mean"; "So.……" "Cool"; "Ace" etc.  I have a friend who uses "Sweetie" a lot - I love that and am surprised I haven't used it for one of my characters well used phrases because not only is it a nice term of endearment, but tells you the person saying it is actually a Sweetie type of person (not someone who likes sweets/candy but sweet natured).  A lot of people say "Erm…" before a sentence, "Like" is another well used word.

We discussed Dialogue, Dialect, use of Italics, Americanisms etc.  The time goes very quickly and my notebook is being well used.

The second morning workshop was Blogging for Authors by William Gallagher: a Dr Who writer; Journalist; Radio Times writer; has a BBC news blog; and is a scriptwriter for long running television programmes.

His first question was what do you call a gathering of writers and the reply from a quick witted delegate came back : A Volume of Writers.  Another suggested a Saga of Writers.  Perhaps you have another suggestion?

I sat next to a lady who blogs about her travels of which it sounds like she has really seen the world and, for the exercises set, we paired up and exchanged ideas. During the workshop I learnt how to combine my passions into my blogs and so you will be getting more from me than just book reviews.

As a result of a discussion on Comments I researched quickly in settings why 'comments' don't seem to be activated on my blogs and am wondering if commenters have to have a Google account in order to do so.  Perhaps other BlogSpot users will enlighten me?

Lots of questions and answers gave food for thought, inspiration and valuable insight into the benefits and pitfalls of blogging.

Yoga for Writers hour gave me some new exercises to try at home with my limitations not to bend like a flexi-card.

Being a Tree!  I need to work on my balance! (3rd from left front row)

The torrential rain of the day has now ceased and I'm off to dinner. Thank you for stopping by and taking a few minutes to see what I've been up to.  I hope you have found it interesting and comments can be posted to me @tweetsue13 on Twitter.

Swanwick Writers Summer School 2019

Tuesday

Free Time Day - yay!  Although there are PLENTY of things to do if you want to keep going to courses etc.  it is also billed as 9.30 - 5 pm JUST WRITE!  So I am doing just that, catching up with myself, blogging, reading, browsing the book room, being a bit anti-social to prevent being 'all peopled out' as I called it when I worked in a similar environment in Lancaster.

A messy bed in my room at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick

I hope you are enjoying these blogs as I hope it will encourage other would-be writers and authors to give Swanwick some thought for another year because as one of the guests on the staged chat show last night said, "It's like coming home."  There is an atmosphere here that is hard to describe, its almost spiritual as we come together from all backgrounds and yet bond and interact without barriers of race, ability, education, gender etc.

I attended a one hour session before a salad lunch.  The Natural Storyteller workshop with Bridget Holding was full of correlations between the natural world of animals and nature and how we can use our in-built ways to enhance our writing.

I then sorted notes and papers into character piles and made a spreadsheet of the chapters, pages and scenes of what I have already written so that I can track where I am at a glance rather than re-read each time I start another chapter.

A break involved a car trip to Ripley just to get out and about.  I was looking for a park to sit in but actually went around the shops.  It is a small place and lots of bargain shops so I was able to get some plastic wallets and other bits to bring back to my room.  I can't believe how quickly the afternoon has gone and  walked around the lake and sat in the last of the warm sun before the evening gets cooler.

   

Swanwick Writers Summer School 2019

Monday Morning

Weariness keeps me in bed beyond the alarm this morning.  Tiredness is always my downfall on organised events keeping me away from things I'd like to do but which my body tells me 'now, now, you're not as young as you used to be' and I have learnt to listen to my natural rhymn rather than push on regardless then 'crash'.

So my first session was at 9.30 am and I was ready for part 2 of 4 with the lovely Della Galton, author of two of my favourite books (Ice and Slice & The Morning After) as well as short story writer for magazines.  We (about 50 delegates) looked at Characters - who are they, what are they like, where do they live etc.  We were given a Character Development Sheet with lots of questions to answer about our main character then to sum up in a sentence and read out aloud to the group if you wanted to.  This is mine and again I would value your opinion:

Sheila's life is cluttered to the max making her feel edgy

at home, bored at work and her dream far out of

reach.

I will do the exercise again when I get home and probably come up with something different but for now time is pressing.  Della gave us the idea to draw up a family tree as a helping aid to keep track of characters, which although I know in my head, it will be useful to see on paper, so another exercise to do at home sometime.

Also useful to me was the importance of your setting.  Naming your Town and County is ok but roads and names of pubs, cafes etc need to be fictitious names, so I was on track with that too.   Good to be affirmed in what I have done already. 

After a short coffee break the next session was session 1 of  2: Dream Author by Sophie Hannah.  Wow what an amazing woman and this course was SO right for me.  Sophie has a Coaching Programme and supports would be and already published authors.  She said stuff that I know about positive thinking but in a way that makes some of the things we think after rejections, disappointments etc seeming really daft.  Her examples of how to look at things from a different prospective were both funny and so true that I am sure everyone gained something.  She used the CTFAR Model which I will look up again at a later date.

I know you are interested in food so here's today's lunch delights - Chicken and Mushroom strogonoff with rice or pasta or chips with sweetcorn; there was a gluten free choice and salad or soup too.  Deserts were Blackberry fool; slices of watermelon and pineapple; strawberry ice cream and fruit salad.  I sat with a mother and daughter attending for the first time and heard about their writing, workshops attended and where on the complex they were.  Thankfully all 3 of us were in the Lakeside building which is some way from the Main building which had been disturbed in the early hours by the fire alarm ringing and occupants had to be evacuate into the Hall.  This brought back memories of when I was at this Conference Centre 30+ years ago with a different set of circumstances and the fire alarm went off TWICE and all residents had to get out of their rooms and assemble in the cold night air in their night wear.  This time however I was not disturbed and slept unaware of their adventure.

Part 2 of Dream Author was just as inspiring, comical and informative.  I liked the idea of a Thought Ladder and wrote very quickly in my notebook how my process has been towards being a published author so far:

Not good enough
I've finished a manuscript
Is it good enough
I've edited it and others have too
"If I get published...."
"I will get published one way or another, one day"
"When I get published"
"I will be published soon"

These thoughts are not ideal, we are our own worst critic, and delay the action needed.

Sophie told us "Optimism is not enough - hope is great but determination and action will make it happen."  And I heard the phrase "massive action may be needed" and it gave me an idea for where I am at now.

Monday's one hour afternoon short course I chose to attend was 'Photography for Writers' with Simon Hall.  Having been to other workshops he led in previous years I knew it would be interesting and as I use photos on this blog any improvement to my knowledge and technique would be a bonus.  Using our phones he led us through various steps giving us chance to practise on him or on each other.  I know now what the various symbols on the camera setting mean and how to use them and, rather than editing the picture after I have taken it, how to get a good picture first time.

These are not the best examples but practice makes perfect lol 

After such a full day I walked out of the building into the sunshine and sat on a bench deciding that was  enough for today.  An elderly man joined me and we chatted in the sunshine before dinner.  At 8pm it was the Swanwick Chat Show which Simon Hall hosted asking questions and getting surprising answers from the 3 celebrities - Alison Chisholm, Poet; Amit Dhand, Crime Writer; and Sophie Hannah, Crime Writer and Coach.  It was very entertaining with much laughter.  

And so to bed. zzzzzzzzzz

Swanwick Writers Summer School 2019

First Days

This year is SWSS 71st year.  It is my 4th year of attending.  We gather in the main hall to be addressed by the Chairman.  'We' are 293 delegates all with one thing in common - the love of the written word.  There are 15 international delegates, 11 different countries are represented.  And many from all corners of the UK and surrounding islands.

What I love about this place is that you can attend alone and immediately find someone talks to you to find out where you are from, how many times you have attended, what are you writing etc.  Conversation is easy.

Meals are served in two dining areas where you meet different people and make new acquaintances. I ate with delight choosing from the various dishes to have chicken Kiev, roast potatoes and sweetcorn followed by a big dish of crème brulee.  Yum.

The grounds are as beautiful as ever but the wind and rain of today have somewhat battered the blooms.  I did notice some strawberries in the planters leading up to the main house and I may be tempted to pick one when no-one is looking! Lol

The first night after dinner speaker was Paul Dodgson who took us through his journey of becoming a writer from his time at the BBC and radio plays to his memoir The Road Not Travelled - he had wanted to be a rock star.  He ended with a song he had written and we all joined in the wordless chorus which was fun and actually sounded good.

I attended a Birds of a Feather gathering where groups of different genre writers flocked together but I found the noise level of so many people chatting in the main house lounge rather overwhelming, so politely left and went to my room.  It was nice walking the short distance from the house to the Lakeside block, I am rarely outdoors after dark.  The night air was fresh and silent, my bed beckoned.

Sunday morning started with meditation.  Instruction in mindfulness with the aid of a tic-tac mint was interesting, sitting for 5 minutes in silence and stretching and yawning were all a gentle wake up for the busy day ahead.

Having 3 meals a day with nearly 300 other people is quite something.  I had breakfast in my room thanks to Quaker Oats so Simple pots and Whitworths cranberries together with my second cuppa to fully get me going.

Next stop is Part 1 of 4 with Della Galton - How to write your first novel.  We heard about Pitch/Premise and this is mine for the novel I have written:
 

Journey with Shelia Walker on her physical and mental de-cluttering expedition  

which leads to a new direction with some touching special moments along the way.

What do you think?  I may work on it further but your comments would help.  Is it too long; not punchy enough; does it intrigue you; does it tell you the basis of the storyline?

Then Della explained the importance of the first page, which is usually 350 words, and several things that need to happen there.  I will be checking mine out but mentally ticked a few off that I could remember I had written.

We also touched on Plotting which I was pleased I know I have done ok with. 

I also attended Val Penny's short course, part 1 of 2, on Promoting your Work.  She worked through the alphabet with helpful hints.

A short Chapel Interdenominational Service before lunch of Roast Turkey (or beef or pork); Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, green beans and parsnips followed by a slice of black forest gateaux and fresh cream.

After lunching with 4 ladies and 1 man when we chatted about river and lake swimming, it was back to Val Penny for session 2 of 2 to complete her alphabet of helpful hints.  I see from my notebook I wrote much about understanding Twitter (my favourite social media site).  Tweeters will notice I use hashtags more now.

Coffee and cake was served but I declined opting to go for a walk around the grounds for some fresh air.  No rain but breezy.  It is so hard not to take photos of the lovely grounds and here are just a few, some you may have seen on Twitter already.

5.15pm each day is Unwind your Mind with Zana Lamont which is always a lovely 45 minutes of music, movement (Thai Chi style) and relaxation.  Just what we need after a full evening and day.

I had an early night after the evening meal and will continue with more news of my writing holiday soon.

Note: the courses and other activities  I mention are MY choice.  There are so many things to choose from and delegates can dip in and out of any as they wish.  It is all very informal and relaxed but quality time to feed our passion for writing etc.   

Satisfying Saturday Shopping

When I heard about The Tamworth Pantry opening at our local Garden Centre I was thrilled.  Having visited Chester recently and stumbled across a Plastic and Packaging Free shop I bought two shampoo blocks and noted all the array of goods on sale determined to find such a shop nearer to home.  I searched the internet and the nearest was in Birmingham but then, on a Sunday morning trip to Grangewood Garden Centre to look at plants and have a coffee, I noticed one of the many 'cabin units' had a sign of a forthcoming new venture....

Zero Waste Shopping

 

I started to fill a bag with empty containers ready for the opening day which was today.  I was as excited as a little girl going to a sweet shop.  I wasn't disappointed.  So now I can buy my porridge oats without its cardboard box or in a plastic bag; nuts as many or as few as I need; fill old conditioner, hand wash and washing up liquid bottles as well as buy a wooden tooth brush or lovely natural soap and so much more.

OH was impressed too as there were many spices and he got organic chick peas and apricots for cooking with.  

Free tray bakes by Heavenly Baking for first customers at The Tamworth Pantry

Then OH stopped at another cabin that sold real ales, so we sat chatting to 3 of the cabin business people whilst enjoying a tipple in the sun.

The Beer Hut sells Craft Ales, Gins, Cider, Spirits etc and it was more than he could resist.  I had a Peaky Blinder Lager and although I was going to have a cappuccino in the Grangewood Garden centre café this really was very pleasant for a change.

We rarely go shopping on a Saturday but this was one Saturday that was very satisfying.

Educated

This Memoir is bravely and simply written as it's no doubt a cathartic step in this beautiful young lady's life.  It educated me in so many ways* (listed below) even though I thought I knew so much of the topics covered from my counselling training and private practise.

It was a compelling, gripping read.  I would urge readers to make sure they are in a good place mentally before reading as if it resonates with any of the issues in it, it may bring you to tears about your own life as well as the author's.  I wrote much in my journal, researched topics and feel I have learnt so much more than I knew about toxic relationships.

It is a story of being let loose from binding chains; one of parental influence and childlike conformity.  As Tara grows so does her need for independence and freedom.  Taking a job in her early teens starts an incredible journey from having no education to going to college through to gaining a scholarship and a Doctorate.

You can see Tara talking to Ellen Degeneres and also on the Ophrah Winfrey show on You Tube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is635n6RNR0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS0P1ovIRos

The book is available at most bookshops, libraries and on-line.  Her own website is
https://tarawestover.com

In short this book will stir your soul.

*Subjects covered:

Family dynamics
Religious conformity
Coercive behaviour
Personality disorder
Parental powers
Narcissistic behaviours
The damage of silence
How the body heals
How the mind heals
Ignorance and its pit falls
Liberation and its price
Freedom and friends
Unhealthy relationships
Bipolar/mental illness
Fear
Love
Skills
Knowledge
Truth
Confrontation
Loyalty
Natural remedies
Gender dominance
Bullying/Abuse

The list is extensive and I'm sure I haven't listed them all.  I applaud Tara and how she has dealt with the adult years of her life, what a shining star of an example to many she is.