I just spent a week in a beautiful part of the UK - the New Forest. This was our fourth visit to the same holiday park. We love it. It's peaceful, idyllic, picture postcard perfect. It's three years since we were last in the area, however. On this particular occasion,...
Where do you find writing inspiration? It can come from anywhere; a photograph, a news story, some choice words, a song. I always loved this song by Richard Marx. The words tell a story of their own and it fascinated me. I had never seen the video until I looked it up...
My eldest daughter has been begging to go camping (and you know how kids can beg). We do not own a tent or any camping equipment and camping has never been on our list of holiday ‘to do’s’ despite its ever increasing popularity. ‘Everybody else goes camping,’ says my...
Welcome to Friday Fiction. Today guest author Pamela Thibodeaux provides an extract from her book, Choices. Please use the frog link below if you would like to join in and add your own story to share. Camie's heart throbbed with excitement as she waited to be escorted...
I am reblogging this because it is such an interesting post. As I have a tween who has trouble sleeping, it is particularly poignant. We are going through this at the moment, so this definitely struck a cord with me. Hope you find it useful too.
Why do we write blog posts? Because we love to write? Because we have a story to tell? Or because we have a message that we want to get across? Whatever the reason, blog posts are written with one thing in mind - to be read. If the statistics tell us that 80% of...
I read a post recently called 'Blogging, a Full Time Job'. It highlights just how much work you have to put in to achieve blogging success. But is it worth it? That's a question I have asked myself lately. I have been blogging seriously since January. I've posted...
I recently signed up for National Trust membership after months of deliberation. I figured that the children are now old enough to start appreciating the places that are run by the NT. We are lucky enough to have many beautiful places to visit right on our doorstep,...
I am stuck in my room because I have been grounded – all day. It’s so not fair because I was supposed to go London Zoo with Annabel (who is my BFF by the way), but mum said after what I did last night that I’d be lucky if I ever left the house again. No way am I...
I am joining in with the writers’ blog tour today, although it is with great trepidation. Following in the footsteps of the lovely Rachael Hale, who kindly invited me to do this, will be tough. Rachael is a history blogger and freelance writer for Kent Life magazine....
My Friday Fiction guest this week is author, Chris Hill. He has kindly provided an extract from his book, 'Song of the Sea God'. I remember the moment I died. The end came subdued, like a doctor on call. There was no sensation. Feelings belonged to a different world -...
I would like your help today. Do you have any lefties in your family? I am not talking about people with particular political views, but one of the supposed 10% of the population who do things the wrong way round. That is what a right-handed person might say, anyway....
‘So, I hear you have a date tonight,’ I said, when we were in Gina’s room. ‘I’m guessing this is what the wardrobe emergency thing is all about then.’ Gina slumped down on the bed with a big sigh. She looked miserable. ‘I don’t know why I’m doing this,’ she said. ...
I have often shied away from baking, preferring to cook savoury dishes instead. The thing I love most about cooking is having the freedom to experiment. I never have all the ingredients I need for a recipe and in fact, I rarely follow I recipe. I will look in my...
The worker ant leaves his house early in the morning and marches, head down towards the station. At the end of his road, he turns sharp left and joins another worker ant who is heading in the same direction. This second ant does not acknowledge our worker ant because...
Where are you in the pecking order in your family? I am the eldest and I remember that growing up there was a lot of expectation put on me. I rose to it because I didn't want to disappoint my parents. I guess I was eager to please. But I remember that whenever it came...
I didn't know anything about Wakehurst Place before I signed up as a helper for the year 2 trip. So imagine my surprise when we got off the coach, walked around the corner and I saw this: Of course my jaw hit the floor. And then when I found out that the estate is...
This week's Friday Fiction guest author is Pamela S Thibodeaux, with an excerpt from her novel, Cathy's Angel. The link is open as usual if you would like to add your own story (published or unpublished). Just follow the link at the bottom of this post. Alternatively...
Here is my monthly review of the books I've read. I'm linking up with muttering mummy's blog as usual. If you would like some suggestions of what to read I recommend you check it out. The One Dollar Horse - Lauren St. John Casey Blue's prospects in life aren't great....
Typical party food usually includes sandwiches, sausages, sausage rolls, chocolate biscuits and of course, cake. When my five year old dairy and wheat intolerant son goes to a party I have to send him with his own packed lunch. I am not criticising anybody. This is...