Semana Santa

    This week in Spain is known as, Semana Santa, translated as Holy Week. The week marks the end of Lent and the festivities that take place throughout the country are a solemn celebration of the Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

    Although the Spanish celebrate this week much more than the rest of Europe, many of us have traditions that we associate with this time of year. In the UK, schools and workplaces take a short break from their normal daily grind and as in Spain, it is an important part of the Christian faith calendar. Gifting Eggs made of candy and chocolate on Easter Sunday is a custom that has now become very commercialised, however it is one that is loved by all and is unlikely to die out.

La Seu, Cathedral of Palma, Mallorca

        Whatever you're doing I hope you have a great weekend.

   

One Year On

   

 

    For me this week marks a very special anniversary, it's a year since my debut novel Salvation No Kissing Required, was published by Featherweight Press. Anniversaries have a habit of stirring up all sorts of emotions, some good, some bad. This one thankfully, is one that I can break out the champagne for and congratulate myself on my achievement.

    My book being published was like placing my foot on the first rung of a ladder. Ladders I've found can be rather tricky to ascend, especially if I'm not wearing the correct footwear, or try to hurry my steps.

    However finally seeing my words in print meant that I had at least put on suitable shoes for the start of my ascent and the whole process to publication taught me that writing is something that cannot be hurried.

    One year on, my knees aren't wobbling while I'm standing on the ladder. But there's only one way I believe as a writer I can keep moving forward and that is to continually write, edit, read and not rush my work. I want to keep my virtual shoes in good condition, like a regular visit to the cobblers. That way hopefully the heels and soles will be prepared for another step in the not so far future, without slipping about too much.



P.S It's not too late to win an ebook copy of Salvation No Kissing Required. Want to find out how? Click the following link:
http://lauraplusbooks.com/lgbt-month/prizes
     

Coming Home

   

Helix Park and lake

    In my last blog post I spoke about Scots having a wanderlust, resulting in us leaving and settling abroad. The USA has long been the place that many have chosen to call home, but as I wrote on Monday those who choose to leave are unlikely to forget their Scottish roots. There are also expatriates that Scotland will always remember because of the good work that they do overseas after leaving, or their legacy that carries on after their death.



Glencoe Village and Glencoe Mountains
protected by John Muir Trust UK

    One such person was author and naturalist John Muir, who passed away in 1914. His passion in life was the preservation of the wilderness and in the USA it lead him to be the founding member of America's National Parks. His 300 articles and 12 books have made his work renowned throughout the world and if you are resident in California, his name will be especially familiar to you because April 21st is designated, John Muir Day. The golden state being the place that he called home for the last 46 years of his life.



The Kelpies dominate the Falkirk sky

    This year the Scots are honouring him as part of Scotland as Home celebrations, with the John Muir Festival. The international launch of Andy Scott's 30 metre high, 300 tonne sculptures, The Kelpies, will be the centrepiece of a night-time arts event, April 17-18, that will mark the opening of the festival. The Helix Park, Falkirk is where The Kelpies call home and is a befitting location to pay tribute to John Muir, a man that has contributed so much to the conservation of wild areas throughout our world, including the National Scenic Area of Ben Nevis and Glencoe in Scotland.

   

    PS. Please escuse the back of my head in the Glencoe photograph!

   

Tartan Day

   

Edinburgh Castle

 

    On April the 6th, Tartan Day is celebrated in several countries, including USA and Argentina. Us Scots have a habit of moving overseas, but we never forget our roots. Why? Hopefully the following pictures will answer the question.

Oban Bay

 

Stirling Bridge

Burntisland, Fife

Linlithgow Palace

Near Lochgilphead

Views across the Sound of Kerrera, Oban

 

Pride With No Prejudice

 

    Seated throughout the aircraft on my return flight from my recent trip, there were several young children from different ethnic backgrounds travelling within family groups. What I found amazing was although they were all under school age, they were eager to mingle with their peers and once the seat belt sign was switched off they homed in on each other.

 

    A few could barely speak and most sentences had gurgles in place of words, but nevertheless they communicated with each other freely and happily. They had something in common and that was that they were children. So at what age does the freedom to accept each other as we are go wrong?    

    Whether it be race, colour of our skin, sex, disability or religion, there is lots of prejudice in this world. On occasion our own life experiences, newspapers and news programmes demonstrate the unjust intolerance that continues to exist in all our societies.

    When we take one step forward in tackling bigotry, some group, government or individual comes along and destroys the progress that has been made in the last one hundred years or so.

    All faiths preach peace and goodwill; many non-religious groups promote tolerance and living together peacefully. At present everyone living happily ever after, certainly seems confined to fiction.

     There is a lot we can learn from our little children and we can be proud of them, they prove that there should be no prejudices, because we are all human.

   

   

Gone Fishing !

 

         Back Friday my friends.

Learning to be Us

 

    I enrolled in the Girl Guides when I was around eleven years of age and then as an adult I became a leader for a number of years with a local Brownie pack. When I volunteered to be a leader, I did so because I wanted to continue to be part of the big happy family that the organisation offers boys and girls worldwide.

    Although I eventually gave up my leader role,  I'm still a huge fan of organisations like the Guiding Association for all kids. Those who are inclined to be a little on the shy side will definitely benefit from the interaction with their peers. I know from personal experience because I was that shy and timid kid.

    I understand it won't appeal to all children, because initially it didn't to me. But I was encouraged to give it a go and after a few weeks I stopped dragging my heels and began to look forward to each Monday night's meeting. Apart from encouraging each and every one of us there, to treat each other as equals, it taught me and others basic life skills that we may not have been equipped with otherwise.

    I scrambled my first egg to be awarded with my cookery badge and I can still scramble a mean egg. Joking aside, the important thing about the badges are that it is an acknowledgement of an achievement and also a great ego booster.

    That's why I was glad to read this week that the Guiding Association has teamed up with Dove in a project to promote self-esteem. Most adults should be aware that there is image trickery involved in many of the advertisements and magazine shoots, that are presented to us in the media. However it's not so obvious to a child and can lead to all sorts of problems, one being that they are left feeling more than a little insecure about their appearance.

    This project will teach children about things such as airbrushing and other tricks used in the beauty/celebrity world. At the end of the project the participants will receive a badge, but I think  more importantly it will help kids realise that not only the swans are beautiful, ducklings are too.

#BEBODYCONFIDENT