Good Impressions!

    Apologies, my post is a little late. I've been entering some story competitions and unfortunately one size doesn't fit all.

    One short story I wanted to enter  into a 'Ghost Story' competition fitted into the requirements of the category, except for the word count. Should I forget entering, or do a rewrite?

    I decided to do a rewrite, because I like the story, however it took me a little longer than I expected, because I didn't want to lose the integrity of the piece.

    I carefully took it apart word by word, paragraph by paragraph. I do find it a little difficult to strip my stories back , however it's something that an author may be asked to do by their editor, or publisher.

    I was eventually happy with the revamped work, so let's hope the judges are impressed too!

Superstitions

    There are buildings you pass by most days and for some reason you just never seem to take any notice of them.

    Then one day, cha-ching. Suddenly you ask yourself, "What's that building there?" That's what I did the other day, when I noticed an old octagonal building dominating one of the streets in my local town.

    I can only think that I've been walking around with my eyes closed for years, because there aren't any other buildings like this in the town.

    On closer inspection I found that the shape of the building was not only different, but had an unique name too, The Tattie Kirk.

    Why it's called this, there are various explanations. (see picture below) Built in 1806 as a church (Kirk), the congregation of course has now departed and therefore the, Tattie, part of the name in my opinion will remain a mystery.

     The shape is supposed to keep the Devil away, and on reading this it struck a chord with me. A friend of mine who spent time based in Africa told me a story about a project he had been involved in. 

    He had been  helping to build homes for working communities who had been displaced due to war and the plans had to be strictly adhered to. The homes all had to be built circular shaped, for the same reason as this church is octagonal. No corners for any unwelcome spirits to hide in.

    It goes to show whether you live in Scotland, or Africa our superstitions are not miles apart.

Never Forgotten

    Driving along a quiet Scottish country road, winding through the, Bathgate Hills, I could see the trees of, Witch Craig Wood. They were standing proud like soldiers on parade, protecting and giving shelter to the wildlife from the cruel winter winds.

    There is something very special creeping into the landscape, a large pagoda that belongs in a country faraway from Scottish shores.

    Sixty-three years ago this month the armistice was agreed in the, Korean War, a conflict that saw eleven hundred of the ten thousand British service personnel that served, die.

    The pagoda is a memorial to them and the one hundred Korean firs and one thousand Scottish trees planted on the mounds that stand nearby  pay tribute to them. The site was chosen because they say that the terrain resembles the one in which they fought in.

In this serene area, friends, relatives can come contemplate and have some private time with their loved ones; knowing that although this war is sometimes forgotten, their next of kin are not.

Light-bulb Moment

 

    Have you ever thought about as to how and when your real love of books came about? Of course it doesn't need to be books , it could be anything you're into.

    I have always thought my light-bulb moment was when I first started infant school. There each day I listened intently to the teacher as she read us a story.

    The stories she told the class in our 'story hour' varied. It could be a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, an Aesop's fable, or even an extract from the Holy Bible, I didn't care. While some of my fellow class-mates fidgeted, I sat motionless' listening and absorbing every word she read.

    I eagerly learned to read in order that I could enjoy these same wonderful stories over and over, as well as discovering new ones. I felt as though each one had been written for me alone and was reluctant to share.

    Thinking back though I wonder if that is when my hunger for books really did start. I've told you in another post about my mother's story-telling, but she loved to read too. Each Thursday she would visit the local library and come home with the maximum number of books she was allowed to borrow.

    Late at night when myself and my three siblings were safely tucked up in bed, she would retreat into the pages of her Mills and Boon world. Leaving the stresses and strains of being a full-time mother and housewife behind, giving her time to recharge her batteries for the next day.

   It doesn't matter I suppose why I love words, I'm just happy I do and privileged that I can now share my words with others.


https://www.millsandboon.co.uk       

Secrets

A secret is something never to be shared

Told to another because you believe they cared

A little matter that worries you

Or, a hide-away that you want to remain special to just you two

Embracing your hopes, dreams and even fears

Intimate knowledge to remain hidden over the days, months and years

 You find out suddenly your world is no longer a private matter

For a moment you feel your life might tear apart and shatter

Choose carefully in whom you trust

Their loyalty and reliability is a must

Meet the Bridges

Edinburgh Castle

    Edinburgh is an exciting city to visit any time of the year. But, in August and September the capital of Scotland is showcased at its best.

    The Fringe Festival with its sometimes bizarre acts, the Book Festival and of course the Edinburgh Military Tattoo that takes place within the castle ground's can make any visit unique.

The Queensferyy Bridge in progress

    However, August 2016 is particularly significant in the historical calendar of Edinburgh. The new Queensferry Bridge, over the Firth of Forth has now joined her elder siblings, the Forth Road and Forth Rail Bridges, in spanning the river.

Forth Rail and Road Bridges side by side

    The last two sections that join North and South Queensferry, were put in place last week. I haven't managed to visit the location as I am overseas, but I hope when I fly home to Edinburgh Airport in the next couple of weeks the flight-path will give me a bird's eye view of this long awaited additional river crossing.

A Voyage into the Unknown

    My blog hasn't been updated for the last few weeks because I've been having some chill time. I've been spending the last few weeks in the Canary Islands which regular readers will know I do on a frequent basis.

    It has been very warm here, some days in excess of forty degrees Celsius and being a girl that is used to cooler climes it takes a bit of getting used to.

    Four hundred and thirty-four years ago today, Christopher Columbus came ashore on these islands, to take on supplies as he made his way to the New World and I can't help but wonder what his impression of the place was.

    I never grow tired of the dramatic scenery, or the volatile Atlantic Ocean that is home to many wonderful species of  dolphin and whales. Each day I learn something knew about these islands and if I want to find out more, I research the facts via the Internet.

    However, Christopher Columbus didn't have that luxury he was continually making a voyage into the unknown and without explorers like him, maybe I would have never found my way here