A Highland Folly

   

    It doesn't matter if it's a winter's or summer's day, each time I have visited, Oban, over the years it's beauty has never failed to disappoint me. Ferries sailing in and out of the harbour, transporting people and goods to the inner and outer Hebridean islands, add some bustle to the otherwise laid-back small Scottish town.

     The views from the town towards the islands are nothing more than spectacular and make the hairs on the back of my neck stand-up. My Scottish blood hurtles through my veins and my feet twitch on hearing the wailing of the bagpipes, that always seem to be playing in the background.

    The bells ring from the tower of St Columba's Cathedral inviting worshippers to mass daily, stopping the promenaders in their tracks as the sound echoes around the horseshoe-shaped bay.

    Then when prayers are finished it's time to try out one of the fish and seafood restaurants that give this gateway to the highlands the name of 'Seafood Capital of Scotland'. On the few occasions that food isn't on the agenda a walk up to the summit of Battery Hill, finishing within the magnificent walls of McCaig's Tower is worth the hike up the arduous incline.

    There are two reasons why anyone would take a sharp intake of breath on entering its towering walls, that is because of the exertion that has been applied to reach the top of the hill and the glorious sight that the eyes now behold.

    This folly commissioned by, banker John Stuart McCaig in 1897, five years prior to his death in 1902 was built as an everlasting monument to his family and to provide philanthropic support for local stonemasons during the winter months. One hundred plus years on, this dominating landmark makes an everlasting impression on each and every visitor to the town and port. Giving all who enter a birds-eye view of this part of the Scottish Highlands.

    Once back down the hill the blistered heels rubbed toes and tired legs can be eased with a glass of the whisky distilled in the town's distillery, which is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland.

    Slangevar!

    

   

Waters Run Deep

    I have two thoughts about soaps on the TV, one they can help you disengage from the reality that is going on round about you for a half hour, or it connects you with real issues that many people all over the world have to face in their lives.

    Recently, Coronation Street a soap opera that is aired a few times a week in the UK has focussed on some really tough subjects, one being male rape and the other male suicide.

    They were criticized by many for broaching these raw subjects, however, they have been applauded by a majority of their viewers.

    If we take the first subject of male rape, sexual violence towards men and boys isn't a topic that many of us have ever thought about. Reports of violence towards women and girls are featured in our news daily and encouragement is given to those who have been affected to seek help. But, in the case of males by not putting the facts out there we are keeping the harsh truth hidden away, leaving the victims alone and helpless.

    Then we have male suicide the biggest cause of death in the UK for men under the age of 45 years-old, again because the subject is kept locked away in a closet, those who have suicidal thoughts, mental suffering, pain and anguish don't get the support and help they need.

    These storylines in Coronation Street, have made the UK talk and that's what we need to do. Talk and share.


https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week

http://ok2talk.org/

http://www.projecteightyfour.com/

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://www.survivorsuk.org/question/male-sexual-abuse-and-the-law/

https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/



 

Some People Walk In The Rain

    Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.
                           Thomas Jefferson
                                                

    It's National Walking Month in the UK and over the last year, walking has become part of my everyday life. I've been trying hard to shed extra pounds and as going to a gym isn't an option due to a musculoskeletal problem, walking fits the bill.

 
    I always have tried to get off my butt at least a couple of times a week, but now walking every day has had the desired effect and the pounds are slowly but surely shifting. Yes, there are days that I still want to hide from the unpredictable Scottish weather. But, a good raincoat and water-proof boots have meant that I have no excuse. Although my style isn't a cool look in summer, the health benefits are what keeps me focused.

    I've included a few photographs of some of my favourite walks in Scotland and abroad. I'm off to get my boots on. Yes, it's raining.

       Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.
                                                    Roger Miller

    https://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising/just-walk/national-walking-month

  

Numbers Game

   

   
    Whether at home or travelling abroad, a majority of us use debit and credit cards. In fact, our lives are filled with plastic cards and PIN numbers. It can be a little confusing at times especially if it's not a card we use on a regular basis. I know when I travel overseas, I have been left red-faced on a few occasions when I've punched in the wrong PIN.

    Recently, while shopping with my friend her husband had to come to the rescue and pay for my groceries. I was so adamant that it was the shop's fault and not mine, only to find out that, yes I was using totally the wrong number. My excuse is that I only use the card every six weeks or so.

    At times we do need cash in purses and pockets, rather than plastic and thankfully ATMs can be found easily. Instantly giving us access to our funds, bank balances allowing of course.

    It has been approximately 52 years since Scottish inventor, James Goodfellow, discovered PIN and card technology, a forerunner of what we use today. Although I did join the staff of a bank many years later I can still remember the original cash dispensers and the cards that Mr Goodfellow patented. The cards were only given to trusted customers because back then banks kept customers records in hand-written ledgers and therefore no checks could be made before the machine dispensed funds.

    If it wasn't for inventors such as James Goodfellow what would our lives be like now? Afterall with the huge difference in prices for everyday goods and services over the last fifty plus years, it would probably mean that we would have to carry our money in panniers on the sides of mules, just to go shopping.

    Sadly, Mr Goodfellow received little or no recompense for this modern-day invention. Something that would not happen today.



  

A May Day Celebration

  

    I know many of you will have already celebrated May Day this week, depending on where in the world you are. However, in the UK for the last forty years, the first Monday in May is when we have a public holiday.

    Celebrations will vary from location to location, some may dance around a Maypole, or crown their May Day Queen, while many of us will just relax, and enjoy a day surrounded by our friends and family.

    I found this classic poem by, Ralph Waldo Emerson and I've included an extract. Whatever you're doing, wherever you are this weekend, have days filled with pleasure and joy.

May Day

Daughter of Heaven and Earth, coy Spring

With sudden passion languishing

Maketh all things softly smile

Painteth pictures mile on mile

Holds a cup with cowslip-wreaths 

Whence a smokeless incense breathes

Girls are peeling the sweet willow

Poplar white, and Gilead-tree

And troops of boys

Shouting with whoop and hilloa

And hip, hip three times three

The air is full of whistlings bland

What was that I heard

Out of the lazy land?

Harp of wind, or song of bird

Or clapping of shepherd's hands 

Or vagrant booming of the air

Voice of a meteor lost in day?

Such tidings of the starry sphere

Can this elastic air convey

Or haply 'twas the cannonade

Of the pent and darkened lake

Cooled by the pendent mountain's shade

Whose deeps, till beams of noonday break
Afflicted moan, and latest hold
Even unto May the iceberg cold
Was a squirrel's pettish bark
Or the clarionet of jay, or hark
Where yon wedged line the Nestor leads
Steering north with raucous cry
Through tracts and provinces of sky
Every night alighting down
In new landscapes of romance
Where darkling feed the clamorous clans
By lonely lakes to men unknown
Come the tumult whence it will
Voice of sport, or rush of wings
It is a sound, it is a token
That the marble sleep is broken
And a change has passed on things
Beneath the calm, within the light
A hid unruly appetite
Of swifter life a surer hope
Strains every sense to larger scope
Impatient to anticipate
The halting steps of aged Fate

Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson/e/B000AP7ZOO

How does Your Garden Grow?

   

    It's National Gardening Week in the UK this week. There is nothing more wonderful than reading a book on a beautiful sunny day surrounded by flowers, buzzing bees and butterflies.

 
    To me an ideal garden will include some quite little nooks where I can just enjoy my chosen read and the beauty of nature.

        I've included some photographs today of my choice.

             “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”

                             Marcus Tullius Cicero

  http://www.nationalgardeningweek.org.uk/ 

Meet Author Toya Richardson

 

       With an impressive ten titles under her belt, I'm delighted to introduce you to UK based author and writer of multigenre fiction, Toya Richardson. She has kindly agreed to a Q&A feature which I know you will love.

Q&A

• Toya, thank you for featuring today. Please could you tell my readers how you found your way into the writing world?

Hi, thank you for having me. I've been writing since I was quite young. My mum always encouraged me to use my imagination and read as much as I could. She would also make up stories for me. For years, I'd been saying I wanted to write a book and the first one I wrote, Flame, first came to be around twenty years ago. She was desperate to see me published but she passed away before she could see it happen. Her death was the catalyst for me to attempt to realise my dream.Writing, quite literally, saved my life and in 2014 I finally achieved my goal. Each book I am fortunate enough to write dedicated to her.

• Your first book 'Flame' published by Little Bird Publishing House is a contemporary romance with a thriller twist. When did you initially come up with the idea for the book?

I actually published my first book, eBook only, with Red Sage Publishing. It is part of an eight book paranormal romance series. Flame, which as I said I wrote around twenty years ago, was a Eureka moment. I was in the bath listening to music by George Michael, not my usual choice of music. I had a vision of a couple by a beach in the pouring rain and bam, Flame was born. It was so powerful that I stood up and shot out of the bath in search of paper and pen!

• I mentioned in my introduction that you are a multigenre fiction writer. Since writing, Flame, you have ventured into a paranormal romance series and a young adult fantasy series. how did that come about?

The YA Fantasy just popped into my head one day. I initially had an agent for this one, but it didn't get taken up by any publishers. At this point, I'd started to write a book based around modern day Atlanteans living on Earth. Again, the idea just kind of appeared in my mind. I sent it to my agent, but it wasn't something he specialised in. He did get someone to read it for me and they said it could fit into the same genre as Nora Roberts and Sherrylin Kenyon. After that I started  to read some of their work. Until this moment, I had never heard of paranormal romance!

• What age groups are your books aimed at?

The contemporary and paranormal romances are for aged eighteen and over. The YA from around twelve to thirteen and up.

• How did you decide on the eight  titles of your paranormal romance series, published by, Red Sage Publishing, The Eternal Love of the Seekers?

Titles are always tricky for me and I find them harder to write than the actual book. In the end, I based it on what was happening in the actual books. Battling the Demons, book three for example is about mental rather than physical demons.

• Do you have any favourite characters in your books?

I love all my characters, but I do have two couples who are my favourites. Drew Greenaway and Elise De Silva in the paranormal romance because of their slow burning love. They have to go through so much before they become a couple.

Erin Munroe and Levi Sanders are another favourite.Their book, Destination Redemption, will be  released sometime next year. It's a contemporary romance set in Cromer on the North Norfolk Coast of the UK. Levi blames himself for the death of his family, even though it wasn't his fault. Erin is still grieving for her baby who was stillborn. The couple have to overcome some major issues such as depression and self-harming. It's a beautiful story and they're a wonderful couple in need of love.

• Finally Toya, you have an upcoming release in June, can you give us a little teaser?      

I have been lucky enough to secure a contract with Troll River Publications for a series of five contemporary beachside romances. Destination Love, is due out on 1st June  2018. I'm very excited about this one. It's based in Waiheke Island in New Zealand and like each one in this series, I have been fortunate to visit each location.

         Here is the blurb and teaser for you....

Destination Love Book Blurb

"I've had enough of men to last me a lifetime. Think I'll stick to writing about perfect heroes from now on. Guys who can't hurt me, or give me grief." Is going to be Faith Morgan's mantra from now on.

After finally leaving her unsupportive and unloving boyfriend when her romance novel is signed to a large publishing house. Her best friend suggests she visits her aunt on Waiheke Island in New Zealand to get away from it all. She jumps at the chance and Faith vows to steer clear of men. What she doesn't expect is to find love in the shape of sexy local businessman, Dean Jameson.

As their relationship becomes more intense they admit their feelings for each other. Together they overcome stressful encounters with their ex partners and life is great. When her return date looms closer, they begin to fear for their future.Will their love survive the distance, or will it fade when  they're miles apart? 

Excerpt 

   
Faith let out the frustrated breath she'd been holding when Dean reappeared.

"Sorry about that. Are you ready to go?" 
"One minute, Dean, come and clean the mess off the stove before you go, please."

"But, Dad..."

" No buts. I need to focus on making a fresh batch of sauce. You made the mess. You clean it up."

The tension between her and Dean was driving her insane. It took all her strength not to demand that

Ian let them go. Retaking her seat, she attempted to focus on her aunt and Mel's conversation.

What's taking him so long?

Several long minutes later, Dean reappeared. Grabbing her hand, he almost dragged her to the door.

"What's the hurry, Dean?"

"Please, Mum, if I don't take Faith out here now we'll miss the sunset."
"Dean..." Ian had reappeared from the kitchen.
"Not now, Dad."
Faith almost laughed at the desperation in his tone.
"Eager to get me on my own?" she asked.
"You have no idea," he murmured in a low voice.
They walked in silence until they reached a beautiful grassy terraced area which looked out over the vineyard, through the trees and on to the ocean. He took her hand in his. She shivered under his touch.
"You're trembling. Are you cold?" His words sounded like velvet seduction.
"No. I..."
The intonation of his speech made his words sound very intimate. He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush with the hardness of his body. Then he rested his chin on her shoulder and she had to stifle a moan while goose bumps covered her skin.
"Watch, Faith, the sun is about to set."
Placing her hands over his, she relaxed against him and watched the sun start its journey downwards. She let out a tiny gasp.The yellow disc appeared to grow bigger for a while, before it slowly began to shrink. Its golden rays spread out across the water like a soft, shimmering cloth.
The sea rippled like liquid gold. The yellow was surrounded by an orange hue, spreading warmth
upon the sea.
"Oh, Dean, that was beautiful. I've never seen a sunset like it. Not ever."
Turning in his arms, she placed a light kiss on his lips. His mouth descended on hers. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth to him. His mouth captured hers and moved in an unhurried, slow, seductive pace.
A moan escaped her lips. An encouragement to deepen their embrace. Teeth nipped at her bottom lip. His tongue slipped inside her mouth, skilfully turning her body to mush. Her hands tangled in his hair, tugging him closer. Possessive growls made her stomach flip. Domineering sounds which turned her on even more. Hands slid gently down her bare back. She squirmed and shivered with each teasing caress.

End 

I love getting to know my fellow authors and today has been a pleasure. Readers you can find out more about Toya and her books by clicking on the links below.

Instagram:www.instagram.com/toya_richardson 

Twitter:www.twitter.com/ToyaRichardson1 

Blog:https://www.toyarichardson.co.uk/blog/ 

Facebook:www.facebook.com/toyarichardsonauthor 

Facebook readers Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/230915490787532/

Website/Books:www.toyarichardson.co.uk