Walking the Hoad Footpath in Winter Sunshine

A sunny day in January and what better activity than to go for a walk? Since I have been having knee trouble for quite a while now, I have gradually avoided rough and hilly walks. But for whatever reason, yesterday I was determined I would do the circular walk around the Hoad Monument and take a look at the renovation work that has been done. Actually, it is not far to go. Years ago, I took our dog a walk up there most mornings. We set off complete with camera. I took a photograph each side of the walled path — seaward and inland. Further up, the Monument and then out over the bay. Near the top of the hill, we photographed the mountains beyond the fells and also looking down over the Smith-Kline-Glaxo works and canal. The path down the other side is a bit rough to start with, that is for anyone with knee problems, but it soon becomes smooth and the rest is easy. We diverted to have a pot of tea at Booth’s Supermarket, where we sat by the huge window and looked up at the path we had taken. We took the town uphill roads to walk home. Nothing like fresh air and nature to heal the heart and mind! Soon after arriving home, a heartwarming sunset!
I think it is true that a lot of people suffer mild depression at this time of the year (SAD). The usual dark, cold, wet days often cause a feeling of weariness. How lucky we are to have footpaths almost from our doorstep! But in Cumbria, few homes can be far from places to walk. Okay, we don't have the bright city lights but I know which we prefer.

1949 Fashion Sketches — an Awakening to Fashion

1949 Fashion Sketches — an Awakening to Fashion

A short while ago I looked through an old art folder of designs I did in 1949. (I was just sixteen at the time) I had forgotten that I sketched quite well considering I only had one and a half terms at the Nottingham College of Art. I left the Dress Design Diploma course early because my dad had been seriously disabled for quite a while, and I needed to earn more than the little I managed to get from sewing. I wanted to be able to contribute to the running of the home. My poor old mum was going out cleaning, looking after my dad, coping with all the household chores, as well as having to bear the brunt of my dad’s temper. (It was hard for any hard-working man to realise he was no longer the bread winner. Hardly any benefits in those days and, from his chair in the kitchen he tried his hand at many things — leatherwork, vacuum cleaner repair, pram upholstery and so on. What with that and terrible night cramps her suffered, his nerves were worn thin) It also has to be realised that we had not a single electric gadget and all cleaning and washing had to be done by hand. Such was the lot of most working-class families. In those days, men went out to work and wives looked after the home and family. Being wife, mother, and domestic was a full time job. I got a job in a shop before I told the college I was leaving. The tutor said I could get help with materials but there was no way of meeting the thirty shillings a week pay I was to get working.
But I still wanted to be a designer. Through a friend of a lady who paid my mum to clean, I had an interview with the manager of the outerwear department of a large Nottingham clothing manufacturer. So started my career as a dress designer. It was quite thrilling to see my designs in shop windows, even more to meet someone in the street wearing one.
When I started writing about ten years ago, I used some of my own experiences to provide an authentic setting for my first book, Awakening Love. I broadened the story out and gradually developed strong characters that were to carry the tale onwards to a new emerging generation. So the Love By Design trilogy was born.
The whole history of dress design is reflected in the pages of the Love By Design trilogy.

For more info on the trilogy go to my author blog
To buy eBook versions of the trilogy go to the Dare Empire bookstore
For printed books go to Magpies Nest Publishing and read chapters and reviews. PalPal purchasing. Free delivery in UK.
Printed handcrafted books AGPress — free delivery in USA (Awakening Love - USA title is DESIRE)

January afternoon — gold that cannot be bought.

Last week I just had to take a photograph of the wonderful colours in the NE sky and gold cast upon the slopes beyond the house.
A magical painting could not have lifted me more than this Divine art.
Yesterday a fall of snow stopped us going to a funeral. I found that sad. But this is an emotional time of the year and things are happening in our lives far beyond our control. Last night we received news of the death of one of our nieces. More sadness, as much for their parents as for their child. She was born with Downs Syndrome but no one could have received more love and care. And so the cycle of life goes on throughout the world. Tragically, life is far shorter in some parts of the world. We easily forget how blessed we. We don't need material riches when beauty is showered upon us. Yes, snow stopped us going where we really wanted to be but later that day the sun came out and spread its glory to warm the earth.

As Time Goes By — the Christmas Cake

I debated whether or not to make a Christmas cake. We usually give most of it away to family but they all seemed to be going on a weight reduction plan. And plenty of other cakes were in the tins anyway. What’s more, at the time we were not expecting visitors. My youngest son who lives with us doesn’t eat fruit cake except the marzipan and icing. But hubby said Christmas would not be Christmas without a Christmas cake. So it was made, rich with fruit and spirits. The decorations, which have been in use for very many years came out of the drawer and those added the important traditional trimmings.
Ah but this year, the cake was much in demand. We have had more family members arrive, some staying, than ever before. Sadly, this is partly because of the death of four of our grandchildren’s other granny. And much to our delight a grandson staying five nights with his wife of nearly six months.
So a batch of baking is needed. But first other household chores need doing, including undressing the tree, washing, ironing, cleaning, shopping. Well, maybe I’ll sneak in a bit of pastry and a Victorian sandwich cake.
The Christmas cake? Just saved a piece for the guy who insisted on my making it!

Entry into Dare Empire!

I don't usually say much about my books here but this is good news for me!

Wonderful!
I recently signed a contract with Dare Empire for them to publish my trilogy woldwide as eBooks. Also in print for the Australian market. Things have gone quicker than I imagined possible. The first book Awakening Love is now available in Kindle with other formats being prepared as I write. The whole trilogy should be available from all major on-line stores in January and print versions shortly following.
The whole trilogy is getting a new lift with intriguing covers by a team producing books in Amazon's top ratings.
Could 2011 be a true AWAKENING for my award-winning book?

Looking Out and Looking Back.

We are not planning on going anywhere this Christmas. Nothing unusual in that nowadays. Gone are the Christmases when we used to travel to visit our ageing relatives and meet with other family members there. WE are the oldies now but our nearest and dearest live within the area. We will be chatting to our remaining sisters and maybe other kin over the telephone.
Fortunately, we are warm inside the house and the Christmas tree cheers us in the corner. Cards around the room remind us of friends and loved ones. We have time to sit and reflect of what was and how blessed we are now.
Yes indeed. Years ago, when we rose in the morning and wanted to know what the weather was like we would first have to scrape the ice from the glass! No central heating in those days. When I was a child we only had a fire in the kitchen to heat both the room and the water. My husband's family had little different. When we married our house had no central heating or double glazing either. But that was 'normal' then.
We recall a blizzard on the way for our annual Christmas visit to Matlock. We had to turn back and were lucky to get home. Another Christmas my hubby became ill. As soon as we were home, the day after Boxing Day, he visited the doctor. The doc brought him home to pack his bag and take him to hospital. (That was a REAL family doctor!) Investigations presented a different diagnosis and after a small operation he was able to come home some days later. A worrying time though as we were about to move house in the coldest winter we had had for years. The house needed thawing out and the floors scrubbed. I was pregnant with our third child too. But my concern was for my poor hubby. But all turned out well. Hubby got the boiler system going, I scrubbed the floors. The frozen ground prevented the red mud from the building site coming indoors. The kids could play in the snow. We had double glazing, central heating, some new furniture to fill the extra space, and we had never been so comfortable. That is until the children came down with infections. The doctor told us to turn off the central heating and open all the windows!
Another Christmas we all had flu'. And so the Yuletide memories continue — births and deaths, joys and sorrows experienced at this 'season of goodwill'. Hard times and easy times — all of them memorable. The lights on the tree are cheering on dark mornings, the snow brings difficulties but also pleasures. Time to reflect on life and our many blessings. To remember loved ones no longer with us, and of the pleasures of life we shared with them. Right now, sun is giving colour to the snow-covered ground. Clouds drift against the blue of the sky, maybe later we will hear the shouts and laughter of children sledging.
Simple things in life bring us the most joy and peace.

Seeing things more clearly

Years ago all films and photographs were black and white (with many shades in-between). Colour was sometimes added to photographs by special ink — such as tinting essential features. My mother had a photograph of one of my sisters, which had been done on glass and tinted. Such tinting was nothing like the present-day colour photography. Looking at old photographs, I rather like the simple black and white snaps. But then, maybe that is because they are reminders of my youth — a time when things were much more simple in spite of many problems. (As my son says, 'Ah, nostalgia. It isn't what it used to be.') In actual fact, the 30's and 40's were indeed far more grey than today. Colour books, colour films, colour photographs, colour entertainment — slashing, crashing, flashing on TV screens, have completely changed our view of the world around us.
For many people, including children, the recent snow has been a pleasure. True, a problem as well. And for some, a nuisance and a hindrance to work and travel. I recall heavy falls in past years. On occasions, wondering if I have to walk the two bus journey's home. One morning, sitting on the top of a double-decker as went over a bridge and sliding right round into the main traffic lane. Walking through snow drifts with snow higher than my wellies. And being in cars during snow storms and on icy road. More recently, falling over and needing medical treatment. But the joyful times far outweigh the others.
Now, we can sit looking out of our window and wonder at the simple black and white beauty. The brightness of our potted plants stands out too. How rich is just a little colour with such a wonderful background. And what a blessing to have that view, and above all - eyes to see it!