Lost and Found
I have recently lost someone very dear to me.
Despite the fact I knew they were going and they had had the most incredible life, it is still hard.
Not to be able to talk to them or see them again.
I wrote this because it was how I was feeling at the time:
Loss
Loss comes in waves.
Sometimes small ripples,
Tiny gentle ripples lapping at your heart.
Sometimes thundering giant waves that storm onto your shore.
Loss is like the sea, constantly moving, changing and unpredictable.
But this isn’t a sad musing on the loss of someone it is about finding something too; a new path and new friends along the way. Finding people on the journey; that journey you told that special someone about before they went.
So, you have to get on and do what you had said you were going to do!
You see, losing someone or even something can be a positive and motivational prod to make you realise that life is short and you should try new things, explore the things you want to and expand your horizons.
Writing is my path.
I started writing in a professional capacity helping friends, with website content and promotional material. I followed this up and backed myself, I made a website and started offering my writing services to a wider audience.
I write for pleasure constantly.
I have met some incredible people through networking groups. These recent additions to my friendship group, are encouraging and supportive.
They are people who are full of ideas and they have galvanized me into action……..more to come.
You see losing someone or even something can be a positive and motivational prod to make you realise that life is short and you should try new things.
Explore want you want to do and expand your horizons.
There is no limit to what you can achieve.
Old Friends
Old Friends, we put them on like our favourite coat,
Familiar, comforting and warm.
We wrap them around us like that dress,
The one that makes us feel good.
We fit together.
They know us, our past, our secrets,
Our childhood dreams,
They have laughed with us and
Cried with us.
We may not see each other often.
We may not talk enough.
But just to know they are there.
Just to know you are there and
I hope that you know, I am here for you.
Words on a page
Sometimes
By Marie Hallsey- Lindars
Sometimes in the dark night
I feel the sad touch
Of the past
Of the beings, loved ones,
Gone, where we cannot go
Until our time comes.
Sometimes I awake at night
To find their shadowy figures
Standing near.
I want to hold them with me
To talk of times gone by,
But they are gone.
Sometimes I hear their voices
Come back from the past,
They touch my heart
And in doing so
I realise they have not gone,
But remain with me for a while.
Sometimes I have them here,
Back within the warmth of my home,
They call, I hear,
Then and only then,
Does quietness descend upon my soul,
And I am whole again.
I found this poem recently. It was tucked inside a large anthology, marking the page on which the poem was published.
Always one step ahead mum, well done.
Childhood Memories
Childhood Memories
What are your memories of your childhood?
Positive, I hope.
We all have certain things we remember. My happiest recollections are of family holidays in the southwest of the UK; memories of an overwhelming feeling of delight when the summer holiday finally arrived and we went to Cornwall. Leaving home in the middle of the night to start the long drive down; all part of the adventure.
We stayed on a working farm, where we “helped” with the cows. Walking them along the lanes between fields. As well as playing farmers, We spent most days on the beach at Portholland. The cove is quintessentially British. The cliffs, the dark sand the cold water. My dad took our garden spade, to build dams and sandcastles. We gathered all the children on the beach and played all day. We fell exhausted into bed each night. My mother recounted, that often, I would not make it past the soup starter at dinner and would fall asleep at the table.
All remembrances of being content.
I was recently talking with my professional artist friend Marieke (Rikki) Tollenaere.
Rikki is an incredible artist, who is always exploring, experimenting, expanding her collections and trying different techniques. One day she was making flowers from material, recycled items and various bits and pieces. Beautiful, I thought but a strange diversion from her normal paintings and collages.
Then Rikki told me a story.
Her childhood story is based at the seaside too. Rikki grew up in Belgium. When she was little, she and her gran used to make flowers and take them to the beach to sell; the currency exchanged, was shells. Many other families were doing the same. The more elaborate the creation the more shells they could earn.
I thought how marvelous. What a treasure of a childhood memory. Rikki is reviving this wonderful traditon; she is currently building her flower collection, in between commissions and exhibitions. I am sure you will need more than shells to purchase any of Rikki’s work.
I am not sure if Rikki and her gran invented this colourful creative past time of making flowers, around 50 years ago but this pastime is still going strong.
The area even holds competitions.
There is always a story to tell.
I would love to hear your childhood memories.
Personal Writing
Words for your world: Your words, your business.
“ You can make anything by writing.” C.S. Lewis
A look at why personal writing is an excellent way to spend your time and also how a writer is the best option for your business needs.
Personal Writing:
Personal writing allows individuals to express themselves in a way that is true to their own unique voice and style. It enables writers to unleash their creativity and develop their own personal writing identity.
An individual putting ‘pen to paper’ often writes about personal experiences, feelings, and perspectives. This allows for a deeper emotional connection between the writer and the reader, making it more relatable and authentic.
Creative writing provides the freedom to explore various topics and genres without any limitations. It allows writers to adapt their style depending on the intended audience or purpose, providing versatility.
Writing can be cathartic, serving as a form of release and self-expression. It can help individuals process emotions, thoughts, and experiences, potentially leading to personal growth and healing.
Wonderful if you have the time.
Perhaps this is time that you do not have to enable your business to grow. If you are starting to write the content for your website or revamping an existing one, you can hand this laborious task over to an expert. The writing process: including brainstorming, drafting, editing, and revising, can be time-consuming and may require the hours that you do not have, that is what I am here to help with.
The emotional connection is also true for your business; a personal writer, working with you on your website content, can impart to your potential customer, exactly what you want to say.
AI Writing:
In our modern world we have the most incredible tool to help us write, creatively and for business. AI technology can generate written content at a rapid pace, potentially saving considerable time for writers. It can produce drafts, articles, or reports quickly, which can be beneficial when time is of the essence.
HOWEVER, it is still computer generated, feels souless and lacks the personal touch.
Your choice……..
What do teenagers read?
This is the question I asked all the teenagers I teach:
“Nothing” was the response I got at first, which was sadly, what I expected.
However, when I delved deeper, they do read; very few of them read novels BUT so many of them read a myriad of different styles and genres, an extensive range of titles.
I found this uplifting. Okay they aren’t reading Dickens or Austen but they are reading.
Many of them read motivational books, people they have discovered on line, through social media and through podcasts that have sparked an interest. Self-help, business books, history, medical journals, health and fitness. These are just a few of the subjects that were mentioned.
A few read novels: one student in particular reads classic literature in their native language. One student reads crime novels and another Young Adult fiction.
We made a mind map on the board; it was a fascinating picture of what sparks interest in teens of today.
Some of them read the news, online. Many mentioned lyrics and subtitles for films. Comics and graphic novels were listed too.
Bear in mind the majority of students I am working with study who in English, this is not their native language.
This rudimentary survey of twenty students really warmed my heart. It is difficult teaching. It is hard preparing so many for a 2nd let alone a 1st language exam. Therefore,
reading is essential to all subjects across the curriculum and should be an integral part of people’s lives.
(This is an article I wrote for MTA.)
Fitting In
Life in a small Mallorcan village: How integrated are you?
“The limits of my language are the limits of my world.”
You smile, you wave, you say hello to the old and the young. You shop in the local shops and you drink in the bars and cafés but how many Spanish friends do you have?
When I first moved to the island and the village that I still live in today, I was determined to integrate, learn Spanish and become part of the community.
I volunteered, teaching English at the local school.
I made friends with a few chicas in the village and I really felt part of the village.
The good intentions unfortunately did not last: I worked for many years all around the island, driving here, there and everywhere. I would come back home, tired, to my village house, that we were renovating; I would hibernate and stay home.
My language skills did not improve and I retreated into the comfort of expat friendship groups.
Move forward a few years, I went into business; opened a tutoring academy and worked six days a week for years. Coming home tired and with one day off, Sunday was spent cleaning and being a domestic goddess.
For the last two years a friend and I ran a weekly theatre group for kids. It was fun and gave me a sense of community once again.
Last year I gave English lessons to adults each Monday night in our village library. Little monetary reward and that is not the point; it felt good.
I felt like I was contributing once again. I felt as if I was part of the community again.
Reflecting on my time here to date:
What has held me back? My language development. Despite being a teacher and imparting knowledge and advice to my students, of all ages, I did not heed my own words.
If you do one thing to make yourself part of the place you live: learn the language in fact learn both languages, if you can.
Shop local
Eat local
Drink local
Talk to everyone
Speak to everyone, use your words. Even if you are in the wrong tense. Practise daily and the language will come!
Don’t be scared. They are generally really friendly and accommodating people here on this beautiful island that we like to call home. .