Category Archives: Ramblings

Positivity

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Are there things you try to practice daily to live a more sustainable lifestyle?

I go through phases of being very strict with myself regarding daily practices. Then there are times when I wane. For example, taking my multivitamins, daily walks, writing, and eating only healthy foods.

The one thing I never forget to practice daily is gratitude. I know I’m very fortunate. I have a lot to be grateful for in my life, and I won’t let myself forget it.

I’ve been practicing gratitude and positivity for years and I firmly believe that this mindset attracts the good things in life.

We all have days when it’s hard to think positive, and that’s totally fine. I don’t think it’s healthy to suppress feelings of disappointment, sadness and worry, but when we cling to these feelings and stay in a negative mindset, it can be difficult to pull ourselves out of it.

We all know people who are just never happy. Relatively healthy people, with no obvious worries (we all have some worries), but these people complain, give out, and whinge about everybody and everything. They are so used to their negative mindset that they’re stuck in it. They’ve forgotten how to be grateful for what they have and constantly focus on what they don’t have. They often begrudge the happiness of others and seem to take pleasure in putting them down.

I find it hard to spend time around negative people. I don’t mean people who are having a bad day, or need a shoulder to cry on; that’s normal. But the doom and gloom every day? No, thank you!

A positive mindset was crucial during the many stages of writing Secrets in the Babby House.

Would you like a peek inside the pages? You never know, it might just be your cup of tea!

Set in a gossipy small town in Ireland at a time when marriage is for keeps and sexuality is repressed, Secrets in the Babby House is a family saga over three decades that starts in 1956. It is a story of love, deception, and stolen diaries filled with sins and secrets.

Jelly and Ice cream

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Daily writing prompt
Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?
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Top of my list for this one is jelly and ice cream. My mother made jelly nearly every Sunday for us. Sometimes we had it with ice cream, other times it was Instant Whip. Both were delicious!

She set the jelly in a large green glass bowl and served it in little matching ones. I actually searched for them on the internet and voila!

These bowls are tiny compared to the dessert bowls we have now. The portions are bigger these days. How did that happen?

My childhood memories and listening to stories of times gone by, inspired me to write Secrets in the Babby House.

Would you like a peek inside the pages? You never know, it might just be your cup of tea!

Set in a gossipy small town in Ireland at a time when marriage is for keeps and sexuality is repressed, Secrets in the Babby House is a family saga over three decades that starts in 1956. It is a story of love, deception, and stolen diaries filled with sins and secrets.

Chicken

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What notable things happened today?

My youngest child, Lucy, and I went to the beach with my son, his fiancée, and their 2-year-old daughter. Our dog Cotton also came, as usual – she absolutely loves the beach.

This was Cotton’s first time to wear her new harness, and because I didn’t tighten it properly, she escaped and took off up the beach.

My son ran after her, and she doubled back. She zig zagged, this way and that way, and over and back.

I was in a total panic!

I started to scream ‘chicken’ at the dog. Over and over as loud as I could; ‘chicken… chicken… chicken.’

The 2-year-old thought it was all mighty fun; she jumped up and down, clapping her hands, as her mother went into a knot from laughing.

Lucy stood watching as if she had just been dropped on another planet.

Eventually, Cotton came to me just as I was on my knees pulling a little bag of corn flakes from my handbag. She didn’t seem to care that I had no chicken as promised because she loves her doggie treats (corn flakes) almost as much!

I know I looked like a lunatic. Actually, we all looked like lunatics! But we’re still laughing about it! 😂

Cotton is like a child in our house, and we’d really hate for anything to happen to her.

My writing buddy!

Thank you for reading, but before you leave…

Would you like a peek inside the pages of my fictional novel? You never know, it might just be your cup of tea!

Set in a gossipy small town in Ireland at a time when marriage is for keeps and sexuality is repressed, Secrets in the Babby House is a family saga over three decades that starts in 1956. It is a story of love, deception, and stolen diaries filled with sins and secrets.

It Gets me up Early

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What are you passionate about?

At the moment, it’s my writing. It’s the only thing that has ever got me out of bed with enthusiasm.

I look forward to sitting down and getting stuck into my work; whether it’s on my blog or on my novel.

I don’t mind having a day off here and there, but when it runs into two or even three days, I get tetchy, and then I begin to resent everything that’s been keeping me from writing.

I resent those who don’t respect my writing time; there are not many who don’t, I have to say!

When I let the housework build up, I’m a mad woman. 😄 Why do I have to clean, wash clothes, cook meals, etc?

Why do I have to socialise? Everything is a pain when you’re in the zone!

Having said all that, I realise that balance is important. I’m very lucky that my family, especially my husband, fully supports my writing. 🥰 They know when to leave me to it and they know when to take me away from it.

Today, my son, his fiancée, and my granddaughter are arriving for a few days. I love having them stay, but by the time they leave, I’ll be clawing my way back to the laptop and notebooks.

What do I love more? My writing or my family? Well, that’s a no-brainer! 😉

Thanks for reading, but before you leave…

Would you like a peek inside the pages of my fictional novel? It might just be your cup of tea!

Set in a gossipy small town in Ireland at a time when marriage is for keeps and sexuality is repressed, Secrets in the Babby House is a family saga over three decades that starts in 1956. It is a story of love, deception, and stolen diaries filled with sins and secrets.