When one Door Closes – #ThursdayDoors

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A virtual door closed yesterday evening. It was my last parent’s association meeting because Lucy is finishing primary school next Friday and will begin a new era in secondary school in late August.

I’ve been on the parent’s committee since Lucy started school, and it’s where I found my very good friends here in the West of Ireland.

I didn’t know many people when I came to live in Mayo eight years ago, and I felt that joining the committee would be a good way of meeting people. I was right! We’ve had many years of fun, planning, and fundraising.

Three of us on the committee said our goodbyes last night and we were presented with flowers, wine, and chocolates. There were tears and there was laughter.

Meeting my friends at pick-up time was part of my social life and I will miss it terribly, but I firmly believe that when one door closes, another one opens!

We decided that we would start up a book club so that we would continue to have a good reason to meet up, so I’m very much looking forward to that!

Thursday Doors is a weekly challenge for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favourite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join in and create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week, visit nofacilities.com for more information.

Hopefully, Dan will accept my virtual door this week!

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.


Autumn

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Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite season of year? Why?
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Autumn is my favourite season. I love the colours of nature and the crisp cool air. The dark evenings are approaching and I start to light the fires again. I look forward to buying new woolly jumpers and new boots. It’s not particularly a wet month, so beach and forest walks are enjoyable.

In autumn I begin to look forward to Christmas and my birthday, and making stews and hot toddies. My husband and I celebrate our wedding anniversary in October, usually in a nice restaurant. There are many reasons why I love Autumn.

I’m so glad that summer is not my favourite season because I’d have to leave my country! I love Ireland and I hope I’m never forced to leave, but we don’t get much of a summer here. Of course, I complain now and again as much as everyone about the lack of sun. If we could just have at least one full month of sun and heat, I’d be content. A month in which we could pack up our tent whenever we fancy, and camp comfortably — without the rain gear and wellies!

The summers we experienced in Ireland before the 90s; we won’t ever get them back. Sigh!

On a different note; do you read?

Wanna have 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.