Here it is: Ellie Booton's Journal No. 3. Here's how it came to be. At the bottom of this page, there's a Sky News film which, if you watch it, will change your life. When I first started writing Ellie's Journal, No. 1, she was 11 years old. She'd come to live at Grandma's house, … Continue reading The Abandoned Rule Book – Ellie Booton’s Journal No. 3
We got off lightly. A morning walk at the Secret Cove before the weather closed in. Clouds brewing on the horizon. A fly-past from the Red Arrows, diamond shape of 9, one flying behind - filming I guess. Too fast to get a photo. We shaded our eyes from the sun. The rig is new. … Continue reading Storm Doris day.
I guess we are British snowflakes. I wasn't that into American politics before. I worried that Jimmy Carter was shouldering such a burden it would kill him. I tutted at Bill Clinton's betrayals. I laughed, shamefaced, at jokes about W's I.Q. I remember practically skipping into our local shop the day Obama was elected; perplexed … Continue reading Whitby: closer to Dracula; further from Trump
Kindness and gratitude would solve the world's problems. I believe it. Kindness is not passive. It is a simple act of helpfulness. I have been helped and I am grateful. I have failed and fallen and have been helped again, which makes me want to help others. Forward motion. Never static. Inch by inch. A myhermes … Continue reading Kindness and gratitude
We've been fortunate to live in lovely places. In a troubled world, here we are blessed to breathe and think. I listen to wind against wheat. Surf against rock. Birds cry, but they're not sad. It's easy to smile here. This is the walk from our home to the sea. I am so grateful.
TASKS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WEEK (if at all possible) Read Ruby Redfort, Feel The Fear. Enjoy a sunset or two. Stroll hand in hand with my other half. Chat freely with other people's dogs. [Take for granted that motivation understood to be entirely wholesome]. Maybe photograph one or two. Enjoy the mischief and fun of grandsons, … Continue reading Random tasks for the week
Last September, in the place where I grew up, we made a plan. Paddling in the rock pools, breathing transparent air (not dove grey, like it was in our other home town) - it all came together. We would live here. Where life-changing decisions are made. We returned home, did what we needed to do … Continue reading Getting back to work… sort of
We moved away from a conventional life a few years ago. Our alternative is more creative and seat-of-pants. We always manage to drift along. Living back at the coast is divine. When I write about the cove in Ellie Booton's Journals, it's pretty similar to this... Below: Abbie Highfield, whoever you are, your name tag was … Continue reading An alternative lifestyle
Work is fine when you enjoy it. I do a lot of unpaid work, but it always seems to work out. Purpose is the driving force of sanity + time, so it's time to move on to another project. I have a book to finish: Ellie Booton's Journal, No. 3 (title to be decided). I also … Continue reading This is getting back to work?
Fearlessness. That's what's required. The compulsive need to squeeze another task into the lycra pants of time. This is to remind me of the time when I remembered things for more than one day. I can read it and think: Crikey. Did I do that? I have no memory of it. At all. Fancy that. Quick … Continue reading Does anyone have time to blog?
Flinty Maguire 