Something for the weekend?

This one is for you, wherever you are

Having an enforced month or so away from the keyboard has provided a much needed period of calm and contemplation that has enabled me to focus a number of more important areas of my life made me realise that I really miss my weekly writing and I really hope that you have missed it too.

The real truth is, without the outlet of creative time and writing in the last month or so, I seem to have focused on any number of other/work related things that I feel compelled to share have not been all that good for my mental and physical wellbeing; well certainly not as good for me as telling stories here and sharing them with you, lovely readers.

I took the decision to to stop enforcing ridiculous deadlines upon myself, but now I realise that tapping away peacefully and thoughtfully on the keyboard, composing my thoughts whilst listening to Russian Church Music performed by the Slavyanka Men’s Chorus is about as wholesome and nutritious as life gets.

Moving away from the keyboard was never going to be the longer term answer to my (far larger) inner issues, a prophesy proving itself 100% correct as one month on, many other elements have re-taken over my life, and not always in a good way.

Anyhow, that’s enough about me, let’s talk about you, what do you think about me?

A writer’s job is to tell stories. If they want their stories to educate, they can do that. If they want their stories to entertain, they can do that too. They can tell true stories, or stories they made up. They can tell happy, sad, or scary stories. There are not, and never should be, rules to dictate what sort of stories they would like to write.

I am indebted to annetteisshort on Reddit who I hope is OK with me using her lovely quote above.

Gently lower yourself to a semi-laying position way down on the new sofa (that’s too low making you feel you are lying on the floor of Santa‘s grotto), reach for the remote control and put Sky Christmas scenes on the big screen; watch his sleigh as it undulates across the sky to a twinkle of bells with four pairs of reindeer pulling him above the trees and across the black sky towards the freshly lit log-burner, crackling into life, orange and red heat warming your toes; it’s story time.

With your wool coated tired toes wiggling those rather too brightly striped socks, resting upon the yellow footstool, two spaniels complete the picture and make warm company, laying exhausted across my midriff, their bodies rising and falling with slow breath in tune with the fake candle mini-lights that twinkle across the fireplace, the tree standing resplendent in the far corner of the room, looking on, ready for what is to come.

The cold outside takes me back to Karesuvanto, Finland and the Davvi Lodge trip of January’23 to celebrate our 50th birthdays with Kay and our great friends Nicola and Gary; deepest Lapland husky-dog fun, enjoying an action packed few days wearing ridiculously large suits, boots, gloves and hats at all times in subzero conditions.

Do I want to live within the Arctic Circle?

No

Is it good fun to go for a few days?

Yes, I would heartily recommend it for any one of any age - it is magical.

But you don’t need to go to Lapland to enjoy Christmas; across the globe we all love the idea of being kind to each other, sharing tales and treats gathered together, looking outward toward the coldest climate and snuggling down with favourite pets and loved ones for quality time together.

In fact we can employ story telling techniques and make the most of our short time on this earth at any time of the year; we don’t need the nonsensical commercially meaningless circus that comes with this important but forgotten story (of Christmas) that comes every year around the 25th of December.

So, let’s get back on the keyboard and tell some stories, something for you to consume today, tomorrow or never, the choice is of course ours, and that is the real beauty of it.

True or false, made-up or real, scary, sad or just plain nonsense, my job here is to tell stories, and the best story always wins. (Mark Edwards will be so pleased) and that reminds me why I am writing; writing anything at all in fact - because I want to tell those stories and I want you to consume them and enjoy them; I realise after my short absence that I feel so indebted to those of you who consume my outpourings, I need to get on with writing more for you to read.

Because it is important to get something out there, the caring quality of our group matters more than anything, we are all here to inspire each other and having being inspired by Mark Strong on Desert Island Disks this morning I am very much in the mood for sharing.

The story about his father going into a mental hospital and being pumped full of drugs for years only to be rescued and brought home to enjoy his last Christmas, was truly humbling and really made me think - Thank you for sharing Mark.

Inspired by kindness and feedback from the most unimaginable quarters - the unseen readers amongst you who prod me to continue with such words of encouragement that put words in my head to continue with relatable storytelling that like Mark, but perhaps not as amusingly, inspires the unconventional flock…

For Tom who enjoyed my ‘responsible adult’ piece and is getting better in isolation after an op (and loved my poached egg photos), we can’t wait to see you fully fit again.

For Heather, crocheting at a crossroads, who I quite randomly bumped into at Thornborough Henge (where I am most days) and then ranted at me for around an hour on a frosty morning dog walk, we walk with you.

For Simon, too busy filling his notebooks and getting his haircut to meet up and discuss his plans for the future; we understand your plight and we wish you well for the future.

For our dogs and every one of us walking in the wind, rain, snow and sleet; we salute you and we feel your squelching pain.

For all of us in the unconventional flock; this one is for you.

And don’t ever forget; you can do anything.

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Thanks for reading