I haven’t written a post in a while as I’ve been moving house. Now I’m semi settled – as this house is rented and temporary – I thought I would just say a very Happy Christmas to you all and thank you for your support.
Seamus, my hound is very settled though. As long as there’s a sofa he can sneak up on to, he’s happy. Note his startled expression! Should dogs be allowed on settees? No – but he’s a hard hound to refuse!
And if you are thinking of snuggling up on a settee over Christmas – with or without a dog! You might want to download my novella Shadowman to read. It’s FREE for the next five days, 24th to 28th December 2015 and is a cosy crime mystery, the perfect antidote to too much TV.
Happy reading. And happy Christmas from me and from Seamus. Several of my books are on special offer in January so do pop back if you’re in the vicinity 🙂
Yesterday, something rather sad happened. I was on my way to teach my class when I came across five men who were trying to ‘persuade’ a young horse to pull a trap. This was on a busy road with traffic coming both ways so I stopped. One man was at the front, pulling as hard as he could. The others were behind the horse, slapping, shouting, flicking a whip. They were not being gentle. The horse was clearly terrified.
I have come across this situation once before. Last time I was on a heathland walking my dog. Last time I asked the men to stop what they were doing. Last time I got into a row with them. This did not help. It certainly did not help the horse. It made them angrier. It severely traumatised me.
Yesterday, faced with a very similar situation, I ached to get out and tell them, ‘this is not the way. Terrifying the horse won’t help.’ But I knew they were unlikely to listen. They didn’t strike me as the ‘listening’ kind. By now, I was holding up the traffic. One of the men waved me past. I agonised with myself. I thought of that quote, ‘all it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing’.
But there I was – about to do nothing.
Five minutes later at my class, by now quite upset, I phoned a dear friend. He suggested I might call the RSPCA – or perhaps the police. Was beating up a horse a crime? Were they beating it up? No – not really – although I did wonder what they would do in private – if they were prepared to do so much in public.
Would calling the RSPCA or the police help the horse? In my experience, this was unlikely. Perhaps the authorities would respond – perhaps the men would be angry, perhaps their anger would turn in on the horse. perhaps it would make things worse. I hate feeling helpless. So what should I do?
I believe in karma. I believe that doing something good has to help. And it seemed to me that the best thing I could do would be to help another horse. So this is what I’m doing. I have just sponsored a horse called Gulliver at Redwings Horse Sanctuary. Gulliver looks a bit like that horse last night.
Here is their link. Just in case you want to check out what Gulliver looks like – or maybe even sponsor your own horse.
Today I had my first ever Boxing Day – obviously, I am not talking about the ones you get every year on the 26 December, but the extra ones you can have – you didn’t know about those? Well, I’m guessing you haven’t read, How To Do Everything And Be Happy by my friend and fellow author, Peter Jones, who suggests you simply schedule them in to your diary, as and when!
The rules are – as I understand them – that you must not plan what you are going to do; you simply get up and do whatever you fancy. I’ve been feeling somewhat jaded lately and a day of doing whatever I fancied seemed like a mighty fine idea.
So here’s how my Boxing Day went.
Got up late (7.45 a.m.) which meant I had to listen to a rendition of the Hound Dog’s song, he’s the Irish Wolfhound, with a few barks thrown in. Ah well, everything has its price.
8.00 a.m.
Decided to take the hounds to the bluebell woods near me – where I don’t usually have time to go and it was utterly gorgeous. We were out for more than an hour and we saw a deer (Maggie chased it) and a man with an Australian Huntaway hound which is apparently a cross between a Labrador, a Border Collie and a German Shepherd.
Maggie May in the bluebell wood!
9.30
Caught up with the 70 or so emails I had in my inbox. Not sure this was not strictly what I fancied doing but I get stressed if I don’t do it.
10.30
Decided to write some of the novel I started last year. You may remember I went off to a writing retreat cottage back in September and I have done very little of it since. Well, I’m up to 22k, which isn’t too bad, I guess. But not too good either. Unfortunately I decided it was all rubbish and ended up cutting out great swathes – and henceforth ended up with even fewer words. However, in the cutting I also discovered that a character who had been a bit flat, suddenly sprung to life. So all was not lost. And I am inspired to continue.
Lunchtime
Had Easter Egg for lunch. Which was definitely very yummy. Especially as it was not mine, but stolen from my husband’s secret (he thinks) stash. I meant to photograph this, but I’d eaten it before I remembered. (It was a cream egg one if you’re interested!)
Afternoon
Got depressed with disappearing novel, so decided to work. Work is allowed on a Boxing Day as long as it’s what you really want to do. Registers and lesson plans for my creative writing classes weren’t strictly what I wanted to do – but it was quite satisfying to do them.
Later afternoon
Suddenly remembered the deadline for my Agony Aunt page was tomorrow – and it wasn’t quite edited. So decided to rectify that, too.
Evening
Still working – this Boxing Day is turning out much like any other day, oh dear!
Conclusion
I don’t think I have quite mastered the art of having a Boxing Day. Although, I have to say, I had some very good Boxing Day moments. The bluebell woods and the Easter egg being highlights!
I obviously need more practice. So am scheduling another one in very soon!
Have been in touch with the chairman of Swanwick, Xanthe Wells, well she is the secretary now, but she is just as lovely and she is going to send me another mug. So all will be well. And I did manage to write a story yesterday, although I’m not convinced it isn’t rubbish!
I have a niggly feeling that it needs something extra – more work probably – oh why can’t they just come out fully formed and be perfect. I ignore these niggly feeling at my peril. Because I have come to realize that they roughly translate as, “Editor will send back”.
I wonder if there are any shelf stacking vacancies at Tesco. Am sure that would be easier than writing stories!
I have decided to ban Nutella from my cupboard – especially the really big jars that you can fit a really big spoon into. It’s all very well my Slimming World consultant saying that a teaspoon of nutella is only a few syns, but how about a heaped tablespoon – I mean dessert spoon obviously. I am not that much of a pig. Actually I am. So much for my plan to lose weight before Christmas – it is comfort food all the way around here.
And while we’re on the subject of comfort, I thought you might like to see a picture of Seamus making himself comfy on my lap. And yes he is heavy – 13 stone heavy. And the “tiny” dog curled up next to him is a Staffordshire bull terrier cross.
When people tell me they have a large dog I have this urge to say, “That’s not a large dog. This is a large dog.” Like Paul Hogan did with the knife on Crocodile Dundee!
