Back to a Great British Heatwave after a Bit of Gambian Heaven

The Great British Heatwave

We were lucky - returning to England from Gambia to the Great British Heatwave!  Five whole days it lasted.  Plenty of time to keep my tan going.  Plenty of time to start mucking out the garden and admire the spring flowers, trees and shrubs.

Plenty of time to watch the bluetits, robins and my resident blackbird couple get a hefty dose of spring fever and sing their hearts out as they collected 'stuff' to feather their nests, eat seed and catfood from the old pine tree stump.

Plenty of time to watch our two cats get their own dose of spring fever as they jumped about like kittens, in and out of the privet, up and down the cherry tree.

And now we're in April and the temperature has come down 25oC - from 27 to 2 - and there's sleet and snow flurries.  Go figure!

A Bit of Gambian Heaven

Ten glorious days of Gambian heaven.  Ten glorious days of sunshine and swimming.  Ten glorious days gazing at wild birds and animals.

Where we stayed in Gambia

I can't even begin to describe to you, constant readers, the wonders of Gambia and the excitement of Senegal.  This sure was a trip not to be missed.  Gambia is a country that just has to be explored. And we explored and relaxed - relaxed and explored until we decided we just have to return to Glorious Gambia to do a bit more of this relaxing and exploring some day!

I'll be writing articles about the amazing people we met along the way.  About Aziz, the 'bird man', whose knowledge of Gambian birds is astounding.  He took us to Abuko Nature Reserve where we saw the most amazing birds, sun squirrels and a monitor lizard.  We met with hyenas at the Animal orphanage and drank fizzy malta while I haggled for a couple of kingfisher wood carvings.

Aziz took us to Senegal too, on the ferry from Banjul to Barra -  which was the most colourful spectacle ever - as people loaded with packages and plastic buckets ran on to a overloaded boat. On and on they came, so that a 45 minute trip took us 2 hours, packed together like sardines! Brilliant experience!

From Barra, we met up with our four-wheel drive to cross the border into Senegal to visit Fatalah Wildlife Park, where we saw giraffes, antelope, rhinoceros, ostrich, zebra, buffalo, warthogs. I rode on the back tyre of the four wheel drive, clinging on to the metal poles all the way back to Barra for the ferry home!

Pack of Noisy Weavers

Aziz also took us to Brufut Wood for another wild bird-fest.  Unbelievable experience to see an owl hiding from marauding magpies (pied crows) and a night jar nestled on the ground in among the undergrowth.

Heron eating Oysters among the Mangroves

I'll be writing too about Hattib, who took us on an unforgettable cruise on a pirogue - just him, us two tourists and the crew - among the mangroves on the River Gambia from Denton Bridge to the seaport at Banjul.  I swam in the river, where, on its banks, tens of thousands of oysters clung to the branches of the mangroves, where women collected them from small fishing boats, where herons gazed at us from the tops of the trees and the riverbank, where 5 pelicans played as we sunbathed on the top deck of our boat and drank beer and fruit cocktails.

Elusive Red Monkey                                

Monkeying About!

Hattib was also our guide to Bijilo Forest Park where we saw monkeys (including the elusive red monkey) and walked the beautiful forest trail.

I'll be writing too about the wonderful staff at Palm Beach Hotel, Kotu Beach and the Palm Beach Bar - namely Aruna, Baka and Amadou - not forgetting Omar the 'ciggie man' who sold us the cheapest ciggies I've bought in years and the 'vulture man' who fed the vultures every day at the riverside at 5pm!!

I'll also be including in my articles the fact that our hotel was situated on the Gambian river estuary where a family of pied kingfishers lived and fished and watched the world go by; where we caught flashes of the blue kingfisher; where herons fished in the river for sand-crabs and chased around for shellfish in the waves at the sea's edge, unconcerned about the bathers and paddlers nearby!

Write On:

Just a week or so before leaving for Gambia, the postman brought me what I'd been dreaming about for MONTHS!  He brought me the Spring 2012 edition of 'This England', where I found my two page glossy feature, 'Ghosts and Games of Long Ago Liverpool'.  Thank you for publishing me This England - thank you SO MUCH!





The Spring 2012 issue of This England is now on sale: with any luck a herald of finer, milder weather. There is certainly a great deal in the magazine to provide warmth and cheer, with inspiring tributes to several great men, articles exploring different parts of the  country, and details of intriguing customs and exciting forthcoming events. Highlights include:

• Dickens of London – A bicentenary tribute to one of England’s best-loved novelists.
•  
• Ghosts and Games of Long-Ago Liverpool – A writer’s return to the Lancashire port awaken powerful memories.*This one's my article!
• Exploring England’s Coastline – North through County Durham from the Tees to the Tyne.
• Students & St. George – Young people’s thoughts on England today.
• Merrie England…in 2012 – An album of colourful customs from around the country.
• A Royal History of England – King John has a bad reputation. We find out if it is deserved.
• English Excursions – Exploring the wild but beautiful countryside of Dartmoor.
• Great Britons – The stirring story of Captain Scott, hero of the Antarctic.
• Ten Reasons Why Nottingham is Still Queen – A resident pays tribute to her historic home city. 

My next blog will include links to recent published articles online - PROMISE, constant readers. I don't want to be guilty of overkill! 

Interestingly, the fact that I'm all over the internet, brought me this...

Blast from the Past!

Yours Truly at Sweet Sixteen!

That's what the title of the email said as I opened it with curiosity.  Turned out to be a message from a girl I knew in my misspent youth (!!) at Whitehaven Grammar School.  Barbara Bartley (nee Wright) told me she corresponds with Neil Hutcheon, Maggie Allen and David Jordison (more friends from the Swingin' Sixtes!).  She told me they'd been talking about me and decided to look me up on the net - and of course, there I was!  I'm now part of that emailing group of friends - so that makes us a round five now.  I'm loving the 'crack' (Cumbrian expression) with these lovely people who are now sextagenarians (or SEXY-genarians!) like me, two whom I haven't seen since 1966 (when we were sweet sixteen) and two I haven't seen since 1970 (when I was twenty).  Brilliant, isn't it, constant readers?

 

Talk soon, folks.  I mustn't leave it so long before the next episode.  And perhaps, next time, more will have joined the small but tightly-knit throng of followers of my blog. 29 of you have joined already since its birth on New Year's Day 2011. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I hope there are more of you out there who want to become constant readers of Writing for my Life.

It's a Bright Time...Not the Write Time!

It's a Bright Time...
Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.  And sorry it's taken me so long to get back to my beloved blog and all of you, my constant readers  after the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Christmas Chez Sheila

With the house decorated from tip to toe with 'birdie' trees and hallway garlands, lights over the hearth and festive shelves in my den, we were all set for a grand Christmas 2011. Just us - me, my husband Dave, my son, Phil - and the two cats, Rosie and Mr Jim.

 

Christmas Day

Up with the larks on a bright Christmas morning, we began to open presents.  There were so many of them!  How lucky were we??  There was even a present apiece for Rosie and Mr Jim: a blue mouse and a brown rat, for heaven's sake!  And they loved them - played with them all day, sniffing out the catnip and clawing like crazy.

Then it was time for a bite of Christmas brunch with festive jams and marmalades.

Looking out of the patio door, I saw a young robin come calling for the first time.  how's that for a festive treat, constant readers?  He's been a regular visitor to the bird table and the hanging nuts and fat balls ever since.

Our best feathered friend, the blackbird came a-calling as usual.  He gets tamer and tamer.  He's even started posing for photos!

A 'play with our new Christmas toys' interlude was followed by Christmas dinner in the early evening, with the posh china on the table and the crystal glasses for the wine and the Cassis liqueur we'd brought back from our road trip to France in September.

We watched TV for a while, eyelids drooping gradually after a great day.



Boxing Day

Dave played bass guitar with the fabulous blues band, the Boneshakers at their 'Xmas Shindig' at the Tyne Bar in Newcastle.  I wnet along to enjoy the fun and take some snaps and video footage for the 'Rockin' with the Boneshakers' blog and a North East Life online review.  It's been my joy and pleasure to maintain the band's website and to act as their PR person over 2011. And long may it continue.  And what a great gig it was.  Boxing Day went off with a big huge BANG!  Fabulous performance - you rock, guys!

New Year's Eve

Tonight, Dave was playing bass guitar with his other amazing party band, the Gatecrashers, starring on stage at St Peter's Club, Byker in Newcastle.  

My niece, Leah, was there - and I so enjoyed ripping up the dance floor with her.  Made me feel like a carefree teenager again, it did.  You really rock, Leah, my little darlin'!  

Of course, I took some fab snaps and video footage to write them an article for North East Life magazine, online. Nice commission, eh, constant readers.

Dave and I caught the fireworks that went crazy all over Newcastle and North Tyneside on our way home from the gig - then it was time to relax with a glass or two, a home made pie-and-pea supper and Jools Holland's Hootnanay on BBC2.

New Year's Day 2012 

Last year, on New Year's Day, we went for a walk on the South Shields coast - and so enjoyed it, we thought we'd make it a tradition.  So this year, Dave and I popped along in the car to Whitley Bay and St Mary's Island to blow away the cobwebs of the new Year's Eve festivities.  Boy was it COLD!  But oh, it was so enjoyable too.  A couple of hours with the sea breeze, the surf and the seaweed set us up nicely for what I hope will be a great 2012.  

And to top it all, we saw cormorants on the rocks too.  Don't you just love cormorants, constant readers?


Not the Write Time... 
I put away my lap top for the whole of Christmas (Clever girl!) on December 23rd 2011- and didn't open it up again until January 3rd 2012.  Now wasn't that brave of me, constant readers?
Inundated with emails, 'stuff' to write etc., I went into panic mode for a few days.  But I'm getting back on top of it all again.
Here's what I've achieved since the last time I blogged:
My 1000-word flash fiction piece, RED HOT BOOTS was published on  EVERY DAY FICTION.  Here's the link:

http://www.everydayfiction.com/red-hot-boots-by-sheila-newton/comment-page-1/#comment-38343

My article,  WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WAVE CHAMBER was published on NORTH EAST LIFE MAGAZINE ONLINE.
Here's the link:

http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/community/blogs/detail/weird-and-wonderful-wave-chamber/id/6346/  

My article,  A CHEERY, CHIRPY MAKE-BELIEVE CHRISTMAS was published on the WIKINUT site to mark this festive occasion.

Here's the link:

http://www.wikinut.com/a-cheery%2c-chirpy-make-believe-christmas/2v7w8zkc/20x7u1zr/

and WIKINUT published the next in my road trip to France series, UNE SEMAINE SUR RIVIERA FRANÇAIS

Here's the link:

http://travel.wikinut.com/Une-Semaine-sur-Riviera-Fran%C3%A7ais/2.w_pqs8/   

My post prior to the above article was awarded yet another STAR PAGE by WIKINUT for LE GRAND TOUR DE LA FRANCE - LE QUATRIÈME JOUR.  I could get used to these STAR PAGES! Here's the link:

http://travel.wikinut.com/Le-Grand-Tour-de-la-France-le-Quatri%C3%A8me-Jour/v_cuaqe7/  

My story and haiku verses, THE CATS' DINNER was published by THE REAL OWNER.
Here's the link:
http://therealowner.com/cats/the-cats-dinner/    
My very short story, THE KEY OF THE DOOR was published on AUTHSPOT.  
Here's the link:

http://authspot.com/short-stories/the-key-of-the-door/

My article, THE DAY I MET JOHN HANNAH was published on AUTHSPOT.
Here's the link:

http://authspot.com/thoughts/the-day-i-met-john-hannah/

And finally, my photograph of Kielder Forest accompanied by a photograph of your truly has been published in the glassy - yes glossy - pages of NORTH EAST LIFE MAGAZINE.  And this is the page I was published on:

 So here it is...Merry Christmas...Everybody's having fun...

Hope you had a fun Holiday Time, constant readers

 

 I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW 2012 - ROLL ON THE LONDON OLYMPICS - ROLL ON A GREAT WRITING YEAR

Talk soon, constant readers

November, November, a Month to Remember

THRILLS & SPILLS OF WILL'S BIG GIG

The month of November has been a hectic whirlwind of writing, writing - and more writing. 
 But I managed to take a little time out to go and see Will Young perform at the City Hall in Newcastle, with my 'sorta daughter', Dawn - and her daughter, Leah.

We went for dinner first, in the bar on Percy Street that used to be called The Old Orleans - but I'm darned if I can remember what's it's called now! 

 And then, two minutes walk around a couple of corners and we were there at the City Hall on Northumberland Road all set to see Mr Will Young himself!
He didn't disappoint.  The opening of the show was a novel and quirky theme:  the band came through a black panelled front door, complete with brass door knocker, one by one, until Will Young himself landed centre stage through that same door, complete with raincoat and bowler hat. 

 I liked the idea.  Great fun.  The crowd roared when that overcoat came off!

 Will interacted with the audience with excellent aplomb throughout the evening.  He sang a few old favourites, like 'Think I'd Better Leave Right Now' and a great rendition of Kate Bush's golden oldie, 'Runnin Up that Hill', but for the main part, he sang tracks from his new album, 'Echoes' including his hit single, 'Come On'.  His voice sounds glorious live.  He really does have a beautiful singing voice.  And what a performer!  He gave it his all. 

During, 'Silent Valentine', thousands of red heart confetti pieces fell from the sky over Will on stage.  It looked tremendous.  In fact, all of the lighting and effects were brilliant throughout the whole performance. 

I loved his band too.  And his backing vocalists were superb.  And at the end of the night, when the audience were shouting for more, more, more - he gave us more, more, more...  All-in-all, this was a great show.  You're a winner, Will Young!

 WRITE ON:

The Roasting Hot Terry Chestnutt

Before I tell you anything else about this month's writing achievements, I just must tell you about an online writing buddy of mine - Terry Chestnutt.

It all started when we were chatting via Triond messaging and the topic of his fabulous Haiku website came up in conversation.  Needless to say, I subscribed to the site (it's free, constant readers) and mentioned to Terry that I'd written some haiku and an article about haiku and senyru poetry.  He loved my stuff and asked me if I wanted my pieces on his website.  Well, of course I said "YES!"

THEN, he offered to massively distribute my senyru article online with links to my website.  Well, of course, again I said, "YES!" And so, I think I can say that Mr Terry Chestnutt has become my PR man, don't you, constant readers ??? What a grand job he's doing for me.

Here's the link Terry sent me:
Haiku/Senyru Article for distribution

http://www.submityourarticle.com/articles/Sheila-Newton-21012/haiku-236571.php

Visit Terry's (Wrath Warbone is his pen name) Examples of Haiku website at:
Examples of Haiku

http://www.examplesofhaiku.com/  

where you can click down the left hand side column to find my pieces, 'Haiku by Sheila Newton' and 'Sorting Haiku from Senyru: it's Human Nature!'

Thank you Terry Chestnutt.  The following haiku are for you:

My Main Man, Mr Wrath Warbone

Thanks to you Terry

for being my PR man.

Appreciated  

Terry, the Fruit and Nut Case

Terry's a Chestnutt

A brazil and a walnut

A plum and a peach 

Read his hilarious article, 'When I Win the Lottery' at:

http://humour.wikinut.com/When-I-Win-The-Lottery/20qj9tut/

...and his magical Haiku, Clouds of Butterflies, on:
http://authspot.com/poetry/clouds-of-butterflies-haiku/  

You sure are a winner, Terry Chestnutt!

 Alice in Wonderland tells it like it is!

 

I was thrilled to have my third - yes, my third - 'about writing' article published on Flash Fiction Chronicles this month.  It's entitled 'A Wonderland of Wise Words' - but you'll have to read it to get the 'Alice' connection!  Here's the link:

A Wonderland of Wise Words

http://www.everydayfiction.com/flashfictionblog/a-wonderland-of-wise-words/#comments

...or if you've missed the other two articles, 'Waltzing with the Word' and 'Adverb: Amigo or Adversary?' you can view all three on:

http://www.everydayfiction.com/flashfictionblog/tag/sheila-newton/

 Red Room

...that's Red ROOM not Red RUM - it's a writing site for promoting blogs and books etc - it's not a race horse!

I've been a member of Red Room for months, but never got around to writing anything on it.  Anyway, there was a blogging challenge - 'Write about the best photograph you've ever taken'.  So I did!  It's a little competition too - so who knows - I might win! It's entitled 'The Magic of the Wave Chamber'.  Here's the photo and the link:

The Magic of the Wave Chamber

http://redroom.com/member/sheila-newton/blog/the-magic-of-the-wave-chamber

 

 
Shaken and Stirred

...is the name of the Boneshakers' new blues album.  The Boneshakers are the band I blog for, on:

  Rockin’ with the Boneshakers

http://rockinwiththeboneshakers.blogspot.com

 

 and I've just penned an Album review on North East Life Magazine Online.  Here's the link:

 Shaken and Stirred – Boneshakers’ Album Review

http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/community/blogs/detail/shaken-and-stirred--boneshakers-album-review/id/6301/  

 

I'm Moonstruck to be awarded another Wikinut Star Page

I recently got my third Wikinut 'Star Page' for one in my 'Le Grand Tour de la France...' series.  I was pleased as punch.  Here's the link:
 

Le Grand Tour de la France - le Deuxième Jour

http://travel.wikinut.com/Le-Grand-Tour-de-la-France-le-Deuxi%C3%A8me-Jour/9o1xkvkp/

The third day of the series is also published on Wikinut at: 

Le Grand Tour de la France - le Troisième Jour

http://travel.wikinut.com/Le-Grand-Tour-de-la-France-le-Troisi%C3%A8me-Jour/3n93rfmm/

  

Tales from an Ionian Island

My epic series, telling of my week of adventures on the Greek island of Corfu, is completed.  I've given you links to COR! PHEW!, DAY ONE, DAY TWO and DAY THREE.  Here are DAYS FOUR TO SEVEN:

Tales From an Ionian Island – Day Four (Ημέρα τέσσερα)

http://trifter.com/europe/greece/tales-from-an-ionian-island-day-four-%ce%ad-%ce%ad/

Tales From an Ionian Island – Day Five (Ημέρα πέντε)

http://trifter.com/europe/greece/tales-from-an-ionian-island-day-five-%ce%ad-%ce%ad/

Tales From an Ionian Island – Day Six (Ημέρα έξι)

http://trifter.com/practical-travel/tales-from-an-ionian-island-day-six-%CE%AD-%CE%AD/2/

Tales From an Ionian Island – Day Seven - Ημέρα επτά 

http://trifter.com/europe/greece/tales-from-an-ionian-island-day-seven-%ce%ad-%ce%ac

 I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I've enjoyed writing them,constant readers.

Red Hot Boots

I've just learned that the online publisher, Every Day Fiction is to publish my flash fiction story, Red Hot Boots sometime in the near future.  Wow!  They're a publisher I adore.  Their critiquing service is second to none. I look forward to really excellent short stories coming into my email inbox every day - so this is HUGE for me.  I'll give you the link when it's published. 

 

North East Life Photography

 When I pen my articles for North East Life online, I occasionally submit a photo or two into the 'Reader Photos' section for a bit of fun.  Well, the other day, Vijay, their design editor, emailed me to say they want to put one of my photographs into the next edition of North East Life Magazine.  Blimey!  And it's my photograph too - not my husband's - MINE - ALL MINE!  Taken with my trusty Coolpix camera.  He tells me the photgraph will be published sometime just before Christmas.  How's about that, then???  I'm a budding photographer! And here's the famous photo!

And last but not least ...

I'm a NaNoWriMo Winner!

In my last blog post to you all, I had decided to take up the National Novel Writing month challenge - to write 50,000 words of my novel, Lavender Cat.

  
 

Well, just so's you know - I DID IT!  Yes, I did it - penned more than 50,000 words in the month of November.  I'M A WINNER!  Read all about it.  Click on the link below:

Limbo Dancin’ to the Winning Post

http://writing.wikinut.com/Limbo-Dancin-to-the-Winning-Post/84kb0p.c/

So everyone's a winner on this blog post, constant readers

Talk to you again soon.  I hope your fingers are aching from click-click-clicking on all these links!