Writing, Eating and Walking...

Another sunny day in VnG...

And today I've almost finished the file update for the re.-release / second edition of Winner- The story is the same of course, but I've improved the grammar and found the typos that were missed by the last edit - going through it all carefully myself this time page by page.

Jane is well into reading 'Take Two'. I spoke to her this morning and she told me she had been reading it at the hairdressers but had to put it down so as not to make a show of herself an burst out crying there and then- I am so pleased (not to make her cry, well, yes and no) that the emotions I poured into the story have come through, and she's hardly half way through yet!

Today is Julie's birthday so I've baked a coffee and walnut cake to take to school. Those teachers are well-spoiled, only yesterday they had raspberry muffins for another of the teacher's birthdays. It's not the most beautiful cake I've ever baked, but it was baked with love and from the offcuts we've tried it's DELISH!

Tonight, after school, we're off to Gilda's again for dinner to celebrate.

And finally, I must just mention my new project- CAMINO 2013!!
Yes I've been wondering where to walk, or whether to walk at all next year, but having had a couple of coincidental things happen telling me about the Camino Ingles I've decided that YES I will be walking again.  (you can find details HERE). It's just 110 -116kms depending on which site you look at, and should take just 4-5 days depending on how many stages we decide to do. And I say we as I have spoken to Janey about it and she's keen to come along again next year. WE are also thinking about then going on to Finisterre (and/or Muxia) on the coast.

SO if anyone would like to join us either for just the Camino Ingles (only 5 days - you know you'd love to!!!!) - we'll see you onto a plane in Santiago, or for the whole thing -we'd love for you to join us. Oh and if you want to walk with us 'virtually' just watch this space as I'll be putting up more news as I find it. Incidentally, today I've been net-surfing to find out about the route an albergues etc

Oh Happy Days

Yes today is a wonderful day in the TulStig household for Tony and I have been together 30 years today.  We met on 14th September 1982 and have been pretty much inseparable since.  When the law changed in Spain concerning marriage we tied the know on our 25th anniversary, just 5 years ago, surrounded by family and friends- and what a wonderful experience that was:

Today Jane and Amy are back in the house ready to babysit when we fly off to Venice tomorrow to begin our cruise of the Adriatic, and tonight we are all going out to dinner at one of our favourite places, with the wonderful Julie. This afternoon Tony will be having his new teeth fitted, so happily he will be in the holiday photos.

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

And to the photo challenge.
Yesterday's was Table: So here's one of the buffet's I have prepared over the past year (this one for the school's end of year party)...

And today's prompt is 'Favourite' -
'Gilda's' - Our favourite restaurant of the moment, where we will be dining tonight... 

Memories

It seems that everything at the moment in mu life has 'Camino Focus'. As I prepare for the nect one there are so many memories bouncing back of the previous ones.

Walking the dogs yesterday in the rain I was reminded of the day Jane and I walked in torrential rain for hours to get to Samos, and how much we enjoyed it.

This morning, again whilst walking the dogs I smelt a familiar smell that transported me straight back to the Camino- it was the smell of Fennel- a delicious aniseed smell that we found in patches on the Camino -and on Kees' bidding ate the tender top leaves.

And it's not just me- Having posted a picture of a dog on Facebook this morning I got a message from Janey that she thought it looked like a couple of dogs we had seen that were 'guarding some cows:

Beginnings

Out of endings come beginnings -who said that?- well maybe no-one exactly but that's what I've been thinking of today.  

First of all the wonderful Michelle offered a one off oracle reading - and mine was beginnings. I thrive on change, and beginnings have played a big part in my life. At the moment I am in the middle of a beginning (if such a thing is possible)- of becoming comfortable in my 'new' role as an author. 

At this time of year classes at the school are coming to an end. This week I am completing a course for a local business and today had set an exam for my class to do for the end of the course.  This generally means I have little to do during the class, but plenty of marking and report writing later. Today I decided to take advantage of the quiet time and started to make my list of things I need to get and pack for my upcoming Camino. This set me to thinking about my last Camino- The Portuguese. 

For some time I have been wondering about writing a book similar to 'The Magic of the Camino' about this walk. Well today I set pen to paper and have a rough draft of the first chapter. I may need a bit of help with remembering the sights sounds, smells and the such like so will be calling on Janey and Sussi for help,e specially as my note-taking wasn't so prolific on this walk. However I know there's a book there -again we saw some wonderful sights, met some amazing people and were affected by the whole journey.  So the beginning is there, I just need to prioritise which I write next.... but just for now here are some photos from the Portuguese Camino

A little self-promotion....

Today I've had a busy day, despite feeling quite fatigued when I woke this morning.

Walking the dogs, and further than usual (Xali was up for a good run), blew the cobwebs away and I returned home feeling slightly more energetic. 

Time for a bit of self promotion I decided. Spurred on by Nick the other day I have been shamelessly promoting my books through Twitter and am really starting to get my head round it all.  I've even got a couple of new (literary) followers and have started following some folks in the literary world too.

Anyway today I set up a 'page' on facebook for 'The Magic of the Camino'.  Why I didn't do it before I don't know- well I do- something to do with being afraid of self promotion. Anyway I set the page up and let it go live at about 14.00. It's now just 22.30 (more or less) and already I've had 28 'likes' and a host of comments and questions on how to get hold of a copy.  Fantastico. 

This promotion meant that some of my chums from the Camino got in contact too, and so my mind went racing back to The Way, and how much I enjoyed the experience and value the friendships made on it.  I added a few photos to the page as well and the memories flooded back as to where, when and why I took the photos. Ah good times.

 Day One: Daybreak in the Pyrenees.

And a little further on with new friends.

OH, how much am I looking forward to getting back out. I am sure the Camino Primitov has more adventures in store for me....

Next job - to improve my profile on Amazon..... so if you have read 'The Magic' and you use Amazon please (pretty please) would you mind going to 'The Magic of the Camino' sales page and leaving a review... Thank you.

Birthdays, English and doubles

First of all I must give a big shout out to sister in law Janey a it's her birthday today.

Happy Birthday Old Thing.

And here's a pic of the Game bird with another game bird - daughter Amy.

I may not have mentioned this before but I really do love my job, particularity when it challenges my knowledge of my language. Most of my lasses are advanced classes which test me from time to time, as well as a couple of intermediate classes and a proficiency class (high level) which regularly makes em think. Today I've also had parent-meetings, which I don't enjoy as much, but at least they're over for another year.

BTW -how good is your English? How many of you can complete the following within 12minutes (approx time allowed at exam level) You may need to enlarge the piece to read it. (you can do this by right clicking it and saving it to your pc then printing or enlarging the image)

Walking down the Rambla after school this afternoon I was checking out a young man coming my way and was surprised at his likeness to Nick. He was such a doppelgänger that I almost went over and hugged him. The features were so similar right down to the tattoos. It really was one of those surreal- is it- isn't it moments. Texting Nick the details of the encounter afterwards has given us both a few giggles!

The 'real' Nick: