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

Walking and stuff

Today was a beautiful day -despite weather forecasts to the contrary.

Having walked Xali first thing I put the washing out, that I'd set off when I went out, then picked up my rucksack and set off along the coastal path to Sitges.  IT was a warm and beautiful walk and I so enjoyed it, being the first time since I have walked since having a gammy leg and back. Fortunately I had no pain along the way, or have I had any since.

Arriving in Sitges I was supposed to meet Denise and Paolo, but they were caught up with a dog found loose near their house, so were just over an hour late, which gave me time to read more of my book out in the sunshine whilst sipping an ice cold beer.

Returning home Tony had prepared a delicious soup, after which I picked up the laptop and wrote a bit more of 'Winner Too'.

This evening we have spent the evening watching TV together.

Tomorrow is a holiday here so another great day looks likely... but for now here are a couple of pictures of the walk, and if you'd like to see more go to my google plus album (click the link or one of the photos to get there, then scroll down)

  Leaving VnG

 Broom in flower -memories of the Camino

 The sea was a little wild this morning

And the Pay-Off on arrival in Sitges

Christmas at Casa TulStig TWO

And so on to TODAY -BOXING DAY / ST STEPHEN'S DAY:

This morning we had a walk along the beach with the dogs. We normally do this on Christmas day, but as we were busy cooking we didn't mange it yesterday so treated Cuddy and Xali today. It was a lovely sunny morning and the dogs really enjoyed running mad on the sand, even making friends with a couple of other pups running about. Cuddy found the deepest part of the storm drain and jumped in. She was soaked and then got herself all covered in sand. So we had stop at one of the seafront cafés to have a coffee, before letting her back in the car.

For lunch we had a delicious cauliflower and blue cheese soup (cauli left over from yesterday). In a bit Tony's making bubble and squeak for dinner, after we've finished watching 'The Wizard of Oz' again. Yes I've been welling up- well Somewhere over the rainbow has been our song for so long now, and 'There's no place like home' -I know this and don't even need to click red slippers (which is just as well as I don't have any).

I/We have had a wonderful couple of days, and a most wonderful year. 
For Christmas I got some lovely gifts - my favourite -a Parker pen from Tony- he got it for me as he said all authors need a quality pen !