I loved this so much! I’m glad the incomers haven’t hit your neighborhood yet…I had a good laugh over the “Great Unwashed” and “shackies”! Here, we call them “riff-raff” but we are fortunate we don’t have them at Christmastime like you do!
I hope you’ll keep us posted on how things went with your peanut butter/pine cone bird food. Here, I’m convinced it would bring the bears out of hibernation!
I enjoyed your excerpt—and glad you are turning your grief into something positive. May the prospect of a visit with the puppies be a healing balm.
Ohh, I hope by the time you read this you have had your puppy visit and are squiggling with delight at having met your future pup. Also happy to hear you have some calm times before the busy ones. It is important to store up the quiet, even if it does allow the sad thoughts to intrude. They have to come out sometime, and your writing excerpt shows you are channeling them well. (I'm not quite halfway though Passages now!)
You understand completely, Sabrina, on both the need for quiet and the need to channel my writing. One of the greatest pieces of advice that circulates through writing circles is to write what you know. That way, it can be raw and emotive and there's a wellspring of experience.
I hope you're enjoying Passage. It's an affirming story and shows that one CAN get to the other side of grief. My Authors' Notes for the book explain where I found proof of that and how I needed to thank folk for their honesty with me at the time.
Act III has a re-emergence of Annie, Ro-Ro, Richard and a few others who by accident, become involved with Kate's dilemma. It is nice to have read Passage before Act III but not essential. I'm hoping Act III is able to stand on its own.
I'm enjoying the writing - probably because it's set in Victoria (Australia) and here on the east coast of Tassie. Two places I know exceptionally well.
Pupdates are being written at the moment! See what I did there? :) XXXX
Yes, I very much do understand that need for quiet and channelling. I am enjoying imagining parts of you in Passages. And I'm squuee-ing with delight at the anticipation of your pupdates! 🤗
Prue, I was thinking recently about how western culture affects (taints?) so much. Obviously, this awareness is amplified by having a kiddo (and friends) down under who is hating the heat right now (no A/C in her 5th floor flat) and visiting the beach!
If you don't love being on stage, I can totally understand how you'd want to step away from that part of your beloved ballet, but I'm hoping the feelings of sadness associated with the recent recital will soften a bit as you get farther away from them and hopefully have a new fur baby to cuddle.
That poppy is nothing short of spectacular! How dare those wasp spoil the fun of your pinecone bird feeders! The excerpt from your novel is engaging and poignant, and I'm glad you have that as a place to channel the grief.
Wishing you a lovely rest of your warm, waterfront holidays, Prue. No shackies!
OMG! Your poor daughter with no air con as Sydney's been baking! Yes, the beach is the only answer.
Re the performance and ballet - I've never ever liked performing but did it the first time as a challenge to my own insecurities. This latest however, was not meant to be the minute our fellow passed away. TBH, after I came out of hospital earlier in the year, I was concerned that I wouldn't have the necessary reach and bend. That's true still, to a point. But after the day H passed on, my heart and soul wanted to curl up on the beach and lick wounds, not dance on stage in two performances. Others might be able to switch off but I couldn't and I knew it. But I felt pressured because it was choreography for an even number of dancers, and my teacher was unable to take my place.
To me, watching the replay, it was not me. In so many ways. It's left a nasty taste.
I still have the love of the dance and adore my weekly studio time and I've got the best group of friends you can imagine. But perhaps this concert was a sign to listen more acutely to my intuition and not be persuaded otherwise.
Those breathtaking pics of the Papaver Orientalis - I have never seen anything like it but was instantly put in mind of a Flamenco style skirt! The reader can definitely sense that you are in so many different places at once in your mind Prue and I am therefore so impressed that you are able to focus a bit in the latest novel. Which sounds intriguing by the way and 'Blighty' is the best name. Like everyone else here, I cannot wait to hear which pup will wander into your heart and home. Something good xo
The novel is pure focus, almost like a meditation. I am there with Annie and Kate, envisioning each one's dilemmas and so on. It's therapy too - at its best.
Oh Prue, as always you have knitted the soothing with the scratchy so very, very beautifully - what a super post.
I'm sorry that you feel the way you do about your ballet performance, but actually that visible sadness is a valid part of your journey through the loss of the Terrier, and I know that in time you'll acknowledge that footage as something which honours that process. Validation, if you like - which you will be looking back at with gratitude, I'm sure.
I'm so thrilled to learn that you've been chosen by your new family member to be! I'm so excited for you! ❤️ Absolutely fantastic news!
Enjoy the peace before the rush. Some lovely plans in place. Hugs dear Prue. 🤗🤗
Finding comfort and perhaps even joy (while healing) in small practices that you embrace...hugs across the miles .
Thank you Susan.
I loved this so much! I’m glad the incomers haven’t hit your neighborhood yet…I had a good laugh over the “Great Unwashed” and “shackies”! Here, we call them “riff-raff” but we are fortunate we don’t have them at Christmastime like you do!
I hope you’ll keep us posted on how things went with your peanut butter/pine cone bird food. Here, I’m convinced it would bring the bears out of hibernation!
I enjoyed your excerpt—and glad you are turning your grief into something positive. May the prospect of a visit with the puppies be a healing balm.
The little birds have got lazy and obviously expect the food in their hanging feeder or the terracotta dish! Pinecones? Psh!
Off to see the puppiesm now 4 weeks old, in the morning. Yikes.
Hope you had a lovely visit with the little cuties!
Heaven.
Ohh, I hope by the time you read this you have had your puppy visit and are squiggling with delight at having met your future pup. Also happy to hear you have some calm times before the busy ones. It is important to store up the quiet, even if it does allow the sad thoughts to intrude. They have to come out sometime, and your writing excerpt shows you are channeling them well. (I'm not quite halfway though Passages now!)
Can't wait for the updates after the weekend!
You understand completely, Sabrina, on both the need for quiet and the need to channel my writing. One of the greatest pieces of advice that circulates through writing circles is to write what you know. That way, it can be raw and emotive and there's a wellspring of experience.
I hope you're enjoying Passage. It's an affirming story and shows that one CAN get to the other side of grief. My Authors' Notes for the book explain where I found proof of that and how I needed to thank folk for their honesty with me at the time.
Act III has a re-emergence of Annie, Ro-Ro, Richard and a few others who by accident, become involved with Kate's dilemma. It is nice to have read Passage before Act III but not essential. I'm hoping Act III is able to stand on its own.
I'm enjoying the writing - probably because it's set in Victoria (Australia) and here on the east coast of Tassie. Two places I know exceptionally well.
Pupdates are being written at the moment! See what I did there? :) XXXX
Yes, I very much do understand that need for quiet and channelling. I am enjoying imagining parts of you in Passages. And I'm squuee-ing with delight at the anticipation of your pupdates! 🤗
Prue, I was thinking recently about how western culture affects (taints?) so much. Obviously, this awareness is amplified by having a kiddo (and friends) down under who is hating the heat right now (no A/C in her 5th floor flat) and visiting the beach!
If you don't love being on stage, I can totally understand how you'd want to step away from that part of your beloved ballet, but I'm hoping the feelings of sadness associated with the recent recital will soften a bit as you get farther away from them and hopefully have a new fur baby to cuddle.
That poppy is nothing short of spectacular! How dare those wasp spoil the fun of your pinecone bird feeders! The excerpt from your novel is engaging and poignant, and I'm glad you have that as a place to channel the grief.
Wishing you a lovely rest of your warm, waterfront holidays, Prue. No shackies!
OMG! Your poor daughter with no air con as Sydney's been baking! Yes, the beach is the only answer.
Re the performance and ballet - I've never ever liked performing but did it the first time as a challenge to my own insecurities. This latest however, was not meant to be the minute our fellow passed away. TBH, after I came out of hospital earlier in the year, I was concerned that I wouldn't have the necessary reach and bend. That's true still, to a point. But after the day H passed on, my heart and soul wanted to curl up on the beach and lick wounds, not dance on stage in two performances. Others might be able to switch off but I couldn't and I knew it. But I felt pressured because it was choreography for an even number of dancers, and my teacher was unable to take my place.
To me, watching the replay, it was not me. In so many ways. It's left a nasty taste.
I still have the love of the dance and adore my weekly studio time and I've got the best group of friends you can imagine. But perhaps this concert was a sign to listen more acutely to my intuition and not be persuaded otherwise.
You're the best listener, Elizabeth. Thank you.
Hugs, friend. 🥰
Thinking of you Prue, and sending love and hugs ..... wonder as I type if you've been chosen yet :)
I think we were chosen, Libby. But that's another story...
I can be patient xx
Those breathtaking pics of the Papaver Orientalis - I have never seen anything like it but was instantly put in mind of a Flamenco style skirt! The reader can definitely sense that you are in so many different places at once in your mind Prue and I am therefore so impressed that you are able to focus a bit in the latest novel. Which sounds intriguing by the way and 'Blighty' is the best name. Like everyone else here, I cannot wait to hear which pup will wander into your heart and home. Something good xo
The novel is pure focus, almost like a meditation. I am there with Annie and Kate, envisioning each one's dilemmas and so on. It's therapy too - at its best.
Ah, the pups...
About to start writing about them.
Oh Prue, as always you have knitted the soothing with the scratchy so very, very beautifully - what a super post.
I'm sorry that you feel the way you do about your ballet performance, but actually that visible sadness is a valid part of your journey through the loss of the Terrier, and I know that in time you'll acknowledge that footage as something which honours that process. Validation, if you like - which you will be looking back at with gratitude, I'm sure.
I'm so thrilled to learn that you've been chosen by your new family member to be! I'm so excited for you! ❤️ Absolutely fantastic news!
New pics yesterday of pups - they have exploded since last Sunday. I call them the darling dirigibles!