About

A Selection of Recollections is a place to share true stories in the present and past from myself and also a wonderful group of folks – bloggers and otherwise. These guests will share their own stories about themselves or their loved ones, but in every tale there will be truth, a lesson learnt or an insight to pass on.

Currently I am sharing posts about my hubby’s gap year at 60. Having longed to retire for years and then struggled with  the concept as soon as it arrived, (honest posts of a difficult six months if you scroll back down) he has decided to intersperse jobs around the house with doing things he’s always dreamed of, so I’ll be sharing some of these refreshing interludes.

Previous to this (and I will return to this theme) was the story of our nine months living in Kinghorn, Fife – an unexpected pleasure.

My original main purpose of this blog, though, was to tell you true tales about Norman Campbell, a wonderful gentleman with whom I had the privilege of spending many a happy hour, listening to his story – all 103 years of it!

Posts will be separated in periods of time as well as themes so that, if a reader likes a post, he or she can read other stories from the same era, right up to the present day.

If you have a special story to tell…heart-warming, amusing, poignant, adventurous … the read ‘GUEST SUBMISSIONS’ for more information.

Finally I have been asked by a dear blogger friend Pat on Plain Talk and Ordinary Wisdom to share five secrets about myself which you do not know:

1) I may have fallen in love with the Scottish county of Fife and also enjoy living in Bedfordshire at present, but my favourite place in the world – my spiritual home – has to be the island of Alderney in the Channel Islands where my Great Grand mother on my father’s side was born. The Channel Islands and Guernsey, where my Great Grandfather was born, are in my blood. Nothing will change that.

2) I’ve always longed to work in overseas aid, but the opportunity has never been quite right, although I was once offered an opportunity in Sri Lanka. One day!

3) I’ve always had a longing to be a bit Bohemian and wear floaty skirts and lacy tops, but never had the courage to change my image.

4) I suffer from acrophobia and once got stuck up a metal tower in the rain forest in South America.  While the others went to the top and saw the dawn chorus of birds above the canopy I was half way. It turned out to be a wonderful experience as, in my solitude, I relaxed and listened to the sounds and sights in the forest as daylight broke above.

5) Although I accepted voluntary redundancy from my teaching post nearly two years ago – that long – wow – I was always a grade one or grade two teacher. Though my career ended sadly, with the college I knew and loved changing forever, I need to remind myself of the good times and be proud of what we achieved. 

Now I’ve shared some of my secrets with you I am going to nominate other bloggers who I admire and enjoy reading and maybe they’ll have time to share some secrets too:

Ali at https://awomanswisdom.wordpress.com/about/

is so supportive of Indie authors but she also puts some lovely articles on her blog as well as reviews.

Pamela at http://www.blog.co.uk/user/Living-in-a-limited-world/

tells her story – her daily struggle with Multiple Sclerosis, but it is her optimism and joy of the little things in life which shines out of her posts. Yes, sometimes her pain is unbearable and I hope we can help just a little by sharing those times with her.

Tony at https://tonysonblogger.wordpress.com/about/

I feel in tune with Tony’s ideals, that we can all play our part in making society a better place.

Sonniq at http://mynameisjamie.net/

Too often people are sent to prison and we forget. They are part of an ‘invisible’ world. Sonniq is in touch with a man called Jamie by letter and is telling his story. I hope she will share a post with us here on this blog some day.

and Rosie at http://ecurosie.com/

A blog called ‘Everything’s Coming up Rosie’ – a hearty title that reflects Rosie’s joy of connexting with people in the world of bloggers. You might like to join her on her Friday’s #ShareYourBlogParty.

Many thanks to Pat and all these good people in the blogging world!