Time to Catch Up

Hello Everyone, I hope you're all doing really well. Even though we can all agree that the world as a whole isn't exactly a towering success. I appreciate it's been a long time since I wrote a post, but, to be honest, it felt pretty shallow to talk about a book release when so much is happening that is of global importance. Obviously, there are the ongoing wars and disputes in the Middle East, not to mention the terrifying conflict between Russia and Ukraine. It just felt that the murmurings of an English author really don't mean much in the face of so much despair and hardship.

I think we are all deeply troubled by how much violence is considered almost 'normal', but what's shocking is that it seems we are no longer surprised when we read about yet another horrific attack, either perpetrated by a nation or an individual. On a planet that's so intrinsically beautiful with so many stunning landscapes, fascinating wildlife and awe-inspiring vistas, it's unbearably sad that far too many who make up the human population are seemingly hellbent on destruction.

Then there are those who are in power; what a mixed group they are! Some are consumed by the greed for power, others find it easy to ignore the plight of their people and devote all their energies to adding to their own wealth, while there are those few who are simply woefully incompetent. Ever the optimist, I like to believe there are a few who genuinely want to do some good, who are proud to serve and are focused on making their nation better for everyone. But as I sit and write this today, I have to admit, it's hard to bring one to mind.

Here in the UK, we are really doing no better than anyone else in the world. Far too many are facing abject poverty, food banks are now open and caring for a much wider demographic than ever before, while the most vulnerable in society are fearful of how they're going to keep the lights on while putting food on the table. We are supposed to be one of those 'leading nations', but if that were true, why are so many people struggling? I know I rarely write about politics, but this is way beyond which party is in charge; it strikes at the most fundamental requirement of any leadership, caring for the people.

 

I do love this quote, I'm just hoping (even more than usual) that it's true

 

 As I said earlier, considering everything that's going on in the world, it just didn't feel like the right time to draw attention to my own little corner of the planet. The place where I sit, write stories and send them out with the sincere hope that someone might enjoy them. But then, a week or so ago, I checked my messages and was so touched to see there were readers who had become concerned by my absence and wanted to check in with me. Having benefited from your support for so many years now, it seemed extremely rude not to come back and assure you all, I am still around. My health has not been the best, but I am being very careful and trying to only do things that will help rather than hinder.

Also, to answer those who kindly asked if there was a new book coming out, I can say it was actually published earlier this month. It's called 'You can get Here from There' and is really a kind of journal written by a fictional woman who travels to Australia alone. Some of it is based on my own experiences, while other parts of the story have been created to make it a more interesting read. However, just to make things even harder, I opted to add illustrations to this book, and there are far more than I originally intended. They are all my own work, which, if you ever decide to take a peek, will be blindingly obvious. I know some people use AI to create images, and that's entirely their choice, but I recklessly opted for the homegrown variety. Some pictures are more successful than others, but I am still proud to have completed the project.

I do think, even in the face of so much hardship, it is important to try and cling to our dreams, to try and make our 'corners' as happy and fulfilling as possible. Oh, and I know how difficult that can be! There have been so many times throughout these past months when I've questioned if there was any real point in continuing to write because, after all, what possible good can it do? But then, I realised that most of the creatives I know are still trying- even when faced with dwindling sales and challenging lives. One person reminded me just how many millions have gone to see the 'Wicked' movie; she cited this event as proof that, despite everything, people do still want to be entertained, to escape their daily lives and maybe even find some inspiration. So, with her wise words fresh in my mind, here I am, catching up with this wonderful community.

Well, that's probably more than enough for now. As always, this post has been perhaps a little muddled, but regular readers know that's nothing new! I hope wherever you are in the world, there are still some reasons to smile during your day. I'm so glad I came back today. Perhaps at times like this, it's even more important that we make the effort to reach out to each other and just say 'hello.' We will get through it all. Let's face it, we've had a 100% success rate so far, so we should keep going because I don't think the story is over yet. Stay safe and as always,

 

Take care out there xxx