Memories

Writing for Wellbeing groups can bring to mind so many memories. It is like looking at a living image in one’s mind and body. I went to a monthly peer group recently. They are always inspirational and can trigger varying responses depending on the facilitator and the theme. It’s never possible to know ahead of… Continue reading Memories

A guest poem

At the beginning of each Writing for Wellbeing session that I facilitate, I read out what I call the ‘C’ words. These are my own words. I was touched that one of my participants in the group, after listening to a poem and giving prompts, decided to write a poem including the ‘C’ words. She… Continue reading A guest poem

Therapy or not?

As I develop the idea for an academic paper on Writing for Wellbeing, I am going to share a little about what brought me to want to write this paper. I was at a meeting with the Lapidus Living Research Community when the question was posed as to why writing therapy doesn’t get as much… Continue reading Therapy or not?

My recent visitor offering words of wisdom

Amazing who comes to visit when you’re least expecting them,and not only that wonder, they bring a message for you to unravel, make sense of and understand what is being said.I had just laid down my pen, sitting at my deskwith the endless words flowing, I felt relieved but tired.It had been one of those… Continue reading My recent visitor offering words of wisdom

Demystifying Writing for Wellbeing events/workshops

I can’t write! I’ve never done any writing! I wouldn’t know what to write! Definitely not for me, I’m hopeless with words! These are some of the statements I have heard from people who would like to write. You can write! Do you write lists, messages to friends, on social media? We listen, we feel,… Continue reading Demystifying Writing for Wellbeing events/workshops

The power of rituals

What do we think of when we think of rituals? I’m sure everyone has their own ideas on rituals. Most people will probably say that they are meaningful events, which they usually are. The wonderful thing is they are often so unique and original; they can be life-changing or simply everyday rituals that we take… Continue reading The power of rituals

Thoughts on the poem ‘To be of use’

Recently, I attended a poetry therapy peer group where my mentor facilitated a writing exercise, first of all suggesting that with the word ‘inspiration’, we write a piece with each line beginning with the first letter of the word. This style is known as an acrostic – often in the form of a poem. Inspiration… Continue reading Thoughts on the poem ‘To be of use’

My thoughts on home education

When I first embarked on home education in the 1970s, not many parents or carers were taking this path with their children. And the ones who did were mostly mothers. It was very much frowned upon as being separate from the norm. Likewise, in the eighties and nineties, people were largely sceptical, but increasingly more… Continue reading My thoughts on home education

My experience of home education

My thoughts have been on home education a lot recently as one of my granddaughters has moved from home education to school. For a brief while in the late seventies I taught my eldest daughter and son. But then we moved from England to Scotland and they attended a school which was run on the… Continue reading My experience of home education

Longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition

I’m delighted to announce that my debut novel Is This It? has been longlisted in the 2024 Mslexia Novel Competition. Mslexia is a bestselling magazine in the UK for women who write, supporting writers at all stages of their journey from pre-publication to the finished work. I am an active subscriber and would encourage any… Continue reading Longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition