On the Verge

These wildflowers line the verge around Forty Hall Country Park.  Purposefully sown by volunteers, they look like they have been there for centuries.  Talking of being 'on the verge'  I feel as though I am on the verge of something right now.  I am not sure what it is or where I am going but life has just got interesting again.

I have recently discovered historical fiction.  I never thought I would enjoy this genre (apart from Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'urberville's, oh and The Grape's of Wrath by John Steinbeck), until I read 'the Apothecary's Daughter' by Charlotte Betts.  Set in London in the 17th Century,  I was transported to the time of the plague and the Great Fire of London.  I could almost smell the stench of the plague pit and of London burning.  A wonderful page turner of a book that I didn't want to end.  The author read Samuel Pepys diary which allowed her a peep into restoration London and an understanding of life at that time.  I must now seek out Pepys diary to read myself.

As of 1st July I am going to be extra busy so I may not get around to commenting on blogs so much but I will still be reading them as and when I can.  In the meantime, can you recommend some good historical fiction for me to 'get my teeth' into?

Doors

'When one door closes another one opens' were the words used by my teenage son, who was bravely trying to be philosophical after hearing some devastating news.

Many doors have been closed to me as well, this year.  I feel that some have been slammed shut in my face and bolted securely on the other side.  There is not much I can do about that now.

What I can do however is knock on the doors I had previously overlooked.  I hope that I can be a shining example to my impressionable son and prove to him that there are many open doors to choose from.  We just need to take a chance and step inside.

New Moon New Beginnings

There is a new moon on Tuesday.  A time of new beginnings.  I am feeling restless. At the moment my blog is bringing me little joy other than by reading the comments that my regular and not so regular readers leave for me.  It is hard work managing a blog as many of you regular bloggers know.  I don't know if I have the energy or time to keep on investing with it to be honest. 

The voluntary work up at the vineyard is taking up much of my time and my restrictive diet (by choice) seems to be playing mind games with me just recently.  The diet has been successful as in I have lost the weight I wanted to lose.  Now comes the challenge of maintaining the weight loss and not putting it back on.

I look different even thought I didn't have much weight to lose.  I feel my personality has changed too.  I think it may be time to re-invent myself.