Category Archives: Memoirs

October 30, 2019 · 7:20 am

The Healing Paths of Fife ~ in Aid of Kirkcaldy Foodbank

Why Does The Kirkcaldy Foodbank Need Our Help?

I love living in Scotland, particularly in Fife, and yet I am increasingly aware of the inequalities in this region and have volunteered to make up food parcels for Kirkcaldy Foodbank for well over two years now. What I find most astounding is that the need is growing. Universal Credit, piloted in an area of high deprivation, has compounded the difficulties families and individuals are facing and the Foodbank is struggling to keep up with demand. Given no government funding they rely solely on generous donations of food and money.  This got me thinking:

What else can I do to Support Kirkcaldy Foodbank?

I decided that I could do more and so:

During November and December 2019

any royalties for copies of ‘The Healing Paths of Fife’

sold on Kindle worldwide will go to

Kirkcaldy Foodbank

Click on photo for universal Amazon link to The Healing Paths of Fife

Here is a video which gives you glimpses of The Fife Coastal Path, the journey I walked on and the unusual folks from history who I met along the way and enjoyed a wee blether with.

The Healing Paths of Fife Video

Facts about Kirkcaldy

“Kirkcaldy Area is among the most deprived areas of Fife, with 23 of 80 datazones in the area
featuring in the 20% most deprived for Scotland (SIMD 2016). Across Kirkcaldy area, 15.3% of the
total population is income deprived (compared to 12.4% for Fife), while 13.0% of the working age
population is employment deprived (compared to 11.0% for Fife).”

quote from Local Area Strategic Assessment 2018

“Kirkcaldy Children are the Poorest in Fife

quote from Fife Today 2018

Please Click on the link to buy ‘The Healing Paths of Fife’

I have had wonderful feedback about this fantasy/memoir of mine, and so I ask you to spread the word. It is only £2.99 in the UK and $3.72 in the USA. If you’ve read it already then please spread the word. If not please buy it for a good cause and let me know what you think.

 

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January 25, 2019 · 12:06 pm

A Birthday Party al fresco in the January Sunshine

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The Wee Shoppe Kinghorn

On Wednesday we went back to the roots of our Scottish adventure and our total change of life’s experience. A little bird told us that it was Moira’s birthday and though The Wee Shoppe is not usually open on a Wednesday there were whispers that there was going to be a wee celebration.

The Wee Shoppe will always have a special place in our hearts. It is where we were first welcomed into the Kinghorn community, made friends and learnt the joy of blethering.

This was a beautiful winter’s day (around freezing!), with the sun shining on Kinghorn Harbour, as we set out chairs and a table on the concrete hard in front of the Wee Shoppe. There were nine of us drinking tea, eating hot sausage rolls and birthday cake.

With everyone smiling and laughing it took me right back to those early days of 2014. Great memories. Lovely people. We are so grateful to be here!

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The Healing Paths of Fife tells our story in prose, poetry, fantasy and historical background and it was where I ‘met’ renowned author Nigel Tranter and he imparted some advice to me about the dangers of writing about a place I had only just discovered.

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March 21, 2018 · 11:40 am

Selkies, Seals and Seafield Tower ~ Diana’s virtual tour of Fife continues

If there is one chapter of my fantasy ~ memoir ‘The Healing Paths of Fife’ that has ended getting me into trouble it is the walk to Seafield Tower!

It happens to be one of my favourite walks, it being closest to home, running along the Fife Coastal Path from just above Kinghorn Harbour, behind the caravan parks and on to winding paths and craggy slopes. Here are some photos. They were taken on my phone and so are not the best quality I’m afraid.

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Kinghorn Harbour

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Back towards Pettycur

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Up and down paths and steps

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To Seafield Tower

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seals on the rocks

… if you can spot them on this picture, but I assure you that they are there!

So why am I in trouble?

Picture this. I am researching places, people, saints and legends as I walk along The Fife Coastal Path, and they abound in plenty. I stumble across selkies; a cross between a seal and a person with magical powers. Each of my chapters reflect on an issue we all face in our lives and my selkie deals with ‘love’. All of us, or most if we are honest, have a lost love or a past love in our lives and, however happy we are with the present, at times we need to let go. As a writer I loved the symbolism and it allowed me a huge amount of creative licence.

And so, if you are a man I know down south please, please don’t think this chapter is about you because it isn’t. There are no other men in my life other than my husband and  my father at present, so if you know me if Fife then please don’t ask, ‘who is the other man?’

After all, you didn’t ask me if I really spoke to St Margaret did you? Tell a lie, one friend did! tee hee hee 🙂

There’s a better photo of the seals on my video on you tube if you’d like to watch it.

If you continue further to Kirkcaldy, about three miles, the walk along the sea front is pleasant too and you could walk on to Dysart. (my last post)

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Kirkcaldy sea front

 

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