Sorry all...

 The lurgy has got the better of me.

Coughing and spluttering.

All I want to do is sleep.

(source:pinterest)

See you in the New Year.

Thank for reading my ramblings over the weeks, it is much appreciated,

love, Raven xxx

When the best lad plans go awol, again

 As in, I was all ready to write this week’s blog, when we were called unexpectedly, ‘down south’ to look after an almost three year old.

Exhausted is an understatement. It’s over thirty years since we had a three year old to contend with. By the time we got him into bed, I didn’t feel like food, drink and couldn’t even summons up the energy to have a shower. I fitted that in after the nursery run and before the washing, drying, hoovering, tidying…

Don’t get me wrong. It’s been great fun as well. Going on a Christmas light hunt.

 Making shopping lists in a new dinosaur notebook. Watching The Polar express umpteen times and not being able to get that blooming Ra Ra the Noisy Lion theme tune out of my head.

Making up Christmas stories about Santa and the reindeer and the Christmas Angel, and having to think up reasons to answer the ever asked ‘why’.

Thinking about a story of The Snowman and his Family. Then trying to remember it!

Realising we are going to be away from home for Christmas and all our presents aren’t with us, but we will have the bonus of spending time with ones we love.

Discovering that half the undies I’d shoved in the suitcase were the ones due to go into the rag pile. What a good excuse to go shopping.

And thinking well at least I can wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Plus, remind you to look out for the Christmas Angel who helps fix Santas Sleigh. (You’d need to have been there to know the story).

Thanks all for reading these blogs,

Love Raven xxx

Thanks for this that and a lot

I thought this week it was time to thank all those people who over my life have helped me (and maybe hindered but it all came right in the end) encouraged me and not actually influenced me per se, but shown me that sometimes there's more than one way to do something successfully. 

Not always a big thing, but something that helped. meant a lot, and stuck in my mind.

From being a child and learning adults can be bitchy (oh yes they can) but your parents understood and accepted what you said.

To a schoolfriend standing up to a bully, to giving you a cuddle when your boyfriend ditched you.

And as a grown up (if I ever really grew up... the jury is probably out on that one) being able to moan cuss, high five and talk things over with someone you trust not to share what's bugging you.

I've been lucky that way.

Especially when fourteen years ago I met a group of people who all wanted to write and yes of course be pyblished.

We all entered a competition, none of us won anything, but we formed a group to help and encourage each other. 

Take a bow The NutHouse Scribblers.

Gradually a fair few of us got published. Great rejoicing all round.

When I finished my first full m/s then my fellow scribblers helped me edit it, researched the best place to submit it to and yay, it was accepted.

There was a lot of celebrating for each and every one of us.

(Not just at New Year)

They helped me more than I reckon they ever knew.

As did my publisher and editors. The late lamented, Breathless Press gave me the determination to try various sub genres of romance and at various heat levels. And the sense that I could and should carry on writing. Not just for them, but to spread my wings.

Which I did.

On the way met a lot more of those amazing people I'm thanking, without mentioning any names. Because I'd be sure to forget someone important.

Thank you all xxx

I DID!

forget someone or some thing important...

Doris O'Connor and my lovely facebook group,

The Ravdor Chicks

Take A Bow

Thanks all of you for your help and support.

You see it's not always necessarily help in a big way. Although when people give up their time to read over something you've written and can point out your errors etcetera, check your knitting for dropped stitches and fix them, sort out a lock that's stuck, a leaking tap or welcome you to a village, club, society or whatever, it is so welcome!

Sometimes it's as little as one word. Good, or even nah. Or just the knowledge they know what you are going through. Plus, if they can't help you knowing someone who can.

Therefore to everyone who has helped me in my umpty-tiddly years on this earth, and of course to you my readers, both here and of my books. Without you, there would be no Raven McAllan, author. Or indeed, Kera Faire, Katy Lilley or for YA J. Lilley, so

thank you

Love Raven xx

 

When you look back and remember…

 Sundays of long—and not so long—ago.

I'm in a bit of a nostalgic mood today, not sure why,

I think it was listening to the Young Chorister of the Year competition on the radio that set me thinking.

Christmas is coming and all that. But memories weren’t just about the season.

They are Sunday School on a Sunday afternoon. The drunk who pressed a squashed bar of chocolate into my and my mate’s hands and how our parents told us to put it in the bin and gave us the do not talk to strangers chat. Actually we hadn’t, he’d just lurched in our direction, told us we were Bonnie Lassies and given us the chocolate bars.

Of no shops open in a Sunday, of moving to Scotland and finding shops were open, pubs shut at 9 ish and on a Sunday you could drink on a pub but not buy alcohol to take out.

I think a lot of these Sunday memories are because the news I thought I saw the other day was about one of the Scottish islands was only just about to get a Sunday service. (and I can’t now find that item saying which one)

It reminded me of what we didn’t and didn’t do.

Lots of reading, walks and picnics.

Sunday roast and the remains as cold meat or mince on a Tuesday.

I’m not saying it was better—or worse—than today. Just different.

Like getting a new Christmas jumper or a bonnet for Easter.

Happy reminiscing,

Love, Raven xxx

When it’s time to make another list

  Perhaps I should add NO just one list.

That says in big, bold letters—

JUST GET ON WITH IT!

Really, it should be enough. 

The trouble is, I am a list maker. If only I was a list follow-througher as well. It’s very easy to make them, but oh, boy, does it need an iron will to get on, do what’s listed and cross it off until the list is no more.

And I can say, without a word of a lie, I am not the best in the word at doing that.

Oh I can write the list, without any problems. 

Something like this.

Some of the things are more appealing than others.

 

I can soon cross off hunting out the new notebook, and deciding what’s for dinner. As in doing a rummage in the freezer.

Writing…Hmmm that’s not always so easy. Rereading?

Maybe. I need a coffee to do that

Ooops, forgot to add drink coffee to list. But then that’s a given.

The permanent marker? That’s not so easy. Where did I use it last?

Stamps. When I drive to the next village where I may or may not find a birthday card. 

Odd socks? Forget it. Not worth it. 

I never get them matched properly.

As for ironing?

That is always at the bottom of the queue.

After a blitz (or half a one) I end up with something like this…

How do you go about it all?

happy list making…oh, and afterwards I wrote 2k,

Love, Raven xxx

That mind gone blank moment

That’s me  today.

I had an idea for today’s blog. It was (I thought at the time—approx 2.15 am—) a good one. 

I had it all planned out. In my mind that is, sadly not here.

Because of course, when I woke up, I’d forgotten the lot.

Argh

That, once I’d stopped trying to remember what it was that I’d forgotten, made me smile, albeit wryly.

How many times have I—or you I imagine— thought of something, during the night, only to have forgotten what it was when you’ve woken up again. You know you did have an idea but not what it was.

So very frustrating.

And, what about thinking you need to do something, going to do it, can’t remember what it was and having to go back to where it was you thought of it, to then—sometimes—remember it again.

Unfortunately, I can’t go back two nights etcetera for the idea I had for this blog.

Hey ho.

My apologies for this non blog, blog. I’ll try to better next time.

Back to the wip. My heroine is about to get very annoyed and be extremely firm over her future.. In the best possible way.

Happy reading,

Love, Raven xxx

A wee trip down memory lane can be good for you?

 I’ve added the question mark because I have heard some heated argument over that statement.

Some agree it’s good to look back. Others are vehemently opposed to the idea, saying to look forward is the only way to go.

Me?

Well I would say I’m sitting on the fence, except that makes me think I sound as if I don’t have anny ideas on what is for my best, and it’s not like that.

For me, anyway, I think it’s best to do both, with a chunk of think about the now thrown in. 

I was looking through some old photos of places we’ve been to over the years, in various Novembers as well as other times.

Oh the happy memories.

Equally I’m enjoying the now, relishing in the fact that my knew knee is doing its job, our home is lovely and we have lots of great things, I hope, coming our way.

And giving thanks for what we have.

 

And on that note, I’ll head back to my WIP, a short story about a giraffe called Harold for a gorgeous 3 year old, and say, happy reading, take care, love Raven xxx