Walks on Dartmoor

Apologies for being away from the computer for a while. To start with I was experiencing a few issues with the speed of internet connection. In part I think it is my computer . . . I so need to upgrade! Anyway, as it has been half-term here I took the opportunity to get away for a few days . Hubs and I love to head off to Dartmoor to do some walking and just enjoy some peace and quiet. I think autumn is the perfect time to visit. The moor looks so beautiful carpeted in shades of browns and gold. I thought I'd share a few of my favourite photos here. 

First, stop was Scorhill Stone Circle near Gidleigh. We walked here from the cottage we rented for a few days. It was late afternoon and the sun was going down. It was very peaceful. A few cows wandered past but we just sat in the circle and enjoyed the view.

                                                                                   

Close to where we were staying was Fernworthy Resevoir. We have visited here before but decided to re-visit as we heard it was at it's lowest level for 40 years. The low water level revealed parts of  a bronze age settlement, stone circles and a bridge. It made for an interesting walk.

The colours of the trees around the reservoir were amazing too.

Another interesting bridge at Postbridge

Some of the wildlife we met while enjoying the scenery

Such a lovely few days . . . we could have stayed longer but we will certainly return.

       

Hi all, just a quick post to say I am having a few internet issues and therefore I might not be able to post or comment for a day or two until things are sorted. I have turned comments off here but will hopefully visit you soon.

Best wishes

Suzanne

Celebrate the small things

Time to remember the little things that made us smile this past week. As time seems to pass so very quickly I think it is important to stop and take a moment to reflect.

My first celebration hasn't actually happened yet but I am looking forward to it this Sunday so I think it still counts! I am going to see a live screening of the musical Miss Saigon in our local cinema. This is something that is becoming quite popular here  for 'one-off' shows. It's great for people who live too far away from the big theatres to see productions. I was lucky enough to go to see Miss Saigon in the West End many years ago and am excited to relive the magic.

I regularly join a group of friends at various local quizzes. Usually in pubs or for different local charities. It makes for a fun night out and we have had some success. Small cash prizes, bottles of this or that. Last year we saved all the money we won and put it to a Christmas night out and gave the remainder to the ongoing Christmas lights fund for our town. We have been doing the same this year and have in fact collected a goodly sum to do the same this year. Helped  by a rollover jackpot win this last week! See all those weird and wonderful facts that we store in our brains over the years can be put to good use. It has also given me an idea for a short story plot line!

What are you all celebrating? Have you had a good week?

Happy Friday

       

       Thanks to Lexa and her lovely co-hosts

            L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge 

     Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog

Insecure writer? Heck yeah!

Thanks to Alex J. Cavanaugh

And thanks also to this month's co-hosts Beverly Stowe McClure, Megan Morgan, Viola Fury, Madeline Mora-Summonte, Angela Wooldridge, and Susan Gourley

I'm definitely feeling insecure right now. About writing, about life, about pretty much everything! I think it's just a phase I'm going through (I hope it is!) and soon I'll haul myself over the crest of this wave of insecurity and find myself in a good place again. Don't you think that when you are feeling happy and positive about one area of your life it has a knock-on effect? So I guess the opposite is also true . . . when you are feeling despondent about something that feeling can rub off onto other things. Creatively I feel drained. I've got ideas and drafts I could be working on but I think I am procrastinating too much and that is not really like me! 

This month's IWSG questions is When do you know your story is ready?

I enjoy the editing process, for me this is when the story really takes shape, my characters develop and I get to know them inside out. So I would say it is the characters themselves that let me know they are ready to talk to someone else!