Day 185 - Paper lanterns and woven honeysuckle. xx

Thursday 4th July

Two birthdays to celebrate today.  The first is little Angus who you will remember is the hero of our Butterfly Tree fundraising campaign.  Angus lives on Arran and is 8 today.  Happy Birthday Angus.  George made his cake yesterday but I am still waiting for a picture to show you all.  Here, in Portsmouth, it is Megan's birthday and she is 15 years old.  I have known Megan her whole life and she is simply adorable.  She is a very talented artist and she has kindly let me photo some of her portfolio to share with you all on future posts.

I have been tidying up Donna's garden in anticipation of six teenagers having a birthday BBQ this evening.  Her garden is a typical terraced house garden laid to paving and decking.  They like their garden on the wild side so I just cut a few things back and pulled out most of the weeds.  They have a super honeysuckle just coming into flower and it is right next to their lovely table and chairs.  While midst tidying up I had the idea of extending the honeysuckle into the celebrations for this evening.  Cutting a couple of lengths I then wove in some flowering lavender before attaching the whole thing to the upright in the sun umbrella.  A couple of paper lanterns later and I was quite pleased with it.

However small your garden it is lovely to have a seating area that is a bit more intimate and private.  I can see Donna making good use of this area during the summer and if I lived here that is where I would write and sew.  All we need now is for it to stay dry.


My days in Portsmouth are coming to an end as I am on the early flight home on Saturday.  I do hope I have been of some use to lovely little family but only time will tell.  Pete seems to be doing an excellent job at home keeping all the troops on schedule and he even managed to create a large bouquet today for an order. Well done Pete.  I can't wait to see what is happening in my poly tunnel.  I am not usually away at this time of year as there is so much going on in the tunnel but I know it is in safe hands with my mother.  No doubt there will be lots to do when I am back on the island but I refuse to be overwhelmed by that.  It will just be lovely to be back home with my family and then I will take it from there.

I managed a skype call with Molly last night who is now settled in on the Isle of Eigg.  The view from her window would cause a fairly major 'stop and stare' moment let alone the rest of the island.  Molly has an amazing ability to settle in quickly wherever she goes and get on with her new routine.  She has a very long walk round most of the island yesterday and was then taken to see a Hen Harrier's nest which is, of course, a real privilege.  Molly tells me that she is a little overwhelmed at just how beautiful Eigg is so I am so looking forward to my trip.  She has warned me that it is a bit of a expedition to get there but I am quite sure it will be worth it.

Thank you once again to all of you who emailed me with the issues facing your children who are going through a transitional time in their lives.  My thoughts are beginning to come together on this and I will let you know how I get on with this later in the year.  My immediate focus is my trip to Eigg and a couple of other articles that I have promised and then the focus with shift to One soul many hearts for the remainder of the summer.

So, lots to do, but first it is a BBQ with teenagers to navigate through.  Wish me luck!

Until tomorrow.  xx

Day 184 - A mindful day. xx

Wednesday 3rd July

A warm but muggy day in Portsmouth and I had another day with Joshua.  So there was the obligatory visit to the park when we came across a dog walking group with about 30 dogs.  We spent ages deciding which were our favourites and one or two followed us so we nearly brought them home.  With the three dogs on Arran I think I have more than my fair share.  Joshua was delighted that he managed to beat his previous times on his obstacle challenges so we went off to get something lovely for lunch to celebrate. 

I have enjoyed my time with Joshua and I think I have helped me to prepare for secondary school and that should make his summer more enjoyable.  Today we did some simple mindfulness training which Joshua got very easily.  He has a good mind which is agile and alert but sometimes it works against him.  He can turn the smallest problem into the biggest mountain to climb in an instant.  Mindfulness training is all about understanding your mind and working with it to distance yourself from anxiety and stress.  I do think that modern youth have far too much stress placed on them so I am a big fan of anything that will ease that.  Joshua may not speak the language of mindfulness but he understands it perfectly and that is an important first step.  The hope is that we can lay down some effective mindfulness practice that can become habitual for life.  That way he will be able to navigate his way through whatever life throws at him. 

Like all 11 year olds he has a way to go but he has made an excellent start.  Working with Joshua this week has taken me all the way back to my teaching career.  My job was to prepare top primary children for secondary school and I have been amazed how easily it has all come back to me.  That said, my work with Joshua has been a blend of that and my mindfulness teaching which is a feature of my current work. 

I was hoping to leave Donna and Joshua with some exercises to do once I have returned to the island.  Sadly, despite a great deal of searching I have found nothing suitable that I could recommend.  I spoke to Joshua about it and have agreed to send him some things via email but it occurs to me that these exercises might of use to any child going through a challenging time and in need of some support.  Transition times for children are always challenging and, as parents, we do all we can to support them.  But we all know that, ultimately, we can't go through the transition for them.  What I propose here is a collection of well selected exercises written in language that the child can access.  This would provide the child with an important tool in his kit as he navigates the transition and moves into the new stage of his life.  I have some Scottish island mum pondering to do on this but if any of you have children struggling with a transitional stage in their life and you have thoughts do share.  I would love to hear what you see as the main issues as I could take this into an exercise of matching with the most appropriate mindfulness training.  If it helps the children it will be a very worthwhile task. 

I am currently working through a number of short courses on line where I purchase the pdf and then work through it at my own pace.  It is a good way of using technology to get some great teachings out to as many people who want them.  The pdfs are not expensive but I have a super collection stored on my ibooks shelf and I can reference them as necessary.  Perhaps this would be a way forward for this project?

It has been a day for mindfulness as I am working on my month two of my meditation through writing course which is delivered online and face to face.  The theme for the next month is silence and stillness; two things that are very challenging.  The meditation and writing exercises are designed to work with the constituent parts necessary to create a still and silent space.  Working with the internal mind and the external environment the intention is to train the mind to be able to move between the two and even, at its best, swap them round.  I don't deny the challenge of this collection of exercises but, with practice, the rewards are incredible.  We can not expect to move through life without anxiety and stress.  However, mindfulness meditation and associated journaling can teach you to keep the anxiety and stress at arms length and not to allow them to overwhelm you.  Our mind and body quickly become contorted with anxiety and stress and we hold onto them in a deep and damaging way. 

My mindfulness training has allowed me to navigate life in a far more measured and uplifting manner and I can't imagine not using it on a daily basis.  To learn to live in the moment rather than in the future or dwelling on the past is one of the outcomes of good mindfulness training.  When this is part of your daily journey the simplest activity can sprout wings and feel truly amazing.  I very much hope that the students moving into month two will benefit from these teaching and be able to absorb some of them into their daily lives. 

So, much of the day has been spent in this context one way or another and, as always, it helps to move my practice on.  I am aware that on the island George is working on his first celebration cake order complete with icing piping!  I am also aware that we have received an order for a large bouquet of flowers presented in a living vase and Pete is giving it a go......good for him.  You know I will be on the phone later checking that my men are OK.  Meanwhile I get a media text from Molly with a view that ends all views.  I can not think that a month on the beautiful Isle of Eigg will not change her in some way.  What a wonderful opportunity for her to let the natural environment speak to her over and over again.  I hope she will find some time to blog and then I can share it all with you. 

Speaking of living in the moment Andy Murray is on court......

Until tomorrow. xx

Day 183 - It is all in the strawberry jam. xx

Tuesday 2nd July

There are good days and then there are very good days and today was a very good day.  I have spent it with a very dear friend, Di, who I had not actually seen for 13 years!  Shocking.  For various reasons our paths failed to cross although we always kept in contact at Christmas and the like.  When Arran lost all its power earlier in the year Di went online to catch up with the news and stumbled across Scottish island mum with the response 'I know that woman!' 

Di is now one of my most diligent tulle butterfly makers and we chat all the time online.  Today she drove to Portsmouth and we had lunch etc.  The 13 years melted away in a second and it was one of the most uplifting moments of my entire life.  Back in the day Di and I were very close and I don't think that closeness ever leaves you.  So, now we are back on track and I could not be more thrilled. 

The plan was to have coffee and shop but we got a bit stuck chatting because we had 13 years to catch up on.  That is completely fine because we will shop next time.  Our paths, I feel, are about to run side by side now as Di is going to do some writing for One soul many hearts.  There is a lot of humour in 'Di land' and I have persuaded her to share it with us.  Something tells me that there are some very good times ahead.  My time with Di today was off the back of all your amazing feedback to the questions I raised in yesterdays post.  It felt very good to have some time to discuss that with Di as I would instinctively trust her judgement.  More than that though, I quickly realised that we were in alignment in our thinking about the future direction of Scottish island mum and also One soul many hearts.  Over the years I have learnt to trust my instincts and rarely deviate from them.  My instincts tell me that Di will, in time, play a major part in the development of One soul many hearts.  Watch that space.

Speaking of space watching I have now set up the facebook page for One soul many hearts so do pop over and hit the like button.  That way you will be the first to hear of all the steps between now and the launch of the new website in October.  The facebook page allows for continual communication and I will be posting opportunities on there for people to get involved. 

I promised some thoughts on your feedback on the future direction of Scottish island mum.  As you might imagine there is now a lot of buzz surrounding the site following the article in the Sunday Post last weekend.  I have had hundreds of emails and can now group them in my mind.  There are lots from fellow bloggers asking me to look at their sites and advising them how to generate more interest.  A little bonkers, I feel.  Then there are a whole bunch that have asked questions about our lives on the island.  These tend to be from people who want to step off the rat race a little.  The final group are from people who want to involve Scottish island mum in their projects or offers to help move this little blog in a new direction. 

In yesterdays post I deliberately created a final bunch of emails by asking you guys what you thought about the recent developments and what that might mean for the future of Scottish island mum.  Last night and this morning was spent replying to all of you who messaged me.  In the end the obvious answer placed itself in the front of my mind.  I was in the middle of a response when I suddenly realised that, by the time I get home on Saturday, I will be in the right time to make strawberry jam with the glut of the harvest.  The thought then shoved everything else out of the way as I realised that my instincts were kicking in.  Scottish island mum is a year long project that aims to reflect on my life as a mum of four beautiful children living on the Isle of Arran.  It is no more or less than that and that is how it will stay. 

The feedback from you guys was pretty split down the middle.  There were those that wanted to stay focused on what it is and has always been and those that want it to turn into something else in due course.  I can see both points of view and, indeed, value both.  But, for me, one comes before the other.  Scottish island mum must run its year as that is integral to the project.  Only at that stage can thoughts turn to what next.  So my concession to all the fuss out there is that I will consider the option of turning Scottish island mum into a book or the like but only after the 31st December. 

Many of you asked what will happen on the 31st December.  Some of you showed real concern by the thought that it will just suddenly stop.  I share your concern because I might be a bit lost!  I have a strong commitment to One soul many hearts and I know that will take up a lot of my time but that is a space for sharing.  Essentially (apart from the odd guest post) Scottish island mum is my space so a very different project.  The honest answer would be to say that I don't know what will happen on the 31st December.  Time will tell me thinks. 

I am now beginning to turn my head towards Arran again and thinking though what needs to be done on my return.  The answer to that would be 'lots'.  I am assured that strawberries and sweet peas are being harvested daily and the plants are well watered.  My mother is keeping an eye on proceedings.  I have several courses in the diary for the following week but two tennis finals to watch with George first.  I have my kitten to make friends with again and my children to hug and I think I owe Pete a meal out to thank him for holding the fort so well.  And, of course, I have this years batch of strawberry jam to make.  My most regular of readers will know that I am also going to try drying slices of strawberries for very welcome treats.  I have not done this before so if any of you have managed it successful do please message me with advice.  See, nothing has changed with Scottish island mum so look out for the recipe sometime next week.

Until tomorrow.  xx

Day 182 - A time of transition. xx

Monday 1st July

Donna and I have had a gentle day which began with coffee and cake as all good days should.  To me the shopping options in Portsmouth seem endless and the city has a lovely range of independent shops.  It also has an enormous amount of charity shops and this family are seasoned shoppers in these venues. 

By contrast, there are limited shopping options on the island and only one charity shop.  I shop locally on the island to ensure that I am supporting the local economy.  In my view the island should be following the examples set by Totnes and Bristol and creating its own currency.  We need to find ways of keeping the money on the island and this is one way that could work.

My head is in a slight spin as the dust settles after Scottish island mum appearing in the national newspaper yesterday.  I spent all evening responding to emails containing lots of interesting questions.  I also contemplated two offers from islanders living in different Scottish islands to visit and write about their communities.  I feel very strongly that I need to take some time to decide what to do next and how to respond to the various requests coming in.  Before Scottish island mum started swimming with the big fish I was very clear where I was going with it.  I am always open to a rethink but the integrity of the project must remain in tact. 

I am back to my delicate tissue paper wrapping it up and keeping it safe.  As we move into the month of July we have tipped into the second half of the year so it is, perhaps, a good time to take stock.  With that in mind I can't help wondering what some of you are making of all this interest in Scottish island mum?  If you are a regular reader I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts and impressions.  By definition, you have invested in this little piece of the virtual world so you have a right to a view and I would be hugely grateful to receive it. 

As a community we are far more than the sum of its parts and we have a growing voice which we may want to consider with care.  We have established a rich and on going dialogue which allows the story to unfold in small, but perfectly formed chapters.  Project by project we are finding new ways to make a difference and share thoughts and perspective on a challenging world.  This might have begun its life on a small Scottish island but it sprouted wings many moons ago.  In responding to the many emails every day I then give myself the next day to make sense of what I have been offered.  I then weave much of that into my thinking and subsequent writing.  I obviously respond to my day as a main feature of the daily blog but it has somehow moved beyond that. 

You might be interested in the fact that since I began this project 22 other people that I have met along the way have now set up their own blogs.  I have been able to offer advice where asked and watch their blog voice become established and that has to be an absolute privilege.  I don't want to decide in July what to do with Scottish island mum in December because that misses the point of the project.  That said, it would be interesting to have thoughts.  Do message me anytime.  Many thanks.

With Donna's son Joshua moving to secondary school I have been transported back to my teaching career where it was my job to prepare the children at the top of the primary school for this new challenge.  Joshua has returned from his taster day at the 'big' school full of promise and energy which is a joy to see.  In essence it means the secondary school has done a good job.  But the work begins much earlier than that as the children enter their final year at primary.  There is a lot of growing up to be done and quick quickly; it is an important transition in life. 

Transitions are interesting and engaging places to be and the work that I have been doing with Waverly Fitzgerald has taught me a great deal.  I am currently locked into two transitions in my life.  The first is purely hormonal as this 'woman of a certain age' crashes towards her menopause.  I decided a long time ago to do this naturally and thus set myself quite a challenge.  As I enter the final straight I am glad that I took this course because I can feel a calmness about myself and a growing sense of 'me'.  I am quite happy with where I am and where I am going.  Waverly writes very well on this subject in her book Slow Time and she convinced me that I could let Mother Nature lead. 

The other transition relates to my children as they are all growing up and away.  Molly has already left the nest and as I type is on her way to the Isle of Eigg to take up her post of assistant warden for a month.  Harry is not far behind her as he gentles lifts his wings to check they work.  George and Max are a little further behind but it won't be long before I am talking about them as I have about their older siblings.  I would be the first to admit that I struggled when Molly went to university but at the end of her second year I have adjusted and, I think, quite well.  I was always determined that my children must feel free to spread their wings and fledge in the knowledge that I am always there if they need me.  Alongside that I wanted to concentrate on how to make the most of this time for me.  Home school has demanded many, many hours of commitment but when that comes  to and end I will have that time to do other things.

And this is what placed me neatly on this writing journey and I will be forever grateful that the idea dropped into my mind.  When much more experienced writers tell you that you should be thinking about a book you should show that advice some respect.  On the other hand when other islanders send heart felt messages asking for my help I need to listen to them as well. 

Answers on a postcard please...

Until tomorrow.  xx


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