The Real Neat Blog Award
Posted on: April 16, 2018
- In: Awards
- 57 Comments
Thanks very much to Stevie Turner for nominating me for a ‘Real Neat Blog Award’! I’m honoured!
The rules of the ‘Real Neat Blog Award’ are as follows:
Put the award logo on your blog.
Answer 7 questions asked by the person who nominated you.
Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
Nominate any number of bloggers you like, and ask them 7 questions.
Let them know you have nominated them.
Stevie has asked me these 7 questions below:
1. If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?
To get a university degree. I know I have done just fine without one, but I always felt it was an experience I would have enjoyed.
2. Do you think we have been put upon this earth for a purpose? If so, what is it?
I think we have been put upon this earth to love one another. Too bad not everyone feels that way.
3. Do you think life was better before the Internet and explosion of social media sites?
No, I don’t. Life is always best, right now. I’m not one of those people who wish things were the same as before. I embrace change and use it to my advantage. Without social media, I would not have been able to move to Spain and be away from my family and friends. Also, the internet and social media helped me to become a published writer.
4. Which of your possessions can you not do without?
My computer. See answer to number 3.
5. What would be your dream job?
A tour guide. It would be fun to show people around interesting places.
6. If you won the lottery, what would you buy first?
A ticket to an around the world cruise.
7. Do you believe in an afterlife, or do we just die and that’s the end of it?
Yes, I do. I believe we will see our loved ones again in the afterlife.
So, now it’s my turn to nominate some people for ‘The Real Neat Blog Award’ and ask them 7 questions. Here goes – I’ve nominated these 6 amazing bloggers:
Here are your questions my friends, let’s have fun with this:
- What is your favourite season and why?
- If you were given a plane ticket to visit any place in the world, where would you go?
- What is your favourite savoury food? sweet food?
- If you could change your first name, what would it be?
- If you could be a character in a book, which one would you choose and why?
- What is your one guilty pleasure?
- If you could be any kitchen utensil, what would it be and why?
I can’t wait to hear your answers. xo
Smorgasbord New Series of Posts from Your Archives. – Visiting Jane Austen on a Motorbike by Darlene Foster
Posted on: April 11, 2018
- In: guest posts | Memories | Travel
- 23 Comments
Me being Jane Austen.
Sally has asked me to dig out an article from my archives about visiting Jane Austen’s cottage. Many of you are aware I am a Jane Austen fan, so this was an exciting occasion for me. If you would like to participate on Sally’s blog by sharing some of your travel themed posts, written before October 2017.. contact sally.cronin@moyhill.com
Time for a new series of Posts from Your Archives and the theme this time is all about travel.
The aim of this series is to showcase your blog and any creative work that you do from books, art, photography and crafts. You pick between one and four links to posts that you have written for your own blog since you began blogging up to October 2017 and you simply send the link to those blogs to sally.cronin@moyhill.com
You have to do nothing more as I will capture the post and images from your blog and I will then post with full copyright to you.. with your creative work and your links to buy and to connect. I might sometimes need a little more information but I am quite resourceful in finding out everything I need.
So far in the Posts from Your Archives from September 2017, there have been…
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FEMINIST FRIDAY 2018
Posted on: April 6, 2018
- In: Family | guest posts | History | Inspiration | Memories
- 19 Comments
I am honoured to have my story about my inspiring great-grandmothers featured on Bernadette’s blog. Some of you may have read it before but if you haven’t, please pop over and have a read and leave a comment if you wish.
“We can have feminist icons, but the real heroines are just quietly doing what is needed.” Osyth
The following post was written by Darlene Foster who writes at Darlenefoster.wordpress.com. It is the tale of her two great-grandmothers who made a fulfilling life for themselves and their families while enduring great hardships. What struck me about this story, of these two real heroines, was that Darlene said that because of the legacy of these women it has given her the confidence and courage to know that she can thrive under any circumstance.
A Tale of Two Katharinas, a Legacy of Strong Women
“People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors.” Edmund Burke
I was fortunate to know both of my maternal great-grandmothers. They passed away when I was in my early teens but I remember them well. They were formidable women with hearts of gold. One…
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- In: Books | guest posts | reviews
- 13 Comments
Delighted to see Amanda in New Mexico being featured on Wanda´s blog. Not only is Amanda travelling the world she is visiting many blogs!
Welcome everyone! Today, I’d like to introduce you to a world-traveling children’s author named Darlene Foster. You are going to love her and her books and I know your children will as well.
I’ll let Darlene tell you about her latest book, Amanda in New Mexico–Ghosts in The Wind, in her own words…
Amanda in New Mexico – Ghosts in the Wind by Darlene Foster
The questions most asked of authors is, where do you get your ideas. Well, I get most of mine from my travels. I visited Taos, New Mexico a few years ago and was so taken with the history and art found in this area. We visited the St. James Hotel in Cimarron, which is purported to be haunted. It felt pretty spooky to me! I kept saying to my travel companion, “This would be a great setting for an Amanda story.” The seeds were planted…
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Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives – Semana Santa: Easter in Spain by Darlene Foster
Posted on: April 1, 2018
- In: Events | guest posts | Spain
- 18 Comments
Happy Easter!! Here is an article I wrote on Easter in Spain from my archives. Sally has kindly featured it on her site. If you haven’t read it before, you might enjoy the celebrations of Semana Santa. Wishing everyone a wonderful day!
Darlene Foster shares a post from her archives that brought back memories for me of our seventeen years in Spain. Easter is a big festival and is an occasion for all the family to take to the streets.
Semana Santa: Easter in Spain by Darlene Foster
The week before and including Easter is called Semana Santa here in Spain and is the largest religious festival of the year. Elaborate processions take place throughout the week in most cities and towns. During Holy week religious sculptures are taken out of the churches and paraded through the town to the main cathedral. Some of these precious sculptures,created by well known Spanish artists, are hundreds of years old. They are mounted on floats called pasos, surrounded with flowers and candles. Portapasos (or float-carriers) wearing traditional costumes, carry the heavy floats through the streets lined with spectators. No large trucks transport these floats, only…
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- In: Books | guest posts | reviews
- 23 Comments
A fun chat with Linda on Linda’s Book Bag. Hop on over and say Hi!
Many moons ago when I had a career, one of my favourite roles was reading fiction aimed at 11-14 year olds and writing resources based on the books for classroom use for a large UK publisher. When I heard that Darlene Forster writes for a similar age group I just had to invite her to stay in with me and tell me about one of her books. Luckily she agreed to come!
If you’re an author who’d also like to stay in with me to tell me about one of your books, please click here for more details.
Staying in with Darlene Foster
Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag, Darlene. Thanks so much for staying in with me. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?
Thank you for inviting me over. It’s a perfect evening to talk about…
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A Trip Up Mount Tibidabo
Posted on: March 25, 2018
- In: Spain | Travel
- 64 Comments
There are just so many things to see and do in Barcelona that it’s impossible to see everything in one visit. Every time I go, I discover something new and exciting. I took my out-of-town guests to this fascinating city last summer where we visited Mount Tibidabo, the highest point in Barcelona, and loved it!
The charming blue tram
Getting there was part of the fun. We first took a bus, then a pleasant ride on a quaint blue tram with a friendly driver that took us through Barcelona’s most affluent residential area. The well-loved blue tram has been in operation since 1901 and still has that old world charm with dark wood seats and ceiling.
Beautiful homes from the window of the tram. Note the gorgeous wrought iron fence and gate.
The tram only took us halfway up the mountain. To reach the top we had to board a vintage funicular. We entered the colourful contraption with trepidation but decided that if it had been pulling folks up to the top of the mountain for 116 years, it must be OK.
Dubious funicular to the top of the mountain
Once safely delivered to the top of Mount Tibidabo, we were greeted by a classic amusement park built in 1889. Overlooking the vintage rides and fast food kiosks, the impressive Temple of Tibidabo built in 1902, stands proud. Also known as the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is adorned with a golden bronze statue of Jesus with outstretched arms as if giving a benediction to all of Barcelona.
We had a quick look at the old Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and other childhood rides but decided not to go on them. Our prime interest was the church.
The interior of the church was impressive with many works of art, murals, statues, mosaics and stained glass windows.
Many awesome icons inside the church including a Black Madonna and Child.
I loved the details like this iron door infront of a private chapel
Mosaic floor depicting the story of the loaves and fishes
An elevator took us up to the terrace offering amazing panoramic views of the city, port and coastline. As we walked around the entire circumference we enjoyed close-up views of large stone statues depicting the twelve Apostles posted at intervals, ornate bell towers and intricate carvings.
An ornate bell tower on the terrace
One of the twelve Apostles overlooking the city
Another apostle, with a fabulous view.
Stone stairs took us to more levels until we reached the top under the golden statue of Jesus. It was amazing. The wind blew, the sun shone and we were delighted to have had this experience.
We worked our way to the top via the spiral stone staircases.
More intriguing details. In the foreground is the top of a gate made to look like a flowering plant.
After enjoying a nice lunch, I had yummy deep-fried artichokes with aioli dip and an iced coffee, we bought a few souvenirs and took the funicular, tram, and bus trip back to our hotel in time for another exciting outing.
Visiting Mount Tibidabo with good friends made it all the more enjoyable!
