Hawick - Young at Heart

It all started with a the search for the historic Hawick Library building, built by Andrew Carnaigie. Parking sorted, I got myself ready and chatted to event organiser, Cameron McAulay. As usual the kids were fantastic and asked some brilliant questions. They also came up with some great ideas and suggestions for their own stories. – “I just wanted to thank you again for your very insightful and enthusiastic workshop with the pupils from Wilton Primary School this morning. I am positive all the kids went away with a whetted appetite for reading but even more so for writing. The drawing exercise made them feel part of the book writing process (beware BEWUL) and it helped stoke their imagination. I won’t hesitate to recommend your name for future visits and I wish you luck with the publication of the final book in the Denthan Series.”- C McAulay – Young People’s Services. Couldn't ask for much more than that. It’s great to get positive feedback, and when people ask “what age group is the Denthan series aimed at?”, I always say 9-90. Today I got another pile of lovely letters and drawings from Stoneywood Primary School in Aberdeen – Part of the Arts Across Learning Festival). I also received a fantastic email regarding a senior citizen that read – “Hi Sam, I thought you might like to know that my 85 year-old Mum has just finished THE MAGIC SCALES and has sat engrossed for 48 hours. She has just asked me to order vols. 2 and 3 on Amazon. My daughter and I heard you talk & read at the canal centre in Linlithgow (I was also there as an author.) My daughter then bought me a copy of THE MAGIC SCALES for Xmas but Mum has got around to reading it before me.” - Linda Gillard. http://www.lindagillard.co.uk/
All fantastic stuff.
See the website for the children’s drawings, letters and stories.
http://www.sam-wilding.com/
Oh! Finally I finally finished Return to Denthan…

Going Home

Hardly on the same level, but I now know how Palin feels when a ferry doesn't turn up or a plane is missed. My plans are foiled and I will have to travel home via Uig and Eilean Donan castle. After the full Monty at the Polochar Inn, I say my goodbyes and head north to Lochmaddy. I pass Whooper Swans upturned in still, frozen lochens. Some of them look as if they've been frozen in the act of tipping; their bums jutting from the surface like fluffy icebergs. It's like a summer's day at Lochmaddy. The sea is like glass and I wander round the ferry terminal making sure that I have at least some of my descriptions right in the book I'm working on. I decide to keep my imaginary bus stop in place rather than plump for reality.

On the ferry, I sunbathe on deck as we pull out of the harbour. It's so nice that I wonder about sun tan lotion etc. A foriegn couple have a good laugh at my expense as I try, in vain, to balance my thin camera on my bag and push the timer at the same time. They eventually show some mercy, stepping in to take my pic. I write a few chapters on the smooth crossing and wiz off the boat at Uig. Between Uig and Portree I catch a glimpse of some really massive wind turbines on the horizon. This is why I'm writing the new book. It's a stark reminder of the duality, the conflict, the good and the bad. They cut an ugly swathe on the mountain-top but, on the other hand, there's something imposing and majestic in the way they move.

Moving down the west coast via Fort William and Glen Coe, I eventually chat to my old-time bass player Jim as I journey down the side of Loch Lomond. Home is only a few miles away now. I've missed the family, Betsy and all.

Still laid up... plus chicken and chilli

Got my blood results back... mmm... Too much bad fat so... I'm going to keep to a more healthy diet. You see, you get good fat and bad fat, and at the moment my bad fat is winning 4:1. Not good. So the good fats like - olive oil, fish oil etc have to replace chocolate, chips and butter. Not that I thought I over indulged too much, but I was reminded that I do have the odd binge on Ferrero Rocher and Thornton's Aplini.

Getting hungry again, so here's another one of my recipes... Quick, easy and healthy.

Chicken and Chilli Soup

1 x cup of chicken bits (cooked)
I x leek (chopped and washed)
1 x pint of water
Chilli seeds (pinch)
teaspoon of tumeric
1 x Chicken stock cube

Put a little olive oil in pan
add leeks, tumeric, chilli and stock cube
mix round with wooden spatula
add chicken bits
add water and bring to boil.
reduce heat and let simmer for ten minutes.

Serve in nice wee white bowls with chinese spoons

Job Done!

Feeling better already.