2021 inspiring art Fleur Barnfather
New year, new stationery

New year, new stationery

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As a writer, new stationery is always welcome. As much as possible, I like to buy sustainable stationery, dairies and notebooks that either support charities, local artisans or are eco-friendly and Fairtrade. Surprisingly, this is often inexpensive and can be much better value than buying mainstream. Living vibrantly calendar This year, I decided to kick-start the year with a beautifully painted calendar by Bristol-based artist, Fleur Barnfather. Each month comes with a stunning copy of one of Fleur’s paintings, an…

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Writing for wellbeing A notebook outdoors with the a view of the sea in the background
Morning writing; setting yourself up for a great day

Morning writing; setting yourself up for a great day

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Over the past year, I’ve been experimenting with morning writing. While it’s not my first attempt at writing early in the morning, I have noticed that my morning writing has taken a different course. Therapeutic writing In the past I have used free flow or unconscious writing as a technique to 1) rant and get rid of stress and negative emotions without upsetting anyone else 2) to clarify my thoughts when I have needed to make an important decision Some…

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tents in a field
Eco-camping in Devon; a weekend at an eco-campsite

Eco-camping in Devon; a weekend at an eco-campsite

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A weekend at an eco-camping retreat This summer I went to Tiverton for a weekend of eco-camping in Devon at Coombe Farm. Never having visited an eco-camping retreat in the UK before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Narrow country lanes led us to the entrance of Combe Farm and a spectacular view across the countryside. From there, a steep hill took us down to a parking area where we were able to park and forget about the car for…

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Local writers
Why I love using Local Writers and Bloggers to Emphasise Learning Points

Why I love using Local Writers and Bloggers to Emphasise Learning Points

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Like many other areas, Bristol is blessed with lots of talented and competent writers to choose from. So, this week to inspire participants on the Develop Your Writing Skills course, we looked at blogging techniques through the work of local bloggers, writers and authors in Bristol. The learning The learning outcome for this session was to identify different types of blog posts and articles as part of the overall outcome of writing one. Explaining to participants how to write different…

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a beach on the Costa de la Luz
Costa de La Luz; Laid-back luxury in Los Caños de Meca

Costa de La Luz; Laid-back luxury in Los Caños de Meca

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Los Caños de Meca Picture a Mediterranean pine forest, a clear blue sky and a long, sandy beach.  A laid-back type of place where you don’t have to worry much about anything. Welcome to Los Caños de Meca, one of the hidden gems on the Costa de La Luz. Wild coastline Called ‘Los Caños’ for short, this small coastal village is a not far from Tarifa. Off the beaten track, it’s a one road hamlet with a wild unspoilt coastline…

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Spanish Recipes: Torrijas
Easter in Spain: How to make Torrijas with Meloja – Eggy bread and syrup

Easter in Spain: How to make Torrijas with Meloja – Eggy bread and syrup

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Easter traditions I first included this recipe for Torrijas – a sweet version of French toast or eggy-bread – in an article about Easter traditions in Spain. To read the whole article click here. To make your own torrijas follow this easy recipe and invite your friends and family round to enjoy a Spanish-style Easter treat. How to make Torrijas I’ve been told the trick is to use day old bread and whole milk. In Chipiona (in the province of…

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from me to you
From Me to You – letter writing with a difference

From Me to You – letter writing with a difference

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Alison and Brian, the facilitators for the workshop From Me to You, got stuck in Bristol’s infamous traffic congestion on the way to the venue. While that may have sent many in to states of anger, impatience or nerves, Alison and Brian arrived with an air of serenity about them that made it difficult to believe they had actually crossed Bristol in rush hour. I was struck by the aura of contentment and peacefulness that surrounded them throughout the workshop….

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branding tools
Writing tips: Freedom, Vanilla, Customers and Story: 4 things that changed my perspective on branding for my blog

Writing tips: Freedom, Vanilla, Customers and Story: 4 things that changed my perspective on branding for my blog

  Over the last few years, whilst being self-employed, I have struggled with building a client profile and in the process, I’ve become allergic to the word “niche”. I don’t know how many times I’ve wished it would go out of fashion. It’s not that I don’t understand the concepts. I totally get it. As a teacher, I specialised in my subjects with learners coming to me to gain the skills required to pass specific examinations. I just couldn’t apply…

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Three key ingredients for a feel-good organic tapas breakfast or brunch at Beets n Roots, Bristol

Three key ingredients for a feel-good organic tapas breakfast or brunch at Beets n Roots, Bristol

What is a Beets n Roots breakfast? I was really excited to be invited for breakfast at Beets n Roots with the Bristol Bloggers and Influencers group. I’m a great fan of eating chemical-free food, so a visit to a café that’s organic for one of my favourite meals of the day promised to be a real treat. After a bit of research I discovered that Beets n Roots is a vegetarian and vegan café. I wasn’t really sure what…

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Paella: A Taste of Spain at the South Glos Food and Drink Festival

Paella: A Taste of Spain at the South Glos Food and Drink Festival

Elena’s Paella  Having not eaten paella for a while, I was really pleased to discover Ele’s Little Kitchen at the first ever South Glos Food and Drink Festival this weekend. Ele – short for Elena- is from Murcia in Spain and uses authentic Spanish ingredients such as pimentón (paprika)in her paella. I was hoping to try the seafood version, but unfortunately, it had all sold out. So, I ordered the chicken one and watched Elena cooking it in the sunshine….

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