Eyes Crossed and Mind Boggled.

It has been a weird week, full of annoying little hiccups and problems and I'm so very glad it's Friday.

Let me explain.

Finally, after months of returning headaches, I, with the help of a very dear friend, went to an optician's to test my eyeballs and sort new glasses. This has been a long time coming as I had to wait to get immigration and then get my health card and then, finally, for my hubby to cover me with his work insurance to get new glasses. The prognosis is good, and although new glasses are needed (no surprise there) only the right eye has changed, hence the headaches. Needless to say, I will be very happy to pick up the new glasses next week, and as an added bonus I got two pairs for the price of one and will have the new prescription in a pair of sunglasses too. Yay!

This week has also been the week I need to compile the quarterly accounts for my publishing business, Wyrdwood Publications, and as I created my own database for sales and royalties, you would think it would be a simple procedure, but oh no, let's not be silly. As this is the first quarter of the new year, I had to make some internal changes to show just this year's sales and, as in all things annoying, it wouldn't work properly, of course. I spent several hours more than I wished to straighten it all out and make it work in the end.

If you think that is quite enough of a brain strain for one week, now add to the mix a brand new accounting system, which I've begun with the start of this financial year. This is different to the database above and concerns the usual financial stuff, income, expenses and so forth. I will also be working on it once every quarter to coincided with the royalties side. Now this new program works well, but, of course, as with any new program, one has a learning curve and I've had to read manuals and watch videos on how to use it. The new system is performing well, and for those of you interested, it is a double entry accounting package called Gnucash and the best news? It's absolutely free!

Anyhoo, all of this has contributed to a week where my eyes have been crossed and my mind boggled. Needless to say, I'm so glad the weekend is almost here. :)

A Small Piece of Immortality

 (This is one of the many images you get when you type 

'a piece of immortality' into Google, but you get the idea.) 

I love the idea of immortality. I think I'm overly nosey and want to see how everything 'turns out' during future millennia. 

Now, I understand that without some intervention, like suddenly becoming an immortal and wandering around with a big sword saying 'There can be only one!', I'm not likely to see what happens after my normal lifespan ends, however, I can secretly dream and hope. Can't I?

There are, of course, several ways to elongate the remembrance of one's life, for example writing, creating art and doing good deeds etc. Hmm...perhaps this is why I write...huh. Anyhoo, this post is not about me, it's about a close friend who has just received a small piece of immortality and well, 'tis rather cool into the bargain.

I love it when cool things happen to my friends, I get so pleased for them and I really enjoy seeing them happy. However, there is no point in me repeating the story when his wife blogged about it...so I'll just let you read her blog: Geeky Godmother.

Now off you go and enjoy!

Be free my pretty...

On November 3rd, my book 'The Witchlets of Witches Brew' was set free upon the world, I have to say it's been selling rather well and lots of trees are being planted in deforested areas of the world. One is planted for each copy sold. :)

This book contains nine short stories, kind of modern day Pagan morality tales based on the Nine Noble Virtues, eight seasonal celebrations and one Blue Moon celebration. More importantly, the tales are about deep changes in the lives of nine young ladies and their families over the span of a year in the village of Brew.

Here is a synopsis of each of the tales:

    *  Holly the Hasty Witch ~ Holly is always in a rush, never stopping to complete a task and often forgetting to fulfil her promises. This tale is about the virtue of Integrity, keeping ones word and is set at Yule.

    *  Birch the Selfish Witch ~ Birch dislikes having a new step-dad and a new brother or sister on the way. This tale is about the virtue of Fidelity, the birth of a child and is set at Imbolc.

    *  Ash the Solitary Witch ~ Ash is a single child of a family who moves to Brew. This tale is about the virtue of Perseverance, being brave enough to make friends and is set at the Spring Equinox.

    *  Willow the Lonely Witch ~ Willow feels very alone when she hears life changing news about her mum’s relationship with her girlfriend. This tale is about the virtue of Courage, same sex parents and is set at Beltane.

    *  Ivy the Stubborn Witch ~ Ivy hates summer for many reasons but most of all because her cousin, Honey, comes to stay with her family for a month. This tale is about the virtue of Hospitality, sharing and is set at the Summer Solstice.

    *  Rowan the Hungry Witch ~ Rowan is always hungry, no matter what or how much she eats. This tale is about the virtue of Industriousness, helping someone less fortunate and is set at Lughnasadh.

    *  Hazel the Unwise Witch ~ Hazel is a fun loving girl who doesn’t understand the consequences of rash decisions. This tale is about the virtue of Discipline, personal responsibility and is set during the Autumn Equinox.

    *  Yew the Bored Witch ~ Yew has been brought up by her loving, and somewhat over protective, Grandma. This tale is about the virtue of Self-reliance, helping around the home and is set at Samhain.

Also included is the previously unpublished tale:

     *  Plum the Cautious Witch ~ Plum has been bullied for an entire year but has kept it a secret. After she moves to Brew, she becomes overly cautious with others. This tale is about the virtue of Honour, standing up for oneself and is set at a Blue Moon.

My book is available on my website, via my publisher or on Amazon (below) where I have just received my first 5-Star review. Yay! (This book is also available in PDF and for other e-readers, go to my website for the different formats.)


Please help me to spread the word and don't forget, for every copy sold a tree is planted.

The Collection

At last and a little sadly, this journey is coming to an end.

I am, of course, referring to the journey of 'The Witchlets of Witches Brew' series. I have been writing these short stories for the last few years and on November 3rd 2012 they will be released in a single volume along with a previously unpublished tale.

Although I am excited about the release, it also seems odd to be letting go of the world I created. It's almost as if it's been escaping bit by bit, like sand through my fingers, each time a single tale was published but now having them all published together, including the ninth tale, seems so final. I think I shall miss the characters and the village of Brew, they have all come from deep inside me and been a part of my life for so long. It almost feels like when my daughter moved out of home, the happy sadness of letting go. Sounds a bit corny I know, but as any writer will tell you, whatever you create remains part of you, even when it's out of your hands.

If you want to know more about the Witchlets and the interesting premise behind the series, you can read all about it here.

Remember, 'The Witchlets of Witches Brew ~ A Collection of Tales' is available from my website or my publisher from the 3rd November. Also, a tree will be planted, in a deforested area of the world, for every copy sold! How awesome is that?

Perhaps I'll visit them again one day but in the meantime, I shall enjoy the process of my imagination being turned into tales I can share. :)

A Useful Banana!

Okay, when I first read about this online I thought, 'yeah, right!'. What am I doubting you wonder?

Bananas and their superpowers... for teeth!

Yup, you heard right.

If you are like me you love bananas, I particularly like them sliced for breakfast with natural yogurt on...yum!

Then I read about how the black spots on a ripe banana means that there are a lot more of the natural cancer fighting chemicals in the fruit and you should definitely eat the spotted ones and not the under ripe ones. Good news! When they're spotted they are often on cheap at the supermarkets. Bonus! I got twelve black spotted organic bananas for $2...a cheap and tasty way to fight cancer, is it not?

But, teeth?!

Recently, I read another article about this wondrous fruit and how it can whiten your teeth...yup, you read that right, they can whiten your teeth. This is where I scoffed and said 'yeah, right!'

So yesterday I was having the sliced banana and yogurt for breakfast and found myself looking at the skin in my hand and thought 'Oh, what the heck. I'll have a go'. Off I toddled to the bathroom, banana skin in hand and followed the simple instructions below:

1. Brush your teeth as usual or you can use the banana peel first and then brush.
2. Using a ripe (black spotted) banana, take a piece of the banana peel and using the inside, gently rub on your teeth for about 2 minutes. Apparently, the awesome minerals in the peel like potassium, magnesium and manganese will absorb into your teeth and whiten them
3. Repeat as necessary (daily or twice daily) until your teeth are as white as you desire.

Although, I don't have any before and after images for you, I can honestly say my teeth are a lot whiter after only doing this twice. It's truly amazing and much cheaper and healthier than using tooth whiteners, which are expensive and full of nasty chemicals, which is why I have never bought them.

Yay for the superpowers of bananas! :)