June Moonbridge's Blog, page 11
September 15, 2016
Romantic Novelists' Association Blog: June Moonbridge: When you love what you do…
Today you can read all about how things can be done if...
Romantic Novelists' Association Blog: June Moonbridge: When you love what you do…:
Welcome to June Moonbridge who tells us how she fits her writing into her life and what works for her. It came to me one day. The desire to sit down and write again came to me so powerfully that I was just unable to ignore it... It was the time when I finally made up my mind and decided to try and write my next novel...
For more, head on to the Romantic Novelists' Association Blog.
Amazon.co.uk: All That the Heart Desires Amazon.com: All That the Heart Desires
Romantic Novelists' Association Blog: June Moonbridge: When you love what you do…:
Welcome to June Moonbridge who tells us how she fits her writing into her life and what works for her. It came to me one day. The desire to sit down and write again came to me so powerfully that I was just unable to ignore it... It was the time when I finally made up my mind and decided to try and write my next novel...
For more, head on to the Romantic Novelists' Association Blog.
Amazon.co.uk: All That the Heart Desires Amazon.com: All That the Heart Desires
September 9, 2016
Holiday 2016 ~ going West
The next day we continued our journey to the west of Wales. South West I think is the right term.
Unfortunately we were too early in the morning to visit Carreg Cennen Castle . But at least we were able to take photos from the far end, where the visitors were to park.
While continuing - a bit disappointed - on our way, we 'accidentally' drove through
Carmarthen
. We stopped and realised we were in Wales' oldest town.
Taking the time to explore it, we found out that it goes back to the Arthurian times - allegedly Merlin himself was born in a cave outside of the town.
Leaving the town we headed forward to visit and see another castle on our way. I think by now you already realised we are very fond of visiting old places and buildings; castles are no exception.
Our next stop was Kidwelly Castle . Another beautiful place we weren't sorry to visit.
Leaving that lovely place behind, I knew on my next stop - my research finally begins...
Copyright Notice:
All the photos in this blog post are taken by me or my family. Without the permission of me (my family) no use or reproduction of this photos can be made.
Unfortunately we were too early in the morning to visit Carreg Cennen Castle . But at least we were able to take photos from the far end, where the visitors were to park.
While continuing - a bit disappointed - on our way, we 'accidentally' drove through
Carmarthen
. We stopped and realised we were in Wales' oldest town.
Taking the time to explore it, we found out that it goes back to the Arthurian times - allegedly Merlin himself was born in a cave outside of the town.
Leaving the town we headed forward to visit and see another castle on our way. I think by now you already realised we are very fond of visiting old places and buildings; castles are no exception.
Our next stop was Kidwelly Castle . Another beautiful place we weren't sorry to visit.
Leaving that lovely place behind, I knew on my next stop - my research finally begins...
Copyright Notice:
All the photos in this blog post are taken by me or my family. Without the permission of me (my family) no use or reproduction of this photos can be made.
September 4, 2016
Holiday 2016 ~ Lizzie's moment
Leaving Caerphilly and the dragon, we followed our route and our next stop was at Port Talbot. You're probably questioning yourself why and if I told you the truth why I had chosen Port Talbot for our next sleep over... well, it has to do something connected with my work and that's all I'm going to say about it.
Seeing what we wanted to see - until the night fall, we wondered what to do next and although I knew that very close to Port Talbot is settled another great estate, I didn't mention this to my OH.
But then back in our hotel room, he found it on the internet. Of course I jumped at the proposal that we go and visit the place. Although it was quite late in the afternoon, we still managed to scoot around it.
Coming in at the entrance, the first thing that caught my interest were the Orangery and the ruins of a chapel or church close by.
I like the ancient places so of course I just had to enter it and my daughter followed. After coming out we realised that my OH took our son and walked around the park keeping to the gravel paths, where there were no steps. OH simply hates them.
And then it happened - my Lizzie's moment. You know - from Pride and Prejudice? To tell the truth. I love Pride and Prejudice. The book, the series - especially BBC's 1995 one, the movies. Although the 'lake scene' is/was memorable, the one I just couldn't thought it might ring true was the scene when Lizzie sees Pemberly for the fist time. You know, this one.Watch only the beginning - about 18 sec.:
Yes, exactly this happened to me, when I came out of the ruins. I looked up and followed the path straight on. The path my OH and son didn't take… and I saw this!
I stood there and I just couldn't stop a laugh from escaping. Loud. The only thing different was; I couldn't stop so quickly as Lizzie did and I couldn't look away either. Finally my daughter came to me and asked:
"Is everything OK with you, Mum?"Only then I forced myself to stop laughing although deep down in me, I still did. We walked the path straight forward. I wanted to see it up close as soon as possible. Unfortunately we were too late to do the complete tour, although it's worth fully exploring.
But to be honest - I had my moment there. The one I'm never going to forget for sure. And there is always hope, someday I'll be back again.
Copyright Notice:
All the photos in this blog post are taken by me or my family. Without the permission of me (my family) no use or reproduction of this photos can be made.
Seeing what we wanted to see - until the night fall, we wondered what to do next and although I knew that very close to Port Talbot is settled another great estate, I didn't mention this to my OH.
But then back in our hotel room, he found it on the internet. Of course I jumped at the proposal that we go and visit the place. Although it was quite late in the afternoon, we still managed to scoot around it.
Coming in at the entrance, the first thing that caught my interest were the Orangery and the ruins of a chapel or church close by.
I like the ancient places so of course I just had to enter it and my daughter followed. After coming out we realised that my OH took our son and walked around the park keeping to the gravel paths, where there were no steps. OH simply hates them.
And then it happened - my Lizzie's moment. You know - from Pride and Prejudice? To tell the truth. I love Pride and Prejudice. The book, the series - especially BBC's 1995 one, the movies. Although the 'lake scene' is/was memorable, the one I just couldn't thought it might ring true was the scene when Lizzie sees Pemberly for the fist time. You know, this one.Watch only the beginning - about 18 sec.:
Yes, exactly this happened to me, when I came out of the ruins. I looked up and followed the path straight on. The path my OH and son didn't take… and I saw this!
I stood there and I just couldn't stop a laugh from escaping. Loud. The only thing different was; I couldn't stop so quickly as Lizzie did and I couldn't look away either. Finally my daughter came to me and asked:"Is everything OK with you, Mum?"Only then I forced myself to stop laughing although deep down in me, I still did. We walked the path straight forward. I wanted to see it up close as soon as possible. Unfortunately we were too late to do the complete tour, although it's worth fully exploring.
But to be honest - I had my moment there. The one I'm never going to forget for sure. And there is always hope, someday I'll be back again.Copyright Notice:
All the photos in this blog post are taken by me or my family. Without the permission of me (my family) no use or reproduction of this photos can be made.
August 29, 2016
Holiday 2016 ~ Caerphilly Castle and the Dragon
To be honest, we completed our quest quite soon.
Our first destination was Caerphilly Castle. I knew that's where we'd see the amazing sculpture of the dragon coming out of the earth. The dragon was put there in March 2016 to support their football team in Euro 2016.
Being a bit 'nuts' about dragons from my childhood onward (way before I even heard about the #GOT), you can imagine that was something I just had to see.
We came to Caerphilly a bit too early to be able to get inside the great castle walls, so we took a stroll around it. As probably you all know but it was new to us, Caerphilly castle is the second biggest castle in the UK and the largest castle in Wales. Its history literary jumped out at me.
Although we walked slowly, we realised we'd be back at the gates too soon, so we took a rest on the eastern bank under the massive willow tree. Patrik needed his morning snack and Loris took photographs. It would be perfect like the photo below (taken by my daughter), if... Unfortunately there is always if...
I actually never understood parents that let their children disturb the animals. No matter where. I always teach my children this simple fact; ‘If an animal leaves you in peace, leave it in peace too, no matter which animal that is.’ Simple! And luckily my children understand that. I'm not the perfect parent - far from that - but I actually go crazy when I see other parents that just don't care what their children are doing.
Seeing another family with two kids doing exactly that - chasing the ducks and geese and other feathery animals - I couldn't help myself. I commented. Loudly.
Well, don't you think that bothered them even a little. No way. As the time was getting close to the opening hours - by the way if you'd like to visit this magnificent site - the opening hours is at 9:30 am - my OH dragged me away, hoping to get me away from them as far as possible. No such luck.
Although we went ahead of them, they passed us by and...
Entering the castle walls, I went to buy our tickets, although seeing the dragon on the left side at the entrance.
As I did my 'homework' before going on the holiday I took for us the Cadw (pronounced: Cadu - I'll explain later where and when I learned that) Family Explorer Passes for the whole week - I saw they were quite surprised for us to know about it, but they were happy to sell it to us.
At last I let both my kids near the dragon, firstly making sure that they didn't bother that family that went in (and to the dragon) before us. The gigantic sculpture of the dragon was/is amazing and so authenticable to what the dragon should look like. Of course we took some photos of all of us there.
Just before I walked away from the dragon, to explore the castle itself, the dragon's nostrils were filled with steam and you should heard my Loris screaming with joy.
Well, to be honest - even I was excited...
August 27, 2016
Holiday 2016 ~ The quest continues
If you forgot when we are going on a journey - I always named that travel. It's easier to remember when and where we were. The one in 2011 was called 'How to Avoid the Road to Hell' and the travel was combined with the therapy assessment for my son. But that was then and this is now.
Crossing the Channel was easy. The weather was nice and boarding on a ferry was nothing unusual. After so many years and quite a number of travels, we know the procedure.
The weather in the UK greeted us with sun. It was nice to know that we got to the other side two hours ahead of the initial plan but that was just a bonus.
In Bristol - our next stop - we arrived quite quickly in four hours; compared to the the time we spent in the car the previous day.
Next morning our quest continued - to find a dragon. Well, I knew perfectly well where we were going to find it, but nevertheless it was fun for us and for both our children.
Crossing the Severn bridge
we were welcomed to Wales.
A beautiful day was ahead of us.
Crossing the Channel was easy. The weather was nice and boarding on a ferry was nothing unusual. After so many years and quite a number of travels, we know the procedure.
The weather in the UK greeted us with sun. It was nice to know that we got to the other side two hours ahead of the initial plan but that was just a bonus.
In Bristol - our next stop - we arrived quite quickly in four hours; compared to the the time we spent in the car the previous day.
Next morning our quest continued - to find a dragon. Well, I knew perfectly well where we were going to find it, but nevertheless it was fun for us and for both our children.
Crossing the Severn bridge
we were welcomed to Wales.
A beautiful day was ahead of us.
August 25, 2016
Holiday 2016 ~ Crossing Europe - Part 2
Next morning we were up early. That is no wonder if you know my son. He's an early riser and it doesn't matter to him if it's during the week, during the weekend, holiday or bank holiday. His inner clock is set between 5:30 am and 6:00am. If he oversleeps it feels like a miracle, that's why we almost never need a wake up calls.
Knowing all the troubles we had in the past on the R0 around Brussels, we weren't even that concerned that perhaps this time history would finally not repeat itself. We were heading towards Calais as early as 6am on Sunday morning.
Like in the past, there is only around 17 miles long drive through the Netherlands. The first time we drove to the UK, OH and I argued if we had even crossed the Netherlands. Of course he didn't see the border sign as that time we were late for our ferry crossing and if I tell you that we were from Brussels to Calais in an hour and twenty minutes - you got the picture why.
It didn't matter that our initial plan was to totally avoid Brussels and take another road, at the end we found ourselves right there on the R0. Only to our surprise (which perhaps wasn't even so much on its place as it was Sunday morning) this time it almost empty. We were around the city in less than half an hour, heading south of the country.
Entering France we knew very well we'd be in the Calais Ferry Port way too soon, but we thought that... well, later.Half way from the border to Calais, there was a detour where every single car had to leave the motorway, drive through the police line-up and we were allowed to get back on the highway on the other side. We weren't surprised. Not after everything we heard, read and were told was happening in France. But we were able to continue our journey without delays.
Soon after that we entered the Calais Ferry Port almost four hours too soon. I'd booked our ferry for two pm and we were there already at ten am. After we did all the border procedures, including opening our boot upon request of the UK police we followed the sign where we would be able to check in.
Of course we were told that we were too early. We were asked if we would like to pay the difference if we wanted to board earlier, but when we learned that the difference was actually the price of a new ferry ticket we declined. After that we had to leave the ferry port to the parking lot right there on the other side of the fence and we waited.
After trying to read a book and when Loris and OH came back from the Port facilities only to tell me that there is also a P&O office there. Of course they didn't ask if there is any chance to get us across the Channel sooner.
So, I put down my book (read Kindle) and went back there, negotiating the possibility. I'm proud to say I managed to shorten our waiting for two and a half hours - we were able to board the next ferry for an additional amount - only a quarter of the price which we were quoted before.
Coming back to the car there wasn't really anything else to do, but repeat all the procedure of border crossing - along with the boot check by the UK border police and there we were - searching for the right path to the waiting line.
Gosh, the French could mark that a bit clearer...
Knowing all the troubles we had in the past on the R0 around Brussels, we weren't even that concerned that perhaps this time history would finally not repeat itself. We were heading towards Calais as early as 6am on Sunday morning.
Like in the past, there is only around 17 miles long drive through the Netherlands. The first time we drove to the UK, OH and I argued if we had even crossed the Netherlands. Of course he didn't see the border sign as that time we were late for our ferry crossing and if I tell you that we were from Brussels to Calais in an hour and twenty minutes - you got the picture why.
It didn't matter that our initial plan was to totally avoid Brussels and take another road, at the end we found ourselves right there on the R0. Only to our surprise (which perhaps wasn't even so much on its place as it was Sunday morning) this time it almost empty. We were around the city in less than half an hour, heading south of the country.
Entering France we knew very well we'd be in the Calais Ferry Port way too soon, but we thought that... well, later.Half way from the border to Calais, there was a detour where every single car had to leave the motorway, drive through the police line-up and we were allowed to get back on the highway on the other side. We weren't surprised. Not after everything we heard, read and were told was happening in France. But we were able to continue our journey without delays.
Soon after that we entered the Calais Ferry Port almost four hours too soon. I'd booked our ferry for two pm and we were there already at ten am. After we did all the border procedures, including opening our boot upon request of the UK police we followed the sign where we would be able to check in.
Of course we were told that we were too early. We were asked if we would like to pay the difference if we wanted to board earlier, but when we learned that the difference was actually the price of a new ferry ticket we declined. After that we had to leave the ferry port to the parking lot right there on the other side of the fence and we waited.
After trying to read a book and when Loris and OH came back from the Port facilities only to tell me that there is also a P&O office there. Of course they didn't ask if there is any chance to get us across the Channel sooner.
So, I put down my book (read Kindle) and went back there, negotiating the possibility. I'm proud to say I managed to shorten our waiting for two and a half hours - we were able to board the next ferry for an additional amount - only a quarter of the price which we were quoted before.
Coming back to the car there wasn't really anything else to do, but repeat all the procedure of border crossing - along with the boot check by the UK border police and there we were - searching for the right path to the waiting line.
Gosh, the French could mark that a bit clearer...
August 22, 2016
August 21, 2016
Holiday 2016 ~ Crossing Europe
I know I promised to write about our Holiday, to describe to you where were we and what had we seen, but, the truth is ~ sometimes life gets in a way and the promises we made can be kept, just more time than we thought passed between the promise and actualization of it.Unfortunately we had a family crisis and although the things are not yet back to normal, recently the hope that everything will be OK increased. And here I am, writing my blog again.
As this was not our first travel like that - we had alreday been to the UK (south England) in 2011, OH and I knew exactly which road we're going to take. Before our actual travel I'd made a file with all the necessary papers, like ferry tickets, hotel reservations, some information of the attractions we wanted to see, and of course our family main target ~ to find the DRAGON I knew IS (still) on display at one of so many beautiful castles in Wales.
Like I said in my previous blog post (you can find it here: Holiday 2016 ~ Going on a Quest ), we were heading across Europe to the UK, with the final destination being Wales. But to get there, we had some countries to cross.
Of course we needed to travel to the border with Austria. We had chosen border crossing Slovenia:Šentilj / Austria:Spielfeld border crossing. It was closer to our home town and the other reason was - Karawanks Tunnel Crossing is basically during the Summer time known for its infinitive congestion. You can ask any Austrians or Germans that travel to the Adriatic Sea for their holiday if this is true.
We travelled through Austria smoothly, despite road works and endless tunnels on the motorway from Graz to Passau in Germany. Then the longer part of our journey started. Germany. Five years ago my daughter at that time age seven, frustratingly stated: 'It can't be that big!' after she got on her endless questions of 'Where are we?' we answered: 'In Germany.' Well, it is. Passau, Regensburg, Nürnberg, Würtzburg, Frankfurt am Main and Cologne were the cities we left behind on our way. One after the other, until we got to the small town of Frechen just outside of Cologne where we had stopped for our first night.
Smiles tell everything, right?
As this was not our first travel like that - we had alreday been to the UK (south England) in 2011, OH and I knew exactly which road we're going to take. Before our actual travel I'd made a file with all the necessary papers, like ferry tickets, hotel reservations, some information of the attractions we wanted to see, and of course our family main target ~ to find the DRAGON I knew IS (still) on display at one of so many beautiful castles in Wales.
Like I said in my previous blog post (you can find it here: Holiday 2016 ~ Going on a Quest ), we were heading across Europe to the UK, with the final destination being Wales. But to get there, we had some countries to cross.
Of course we needed to travel to the border with Austria. We had chosen border crossing Slovenia:Šentilj / Austria:Spielfeld border crossing. It was closer to our home town and the other reason was - Karawanks Tunnel Crossing is basically during the Summer time known for its infinitive congestion. You can ask any Austrians or Germans that travel to the Adriatic Sea for their holiday if this is true.
We travelled through Austria smoothly, despite road works and endless tunnels on the motorway from Graz to Passau in Germany. Then the longer part of our journey started. Germany. Five years ago my daughter at that time age seven, frustratingly stated: 'It can't be that big!' after she got on her endless questions of 'Where are we?' we answered: 'In Germany.' Well, it is. Passau, Regensburg, Nürnberg, Würtzburg, Frankfurt am Main and Cologne were the cities we left behind on our way. One after the other, until we got to the small town of Frechen just outside of Cologne where we had stopped for our first night.
Smiles tell everything, right?
August 14, 2016
Rachel's Random Reads: Guest Post - June Moonbridge on Running - Booklymp...
Today you can find my Guest Post on
Rachel's Random Reads: Guest Post - June Moonbridge on Running - Booklymp...:
Just something little about running...
Rachel's Random Reads: Guest Post - June Moonbridge on Running - Booklymp...:
Just something little about running... August 13, 2016
Holiday 2016 ~ Going on a quest
As I wrote in my previous blog post: Going on hols ~ be right back my family and I love to travel. We do love to lie on a beach for two weeks too. Well, at least I do, but my kids don't let me relax with my books for too long, but here and there we are packing our things into our car (not camper) and we are on our way.
I like to say I'm a bit nomadic, but I love to be comfy too... that means, I don't like to travel in a trailer and I definitely don't like to spend my year hardly waiting for holidays in a tent. Nope! That's not for me.
So every time we decide to travel around for our holiday, I'm at my desk a few months before, searching and surfing the internet ~ read Booking.com ~ and hunting the hotels on the road we plan to take. It's part of the fun and this way I feel like the holiday is already in progress.
This year our 'final' destination was ~ as already told ~ round trip around Wales and after that spending tree nights in London, covering that trip:
~ research for my current WIP (perhaps even for one of my future ones)
~ meeting for the first time in person two good friends I met on Facebook quite a few years back. Yes, you can believe me - you can really make good friends on Facebook.
As ~ in case you forgot ~ we're not English and I certainly (and sadly) don't live in the UK, our journey started three weeks ago in a beautiful and small country, approximately 900 miles from crossing the English Channel.
It was a bright and early - 4am - Saturday morning...
I like to say I'm a bit nomadic, but I love to be comfy too... that means, I don't like to travel in a trailer and I definitely don't like to spend my year hardly waiting for holidays in a tent. Nope! That's not for me.
So every time we decide to travel around for our holiday, I'm at my desk a few months before, searching and surfing the internet ~ read Booking.com ~ and hunting the hotels on the road we plan to take. It's part of the fun and this way I feel like the holiday is already in progress.
This year our 'final' destination was ~ as already told ~ round trip around Wales and after that spending tree nights in London, covering that trip:
~ research for my current WIP (perhaps even for one of my future ones)
~ meeting for the first time in person two good friends I met on Facebook quite a few years back. Yes, you can believe me - you can really make good friends on Facebook.
As ~ in case you forgot ~ we're not English and I certainly (and sadly) don't live in the UK, our journey started three weeks ago in a beautiful and small country, approximately 900 miles from crossing the English Channel.
It was a bright and early - 4am - Saturday morning...
