P.J. Roscoe's Blog, page 11
July 9, 2014
Margaret Sandbach - Women through the ages
Margaret Sandbach (1812 – 1852)
http://www.margaretsandbach.co.uk/
http://www.margaretsandbach.co.uk/res...
https://www.facebook.com/hafodunos
Whenever I do research for this lady I see the words ‘a lost heroine of the Victorian age’. Margaret was a poet in the 19th century who suffered breast cancer from her early twenties, survived and had a mastectomy. Sadly her career was cut short when breast cancer returned and she died at the early age of forty. She overcame all odds to survive so long in a time when survival was deemed rare.
Margaret’s home was Hafodunos hall, in LLangernyw, north Wales, which is slowly being restored. An arsonist attack by two local men damaged it, destroying the original Jacobean staircase. Now volunteers are determined to bring it back to life. A recent open day proved how well they were doing as the gardens were opened to the public.
Margaret loved her home. She had a close, intense relationship with John Gibson. She was his muse and supported him as he produced fine sculptures that were celebrated during the era. Many of which were housed in Hafodunos hall in an octagonal gallery that was top lit, thus showing off the sculptures better.
Margaret produced several volumes of poetry and since her death, letters and her diaries have been produced which show a remarkable woman who lived a complex life filled with love, tragedy and grief.
What intrigued me about this woman was how strong she was. Her courage to succeed and enjoy life is evident in everything I see. Her home, Hafodunos hall is so beautiful, even through the ruins it is easy to see why she fell in love with the area. The hall destroyed by fire is not of her design, but built after her death, yet the surrounding garden and area are easily loved.
Cancer is and always has been a frightening disease and has affected men and women throughout time. Breast cancer affects both sexes and I can imagine that during the 19th Century when society rarely talked of such things, Margaret faced her illness with courage and determination, removing her breast to save herself is a difficult decision for any woman. Having visited the hall, I felt a real sense of need to write about this lady and hopefully share the whereabouts of a beautiful ruin in the hope that more people will get involved and support a good cause.
Blessings and enjoy life xx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Freya's Child
http://www.margaretsandbach.co.uk/
http://www.margaretsandbach.co.uk/res...
https://www.facebook.com/hafodunos
Whenever I do research for this lady I see the words ‘a lost heroine of the Victorian age’. Margaret was a poet in the 19th century who suffered breast cancer from her early twenties, survived and had a mastectomy. Sadly her career was cut short when breast cancer returned and she died at the early age of forty. She overcame all odds to survive so long in a time when survival was deemed rare.
Margaret’s home was Hafodunos hall, in LLangernyw, north Wales, which is slowly being restored. An arsonist attack by two local men damaged it, destroying the original Jacobean staircase. Now volunteers are determined to bring it back to life. A recent open day proved how well they were doing as the gardens were opened to the public.
Margaret loved her home. She had a close, intense relationship with John Gibson. She was his muse and supported him as he produced fine sculptures that were celebrated during the era. Many of which were housed in Hafodunos hall in an octagonal gallery that was top lit, thus showing off the sculptures better.
Margaret produced several volumes of poetry and since her death, letters and her diaries have been produced which show a remarkable woman who lived a complex life filled with love, tragedy and grief.
What intrigued me about this woman was how strong she was. Her courage to succeed and enjoy life is evident in everything I see. Her home, Hafodunos hall is so beautiful, even through the ruins it is easy to see why she fell in love with the area. The hall destroyed by fire is not of her design, but built after her death, yet the surrounding garden and area are easily loved.
Cancer is and always has been a frightening disease and has affected men and women throughout time. Breast cancer affects both sexes and I can imagine that during the 19th Century when society rarely talked of such things, Margaret faced her illness with courage and determination, removing her breast to save herself is a difficult decision for any woman. Having visited the hall, I felt a real sense of need to write about this lady and hopefully share the whereabouts of a beautiful ruin in the hope that more people will get involved and support a good cause.
Blessings and enjoy life xx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Freya's Child
June 26, 2014
Taking chances
I began questioning myself the other day and asked myself a serious question - do you take chances?
The answer was a definite 'NO'! I have felt unable to take chances because my world has had to evolve around our daughter, and rightly so. She has special needs that have to be met, so chances were something I could not contemplate. I don't judge myself for it, it just is.
Now though, I am beginning to see my life as opening up, just a little, a fraction as my daughter is now sixteen and a little more independent I wonder if it's time to take a chance on life and hope that the Universe doesn't kick me in the head for it!
Our lives lately have been one giant roller-coaster of shit! Excuse my language, but there is no other way of writing just how intensely worrying my life has been these last five weeks.
Yet, during those weeks, I noticed a lot of synchronicity happening. People would get in touch via Linkedin or FB giving me answers to questions I had been pondering. I'd meet new people who could possibly help my work, things would happen in such a way that everything turned out okay despite my worrying so long as I trusted and listened to my gut.
My writing has had to take a bit of a back burner due to high levels of stress, though a couple of articles for TNB got written and of course my blog, but mainly it was short stories for competitions, networking and meeting - spreading the word of, ME!
I have now taken a step to see what comes of a possible writing move forward. Will these people help my career or strike me down? Will I find new friendship/help and support? I send it out into the Universe and listen with an open heart and hopeful ears.
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J Roscoe
Freya's Child
The answer was a definite 'NO'! I have felt unable to take chances because my world has had to evolve around our daughter, and rightly so. She has special needs that have to be met, so chances were something I could not contemplate. I don't judge myself for it, it just is.
Now though, I am beginning to see my life as opening up, just a little, a fraction as my daughter is now sixteen and a little more independent I wonder if it's time to take a chance on life and hope that the Universe doesn't kick me in the head for it!
Our lives lately have been one giant roller-coaster of shit! Excuse my language, but there is no other way of writing just how intensely worrying my life has been these last five weeks.
Yet, during those weeks, I noticed a lot of synchronicity happening. People would get in touch via Linkedin or FB giving me answers to questions I had been pondering. I'd meet new people who could possibly help my work, things would happen in such a way that everything turned out okay despite my worrying so long as I trusted and listened to my gut.
My writing has had to take a bit of a back burner due to high levels of stress, though a couple of articles for TNB got written and of course my blog, but mainly it was short stories for competitions, networking and meeting - spreading the word of, ME!
I have now taken a step to see what comes of a possible writing move forward. Will these people help my career or strike me down? Will I find new friendship/help and support? I send it out into the Universe and listen with an open heart and hopeful ears.
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J Roscoe
Freya's Child
June 16, 2014
Maria Montessori - Women through the ages
Maria Montessori was born on August 31, 1870 in Italy. Her father, Alessandro Montessori, was an official of the Ministry of Finance working in the local state-run tobacco factory. Her mother, Renilde Stoppani, was well educated for the times and was the great-niece of Italian geologist and palaeontologist Antonio Stoppani. While she did not have any particular mentor, she was very close to her mother who readily encouraged her. She also had a loving relationship with her father, although he disagreed with her choice to continue her education.
Maria moved forward with her intention to study medicine. She appealed to Guido Baccelli, the professor of clinical medicine at the University of Rome, but was strongly discouraged. Nonetheless, in 1890, she enrolled in the University of Rome in a degree course in natural sciences, passing examinations in botany, zoology, experimental physics, histology, anatomy, and general and organic chemistry, and earning her diploma di licenza in 1892. This degree, along with additional studies in Italian and Latin, qualified her for entrance into the medical program at the University in 1893.
Here she was met with hostility and harassment from the other medical students and professors because of her gender. Her attendance of classes with men in the presence of a naked body was deemed inappropriate so she was required to perform her dissections of cadavers alone, after hours. She resorted to smoking tobacco to mask the offensive odour.
Maria won an academic prize in her first year, and in 1895 secured a position as a hospital assistant, gaining early clinical experience. In her last two years she studied paediatrics and psychiatry, and worked in the paediatric consulting room and emergency service, becoming an expert in paediatric medicine. Montessori graduated from the University of Rome in 1896 as a doctor of medicine
From 1896 to 1901, Montessori worked with and researched so-called "phrenasthenic" children—now known as children experiencing some form of mental retardation, illness, or disability. She also began to travel, study, speak, and publish nationally and internationally, coming to prominence as an advocate for women's rights and education for mentally disabled children.
On 31 March 1898, her son, Mario Montessori (March 31, 1898 – 1982) was born. He was the result of a love affair with another doctor, but Maria refused to marry, instead she continued her work and studies.
Maria continued with her research at the University's psychiatric clinic, and in 1897 she was accepted as a voluntary assistant there. As part of her work, she visited asylums in Rome where she observed children with mental disabilities, observations which were fundamental to her future educational work. When she discovered the works of Jean Itard and Eduard Seguin they gave her a new direction in thinking and influenced her to focus on children with learning difficulties. Also in 1897, Montessori audited the University courses in pedagogy and read "all the major works on educational theory of the past two hundred years".
In 1897 Montessori spoke on societal responsibility for juvenile delinquency at the National Congress of Medicine in Turin. In 1898, she wrote several articles and spoke again at the First Pedagogical Conference of Turin, urging the creation of special classes and institutions for mentally disabled children, as well as teacher training for their instructors. By 1899 Maria was appointed councillor to the newly formed National League for the Protection of Retarded Children, and was invited to lecture on special methods of education for retarded children at the teacher training school of the College of Rome.
In 1906 Montessori was invited to oversee the care and education of a group of children of working parents in a new apartment building for low-income families in the San Lorenzo district in Rome. Montessori was interested in applying her work and methods to mentally normal children, and she accepted. The name Casa dei Bambini, or Children's House was suggested and the first Casa opened on January 6, 1907, enrolling 50 or 60 children between the ages of two or three and six or seven.
Activities for the children included personal care such as dressing and undressing, care of the environment such as dusting and sweeping, and caring for the garden. The children were also shown the use of the materials Maria had developed. In this first classroom, Montessori observed behaviours in these young children which formed the foundation of her educational method. She noted episodes of deep attention and concentration, multiple repetitions of activity, and a sensitivity to order in the environment.
Given free choice of activity, the children showed more interest in practical activities and Montessori's materials than in toys provided for them, and were surprisingly unmotivated by sweets and other rewards. Over time, she saw a spontaneous self-discipline emerge. Based on her observations, Montessori implemented a number of practices that became hallmarks of her educational philosophy and method. She replaced the heavy furniture with child-sized tables and chairs light enough for the children to move, and placed child-sized materials on low, accessible shelves. She expanded the range of practical activities such as sweeping and personal care to include a wide variety of exercises for care of the environment and the self, including flower arranging, hand washing, gymnastics, care of pets, and cooking. She also included large open air sections in the classroom encouraging children to come and go as they please in the room's different areas and lessons.
When I first read about this lady I couldn’t help but think about my own older brother who was mentally handicapped. Without people like Maria, his life could have been so very different. As it was, attitudes had changed considerably towards children with mental disabilities and he was encouraged to become as independent as possible. He was respected, cared for, loved and in turn he acquired dignity, pride and knew he was loved.
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J Roscoe
Maria moved forward with her intention to study medicine. She appealed to Guido Baccelli, the professor of clinical medicine at the University of Rome, but was strongly discouraged. Nonetheless, in 1890, she enrolled in the University of Rome in a degree course in natural sciences, passing examinations in botany, zoology, experimental physics, histology, anatomy, and general and organic chemistry, and earning her diploma di licenza in 1892. This degree, along with additional studies in Italian and Latin, qualified her for entrance into the medical program at the University in 1893.
Here she was met with hostility and harassment from the other medical students and professors because of her gender. Her attendance of classes with men in the presence of a naked body was deemed inappropriate so she was required to perform her dissections of cadavers alone, after hours. She resorted to smoking tobacco to mask the offensive odour.
Maria won an academic prize in her first year, and in 1895 secured a position as a hospital assistant, gaining early clinical experience. In her last two years she studied paediatrics and psychiatry, and worked in the paediatric consulting room and emergency service, becoming an expert in paediatric medicine. Montessori graduated from the University of Rome in 1896 as a doctor of medicine
From 1896 to 1901, Montessori worked with and researched so-called "phrenasthenic" children—now known as children experiencing some form of mental retardation, illness, or disability. She also began to travel, study, speak, and publish nationally and internationally, coming to prominence as an advocate for women's rights and education for mentally disabled children.
On 31 March 1898, her son, Mario Montessori (March 31, 1898 – 1982) was born. He was the result of a love affair with another doctor, but Maria refused to marry, instead she continued her work and studies.
Maria continued with her research at the University's psychiatric clinic, and in 1897 she was accepted as a voluntary assistant there. As part of her work, she visited asylums in Rome where she observed children with mental disabilities, observations which were fundamental to her future educational work. When she discovered the works of Jean Itard and Eduard Seguin they gave her a new direction in thinking and influenced her to focus on children with learning difficulties. Also in 1897, Montessori audited the University courses in pedagogy and read "all the major works on educational theory of the past two hundred years".
In 1897 Montessori spoke on societal responsibility for juvenile delinquency at the National Congress of Medicine in Turin. In 1898, she wrote several articles and spoke again at the First Pedagogical Conference of Turin, urging the creation of special classes and institutions for mentally disabled children, as well as teacher training for their instructors. By 1899 Maria was appointed councillor to the newly formed National League for the Protection of Retarded Children, and was invited to lecture on special methods of education for retarded children at the teacher training school of the College of Rome.
In 1906 Montessori was invited to oversee the care and education of a group of children of working parents in a new apartment building for low-income families in the San Lorenzo district in Rome. Montessori was interested in applying her work and methods to mentally normal children, and she accepted. The name Casa dei Bambini, or Children's House was suggested and the first Casa opened on January 6, 1907, enrolling 50 or 60 children between the ages of two or three and six or seven.
Activities for the children included personal care such as dressing and undressing, care of the environment such as dusting and sweeping, and caring for the garden. The children were also shown the use of the materials Maria had developed. In this first classroom, Montessori observed behaviours in these young children which formed the foundation of her educational method. She noted episodes of deep attention and concentration, multiple repetitions of activity, and a sensitivity to order in the environment.
Given free choice of activity, the children showed more interest in practical activities and Montessori's materials than in toys provided for them, and were surprisingly unmotivated by sweets and other rewards. Over time, she saw a spontaneous self-discipline emerge. Based on her observations, Montessori implemented a number of practices that became hallmarks of her educational philosophy and method. She replaced the heavy furniture with child-sized tables and chairs light enough for the children to move, and placed child-sized materials on low, accessible shelves. She expanded the range of practical activities such as sweeping and personal care to include a wide variety of exercises for care of the environment and the self, including flower arranging, hand washing, gymnastics, care of pets, and cooking. She also included large open air sections in the classroom encouraging children to come and go as they please in the room's different areas and lessons.
When I first read about this lady I couldn’t help but think about my own older brother who was mentally handicapped. Without people like Maria, his life could have been so very different. As it was, attitudes had changed considerably towards children with mental disabilities and he was encouraged to become as independent as possible. He was respected, cared for, loved and in turn he acquired dignity, pride and knew he was loved.
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J Roscoe
June 9, 2014
Something lost - or gained?
When we lose something precious it is a loss that can be quite a shock to the system. What we took for granted is gone and a shift must take place which can be terrifying.
I am experiencing such a loss and I am having to shift accordingly. Stability was something I had considered a given thing, having experienced it for such a long time, yet now, that stability has been torn away and I am floating freely without an anchor, without a planned path and facing the fears that confront me.
At the moment I am still in the shock phase, anger, disgust, frustration have swiftly followed as well as disbelief that such cruelty could happen to me and mine.
Yet, even as I cower in fear of our future, a small part of me wonders if this is the open door rather than a closed one? Perhaps the universe is ending one miserable existance to make way for a happier road? Perhaps we need to see the fear and act anyway to live life to its fullest? To truly feel and experience all of our emotions is a rare thing these days as we plough through our lives - work - eat - sleep - where do we truly feel?
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J. Roscoe
I am experiencing such a loss and I am having to shift accordingly. Stability was something I had considered a given thing, having experienced it for such a long time, yet now, that stability has been torn away and I am floating freely without an anchor, without a planned path and facing the fears that confront me.
At the moment I am still in the shock phase, anger, disgust, frustration have swiftly followed as well as disbelief that such cruelty could happen to me and mine.
Yet, even as I cower in fear of our future, a small part of me wonders if this is the open door rather than a closed one? Perhaps the universe is ending one miserable existance to make way for a happier road? Perhaps we need to see the fear and act anyway to live life to its fullest? To truly feel and experience all of our emotions is a rare thing these days as we plough through our lives - work - eat - sleep - where do we truly feel?
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
P.J. Roscoe
May 20, 2014
May - where are you going???
It's the 20th of May, already! Tomorrow is my 20th wedding anniversary - where did the time go? It's the same with writing, I lost time. I have so many articles and books and stories I want to write, time is taken from me and they are all in various stages of completion.
Okay, moving house didn't help my focus, but we've been here eight weeks now (OMG!) and finally finished our daughter's bedroom, time to take the pressure off I think.
And that is part of the problem, I pressure myself into doing so many things that NEED to be done, apparently? Do they though? Of course not, it is purely for my own need to feel this house is slowly becoming our home.
Same with writing. I don't have any urgent deadlines. No agent or editor is hammering at my door to finish the book, the stories or articles, I am my own boss, so why am I so hard on myself? practice for when another human being IS hammering at my door demanding I finish what I promised!!
Besides that, I enjoy writing, it isn't a chore, it is purely time is always against me. I am working on a new article for TNB and loved researching it. My imagination is slowly building up a few more faerie stories for the wonderful artwork of marina White and my third novel is always there in the background, but my brain is not ready to honour our agreement just yet. The first draft is done, the intense research comes next and slowly it will fill out and mould itself into a story I can be proud of.
I have entered three stories into two competitions. I am beginning my Chakradance course so my life can become even more busy and interesting! Oh the joy...
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Freya's Child
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Okay, moving house didn't help my focus, but we've been here eight weeks now (OMG!) and finally finished our daughter's bedroom, time to take the pressure off I think.
And that is part of the problem, I pressure myself into doing so many things that NEED to be done, apparently? Do they though? Of course not, it is purely for my own need to feel this house is slowly becoming our home.
Same with writing. I don't have any urgent deadlines. No agent or editor is hammering at my door to finish the book, the stories or articles, I am my own boss, so why am I so hard on myself? practice for when another human being IS hammering at my door demanding I finish what I promised!!
Besides that, I enjoy writing, it isn't a chore, it is purely time is always against me. I am working on a new article for TNB and loved researching it. My imagination is slowly building up a few more faerie stories for the wonderful artwork of marina White and my third novel is always there in the background, but my brain is not ready to honour our agreement just yet. The first draft is done, the intense research comes next and slowly it will fill out and mould itself into a story I can be proud of.
I have entered three stories into two competitions. I am beginning my Chakradance course so my life can become even more busy and interesting! Oh the joy...
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Freya's Child
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
May 7, 2014
women through the ages - Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, political activist, and lecturer and earned a bachelor of arts degree. Amazingly, she was also deaf and blind having contracted a disease aged 19 months. By aged 7, she had around 60 hand signs to help communicate with her family. Her birthday is commemorated as Helen Keller Day in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and was authorized by the President Jimmy Carter in 1980, the 100th anniversary of her birth.
A prolific author, Keller was well-travelled and outspoken in her convictions. As a member of the Socialist Party of America and the Industrial Workers of the World, she campaigned for women's suffrage, labour rights, socialism, and other radical causes. She was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 1971.
In 1886, Helen was referred to Alexander Graham Bell who was working with deaf children at the time. Bell advised them to contact the Perkins Institute for the Blind, where Helen was introduced to 20-year-old former student Anne Sullivan, herself visually impaired, to become Keller's instructor. It was the beginning of a 49-year-long relationship.
"The few own the many because they possess the means of livelihood of all ... The country is governed for the richest, for the corporations, the bankers, the land speculators, and for the exploiters of labour. The majority of mankind are working people. So long as their fair demands—the ownership and control of their livelihoods—are set at naught, we can have neither men's rights nor women's rights. The majority of mankind is ground down by industrial oppression in order that the small remnant may live in ease."
—Helen Keller, 1911
Keller suffered a series of strokes in 1961 and spent the last years of her life at her home.
On September 14, 1964, President Johnson awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the United States' two highest civilian honours. In 1965 she was elected to the National Women’s hall of fame at the New York World’s fair.
Keller died in her sleep on June 1, 1968, at her home, Arcan Ridge, Connecticut, a few weeks short of her eighty-eighth birthday. A service was held in her honour at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and her ashes were placed there next to her constant companions, Anne Sullivan and Polly Thomson.
Now, I could go on and on and tell you all of Helen’s achievements, but these can be found easily enough on the internet. I had never heard of this fascinating lady before researching and I was blown away by her many fights for equality and it got me thinking, has anything changed?
Helen fought for those who in those days were considered wretched, poor things that God had forgotten or they were looked upon as the devils punishment. Do we see the disabled any different today?
The government want to punish anyone who has a disability by sending them into squalor and the poor houses, where we have to justify needing a certain size home or the amount of food to eat. We still seem to lack compassion for people with disabilities, though we pretend we don’t because it’s not politically correct, yet I’ve seen sideways glances of pity and horror as the afflicted walk or are wheeled past and many have witnessed the ‘programmes’ on television who like to ‘highlight’ these people’s plight in one fashion or another. What is this if not separating disability from your average Joe?
My brother had a disability and my daughter is Autistic. I refuse to treat any of them differently besides the obvious. My brother was encouraged to become independent and so he is, my daughter is in the process of learning. I don’t expect sympathy, nor do they. They expect respect, love and compassion as I do, as you do, as Helen Keller did. People have the ability to do amazing things, regardless of disabilities. Helen highlighted this, hopefully we will continue keeping that torch bright.
Love and blessings readers.
P.J Roscoe
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Previous recent blogs
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/indierev...
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
Selection of articles for TNB
http://www.thenewsinbooks.com/the-rol...
http://www.thenewsinbooks.com/what-sc...
http://www.thenewsinbooks.com/where-h...
A prolific author, Keller was well-travelled and outspoken in her convictions. As a member of the Socialist Party of America and the Industrial Workers of the World, she campaigned for women's suffrage, labour rights, socialism, and other radical causes. She was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 1971.
In 1886, Helen was referred to Alexander Graham Bell who was working with deaf children at the time. Bell advised them to contact the Perkins Institute for the Blind, where Helen was introduced to 20-year-old former student Anne Sullivan, herself visually impaired, to become Keller's instructor. It was the beginning of a 49-year-long relationship.
"The few own the many because they possess the means of livelihood of all ... The country is governed for the richest, for the corporations, the bankers, the land speculators, and for the exploiters of labour. The majority of mankind are working people. So long as their fair demands—the ownership and control of their livelihoods—are set at naught, we can have neither men's rights nor women's rights. The majority of mankind is ground down by industrial oppression in order that the small remnant may live in ease."
—Helen Keller, 1911
Keller suffered a series of strokes in 1961 and spent the last years of her life at her home.
On September 14, 1964, President Johnson awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the United States' two highest civilian honours. In 1965 she was elected to the National Women’s hall of fame at the New York World’s fair.
Keller died in her sleep on June 1, 1968, at her home, Arcan Ridge, Connecticut, a few weeks short of her eighty-eighth birthday. A service was held in her honour at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and her ashes were placed there next to her constant companions, Anne Sullivan and Polly Thomson.
Now, I could go on and on and tell you all of Helen’s achievements, but these can be found easily enough on the internet. I had never heard of this fascinating lady before researching and I was blown away by her many fights for equality and it got me thinking, has anything changed?
Helen fought for those who in those days were considered wretched, poor things that God had forgotten or they were looked upon as the devils punishment. Do we see the disabled any different today?
The government want to punish anyone who has a disability by sending them into squalor and the poor houses, where we have to justify needing a certain size home or the amount of food to eat. We still seem to lack compassion for people with disabilities, though we pretend we don’t because it’s not politically correct, yet I’ve seen sideways glances of pity and horror as the afflicted walk or are wheeled past and many have witnessed the ‘programmes’ on television who like to ‘highlight’ these people’s plight in one fashion or another. What is this if not separating disability from your average Joe?
My brother had a disability and my daughter is Autistic. I refuse to treat any of them differently besides the obvious. My brother was encouraged to become independent and so he is, my daughter is in the process of learning. I don’t expect sympathy, nor do they. They expect respect, love and compassion as I do, as you do, as Helen Keller did. People have the ability to do amazing things, regardless of disabilities. Helen highlighted this, hopefully we will continue keeping that torch bright.
Love and blessings readers.
P.J Roscoe
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Previous recent blogs
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/indierev...
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
Selection of articles for TNB
http://www.thenewsinbooks.com/the-rol...
http://www.thenewsinbooks.com/what-sc...
http://www.thenewsinbooks.com/where-h...
May 2, 2014
What a 'May day'!!
Well, I am finding it difficult to believe it is May already - I mean, where has the year gone? During the Easter holidays I had a bad fall, hurting my ankle pretty badly. Nine days later and it still hurts like hell. With foot up and nothing else to do you'd think I'd have time to write more? Wrong! The painkillers made me too drowsy and a little bit spaced to concentrate, so not many words were put together!
However, I am bounding back with a vengeance - I have written an article for TNB to come out on 1st June, nearly finished another for May and am finishing researching for my next 'Women through the ages' - Helen Keller.
Before I fell arse over tit and cried like a girl!! I had a great time at Royden Park telling fearie stories and offering an art workshop for children (and adults) to use nature in their creations - we had some wonderful artwork so a big thank you to those children (and adults!) who took part.
Hoping to be working with a cover artist asap for my faerie stories using one or more of the magical artist Marina White's creations, so fingers crossed.
So many of you are asking me about the third novel 'Where Rivers meet'. I know and understand your frustration, it is mine also, but time it seems is not my friend right now and large projects like that are lingering in the background, whining to be finished - and it will be, I promise. Lots of research to be done and interviewing professionals to get the facts right. Second draft will be worked on asap.
As I read through this, I realise just how much stress I put on myself. How we all add to our tension by making lists of 'things that must be done'. I want to be writing my novel so badly it hurts sometimes, but bills need to be paid and my brain is in short article mode for now. I await the time of my brain awakening with passion and gusto, but I will not force it otherwise shit happens!!
Enjoy your day people, breathe and release the tension. Live. x
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Freya's Child
P.J. Roscoe
However, I am bounding back with a vengeance - I have written an article for TNB to come out on 1st June, nearly finished another for May and am finishing researching for my next 'Women through the ages' - Helen Keller.
Before I fell arse over tit and cried like a girl!! I had a great time at Royden Park telling fearie stories and offering an art workshop for children (and adults) to use nature in their creations - we had some wonderful artwork so a big thank you to those children (and adults!) who took part.
Hoping to be working with a cover artist asap for my faerie stories using one or more of the magical artist Marina White's creations, so fingers crossed.
So many of you are asking me about the third novel 'Where Rivers meet'. I know and understand your frustration, it is mine also, but time it seems is not my friend right now and large projects like that are lingering in the background, whining to be finished - and it will be, I promise. Lots of research to be done and interviewing professionals to get the facts right. Second draft will be worked on asap.
As I read through this, I realise just how much stress I put on myself. How we all add to our tension by making lists of 'things that must be done'. I want to be writing my novel so badly it hurts sometimes, but bills need to be paid and my brain is in short article mode for now. I await the time of my brain awakening with passion and gusto, but I will not force it otherwise shit happens!!
Enjoy your day people, breathe and release the tension. Live. x
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Freya's Child
P.J. Roscoe
April 14, 2014
How to fit writing into my busy life???
The Easter holidays have arrived with a loud bang and as usual my writing has to take a back seat for a while as my beloved daughter takes all of my attention! Now, don't ever get me wrong, I begrudge her not, she is and always will be my world, but I yearn to put pen to paper like an addict.
It is only this moment as she is happily watching t.v, that I almost run to the computer to feel the caress of plastic on my fingertips and pump out this next blog! I feel the calmness wash over me like a blanket and I would find it easy to be swept away in the moment and type my words until the moon has risen and my eyelids droop with fatigue.
In a strange way, perhaps it is essential that she is near-by to put a stop to any ramblings, as surely, there has to be more to life than writing?
I stop and read those words and take a breath, I'm frowning as I contemplate life without words forming at my fingertips and the world looks bleak, boring and unfulfilling.
So I will snatch the tiny moments of pleasure like a chocolate thief creeping into the kitchen for a fix and hope that you, my dearest readers enjoy my work. Although, as it's Easter, there may actually be some chocolate consuming in abundance going on. Mmmmm chocolate and writing... chocolate as I'm writing... chocolate writing...! Sorry, I'm off on a dream world where I can eat chocolate as much as I like whilst writing drops off the pounds like water!!
Enjoy life, enjoy a little of what you fancy and keep writing writers!
Love and blessings
xx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
It is only this moment as she is happily watching t.v, that I almost run to the computer to feel the caress of plastic on my fingertips and pump out this next blog! I feel the calmness wash over me like a blanket and I would find it easy to be swept away in the moment and type my words until the moon has risen and my eyelids droop with fatigue.
In a strange way, perhaps it is essential that she is near-by to put a stop to any ramblings, as surely, there has to be more to life than writing?
I stop and read those words and take a breath, I'm frowning as I contemplate life without words forming at my fingertips and the world looks bleak, boring and unfulfilling.
So I will snatch the tiny moments of pleasure like a chocolate thief creeping into the kitchen for a fix and hope that you, my dearest readers enjoy my work. Although, as it's Easter, there may actually be some chocolate consuming in abundance going on. Mmmmm chocolate and writing... chocolate as I'm writing... chocolate writing...! Sorry, I'm off on a dream world where I can eat chocolate as much as I like whilst writing drops off the pounds like water!!
Enjoy life, enjoy a little of what you fancy and keep writing writers!
Love and blessings
xx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
April 9, 2014
Mary Wollstonecraft - 'Women through the ages'
Mary Wollstonecraft (born 1759- died 1797)
British philosopher and feminist. Best known for her book - A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) that gave a detailed discussion on the equality of women and men.
Mary was born in Spitalfields, London, to a household run by her abusive father who was prone to violent outburst when drunk after losing money in bad investments. Mary spent much of her time looking after her sisters and mother. By the time she was nineteen, she decided to take a job as a companion to get away from her home life, sadly, this proved a mistake as she disliked her elderly employer. Around this time, she became acquainted with Fanny Blood, who played an important role in widening Mary's horizons and ideas. The two became very close, so when Fanny died in 1785 in unusual circumstances, it was quite a shock to Mary.
Mary took up a job as a governess and found she enjoyed teaching, but her dislike of Lady Kingsborough overshadowed her life. Her employer sickened her with her attitude towards life as a woman, merely there to please men and stay pretty. This experience helped to form Mary’s concept of a good woman and wife.
"To be a good mother — a woman must have sense, and that independence of mind which few women possess who are taught to depend entirely on their husbands. Meek wives are, in general, foolish mothers; wanting their children to love them best, and take their part, in secret, against the father who is held up as a scarecrow. "
Mary Wollstonecraft, ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ (1792)
Mary returned to London with a desire to become a writer where she became acquainted with important characters such as, Thomas Paine, William Godwin and Joseph Johnson. She became aware of new strains in political and philosophical ideas; people power was coming into the fore and the French revolution had started across the sea.
Mary was enthusiastic about the French revolution. In 1790, she wrote an influential pamphlet ‘Vindication of the Rights of Men’. Her writing helped establish Mary as a leading liberal writer; at the time, it was rare for a women to have such prominence in literary circles.
Shortly after Mary wrote ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Women’ (1792). This was groundbreaking in its day because it proposed women were equal to men and it was only the lack of education for women that meant they seemed to be intellectually inferior. She was highly critical of the contemporary attitudes to women which were extremely radical for the time and many writers didn’t agree with it.
"Women are systematically degraded by receiving the trivial attentions which men think it manly to pay to the sex, when, in fact, men are insultingly supporting their own superiority." ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman ‘(1792)
After its publication, Mary visited Paris, but Louis XVI was guillotined and the revolution became increasingly oppressive. While there she fell madly in love with an American, Gilbert Imlay and they had a daughter. The relationship didn’t last long as Gilbert proved to fall well short of Mary's romantic ideal and Mary returned to England. On returning to London, she attempted to commit suicide but was saved by a passer-by.
Recovering from her depression, Mary restarted her literary career and become romantically involved with William Godwin. Mary became pregnant and the two decided to get married, but tragically, Mary died in childbirth, though her daughter (Mary Godwin) survived and went on to become the wife of Percy Shelley and the author of Frankenstein.
After her death, William Godwin published her memoirs which proved quite shocking to society. People were not comfortable with the unorthodox and free-living attitude and even the suffragette movement felt too uncomfortable to mention her name. However, by the Twentieth Century, Wollstonecraft's writings were seen as key developments in the concept of women's rights.
To read about Mary and her life is intriguing, yet another woman born in a world of men and lost among them. I had never heard of this lady who had strength and courage to speak out, even when her own sex sneered at her voice.
I find it sad that I have not heard of Mary. It seems even in this time, women like her have become lost and strong women perhaps feel that the fight for equality only began recently, when the ripples of what Mary and other women like her did, are only just reaching us and perhaps my finding her, is yet another push to reach you, the women of today.
May the Goddess love and protect you all sisters xx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Freya's Child
British philosopher and feminist. Best known for her book - A Vindication of the Rights of Women (1792) that gave a detailed discussion on the equality of women and men.
Mary was born in Spitalfields, London, to a household run by her abusive father who was prone to violent outburst when drunk after losing money in bad investments. Mary spent much of her time looking after her sisters and mother. By the time she was nineteen, she decided to take a job as a companion to get away from her home life, sadly, this proved a mistake as she disliked her elderly employer. Around this time, she became acquainted with Fanny Blood, who played an important role in widening Mary's horizons and ideas. The two became very close, so when Fanny died in 1785 in unusual circumstances, it was quite a shock to Mary.
Mary took up a job as a governess and found she enjoyed teaching, but her dislike of Lady Kingsborough overshadowed her life. Her employer sickened her with her attitude towards life as a woman, merely there to please men and stay pretty. This experience helped to form Mary’s concept of a good woman and wife.
"To be a good mother — a woman must have sense, and that independence of mind which few women possess who are taught to depend entirely on their husbands. Meek wives are, in general, foolish mothers; wanting their children to love them best, and take their part, in secret, against the father who is held up as a scarecrow. "
Mary Wollstonecraft, ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ (1792)
Mary returned to London with a desire to become a writer where she became acquainted with important characters such as, Thomas Paine, William Godwin and Joseph Johnson. She became aware of new strains in political and philosophical ideas; people power was coming into the fore and the French revolution had started across the sea.
Mary was enthusiastic about the French revolution. In 1790, she wrote an influential pamphlet ‘Vindication of the Rights of Men’. Her writing helped establish Mary as a leading liberal writer; at the time, it was rare for a women to have such prominence in literary circles.
Shortly after Mary wrote ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Women’ (1792). This was groundbreaking in its day because it proposed women were equal to men and it was only the lack of education for women that meant they seemed to be intellectually inferior. She was highly critical of the contemporary attitudes to women which were extremely radical for the time and many writers didn’t agree with it.
"Women are systematically degraded by receiving the trivial attentions which men think it manly to pay to the sex, when, in fact, men are insultingly supporting their own superiority." ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman ‘(1792)
After its publication, Mary visited Paris, but Louis XVI was guillotined and the revolution became increasingly oppressive. While there she fell madly in love with an American, Gilbert Imlay and they had a daughter. The relationship didn’t last long as Gilbert proved to fall well short of Mary's romantic ideal and Mary returned to England. On returning to London, she attempted to commit suicide but was saved by a passer-by.
Recovering from her depression, Mary restarted her literary career and become romantically involved with William Godwin. Mary became pregnant and the two decided to get married, but tragically, Mary died in childbirth, though her daughter (Mary Godwin) survived and went on to become the wife of Percy Shelley and the author of Frankenstein.
After her death, William Godwin published her memoirs which proved quite shocking to society. People were not comfortable with the unorthodox and free-living attitude and even the suffragette movement felt too uncomfortable to mention her name. However, by the Twentieth Century, Wollstonecraft's writings were seen as key developments in the concept of women's rights.
To read about Mary and her life is intriguing, yet another woman born in a world of men and lost among them. I had never heard of this lady who had strength and courage to speak out, even when her own sex sneered at her voice.
I find it sad that I have not heard of Mary. It seems even in this time, women like her have become lost and strong women perhaps feel that the fight for equality only began recently, when the ripples of what Mary and other women like her did, are only just reaching us and perhaps my finding her, is yet another push to reach you, the women of today.
May the Goddess love and protect you all sisters xx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Freya's Child
March 23, 2014
My latest adventure!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/indierev...
Above is the link to my latest and most wonderful experience as an author - a radio interview with Michelle and Jamie. Two absolutely wonderful people who made me feel very welcome and the half hour just flew by - I could have talked for ages!!
We spoke about Echoes and its origins, my beliefs and touched on my thoughts on being an author.
I am still smiling and re-living the thirty minutes as I feel very honoured to have met two kind people who gave me a slot on their show. So a great big thank you again and I look forward to coming back once I finish working on Where Rivers Meet.
Love and blessings to you xxx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Freya's Child
Above is the link to my latest and most wonderful experience as an author - a radio interview with Michelle and Jamie. Two absolutely wonderful people who made me feel very welcome and the half hour just flew by - I could have talked for ages!!
We spoke about Echoes and its origins, my beliefs and touched on my thoughts on being an author.
I am still smiling and re-living the thirty minutes as I feel very honoured to have met two kind people who gave me a slot on their show. So a great big thank you again and I look forward to coming back once I finish working on Where Rivers Meet.
Love and blessings to you xxx
http://www.pjroscoe.co.uk
Freya's Child
