Almost time to leave the UK - whinging I am. But the book is very well in hand, thanks to Ruth and her assistance. Thanks also goes to Paul for tea and coffee when required. Some grammatical corrections will be required then just the layout. I have one section with images embedded and the it works and looks good and more importantly reads well.

Grey day and cooler today. Almost time to walk the dogs.

Yesterday was a fun day. Ruth and I wandered around Northfield shopping centre. I took a wonderful photo of Claude who was sleeping in the sun on the window ledge in the front room. Worked on revisions of chapters and watched the apple blossoms 'snow'.

Book work is busy, learnig lots more about the family. Chapter One is looking really good, at least I think so. Have taken editor's comments and worked with them. Added my own changes, added new information and made note of where images are to be inserted. NOW I need to start figuring out the layout!

Finally got rain yesterday and today so very damp dogs. Cats are not impressed either. But now everything out side my window looks incredibly lush and varying shades of greenness. It is wonderful.

My laptop is almost back to normal. Windows had somehow become corrupted during an update. After spending £47 , which I consider money very spent. I am back working on the book. Chapter nine is coming along well. Even after the aaghghgh of losing all my changes in wordpad whilst the laptop was "away". The only problem I am dealing with is that the technician naturally told the computer that it should be a UK keyboard and some of the keys are in different locations, but I now have a £ keystroke!

Some days....glorious, warm, sun is shining. The trees are just genetly dancing in the light breeze. Cars are whizzing by on the wrong side of the road!

I would like to apologise to anyone I am not emailing. Server problems here, I can receive emails but frequently get 'shoved off' and am not able to send replies.
Easter Sunday was a warm, glorious day, not too warm, actually just lovely. Ruth and Paul took the opportunity to clean out the garage and put up shelves to tidy and reorganize.

I worked on Chapters five and six. Added to some other chapters and generally felt good about the progress. Did go outside to assist with the reinsertion of articles back into the garage under direction. I thought of posting the picture I took from the upstairs window of the drive with the garage things on it. But..................discretion!

Yesterday was a very successful writing day. Another section has a good start and some actual details are filling in wonderfully. I went for several walks to clear my head and then concentrate and focus thoughts. It was a sunny, warm day.

Lovely stream runs in behind the home where I am staying. Horses in the back pasture just add to the calmness of the air. You can hear the traffic, but it does not interfere with the feel. The green softness is increasing daily out my window.

Wednesday

I have been working on the book about the Harrold group from the Orkney Islands and have managed to get three "chapters" done. First chapter is off to my editor for her comments and editing.

In between writing sessions, I have had a manicure, walked the dogs at leat three times a day. Today for the first time, I have been permitted to plan and prepare a meal. Cheese strata casserole, easy, good and quick. It is sitting in the fridge waiting to go into the oven. Ruth has her photography club tonight. So quick and easy seemed the way to go.

Today it is blue skies, and warm. I am looking out the window and seeing the daffodils nodding i the breeze, nestled in the grass. Te trees are just starting to put on their greens, gently softening the outline of the stark branches from winter.

We are back on line. Problems with the ISP has prevented me from emailing or blogging. Withdrawel was terrible.

Been getting settled and getting a mobile phone over here. Working a bit on the outline for the book on Ben Harrold.

Ruth and I have taken the dogs for many walks around Kings Norton. The photo is of a pond that we have walked around. I am currently unable to upload the photo. Rats!

My soul is settling back into the English air and ground.

2 days from flight time

Well, in two days I shall be on my way back to the UK. My excitment knows no bounds. I can feel the pull, I think in terms of the GMT time zone, I know I am returning to somewhere special. The souls of my feet will connect again.

Preparations

I am now 25 days away from arriving back in England. I must say that I am feeling so very "centred " about this trip. My soul is so very connected to the soil. The air will fill my lungs and my heart will beat in rhythm with the land. I love England so much, I feel like I have come home, completed a circle. My great grandfather left Warwickshire in 1873 and I returned in 2006. My trip in October answered many questions and raised many more, I search for answers.