The Best Day

For me the most important day of the year is 21st or 22nd December
The Winter Solstice
(The shortest day)

This is the best day.
From now the days will get a little long.

It is such a significant day for me that I write about it most years.

I find the winter months, November, December and January difficult.
It is not the cold or wet.
It is the grey skies 

and the long dark nights.

When taking Pearl out for her afternoon jaunt my choices are limited;

• Take her out in the light at 3.30pm at the latest
• Take her out in the dark but somewhere easy to navigate.
• 
  

I am looking forward to spring

when Pearl and I will be able to resume our research 
for our second walk book
(Hopefully)

Read of the Month (Dec 2020)

This month's #ReadoftheMonth is for me a difficult read.
Nevertheless I feel it is an important for me to finish.

It gives a well researched factual account of an event my father was personally involved in;

The 1944 Warsaw Uprising.

And so the book is simply 

Warsaw 1944
(Hitler, Himmler and the Warsaw Uprising)
by

Alexandra Richie

My father did not speak in any detail about this period of his life.
He did on occasion mention it.
This was to explain his appearance;
scared face and hands due to burns.

Unfortunately I was only aware of the most rudimentary facts;

• the population of the city collaborated to fight against the Germans
• it was brutally repressed by the Nazis
• the Russians then invaded the city and established a communist regime

It was not until I was older and after my father had died that I learnt more.

This was in part due to Rita Cosby.

Her father too was a participant in the Warsaw uprising.
This was when he and my father met and subsequently became good friends.

So when Rita wrote a book about her father large chunks of it were about my father.

It is a very different book from the #ReadoftheMonth.
It is a personal emotional account 
as opposed to being
a carefully researched factual account.

This war in Eastern Europe, especially involving the Russians,
is little known in the UK.
It is rarely mentioned; certainly not the details.
Maybe now is the time to put the record straight.

This book is a start.

For me it is informative but poignant.
But a must read 

 

A Disgusting Practice

Having a dog can be life enhancing.

It is for me. 

All of my dogs

Ruby

Amber and Pearl
cuddling up in the Motorhome

have added a new dimension
to my life in so many ways.

There is a downside.

If you have a dog you have to clear up after them (an euphemism)

Pick Up Their Poo

Not a pleasant job.

The usual practice is to pick it up in a special bag,
tie the top;
take it with you to put in a bin.

Unfortunately this does not always happen.

Sometimes it is just not picked up.

But worse is when a full "poo" bag is left lying about.

Even worse when it is hung from the branch of a tree

This is an action of environmental vandalism. 

Who is going to collect the bags
and dispose of them in the proper manner .

It takes many many years for the plastic to decompose.

The contents only take a few weeks.      

This has become quite a problem in some places.

It has required a re-think.

The National Trust now recommends 

"Stick and Flick"

Find a stick and flick the poo into the bottom of a hedge;

then throw the stick away.

In a short time the mess will rot away.

Take the bag with you

Happy Birthday to Pearl's Second Litter

  Pearl had her second litter in 2018 on 9th November

2 boys and 5 girls

So this year they were 2 years old.

I am thrilled to say 6 of her seven offspring sent birthday photos

This is Harry

This is Ivy

This is Ruby

This is Denzil

This is Holly

This is Polly

Super Thursday (Part 5)

No Read of the Month, instead another "Super Thursday".

Super Thursday is the day in October when
publishers showcase their Christmas range.

My Super Thursdays feature the 3 books special to me.
Details of these can be found in other blog posts.

This final Super Thursday is more like the industry type. 

I have collated all the #Read of the Months.

The list is eclectic; all non-fiction bar one
all genres; past and present texts.

Hopefully one book will pique interest
even be a different Christmas present for someone.

List of books and details at

https://annachelmicka.me/read-of-the-month/

Support local business
(don't buy from Amazon)

Hibernation

Writing about "Motorhome Musings" at this time of year is difficult because.  All I really want to do is "hibernate".  Why?  Well:-

• 
  
  Now the clocks have gone back it gets dark so early.  I have to take Pearl out by 3.30 or 4pm if I want to walk her in the daylight.  Even then it is usually dark by the time I get home.  As we move towards the Winter Solstice this is only going to get worse.

• 
  The overcast sky and dark grey clouds I find inhibiting.  All I want to do is curl up on the sofa by a bright roaring fire.

• Too often the lowering clouds are spilling their wet load.  I do not enjoy walking in the rain.  Pearl doesn't mind.  She does not have to rub herself dry when we get home.

• Doing so little in my motorhome means there is little to report. This is especially so now that we are in another lockdown.

Is Hibernation a good idea.  Probably not. SO I'm going to

• Continue writing my second book
• Read
• Become more familiar with my new camera
• Plan my 2021 research trips. 

Lots to do.

What do you do during these cold, dismal and dark days?

Super Thursday (Part 4)

The final book in my small collection I consider to be a momentous achievement.

Why?

Because it was published by Hubble & Hattie a bone fide publishers. 

The company, based in Dorset, is small and part of Veloce, a larger publishing concern; "the home of fine automotive books"

The topics of the books Hubble & Hattie publish is animal related. 

It was because I was accompanied in my explorations by my dogs that Hubble & Hattie offered me a contract.
Their experience of camping is not nearly so extensive but I can fill that gap.

The book is 

"Wonderful Walks from Dog-friendly Campsites Throughout the UK"

I divided the country into 7 regions and Pearl and I visited 3 campsites in each region. We found 2 walks starting directly from each site;

• a short one of between 4-6 miles
• a long one of between 8 -10 miles.  This is supposed to take all day with a refreshment break at a pub or café.

Pearl has her own section in the book "Pearls of Wisdom" where she reviews the campsite for other 4-legged companions.

A note of caution; as there are over 48 counties just in England it is quite probable that Pearl and I have not visited your county. We had to miss some in order to have new places to visit for our second book due out in February 2022.

Whatever one may think of the content of my book there is absolutely no question that it "looks" fabulous. 
The editor certainly knows how to turn a boring manuscript into a attractive book. 

The book can be purchased from the usual outlets or from:

• Hubble & Hattie
  https://www.hubbleandhattie.com/shop/HH5045/
• Dog- Friendly                 
  https://www.dogfriendly.co.uk/shop/product/wonderful-walks-from-dog-friendly-campsites-throughout-the-uk/ 
• Me 
  https://annachelmicka.me/writing/

Last Trip of 2020

What a year!  And it is only October.

Despite everything I did manage to research a few campsites for my next walking book

Devon

• 

  Lydford
  

  Lydford Caravan and Camping Park.  It was not on my list of campsites to visit as it was not next to a pub.                                 I I decided to visit for my first outing after lockdown because it sounded well organized and up to speed with Covid compliance regulations.  Also there was a pub just half a mile away in the village of Lydford.  As stated in a previous blog, I had a lovely time.

• 

  Me at Widgery Cross
  

  Fox and Hounds Hotel Campsite.  
• This was just outside of the village of Lydford.  It was on my list of campsites to visit for my next book. With no mention of Covid on the website and some poor reviews I did not feel confident staying here without a reconnoitre.  This I did on one of the walks from Lydford Campsite. It past muster so I booked in for a several days.  It was wonderful. A track led straight up onto Dartmoor.                                        
• 
  

 I climbed a tor to Widgery Cross

East Sussex

• Runt in Tun. Campsite behind so named pub. (On my list).  

  

  Runt in Tun
  

  
  A really wonderful site with fabulous walks in Sapperton Woods. Toilet and showers were poor; just portaloos. Pub was lovely.  Unfortunately when I got home I was informed the campsite was going to close permanently. So I had to find another campsite in East Sussex. Very difficult. After very careful consideration I went to a campsite very close to Runt in Tun.

• 

  Horam

  Horam Manor Country Park. This is situated on the outskirts of the village of Horam.  It is part of the Country Park complex which also comprises workshops, fishing lake, nature trail and Bistro.
  This is why I decided this campsite would be an interesting addition in the next book.  Whilst staying there I discovered there is a pub just across the playing fields. Maybe Covid is responsible for its lack of appeal.

Dorset

Bagwell

Bagwell Farm Touring Park.  This is located very close to the coast at Chesil Beach near Weymouth.  It is a very big campsite but the walks from it are fabulous. Again the pub just across a field from the campsite was closed when I visited. Maybe a victim of lockdown. 

Hampshire

Red Shoot Camping Park.  

Red Shoot

I had to revisit this campsite to clarify some notes
I made on my previous visit. I think this is a lovely campsite.  

A wonderful way to end 2020 camping outings.

With the probability of a second wave of Covid-19 during winter forcing us to stay indoors I have decided not to venture out again this year in my motorhome. 

I hope 2021 will be a better year for us all.

Happy Birthday to Pearl's first litter.

 Pearl had her first litter in 2017 on 10th October.
4 boys and 3 girls

So this year they were 3 years old.

I am thrilled to say 5 of her seven offspring sent birthday photos

This is Harley

This is Toby

                                                                                

                                                    

This is Maggie

This is Tarn Bear

This is Lexi

This is Ernie

Thank you for everyone who sent photos of their dogs.

I hope you all agree; A fabulous group of dogs.

Super Thursday (Part 3)

 My second book in this small collection is also special to me because:-

• It was the first book I wrote; a test case to ascertain whether or not I could actually write a book
• The subject was my first dog Ruby; a memoire of sorts. If I could not write about her then writing about anything would be hopeless.
• I self published this book; this is quicker than the usual route of using an agent then a publisher.
• This book (as well as my magazine articles) were hugely influential in finding a publisher for my subsequent books. 

The book is 

My Friend Ruby
by
Anna Chelmicka  

It recounts how a dog can change a life.

It is true dogs can be of great help during difficult times, which is why so many people now during these uncertain times are getting puppies.

I have personally experienced how a dog can help during distressing moments.

 

Ruby, my first dog was not only a comfort to me when I was ill but was also hugely instrumental in life after retirement.  It is because of her I now write and take photographs.  

It was only when she went that I fully realized just how special she was and thought writing about her would be a good idea. 

Because I self-published this book (an extremely interesting experience)
I have lots of copies available. 

Details of purchase can be found on my website https://annachelmicka.me/writing/