About Me
What do you want to know?
Early Years.
My earliest years are happy memories mostly: a thatched cottage on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire, picnics and strawberries which filled my fists, my grandparents, aunts and uncles. Along the way I accumulated a brother and sister and we moved. I have vivid memories of our house in Wimbledon, the milkman’s cart- horse and my very first lollipop.
Born in 1948, I remember the rationing and to this day I hate things like liver and margarine. I was caught shoplifting cans of baby food at the age of two. How desperate can a toddler get?
The family moved to Australia in 1954 and I went too since I did not get a vote. My second brother arrived and that completed the gang of four. We had all sorts of adventures, got into trouble and used our imaginations to get out of it!
Books and horses were my passion. I hated school.
Grown Up Years.
Horses were out of the question as a career in those days. I wanted to become a librarian but jobs were few and far between, so I became a teacher. This was a “sensible” career and I thought at least I could try to make being at school for children less awful than my experience had been.
Since then I’ve done all sorts of things:
Lived in Papua New Guinea and became a Head Teacher (not a head hunter!).
Became an Honorary Sub Inspector with the Royal Constabulary of Papua New Guinea (honestly).
Had two children (blessed with great imaginations and a wicked sense of humour).
Moved to Scotland in 1980 and ran a small hotel in the North of Scotland (not one of my better ideas but a fabulous experience).
Managed a couple of bookshops (close to being a librarian?).
Had some books published.
Got involved with horses again; did Endurance Riding and am now a student of Equine Touch and Friendship Training.
I became a Storyteller.
Now
I don’t have to be “sensible” any more. I can spend my time with books and immersed in a world of stories. I meet children and adults all over Scotland.
I tell stories.
My horses provide my other world- they are my unicorns, magical, wondrous creatures who have made me a better human being.
My life is one long holiday!
