Finance Services Manager Dawn Doyle finds her sense of calm
This is the image of where I go to ensure I am soothed. The noise of thebirds, especially seagulls, the crashing of the sea/waves, the smell of theseaside, walking on the beach, the breeze in my hair all soothe my mindwithin minutes. When I was a little girl, each weekend was spent in thefamily camper […]
Biography, a poem by MJ Golias
After Elizabeth Bishop’s Visits to St. Elizabeths She was the house of Bedlam. She was the woman. She was—past—She was the moment you realize there may be no God. Facial expressions are faulty. Roots grow in the throat of that damaged woman. Voices are not modest in one’s head, ears, rib cage that stifle shifting […]
Abbotsford Estate the Home of Sir Walter Scott
As the crocuses and daffodils begin to show, Erica Crompton says there’s no better time to take a day trip to the Estate of the Scottish poet. Having recently toured the eclectic home of Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott, I can recommend a visit. It’s wheelchair friendly, too! I went with my boyfriend Paul who […]
Balmoral chicken
For a taste of Scotland try this Balmoral chicken recipe complete with haggis, courtesy of Delicious Magazine. And for the best Balmoral chicken head to Kingsknowes Hotel in Galashiels, an imposing Scottish baronial mansion, built in 1869 for the local textile mill owner, Adam Lees Cochrane. Ingredients: Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. Cut […]
The Great Tapestry of Scotland
Gallery finds its forever home in Scottish Border, writes Erica Crompton Beginning with large, fabric squares depicting the glacial formation of mountains and glens more than 420m years ago, up to Andy Murray’s Wimbledon victory of 2013. It’s said to be one of the longest tapestries in the world at 143 metres – that’s 70 […]
Scottish seaglass by author Graham Morgan
Ardmore, the sea and me By Graham Morgan I must sound like a stamp collector! Nothing wrong with that! I say to myself; remembering a very distant childhood. I collect seaglass or sometimes I do. It is not good for my mental health like medication might be, or my CPN or doctor but it is […]
Fly me to the Moon
Our Editor, Erica Crompton, explores a new moon installation at Durham Cathedral This winter a trip to the ecclesiastical Durham Cathedral saw an art installation that is currently touring the UK. Luke Jerram’s artwork, Museum of the Moon, illuminated the high vaulted ceiling and colossal carved pillars of the Cathedral based in the North East. […]
Erica Crompton ‘How I bought a house’
How I bought a house with an income under £16k By Erica Crompton The sunset glows red. I’m sat on the end of my double bed. With a glass of Chianti, I look out over the lilac tree outside and across the bowling green and feel a tremendous sense of achievement as I take it […]
Happy New Year?
Emily Blain, Fintel’s HR Director, speaks of speaking up if you’re struggling I’m sure that, just like me, by the second week of January you’re sick to the back teeth of saying, and hearing, ‘Happy New Year’ in every single interaction! In addition to getting tedious quickly, the traditional new greeting is also not entirely […]
Identity, disclosure and mental illness
Tweetster @Joe0Tuesday writes about telling people about your mental illness “Hi, my name is Joe and I have schizophrenia!” Is that how you’d expect to start a conversation with someone you don’t know? Would it shock you? Whether you are from within the mental health community or not it is quite a lot to comprehend […]