Wellies on the School Run

Stepping Out Of Fear Into Uncertainty – And Some News

By: welliesontheschoolrun September 24, 2020September 24, 2020

Books, Caithness, Uncategorized, Writing, Writing and BloggingBooks set in Scotland, Motivation for Writers, Scottish Writers, Writer, Writer Mindset6 Comments

In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety. Abraham Maslow You may (or may not!) have noticed that I didn’t write my regular blog post last week – unusual for me, as I try to keep up a weekly practice of posting. I did…

The Case for Community-Minded Thought

By: welliesontheschoolrun September 10, 2020September 10, 2020

Caithness, Inspired Living, Lifestyle, Opinion, Reflections, UncategorizedCommunity, Coronavirus, Covid-19, Life, Positive Outlook2 Comments

Back at the start of this era of Coronavirus, lockdown and social distancing I remember reading that the health crisis would bring out the best – and the worst – in people. Over the last few months that prediction certainly seems to have been accurate – I’m sure we can all think of examples of…

The Province of the Cat Book George Gunn

Summer Reading 2020 (includes gifted items)

By: welliesontheschoolrun September 2, 2020September 2, 2020

Books, Reading, Reading Lately, UncategorizedBook Reviews, Books Change Lives, Books to Read, Summer Reading, To Read List6 Comments

It’s been some time since I shared a reading update on here, between lockdown and taking a break for the school holidays. I’ve also found that (sob!) my bookish posts aren’t as popular as some of the other posts I write here – sadly there’s that effort-reward balance in terms of deciding how much time…

Slow Down, Sit Still

By: welliesontheschoolrun August 27, 2020August 29, 2020

Books, Caithness, Inspired Living, Reflections, Self Improvement, Social Media, Uncategorized, WritingClimate Change, Covid-19, Perimenopause, Self Discovery, Slow Living, Sustainable Tourism8 Comments

Summer wanes, the end of a season in lockdown. It’s been weeks since I wrote on here properly, barring a piece I did on the NC 500, and the Summer of discontent in the far north. I spent the holidays wrapped up in the cocoon of family, not venturing far, taking small steps around Caithness.…

Ceannabeinne Beach NC500 Scottish Highlands

The North Coast 500 and the Summer of Discontent

Since its inception in 2015, The North Coast 500 – the re-branding of an existing 516 mile loop around the North Highlands – has attracted visitors from all over the world, keen to experience the untamed beauty of this remote area of Scotland. Originally the brainchild of North Highland Initiative – a non-profit organisation set…

Picture of bunting on wall at Lyth Arts Centre

Thoughts on Four Years of Writing and Blogging – And a Summer Break

By: welliesontheschoolrun June 28, 2020June 28, 2020

Opinion, Social Media, Uncategorized, Writing, Writing and BloggingBlogging Tips, Lifestyle, Scottish Writers, Writing Plans, Writing Tips11 Comments

In amongst this period of lockdown, it almost escaped my notice that Wellies on the School Run had reached its four-year anniversary on the blogosphere. Four years of writing, two hundred and twenty five articles, somewhere in the region of two hundred thousand words. I’m not sure what I expected when I started my own…

Social Media, The Solstice and The Sea

By: welliesontheschoolrun June 21, 2020June 21, 2020

Caithness, Opinion, Reflections, Social Media, Uncategorized, Writing and BloggingIntroversion, Isolation, Life, Lifestyle, Lockdown, Sea Swimming, Self Discovery14 Comments

These weeks in lockdown have seemed to slip away so quickly, each day passing to the next with a speed strangely at odds with the stretching hours of sunlight. Before we knew it, the summer solstice was upon us, a tipping point in the balance of light and dark, where the world gives the night a…

Mallaig, Memories and My Nana

By: welliesontheschoolrun June 14, 2020

Family, Love, Reflections, Scotland, Scottish Highlands, UncategorizedMallaig, Memories, People and Place, Place, Scottish Writer19 Comments

Growing up, two places dominated my experience of childhood. Caithness, because it was where we lived, and Mallaig, because it was where we took all our holidays. The latter also had a special attraction: it was where Nana and Iain lived (Nana being my paternal Grandmother and Iain my uncle, who lived with Nana due…

We’re Not Aloof, We’re Introverts

By: welliesontheschoolrun June 7, 2020July 16, 2020

Health & Lifestyle, Opinion, Reflections, UncategorizedBooks, Caithness, Introversion, Introvert, Isolation, Life, Quiet, Scottish Writers4 Comments

Years ago, when I had a ‘proper’ job, I was a participant in a set of development centre activities for graduates. It was standard development centre stuff, including participation in group activities and receiving feedback on performance by an assigned observer who monitored the tasks. In one such exercise, I was observed in a team…

Hibernation Diaries – Small Steps Back Into The World

By: welliesontheschoolrun May 31, 2020May 31, 2020

Caithness, Covid-19, Opinion, Reflections, Scotland, UncategorizedCoronavirus, Inspiring quotes, Isolation, Life, Lockdown, Scottish Highlands4 Comments

In a crisis, we find out who we are. I heard these words on TV the other day as we completed our tenth week of ‘hibernation,’ a milestone that saw Scotland ease lockdown rules to enable people to meet with others outside their household. The new rules have a distinctly outdoor focus, enabling family reunions…

Lighting Candles and Other Notes on Happiness

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The North Coast 500, Also Known As Home

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What Autoimmune Illness Really Feels Like

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A Sunday Well Spent

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Ten Things to do on a Family Holiday to the Outer Hebrides

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Saying No to Perfect

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12 Reasons to Plan a Scottish Road Trip

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Stepping Out Of Fear Into Uncertainty – And Some News

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The Case for Community-Minded Thought

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Summer Reading 2020 (includes gifted items)

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The North Coast 500 and the Summer of Discontent

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Mallaig, Memories and My Nana

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We’re Not Aloof, We’re Introverts

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Hibernation Diaries – Small Steps Back Into The World

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