And finally the dream becomes reality

Ok, so I've mentioned it a few times by now, but it's not every day a common PwMS gets a book published.

Finally today it is on sale. Profit goes to MSRC and it's published by myself in conjunction with Writersworld

This came about as a result of me posting humorous tales on MSRC Messageboards where I was encouraged by Lawrence Wood CEO of MSRC to put them all together in book form.

It is available as an A5 sized Paperback; printed in 12pt Verdana to make it easy to read for those with MS-ey eyes; has a flexible spine for ease of 'handling'; a paper thickness which is again easy to handle - oh and let's not forget that it contains 237 laugh-a-minute pages.

Price is £11.25 inc P&P and available directly from me so Email Me! if you're interested.

Quote: In order to make your dreams come true, you must awaken and take charge ~Natasha Newsome

Books, Cinemas and Stuff

This is Waterstones Bookshop in Swansea City Centre. It exists inside the housing of the old Carlton Cinema, one of many old cinemas to have escaped the humiliation and indignity of being turned into a Bingo Hall; it’s also a ‘listed building’.

Waterstones also houses art exhibitions on the floors behind that huge window. It can be a multifactorial experience when visiting; books and art! Duw! Duw! I feel as I'm getting in touch with a higher 'being', just being high up in there.

The Carlton, with its double seats for courting couples in the back, is where Huw took me on one of our very first ‘dates’. Huw the Rock must have some kind of sadistic streak beneath that tender heart because one of the first films he took me to see was Ben Hur- all 4 hrs of it (Yawns!) It was before Dolby Surround Sound came into existence but by hell could you feel those seats vibrate with all that chariot fighting; we also felt as if we were in a fast and furious passion wagon without the joy of ............

I was in Waterstones a few weeks ago browsing; only doing so because I love books so much that I end up buying too many and have difficulty carrying them home;I take a peek, well Ok then sit down and read a few paras then buy online when I get home.

A 90yr old woman approached me – well, I say 90 because she looked older than me anyway judging by the wrinkles. Yes OK, so I too have wrinkles but there are ‘wrinkles’ and ‘wrinkles’ aren’t there?

She asked me, 'D'you know anything about books?' I felt like replying, 'Do you have enough of your lifetime ahead of you left to listen?' but instead sweetly (yes I can do 'sweet' when it suits ) replied, 'What are you looking for?' wondering whether indeed I looked like a shop assistant with my walking stick and £150+ Goretex waterproof jacket.

The woman replied, "I'm looking for romance," ……and you really have to keep a straight face at times, don't you? I felt like telling her when the next Derby & Joan club meeting was on, but you can’t, can you?

My mind went totally bank, devoid of authors names but there was a display of Catrin Collier books behind me-an Anglo-Welsh writer. I picked one up and said, “Read the blurb on the back of this, see if you like it”.

“But I don't have my reading specs,” I handed her mine ... “Try these!"

"No, bach- just tell me the price on the back"

"£6.99"

This was followed by a ‘Holy Mother of Gaia, Jehovah, Vishnu and the Buddha!!’ look because it was too expensive, I guess. I suggested she try looking in one of the charity shops.

Talking of which, “Stop me and buy ONE?” Please? Pretty Please?

Invictus by W.H.Henley

This is a poem -''INVICTUS by W.E. Henley. I've chosen it because the last two lines speaks volumes to me about life with MS.

INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloodied but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And ye the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

W.E. Henley

Multiple Sclerosis is a condition which as yet has no cure but for which there are many treatments depending on symptoms. What I've learned throughout my adult life with MS though is that we cannot 'undo' the condition, yet we can pretty much take control over things especially with regards the choice of being content and making the best we can out of a situation.

At this moment in time it would be imprudent of me to say anymore because my views form part of the Introduction to my book 'Stumbling Along- A Journey with the Master of Surprises' (c) Eiona Roberts 2006 available at the end of this month.

Can it really be Winter on Planet Paradise?

Santa brought me a new Digital SLR Camera for Christmas, a Canon EOS 400D.

It’s now February but have I had the opportunity to learn to use it yet? Have I hell! because the weather has been stormy, windy, rainy, anything but sunshiny, in fact. I declared to Huw the Rock that the first sunny day we get, I would just get out there and strut my stuff with my great big Eos. Funnily enough the word EOS is Welsh for LARK, so off we went, two birdies ancient and modern, just to fiddle around a bit.

I walked downhill from our house to the River Tawe in the Swansea Valley.This is not the first photo I took but after the 1st 50 (yes 50!!!) I started to get the hang of things. This is looking down the valley towards Swansea, not that you can see the City centre from such a low level.

The next two are on the other side of the bridge looking North…

Now you may think it strange that I took a photo of a tree in a field, but crazy as I may seem at times, there is always method in my madness because.....
a) There are often herons in that field but –zilch! on that day.
b) I wanted to fiddle with different focal lengths and focal points - no I don’t know what it means either but it gives the false impression that for once I know what I’m talking about.
c) I just love the sunshine and blue sky-the biggie, that's what it's all about.

And so a song by John Denver which is quintessentially my own very feelings on such sunshine …..
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you the day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine for all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high

Another one of the River Tawe-considering how much rain we’ve had recently, it’s not exactly in full flow; possibly it too was basking lazily in the sunshine….

And finally, I’d agreed with Huw the Rock that I’d allow him to come pick me up when I’d reached a certain point because no way could I get all the way back by foot. Of course he goes by another name because he too likes to flash. This is me by DavidBaileyHuw....

“Is it really winter?” I asked myself as I divested myself of fleece and scarf and was stood there in a thin sweatshirt.