“Loving it.”

“Loved Lullaby of the Soul great read picked it up never put it down till the end loved the throw backs and the surprises
Once again Mr Addison another outstanding novel
Canny wait for the next one.’

“Hi Alan, I have just finished reading your book, it was great to take a trip down memory lane through the street names and of course our Leith motto to persevere. I was taken on a journey through the war, experiencing it through the eyes of the characters. As I finished the book a dragonfly landed on me, spiritually it symbolises change, transformation, adaptability, self-realisation and good luck. Thank you for this contribution to the world.

“Hola Alan. Your book Lullaby of the Soul is very good and well written. I enjoyed reading it. Describing the situation in Leith during the First War World. I learnt how the community lived during those years. Felicitaciones and gracias amigo.”

“I couldn’t put this book down. Spent the morning reading it and loved every minute.”

“A storyline that touched the soul.”

“Really enjoyed reading this emotionally charged story.”

“It is so different from the other books yet needed to be written. It bridges them all.”

“Excellent read I give it a 10/10. Makes you think about how so many factors can influence the life you go on to lead and so many not even on a conscious level.”

“I really loved this book. In fact it is one of the best books I have read. Took me right back to where I come from and the things that happened to me.”

“Just finished your latest book. Did it in one sitting (in the garden) I loved it. Keep writing your books are great reading,”

“Received my copy of Lullaby of the Soul yesterday and devoured it in a sitting! Beautifully written and researched. I really enjoyed reading it.”

My dear readers,

I promised to do so, then promptly forgot to inform you that the paperback copy of Lullaby of the Soul is now for sale on Amazon.

I could blame my age, or lockdown, or the recent company of my amazing grandbairns, but truth is I had writers’ block and couldnae think what tae write.

Just glad I finished writing the book before it set in!😘

My dear patient readers, as of this morning my 6th book, Lullaby of the Soul, a novella, is available on Kindle. The paperback should be available on Amazon with the next day or two. I’ll let you know asap.

It is part of the JP Associate series, though a wee bit different from the norm. I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

Alan.

A young, puffy, fluffy, male blackbird landed on the fig tree. It must have been three days ago. It opened its beak to sing, but not one sound came forth.

The next thing the Dad arrived, wearing a black tuxedo and bowtie, and stood beside the young one. Quite obviously a conversation took place and the Dad flew off.

Suddenly young Pav began to sing. High pitched and not much control, but giving it laldy.

Then, from a far distance, Pavarotti’s amazing tones and slowly but surely young Pav’s voice sharpened, became more eloquent, somewhat reminiscent of Bocelli.

‘It’s only a bird’, said you. ‘Why would you get so wound up about a bird’?

‘Cause it’s not there’, I replied, but you just laughed.

But it wisnae funny. Pavarotti arrived early April and has been singing his heart out from that top most branch of that tallest tree till two days ago.

Then nothing!

You said, ‘He’s probably found a bird’.

But he’s too young for that, isn’t he?

Then you said, ‘He’s probably moved out, found a taller tree.’

But he wouldn’t do that, would he?

Next thing you know, I’ll be wandering the streets and the park looking for him and hoping he’s alright.

A bit daft that really, what if he’s just grown up?

5am and there he goes, Pavarotti, our resident blackbird giving it laldy from the top most twig of the tallest tree across the back.

He never lets up, and has got me wondering what he is going on about at this ungodly hour.

Is he waiting for someone? Like the mower when Juliana comes.

Is he sent to awaken us from our slumber? Make those lockdown days even longer.

Or is he just what he says? A wonderful sign that the days are warming, that our lockdown is easing, and that glorious Summer is just round the corner!

From the bright yellow of the aconites and daffodils, Victoria Park, still cauld as winter, bursts forth in white blossom towards summer.

There are a great many community minded people out there. I learned that working in Community Education and from my neighbours delivering goods to our door during lockdown.

Not everyone cries “What about me?” when faced with the traumas brought about by Covid19 and I was so chuffed to learn that my youngest Son was thinking of others when he decided that the best way to help those hardest to reach, those with little money and fewer prospects, was to offer his counselling and hypnotherapy services free to all and to fund his work through Gofundme.

Take a look at his project and if you feel inclined, please donate – this project, and this man, are going to help an awful lot of people.

See Clearmindborders, The Community Minded Project on Facebook, Istagram etc.

Thank you for listening! Alan

Above the snow folk slid, children laughed and played and A&E filled up with walking wounded.

On Sunday the snow began to melt.

Below the snow, hidden from sight, aconites and snowdrops awaited their moment; robins and bluetits looked on, saying nothing.

Monday arrived with the sound of birds cascading through the quiet streets and gardens and bankings burst forth their hidden joys.

Surely, it must be Spring.