Have a freebie on me ♥️

Hello my lovely people, 

Once again the world's worst blogger returns 😂 life kinder gets in the way sometimes right...... That and playing Resident Evil Village..... Scary game in places right? 

Well anyway I was going through some old short stories I've written over the years, either for competitions or a personal break of the long epic novels. 

This one was for a magazine, a Knitting and Crochet mag. Now you all know how much I love Crochet, anyone following me on Twitter knows that I am the super secret elite section of Trooper 😂 

On a serious note I just wanted to share a free story with you because I had a nice time thinking this one through, I wanted to touch on the fact men do knit or crochet, that it's a beautiful art and anyone can do it..... Also I wanted a slight hint of romance. 

So enjoy and let me know which ending you like more....... I feel ending one leaves things open while ending two is sweeter ♥ 🤗 

For the love of Ruby

She slowly turned the ball of bright red yarn over in her hands, imagining all the wonderful things she could make.  She squeezed it smiling as it almost instantly bounced back into shape, her mind racing with that her needles of hook could create, but before she could pop it into her basket, she felt a tapping on her shoulder.  

Was the Security Guard who had been eying her since she walked in finally made his move, should she turn around and confidently confront him?  Could he want to address the items in her pocket, the row holder was perfectly paid for in the larger store five minutes away.  And she had the receipt to prove it.  Maybe he wanted to speak to her on a personal level, he did always flash a smile at her whenever she came in.  that was almost every other day.  He seemed pleasant when he joined in the conversation she had last week with the Cashier.  But who knew.

“Excuse me,” She turned to the sound of a timid, male voice, not the strong, accusing voice most Security Guard’s seemed to have.  Maybe it was part of the job description, she decided.  “I’m really sorry to bother you but.  Are you going to buy that?”  The mousy haired man motioned towards the bright red yarn in her hand, an identical ball in his own.  She was relieved it was not the Security Guard, charming or not, she wasn’t in the mood for a personal conversation with him. Plus, she was no thief after all. The man, however, was a fellow shopper.

“Oh, this, I was thinking about it, I haven’t quite decided.”  Was that a look of relief on the man’s slightly stubbly face?  She looked back at the yarn before them, then she realized why he had tapped her shoulder.  “Oh, there’s only two balls left.”  She thought turning her eyes back to the waiting man.  

What should she say, this was a little store and whatever they had on the shelf was what they had.  Period.  She would have to wait days before a new delivery arrived.  Maybe they wouldn’t have this colour again, this could be her only chance to get this red yarn and make something beautiful.  Like a rose maybe for the jumper she was working on for her Grandma, she loved red roses and always had such beautiful blooms every year.

Yet, the man’s baby blue’s still looked at her, those few seconds seemed to linger as she mustered the courage to speak to him again.  “You need it for your project?”  The man’s eyes lit up as he nodded, still holding the second ball of bright red yarn in his hands.

“Oh yes I do, I’m making a knitted doll for my little girl. It’s taken me months to do it, messed it up a few times, one leg longer than the other that kind of thing.”  Months, she thought remembering her first project.

“Maybe he’s slow, I knit slowly.”  She smiled lovingly as she remembered her days spent with her Grandfather, learning to knit after dinner.  She had taken around a year to make a rather tatty looking blanket, but she was proud none the less of it and still had the thing now.

“I’m a bit of a beginner you see, never done this before but she has her heart set on having a knitted doll so.  Sorry, I didn’t mean to on.”  In those few seconds, she felt something, she felt some kind of connection with him and felt she wanted to know more.

“No, no, it’s alright.”  She smiled, the bright red yarn still in hand.  “It’s alright, we all get like that you know, when two knitter’s get together it’s like opening the flood gates and we just can’t help it.”  He was a very sweet looking man, even if he did not look the type to sit and knit a doll, he had more of a nerdy look about him.  Someone who played computer games, not sat, needles in hand figuring out the difference between Garter and Stocking stitch.  “My first project took me over a year to make, it was only a blanket and did look like a car crash of colour’s.”  They shared a small laugh, the store itself was only a small family run craft shop, the doors were always open to the little village street outside. They always had classical music playing softly in the background as the crafter’s made their way around the different isles.  The lights were bright in places and dim in others, it was a very nice place to meet and have a chat.  She had met many of her crafty friends here and simply shopped buying yarn she did not need but simply wanted.  “But I was still proud of it none the less, holes or  not.”  She grinned, she noticed his ears had turned slightly pink as he lowered his head and smiled such a heartwarming smile she felt herself melt slightly.

“Bet you weren’t mid-thirties when you started though.”  The man said with a slight red tint in his cheeks, now matching his ears.  She smiled and shook her head politely, she had been a young girl of six when she started, that was twenty years ago.  “That’s what I thought, I’ve been to a few coffee mornings’ recently, knitting related of course.  It’s been really nice, meeting with other people, different kinds of people.”  She knew what he was trying to say, there was a young man in her Friday night group, Matt, he had recently been diagnosed with depression.  He had been reluctant to come to the group with his mother, she had dragged him along and he had sat there on his phone.  It took a little while before she noticed he was into gaming, like her, so she pulled out her secret weapon, normally saved for the younger classes.  Superhero knitted dolls.  This caught his attention.  This made him look up from his phone slightly, then fully when she produced Batman, Superman, The Flash even Mr. J himself.  The following week he was there with a set of needles and shyly asked if she could teach him how to make Batman and that was that, he was hooked.  

“It’s very therapeutic knitting, we have a mixture of skill levels in our group, I run a class on Wednesday nights for those with depression, different stages you understand.  We find it distracting and calming, you know, you focus completely on the project.  Some talk while others sit at tables just knitting.  Some say it’s better than counseling.”

“I know, that’s the reason I started, well that and my daughter.”  She knew that look in his eyes, that look of pride and loving, the look of a doting father.  “I figure she’ll not forget me whenever she cuddles it.”

“Pardon me?”

“Oh, I’m a divorcee, just over six months now, she’s still too young to fully understand of course why daddy’s not there all the time anymore but. Sorry, there I go again.”  With a somewhat frustrated sigh he ran his hand through his hair, letting it fall either side of his rather handsome face.  “I, ah, didn’t mean to take up so much of your time, I think this one ball should be enough.”  As the man turned to go, she felt rather rash as she reached out and touched his arm lightly.  She hoped he did not think her rather forward for being so familiar.

“Um, what did you need it for?”  She held the bright red yarn up slightly.

“Oh, just the dress, red is her favorite colour.  Funny really.”  He seemed to share a private joke as his lips curled in a sweet smile.  “Oh, sorry, her name is Ruby, my lovely little Ruby, her birth month too.  Anyway, as I said before, sorry I took up so much of your time, I’m sure you didn’t expect to have some stranger prattle on.”

“No, No don’t worry, it’s alright.”  She smiled faintly as the man smiled softly and walked further down the aisle to the darker tones of red.  

She looked down at the bright red yarn in her hand, she turned it over slowly and thought about all the wonderful things she could make.  The ball of yarn screamed out to become a rose, a striking red rose on the pocket of the left hand side of Grandma’s jumper.

Then she looked up at the man, beginner in the world of knitting. She had been there.  The sweet man making a knitted doll for his daughter.  Something she had done for her younger sister before she died.  A doll with a bright red dress.  A doll for his little Ruby.

Ending One

He reached for a darker shade of red and turned it over in his hand, this shade was not quite right, it said noble lady, not so much strawberry princess, but it would have to do.  He knew his dress would look nothing like the beautiful doll from the pattern, but he didn’t care.  He knew Ruby would love a Princess doll, he knew she wanted a knitted doll and HE would be the one to make it.  

“Even if she does have a slightly darker red dress.”  He thought sadly to himself, that red would have been perfect, but he needed two balls.  He was about to pop it into his basket when someone tapped on his shoulder.

“Excuse me,” She smiled, handing him a ball of bright red yarn.

Ending Two

“Even if she does have a slightly darker red dress.”  He thought sadly to himself, that red would have been perfect, but he needed two balls.  He was about to pop it into his basket when someone tapped on his shoulder.

“Excuse me,” She smiled, handing him a ball of bright red yarn.  He looked down and felt his chest explode with gratitude.  “And, if you need any help with the doll at all, my number.”  Who was this young woman, this pink cheeked, well spoken young lady draped with a fine knitted cardigan?  “Good luck.”  She said softly before turning to walk away, he looked down at the ball of yarn and noticed she had written her name and mobile number on the wrapper of the red yarn.  He felt a lump form in his throat, his mouth went dry leaving him wondering how he ever got married in the first place.

“Wait,” she turned on her heel and waited expectantly.  “Do you, I mean if you’re not too busy, want to grab a coffee?”  

Make time.....write a letter......make a new friend.

Hello my lovely people how are you all, enjoying the weather? Well in the Grotto I have a beautiful breeze so I'm fine 😂 here is a snippet of my longer post full of feel good things. 

I wanted to start with something I personally feel proud of, it's something small but so important to two lovely ladies. I'm talking about Mrs Edith Tulley and Mrs Nora Morris from my local care home. I'm sure anyone who is human with a warm beating heart felt the sorrow at the Carehome situation back in Lockdown part one. Not only were people dying but there was the ones who couldn't see their families, or those who had no one but the Care Workers. In the past, before my optics days, I worked as a domicilary Care Worker, I met some wonderful people but I decided to leave because I wanted to help more and apparently that was nurse work......which I wasn't. 

Now I had once of those dangerous things, a thought, if I can't go and volunteer at the Care home, maybe I could offer a letter writing service, as it were. Now I love writing letters by hand, I always have and always will. SWALK!!! In my early college days I would send letters to the offices of famous faces I admired, a few times I got replies and autographs and that made me so happy.  

So I sent an email to a few Carehomes and got a reply from my local one telling me they would ask their Residents. Much to my surprise two weeks later they emailed me back saying two ladies wanted to recieve a letter and were able to reply. They sent me a little bit of information about them, what they liked and so on and I set about writing. I can tell you it's lovely writing letters you know will be read by someone, someone who will smile as they do and reply. Now Mrs Morris and Mrs Tulley are two VERY different people! They became friends while living in the Carehome and both are very strong minded and willed women but..............Mrs Morris is a very naughty lady! She's very cheeky and VERY naughty if you know what I mean. She likes to tell me things about the war and recipes she's found in magazines, she's also a master at crochet and has given me tips to improve my own skills. I buy her the magazines and she sometimes sends me ones written by hand......BUT! She is very naughty when it comes to men! She made me giggle with her letter a few weeks ago, well actually she made me burst out laughing leaving me half tempted to tweet a photo of her comments to the intended TV Dr she......complimented. I think that's the kindest word to use. Don't misunderstand she's not vulgar in anyway, she just openly says if she thinks a man of good looking or has a nice bottom and in this case she wrote the 'If I was 40 years younger' line. You see she, like me, finds being smart, funny, kind and sweet faced attractive. I like beards though while she doesn't, her husband tried to grow one in their days of courting (Dwaa I love that term.) and told him to shave or she would take the lawn mower to it. They had a great marriage and she misses him dearly.

Mrs Tulley however is such a sweet natured lady, her letters are shorter than Mrs Morris but still just as lovely. She calls me a chatter bird and imagines I talk as much in real life as In my letters. (And she would be right, most of the time it's because I love talking to people but at times it's nerves, that and hiccups are signs of me being nervous..... And if I start the cheesy jokes run for the hills!) She used to be a Land girl during the war, we talk mostly about growing things and she's given me some killer tips for my trees. I have four you see, one avocado and tree pine trees. I don't know if the pine trees will grow to become saplings but one can try. She does talk politics even though she knows I don't fully understand, dispite having met three Prime Ministers myself, she enjoys telling me about Politics Live. (In case your wondering I met John Major as a child because I won a competition, he was very nice and we shook hands after a chat. I also met Tony Blair when he was running for parliament, funny story that, he came to my school and disrupted the lunch break. He asked me what I was up to and I, rather rudely in my own opinion replied 'The library is closed because your here so not much' I mean I could have been nicer but I was bummed out about not going to the library. And last one was Boris Johnson, that was back in his Mayor days. I was running the banking stuff over the city with a fellow Lab tech and there he was with a few of his people, standing there waiting for the underground my colleague and I did that 'Is that who I think it is' thing and he looked over, waved and said good morning. It was really quite cool actually, we had a chat for three stops about bikes and cake.........I am a bike rider you see and baker and of course we know Boris was into his bikes.) 

Now I'm telling you all of this just to show you my own experience, just with one thought I made two ladies who felt cut off from the world when theirs had changed, happy. My letters won't change their lives, it won't make this situation any better, but it makes their lives a little happier, it gives them things to talk about, something to look forward to and they really appreciate it. Plus I have two new Nana's who I care deeply for.

 

So to sum things up

So what I was trying to say in this section is making friends is not all about social media. Hand writing letters is such a wonderful thing, it's peaceful for your mind, enjoyable not only for you but the person you are sending letters to. Sadly Mrs Morris has passed away since writing my post entitle 'Cheese is not your enemy' Mrs Tulley is not feeling very well at rhe moment which is quite worrying but I'm sending her healing light. 

But give it a try, send your friend a letter, gell send your Nana a letter! Hand written letters can be so much fun, I love sending letters with little surprise gifts too, make it your own just give it a try. 

Until next time my little pixies 🧚🏻‍♀️ 

Tatty bye 👋🏼 

It OK To cry 🤗

A few months back I wrote I long post with loads of information, emotional stuff and since we're looking after our mental health I thought I'd share things with you starting with this section on my successful blog post 'Cheese is not you're enemy....... But socks are.' so sit back, pull up a comphy toad stool and enjoy and remember, it's ok to cry. 🤗 

It's ok to cry section from 'Cheese is not your enemy' post. 

I was going to leave this section out, but then I thought, I want you to know it's ok to cry. So many people feel embarrassed about it, they want to hide away. Now sometimes it's good to lock yourself in your room and have a private cry but trust me, having a cry with someone there with you is a wonderful feeling. I have hugged lots of people I know and love when they need a good cry.  Having a pair of arms go around you tightly while you break down can make you feel safe. It's a moment your frail and vulnerable and those arms, no matter who they are can keep you together and feel safe from The world around you. I felt that way when My Grandpa hugged me, and I've been told I'm a great hugger....unless you ask my Nana then I break your ribs. I know we can't hug our loved ones right now and that's hard, I'm a hugger and I miss hugging my best friends, my family. 

Life is hard enough without this Corona Virus and while we're doing our best as a nation, we need to remember ourselves. 

I do believe having a cry is healthy for you, I'm no doctor you understand but it just feels like a release and once I've dried my face and blown my snotty nose, I feel better not just in my mind but my heart. Call me soppy if you like but it really does. 

Here's my example.

November 4 would have been my Grandpa's birthday, he died and it hits me that I can't make that phone call, no matter how short it was. He was my father figure and hero, he told me how life works and to work hard at everything you do. All the things a real dad did. So yes, his death hit me and it hit me hard. 

Three days after he died I was helping a patient, yes I was out of the laboratory, and half way through the radio played a song, 'Dance with my Father' Luthor Van Dross and I couldn't help it, I excused myself and cried on the steps at work. I couldn't listen to that song for months after. Now I realised that song made me cry because I always had a vision that one day I would get married, he would walk me down the aisle and we had that father and daughter dance, that's what I always wanted. But hearing that song just clicked something in my brain and out they came. 

So back to this year November 4, I took my boy to school and came home trying to keep my mind off the day, but I just couldn't focus and there was a lump in my chest I couldn't  shift. So I went to my room, pulled up that song, picked up my childhood Teddy, (yes 34 and I still have my Teddy 🐻 love me, love my Teddy.) I let it play and once the chorus hit, the tears fell. Yes I'm not shamed, I full on cried into poor Teddy but I felt so much better after. It felt like a release, the feeling in my chest was gone and my mind was clearer.  I also had visions of my Grandpa tell me to stop being soppy in his own way and that made me smile.

Things can get on top of us and life is hard, there's so much to contend with and while some of us are parents and have to put them first, we do need time to take care of ourselves. After all, if I'm not well or at 100% who will take care of my boy? 

So if you feel like crying do it, don't be ashamed. If you want to talk to someone about how you feel, do it, even if you write it down. On Twitter I have my messages open so if you ever want a chat drop me a hello, I'm a pretty good listener and I always have a joke or two.... Other than that I'm sure I can find a Giff that will make you grin. 

So here's the links to two really good books I love to read, I'm a bit of a romantic and The Princess Bride is my Favourite book while Big Fish just captures my heart.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Big-Fish-Daniel-Wallace/dp/147117302X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Big+fish+book&qid=1604928834&sr=8-1 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Princess-Bride-William-Goldman/dp/0747545189/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=The+Princess+Bride+book&qid=1604933666&quartzVehicle=6-132&replacementKeywords=the+bride+book&sr=8-2

A bedtime story for you ♥️

Molly eat tofu by Kayleigh Burdett

I have a very special friend her name is called Molly, 

She runs and plays like all my friends and is always rather jolly. 

But there is one thing you won’t believe when I say to you, 

Molly eats just one thing and that thing is tofu. 

When my friend Nick sits down to eat meaty sauce and spaghetti,

Molly’s eating tofu while dancing with a yeti. 

If Amy and Lucy have made some lovely banana bread, 

Molly will eat tofu while standing on her head. 

Olivia loves a chicken dinner with vegetables and gravy too, 

But Molly has no gravy while eating her tofu. 

For lunch Harry enjoys baked beans on toast 

but eating tofu on its own is what Molly loves the most. 

While Chris makes Xand eat creepy, crawly bugs....... yuck! 

Molly is eating tofu while driving a monster truck. 

To Tracy’s porridge her mum adds honey from a beehive, 

but Molly eats her tofu, just after this skydive.  

Now Molly eats tofu because she doesn’t like meat or fish, 

tofu with more tofu is her favourite dish. 

But eating different things to your friends doesn’t really matter, it’s true 

Because Molly is always my special friend and Molly eats tofu. 

What do you know about Survival?

Hello everyone and welcome to the Grotto, how have you all been? Today I have a post that is very special and something, I personally, have always found fascinating. I do hope you enjoy it as much as I have writing it, and maybe just maybe, it might encourage you to pick up a book or two on the subject.

LET ME GIVE YOU A HISTORY LESSON.

What comes to mind when you hear things like survival, primitive living, and life skills? I bet you think zombie apocalypse, cavemen and using a smart phone or pc. Well you’d be wrong, survival is more than just what you play in video game’s or see in movies. Primitive living is more than being a caveman ‘Ugging’ at the amazement of fire…………Well the last one you can do, I still find it amazing how you can make fire with sticks. Yes you need a lot of skills and luck but it’s still an amazing thing.

I have always enjoyed watching and reading about primitive living, bush skills, bush tucker and everything that comes with it. I started my fascination with primitive skills and survival at a young age watching a television show called ‘The Bush Tucker Man’ with my Granddad. I always remember him for his large hat and lovely smile, and of course eating things that made me go eeeewwww as a child. My Granddad made me laugh too with his own brand of going yuck, or calling him a dirty sod. In reality, we both enjoyed watching and learning from this man, real name Major Leslie James Hiddins. (The wonders of the internet search machine.) Now we both knew we would never be able to go to Australia but it was nice sitting down and watching him and learning what he had to teach.

Now from there I went onto reading all the books I could find on primitive living, tribes and making shelters. My brother and I would always enjoy our trips to the library but once there we separated. (He to the kids section and me to the reference.) I must admit there wasn’t much in the way of books in my local library so I had to make do with what I could. You have to remember I am 35 so there wasn’t the internet when I was a child. If you wanted to know something you had to look for a book or find someone who knew the answer to your questions. But, as usual I’m digressing. As the years went on I found more books and more television shows appeared on British TV, such as Bruce Parry’s Tribe and Ray Meirs to name a few. Where I do admire Bruce Parry for his work I have to admit I did like Ray more for his skills and his knowledge not only of primitive living but the history of our beautiful land and the flora around us. I did indulge in Bear Grills but was never really impressed. Of course college and work happened so reading and watching television went out of the window. So that’s a brief history of my enjoyment of survival, primitive skills and living. It’s strange how a television show can ignite an interest.

Now if I was stuck on a desert island and could pick one person to have with me you would think I’d pick someone super famous to keep me company, or maybe a loved one? Well, even though you may know me well, you would actually be wrong. I wouldn’t even ask Bruce Parry or Ray Meirs. Nope. I would ask Mr Cody Lundin. Who is this man I hear you ask from your toadstools?! Well let me tell you, Mr Lundin is the Founder, Director and Lead Instructor of his own Aboriginal Living Skills School. He is Mr Primitive Skill! Well in my opinion and many others too. Not only does he teach primitive skills he actually lives it, Cody made his own home, he recycles water and much more. Now before I invite Mr Lundin to pull up a spiritual toadstool, (He’s in the US you see and my grotto is in the UK.) let me tell you about him and his work. Mr Lundin kindly directed me to his website where I found so much interesting facts and information to create this blog, so thank you for that.

THE MORE YOU KNOW, THE LESS YOU NEED.

Now I have to start this with a confession and an honest one at that, as that is what I am if nothing else. I only discovered Cody through another TV show and primitive skill guy. A brief tale, while shopping in a place called ‘The Works’ I found a box set DVD called ‘Survive That.’ A show with a bunch of military friends, kidnapping one another, leaving them in a survival situation where they have 100 hours to get to civilization. It was pretty neat, but of course I immediately latched onto the Primitive guy, Matt Graham, his skills were amazing. Yes it’s all well and good being militarily trained, but my Uncle was in the army and I heard his tales so military survival didn’t really interest me. Don’t get me wrong it’s still amazing skill sets but they have plan upon plan, they work with technology and so on.

Anyway, as usual I digress which is nothing new my regular readers. (Most likely thinking, there she goes again.) now of course I went to Google and searched what else Matt had done and low and behold there was a little show called Dual Survival. I was rather late to the Dual Survival boat I must say not having cable and all that jazz, too busy working and it seemed like a waste of money. Plus I’m more of a book worm so TV is not my big thing. But movies, don’t even get me started on Star Wars and golden oldies.

Anyway, I hate to start a show mid-series so I watched from series one and there was Cody and Dave rowing to the shore and Dual Survival had begun. And that’s how I came to discover Cody Lundin. I will be frank here and tell you I love series one and two, series three was good too but I didn’t feel there was much chemistry with the new guy Joe. There was moments when Cody and Dave bonded, shared a laugh or even disagreed and it looked natural to me, I don’t see Cody as a man to play to the camera like some ‘reality show’ hosts, lets face it people do. So when he had a smile on his face and hugged Dave because they had reunited, that to me was real. Whereas Joe, I only remember Cody hugging him once, please message me if I’m wrong. It just didn’t have the same feel.

Anyway, I loved the show so I got his books, and to this day years down the line I still put series one or two on in the background while I write or do the house work. So that’s where I know Cody from, now I don’t expect everyone to know my Special Guests, so here’s some biographical information for you straight from Cody’s website, delivered to you in a way only Nightshade from the Grotto can.

(Remember, the following is from Cody’s website, some from his books and a little of my own words. I make no money from this blog but I do hope you might buy his books and enjoy them as much as I did.)

“MY WARRIOR TRAINING.”

Did you know that Cody is an internationally recognized professional survival instructor? He has over 30 years experience of teaching and he does it hands on. He doesn’t just stand there and get you to read from a text book, explains the theory of making a fire then leave you to it. He’s the kind of teacher I enjoy working with and I have worked with many in college and at my place of work………with me being the same whenever I teach.

Now I was surprised when I read that Cody was a child of a military family, I pictured him coming from a family living in a beautiful countryside, what I would call the country but more than likely should be referred to as the wilderness. I guess having a family member in the military meant you moved around a lot because Cody moved, on his website it says years of migration. I like that term, almost like a bird flying to warmer climates. Nature became Cody’s constant companion, can you imagine how lovely that must have been, I can imagine it was a hard life though. Imagine making friends only to leave them when your family tells you it’s time to up and leave. But my heart goes out to amazing people who decide to follow an interest through, to not only study it but live it. Growing up he would hike alone into the Wyoming wilderness with a Spartan spear and a fishing line so he could improvise catching trout. Wow can you imagine that?! Just one day decided, no I’ve had enough, I’m downing tools and going for a walk. But that walk changing how you see the world and your very life itself? I do enjoy reading Cody’s words, his books are amazing and the information on his website gives you an insight to Cody’s early life.

Growing up Cody did some amazing things I only dreamed or wrote about in some trashy teenage story, (I was a terrible writer as a teenager, I used to write trashy love stories for my female friends.) when Cody graduated from High School, what we call Secondary School, he created his first survival kit for living on the go, grabbed his bag and a guitar and headed into the world. I think unless you actually know the man himself you won’t fully appreciate or know how he lived his life. From reading his works, I think it sounded amazing, hard not only physically but mentally and in my opinion, emotionally. I think the emotional side would break me. But read his works and you can make your own mind up.

PERFECT SHELTER? YOU MUST BE IN A BOOK.

Now this man knows his onions. When watching Dual Survival he came out with things that made me go and search and look in more depth. It’s one thing knowing about your specialized subject, but to have a knowledge of not only wilderness survival and primitive living but also the amount Cody does, it’s just too wow for words. Did you know Cody actually lived in a bush shelter while going to college. Now I know he said in one episode of dual survival that he didn’t have many friends and no girl wanted to hang out in a brush shelter, but bloody hell I would have! To me that’s amazing. I know at the time he was broke but instead of living in an alley way or door step he made his own home. I can imagine a young Cody would have still made a pretty badass shelter even back then. One of the many things I picked up reading and watching his work is this……….THERE IS NO PERFECT SHELTER! Unless you get bricks, cement and a butt load of modern materials you’ll never have a perfect shelter or location. It’s a case of taking a moment, slowing down and really taking in where you are, making the most of what Mother Nature has to offer. Make and make do! My favorite expression and my close friends must get annoyed with me saying it all the time.

My more avid readers will know my thoughts and feelings on Mother Nature by now, but for those who don’t, all you really need to know is that I don’t believe in any religious God’s, I believe in Mother Nature and science, the elements around me are more real than a book of religious words. Yet I have been called Buddhist as I fully accept and never disrespect others and their beliefs. But again…………….digression, back to survival.

Shelter is one of the most important things in life, think about it sitting in your home or place of work. How does it make you feel having a roof over your head, a warm bed, simple things like that?

Now making a shelter is hard, we made one when I was doing my Duke of Edinburgh Award and although it was rather shabby and a Lean To (Oh yes!) it did the job and I got the points I needed. You could read all the books in the world but unless you have to right tools and materials, you’ll never have the perfect shelter. The perfect shelter is build by many builders with machines, in the wilds you do what you can and tick as many boxes as you can.

I’d highly recommend reading some books on shelters alone, from a simple hammock to get you off the ground to a full on shelter like a teepee, shelter is key.

Of course being able to order a pizza would be great when living off the grid, but primitive living means to either hunt or gather what you eat. Matt Graham spends lots of his time gathering food, hunting and so on. I remember reading an article on his typical day, it was very full on and I’m sure 99% of the world couldn’t do it. Its not a case of going to the shop and picking something up, you have to know your onions! You can bet your bottom button that every survival expert knows what they can and can’t eat. I watched a film based on a real life story, ‘Into the Wilds’ and although it’s an amazing story and something I have only dreamed of, It ends sadly because he made a mistake. Eating things you don’t know can be deadly, and that’s not an exaggeration, plants are amazing things given to us by the earth but they can be deadly. So don’t go out into your local woods and start eating those mushrooms you walk passed. Know your plants, know you fungus and if in doubt don’t touch! I really enjoy reading about plants, they are so amazing and can be used for more than your salad. I use plants myself for tea’s and homemade creams, but you have to read up before you do anything like that.

Now fire is one of the sacred elements, it can take but it can also give. Have you ever sat in front of a fire and just relaxed, let your mind wander or simply enjoy the world around you? Fire making is an art and in my eyes, and many others, its magic! Fire keeps you warm, it cooks food if you catch it and keeps critters away. Fire can boost you mentally, it can give you the feel of home. The one thing I took way from Bruce Parry was how much Tribe’s value fire, how much it means to them, I remember reading a passage in a book, I can’t remember the book, but the author was watching as a tribesman made a digging stick and he made a fire for no other reason than it made him feel at home in the middle of nowhere. I’ve seen many fires made but I have to say Cody is the best at it, he’s made fire with sticks, stone, flint, he even fashioned a fire piston in one episode of Dual Survival. It took him many tries but he did it. Its all about the determination, the skill and respecting the worlds around you. Cody makes fire making look so easy, but it’s not. There are also primitive tools you can make to aid in fire making, have a look at pump drills and bow drill sets. My personal favorite is a bow dill, I would have love to make one for my Duke of Edinburgh!

TURNING YOUR PASSION INTO SOMETHING MORE.

Now I’m sure this sounds more like a Cody appreciation blog but the man is just that wow! When someone has such a living knowledge you can’t help but share it…….and this is just a small amount! (Pssst maybe buying a book or two……..) now making television shows about your passion is all well and good, Ray Miers made some amazing shows and while people like John Hudson and Matt Graham made 2 great series of Dude you Screwed, people like Cody went on and did more.

With less than $10 Cody founded his Aboriginal Living Skills school, he has used the same passion and determination from his own life to take people into the wilderness and give them the skills to live. He has an amazing understanding of physics, psychology and the very physiology of human survival it makes you wonder how many books he’s swallowed. Seriously this man is a walking encyclopedia and that is why I would have him on my desert island. Cody doesn’t just teach it, he lives it and I know I sound like a broken record as I’ve said that more than once in this post, but you really don’t understand how rare that it.

The way Cody lives and has lived his life, 99.99% of people would even volunteer to live that way for a weekend. Cody goes barefooted everywhere he goes, now I worry about that but I have soft feet, I wear shoes when I go out and only walk around the house and beach barefoot. Cody lives his teaching, he lives his passion, he practices what he preaches, whatever phrase you want to use, that’s what he does.

To have a passion to teach others is a special thing, to find a way of passing on your words and knowledge in a way that works, that’s genius. Being a teacher takes more than simply remembering what you yourself picked up from others and books. Its taking that knowledge and passing it on in a way that will stay with that person for life. Cody has so many amazing courses I would love to take part in, maybe one day he could do a live online lesson? (hint, hint.) I would be first in line for that.

The skills Cody teaches are life saving when you think about it, if there would be a world disaster and modern life reverts back to a more purer time, who would be alive, who would survive? Would it be the Smart Phone loving City man or the man in bare feet with sticks? I know who I vote for.

AFTER THAT CODY APPRICIATION SPEECH.

Now I know that was a lot of Cody application there, but as I said, when someone has such knowledge that’s second to none you have to share it. Now I’m not saying there’s only Cody in the world that’s a Primitive Skill’s expert, he’s just my personal favorite. Check out Ray Meirs, Matt Graham and Bear Grills if you want a giggle. (He makes me giggle as he reminds me of the energizer bunny in every situation.)

Now at the end of each blog I have a recommendation, this time its……you’ve guessed it! Cody’s books. I’ve added the links below for his website, so have a look and maybe share wih me your views on them.

BONUS INTERVIEW!

Also, today I have a special surprise! Cody, the man himself kindly answered a few questions for this blog, I do hope you enjoy this mini interview. Of course I’ve had to pull up a spiritual toadstool, even laid out the tea and cake, then sent the questions for him to answer but you can use your imagination here. The questions are in bold as usual. 

When you’re not teaching, what do you do in a typical day? 

I work a lot, and there is much preparation in what I do that goes unnoticed by a student.

Much of my time is spent reconning for courses, prepping materials and keeping up with maintaining gear from season to season.

What was it about Arizona that spoke to you, telling you this was your home?

Arizona has the most biological diversity, in the shortest drive time, of any place in North America. I have taught winter survival and then desert survival the very next day. It has amazing terrain variations and large amounts of extremely remote country. It is an ideal place to recreate in the outdoors year-round, from the deserts to the mountains.

Your home is amazing, it provides you with everything you need in an echo friendly way. But, what inspired you when designing and building it?

Nature. She always has the best design ideas. I paid attention to the seasons and how they played upon the landscape. I designed my home based upon what I learned about the environment in my area.

You have been to some beautiful places in the world and must have seen some sights. What has been the most memorable place you have been and why?

Every place has been memorable. Every place has its magic, from the sand dunes of Oman, to the swamps of Brazil.

What inspires you in life?

Integrity, honesty, principle and character.

When you go for a walk about alone, what do you think about, do you admire your beautiful surroundings, lose yourself in the tranquility or is your survival head always on?

Both. I appreciate the beauty but I am hard wired to see a “shelter” there, a way to make “fire” here and the ability to get something to “eat” over there.

What do you do to unwind, I read you had a guitar in your youth, do you still play?

I no longer play. When a person loves their job, there is little need to unwind.

I could have asked so many questions and I would love to sit down and have a real conversation one day but as I said before, Cody runs his own school. So the fact he took moments out of his busy day to answer me really made me happy. He seems like such a kind and genuine person, the kind of person I would welcome into my circle and learn from and just have a chat with for hours. The kind of person you’d befriend and keep for years. So thank you Cody for answering my questions, (Added note, and baring with me while writing this. It took such a very long time due to life and so on.)

Now I know I could have gone into so much more detail but for one, I’m not an expert and two, I would rather you pick up a book yourself and discover the world around you for yourself. Open your eyes to mother nature and see there is so much more. If it wasn’t for people like Cody, John Hudson, Ray Meirs, Bruce Parry and the Bush Tucker Man these things would die one day. But by teaching others and writing books for us to read, this amazing thing called Survival and Primitive Skills will live on. So go on, pick up a book today!

I do hope you enjoyed reading this and it wasn’t too long and boring in anyway, I really enjoyed writing it. I might take a few moments and write a more in depth posts about tribes and primitive living. Send me a message and let me know what you think, you know how to find me on Twitter.

Take care where ever you are, sending you much love and blue light.

Tatty bye

Photo taken by me (I also stacked those stones too ♥) 

www.codylundin.com

Here's a search result of survival books. 

www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=survival+books&sprefix=Survi&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_5

Random Thoughts 🤔

So I know this is slightly different from the normal waffle I tend to post, but I thought about something.

We need to make just a little time for ourselves just to have a little think, a moment of serenity or just a little laugh. I like to have these moments while sitting on the loo..... Its true! It's the one place where (normally) I won't be bothered or have that melody of 'Mummy' sung at me, it's just a few minutes of me....... In that space...... No phone...... Nothing.

So a random thought for you to ponder while on the throne, chopping onions, or even brushing your teeth. 

How does nature actually work? I understand it on a scientific level and even a spiritual level. But think of it for a second.......... Its magic! 

What's your thoughts 💭 🤔 

Your welcome ♥ 

Tatty Bye 👋🏼