Welcome to today’s author, Sarah Jane Butfield, whose fascinating new memoir, Glass Half Full, has recently been published. Here’s the link, and thanks for answering our questions, Sarah! http://smarturl.it/AmazonSarahJButfield
Cherry Gregory: Hi Sarah! Great to see you in the Spotlight.
Sarah Jane Butfield: Thanks Cherry
Cherry Gregory: I haven’t looked at your book yet (but I will do!) I take it it’s about Australia. Are you still living there?
Sarah Jane Butfield: It’s about the struggles we endured to leave the UK and migrate to outback Australia, and our experiences that followed. I am now living in South West France.
Cherry Gregory: Sounds very interesting. Outback Australia must have been amazing…and quite a shock after living in the UK!
Anne: Good morning Sarah – I have not read your book yet – but you are on my list 🙂 I have just retired so it will be sooner rather than later. What a fascinating life you have lead – what type of nursing did you do before your great adventures?
Sarah Jane Butfield: As much as you think you have researched and prepared for going to live in a multi-cultural town with a high population of indigenous people the reality is totally different.
Cherry Gregory: What aspects of the outback did you find the most surprising?
Sarah Jane Butfield: Good morning Anne, I have been a Registered General Nurse for 27 years and have worked in pretty much all the disciplines over the years.
Judi: What was the thing you were least prepared for?
Sarah Jane Butfield: Cherry the outback itself is a spectacular experience, and naturally beautiful in unique ways. The scenery, and the way the sun reflects on rocks forming shadows, the waterholes where you can swim with nature, and seeing so much wildlife in your day to day life, like camels by the side of the road, kangaroos, etc.
Sarah Jane Butfield: Judi – the thing I was least prepared for was the smell! Poor personal hygiene amongst some indigenous people combined with the smell of smoke from the fire pits that they cook the kangaroo tail on made me nauseous.
Judi: Oh your answer to Cherry really sells it, almost had me on a plane, but your answer to me really put my off. Must read the book
Cherry Gregory: It sounds so beautiful. And the fact you have camels there amuses me!
Sarah Jane Butfield: When I was told to watch out for camels I thought they were kidding, Aussies make fun of new people from the UK and in the hospital environment, high jinx with plastic spiders and snakes is rife for your initiation period!
Cherry Gregory: I expect you had to do a lot to “prove your worth” at the beginning. What did you find the most difficult aspect of working in the new environment?
Sarah Jane Butfield: The indigenous names of the patients is scary as many are the same, so giving drugs etc you have to be very vigilant. the level of violence is shocking with basic weapons like sticks, knives and axes. However the most shocking aspect from a nursing perspective is how late some leave it to seek medical attention.
Cherry Gregory: Sorry to show my ignorance here, but are there language difficulties too, or is their main language English?
Sarah Jane Butfield: It’s a good question Cherry you would assume a basic level of English in Australia, but the Indigenous community has a variety of languages and hence the vital service of the liaison officers. However, you do have to pick up a few key words for day to day nursing care, words for pain, food, etc. The elders rarely speak English and are often accompanied by a close family member if admitted to hospital.
Cherry Gregory: Wow! That’s an aspect I’ve not thought about before and one which must have really added to your difficulties.
Paul: If my cat wrote a novel it’d be called “Bowl Half Empty” :o)
Cherry Gregory: Did you find a big difference in Australian humour compared with British humour?
Sarah Jane Butfield: Yes definitely! In the outback the Aussie humour is crude and chauvinistic, but in Tasmania they make fun of themselves, especially in relation to Tassies having two heads! However Aussies also love 1980’s British Comedy so some good taste there! British humour much more witty.
Susan Joyce: Good morning Sarah Jane! Thanks for being with WLM to answer questions about your book. Lots of good questions and answers. I’m curious to know how you came up with your title.
Sarah Jane Butfield: Good morning Susan, thanks for the welcome and quite simply the title is my view on life, the glass is half full always. I spent too many years with an empty glass, a time never to be repeated
Susan Joyce: Nice! Positive outlook. What were the circumstances leading to this particular assignment? Was it out of curiosity or were you seeking a life change?
Sarah Jane Butfield: The decision to move the Australia was initially triggered by a messy divorce and years as a victim before I met Nigel. After some counselling after I lost custody of my daughter I knew I had to focus on the children I had care of and look after ‘me’ a bit better. Moving to Australia was in search of a better life for not only me and Nigel but more importantly for my youngest daughter Jaime the innocent victim of the divorce.
Ben Hatch: Ho Sarah, Is it true that the Aussies still love The Goodies?
Susan Joyce: Every cloud has a silver lining certainly seems true in your case. Good for you and your awakening, and for focusing on the positive. Sounds like a MUST READ.
Micki: Morning, Sarah! I’m another with your book on my kindle waiting to be read! Did you ever get paid in kind or given any strange gifts for your nursing care?
Sarah Jane Butfield: Hi Ben, that is certainly very true about The Goodies, most Aussies are brought up on our British comedy and some are stuck in that era! Great question
Sarah Jane Butfield: Definitely an awakening Susan
Sarah Jane Butfield: Excellent Micki – in the UK nurses often get a box of chocolates, or a card, etc, when patients go home as a thank you for the care received, in Alice Springs I once received a kangaroo tail which I donated to the aboriginal council as I was vegetarian!
Micki: I’ve eaten kangaroo, though not the tail! Did you find the older aborigines used traditional medicines & only came to you as a last resort?
Sarah Jane Butfield: I was a medically induced vegetarian, due to taking medication for TB exposure in Alice Springs however before then I did eat kangaroo, but not the tail to me it never looked very meaty! Yes they do use traditional medicine and shamans and I think in the elders this did affect the time frame for seeking help.
Cherry Gregory: Dare I ask, what does Kangaroo taste like?
Susan Joyce: As a practicing nurse in traditional medicine, were you influenced by the shamanistic approach to healing?
Sarah Jane Butfield: Cherry kangaroo is similar to beef. It is high protein and low fat, which made it excellent training food for Nigel whilst in Alice Springs when he trained and had his first amateur boxing match. Susan the shamanistic therapy on the whole was a private affair for them but I have to admit to witnessing miracles!
Iconic Alice Springs sign
Rowena: Sarah Jane, from the foregoing questions and answers, you sound like you have had some amazing and interesting experiences whilst in The Alice. It is interesting to note how different one Aussie state is from another. I have never been to Alice Springs, but I know that life there is vastly different from life in the suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria. I haven’t read your book and the answer may well be there, but may I ask what prompted you to move to the South of France from Australia and also did you experience any other States of Australia?
Sarah Jane Butfield: Hi Rowena, after Alice Springs we lived in Ipswich near to Brisbane and Millmerran in outback Queensland. After the Brisbane floods in Jan 2011 our Ipswich home was totally submerged and as a result we lost the house and the land in Millmerran and ended up in Tasmania living with Nigel’s father. The decision to move to France was a combination of a bucket list item to renovate a rural french cottage, and after losing the roots to our Australian dream we needed a new adventure and we wanted to be nearer to our grown up children in the UK.
Rowena: Wow. You’ve certainly endured alot Sarah Jane and come out fighting the other side. Well done to you for following a dream through all the disasters. Those floods in QLD were massive so can quite understand your move to France. Good luck to you both for the next chapter of your lives.
Sarah Jane Butfield: Thank you so much Rowena, I feel blessed that we lost only material things we had friends who lost more precious things that are life changing.
Cherry Gregory: Is Tasmania officially part of Australia, or does it have a separate government?
Micki: I’m sure you’ll have at least some good memories of each of the places you lived in, but if you were to go back to Australia, where would you like to revisit or go to?
Sarah Jane Butfield: Yes Tasmania is an official state of Australia, and (this is not my area of expertise) the government structure consists of the federal government overall and each state has its own government as well. There are 6 states and 2 main territories, and each has its own capital city.
Cherry Gregory: Thank you for that, Sarah! Governing such a large area must be difficult!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Many good memories over the four and half years in different ways, we met some amazing people and saw some spectacular sights. For a revisit it would definitely be the Gold Coast and Cairns in Queensland, which we loved. Places we never made it to, but would love to visit in the future include the Whitsunday Islands, Adelaide and we would love to drive the Great Ocean Road in a camper van.
Sarah Jane Butfield: Cherry I am no expert, but in my opinion the local state governments have a very hands on approach which means real issues that affect the occupants of that state are a high priority. In Alice Springs territory government officials visit regularly.
Cherry Gregory: That sounds good. The best way to do it and I wish our UK government did the same!
Micki: How did you cope with the heat in Alice?
Sarah Jane Butfield: I have always loved visiting hot countries on holiday and so I enjoyed the heat. However, it is intense and unrelenting and what I struggled with is the drop in night time temperature which is normal in the desert but which I had never encountered before. Air conditioners are king! I never really liked drinking water before living there
Susan Joyce: Do you enjoy living in France? Are you working on another book project?
Sarah Jane Butfield: France is an amazing place, and our cottage renovation is incredibly rewarding and I would never sell the house we worked and waited so long to achieve as I want all the children to be able to visit and use it. However recently I have experienced another awakening Susan. This year I experienced some enormous highs and a few dramatic lows that have made me question this choice of location. Yes the sequel to Glass Half Full is in progress and it has been suggested that I do a prequel on my years in unhealthy relationships/marriages, which may help others trapped in domestic violence.
Micki: Is travelling in the blood for you? Did any of your relations up sticks & move abroad?
Sarah Jane Butfield: When I was growing up my mum was a single parent with four girls to raise, in the times of no income support benefits, etc she worked 3 jobs and we never went without and we holidayed in Wales. I was thinking about this yesterday whilst working on final chapter of the sequel, which I have called ‘The gypsy in me.’ We used to get gypsies come to the door selling lucky lavender, etc and I was always mesmerised by their jet black hair, the gold earrings and the caravans they parked on the green. My mum always had dyed black hair and I wondered if she had gypsy blood. I have never craved travel, but I often felt like I was searching for somewhere to put down my roots however I have discovered I can’t do it away from my children.
Micki: My mother was always petrified of being cursed by gypsies & always brought whatever they were selling! Do you now feel your roots are in France, even if you move?
Sarah Jane Butfield: My mum believed the same! I definitely feel my roots are in France, the location and lifestyle is perfect for me but there are challenging aspects of this location. Last year when Jaime was hospitalised with her CRPS in the UK and I struggled to get a same day flight to be with her, I first questioned my choice. Then when my estranged daughter made contact with me to tell me I was going to become a grandmother and she wanted her child to know me and have the relationship we never had I was overjoyed. Then within weeks I was devastated when at 22 weeks into the pregnancy she miscarried and I couldn’t be there with her. We have to learn from the experiences and challenges that we encounter, and go through, otherwise they are worthless lessons.
Micki: Ups & downs indeed. I agree we should take something positive from life’s experiences & challenges, but it takes special people to be able to do that. Hat’s off to you
Sarah Jane Butfield: Thanks Micki,
Micki: Enjoyed the chat! Must go & take the Christmas decorations down now, & my phone’s flashing low battery at me! Will return later!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Nice chatting good luck with decs my kitten George took our down unceremoniously!
Sarah Joyce: Hi ..thanks. for the latest recommendation. Finished as much of 30 houses in 30 Years as I could tolerate ( I rarely do not finish a book..for fear I will miss something). We have owned a lot of houses in thirty some years..and renovated them.. so thought this book might have a little of the humor..or drama or characters…or venues that many memoires about renovations have. This book however was about ping-ponging between Texas and Washington.. the thrill of new relationships with rich..important …disappointing men (she feels as though she should give their full name).. bemoaning her relationship with her children..looking for acceptance from her stuffy mother.. telling the reader multiple times that men think she looks ten years younger. She is enralled with the address of the house and to make sure it is the “right” address.. Many of the 30 houses were just temporary one bedroom apartments. I made it to 26 hoping she would have an ephiphany.. but she is so uncomfortable outside her social circle ( she ends up with some gay guys one evening and comes unglued).. Her one constant appears to be her furniture which is the only thing she describes in detail.. I am hesitant to be this critical since I have written two books (children’s under my married name Susan Preston-Mauks) and am working on a memoir from my facebook posts called “Up North with Bob the Bear” and do not always appreciate negative statements knowing how hard writing is. I can usually find one gem in a book)..I would like to recommend a book I liked a great deal called Saving The Fig Tree for Last.. it is about a woman moving from the States to France.. let me know if you can’t find it and I will send the author also..but can’t get to it as I am writing on my kindle. I believe her name is Paticia McGinnis..but not sure if I spelled the name correctly. This review is not meant for publication on the site.. you can recommend Saving the Fig and comment on 30 houses as a negative review .. At best 30 Houses is a 2 star.Ps thanks for letting me vent. Sue
Susan Joyce: Back to Sarah Jane, I have lived in several different countries and feel each lured me there to teach me something. Which place has given you biggest giant steps forward in life?
Sarah Jane Butfield: That’s exactly how I feel Susan no experience however challenging, is ever wasted time or energy. Life is one lesson we all learn in different ways. My giant steps of learning in my life have been firstly losing custody of my daughter 19 years ago. That feeling of having your heart wrenched out haunts me still. Also the aftermath of the floods. I have never been a materialistic person and I have lost a lot of material belongings over the years in divorce etc but this humbling experience truly made me appreciate life. We could have been there and lost more than a house, furniture and photographs etc.
Terry: Did you observe any of the shamans at work? Could you see results?
Susan Joyce: Sarah, loss is a great teacher. Thanks for sharing!
Sarah Jane Butfield: I have been on the other side of the screens as they work, as they are often surrounded by the whole family, but I did see someone who was intensive care after a stroke which caused a road traffic accident recover and return home to his community when he was not expected to live.
Sarah Jane Butfield: Just got to go walk my boys who feel neglected back soon
Cherry Gregory: Just caught up with your discussions while I’ve been away baking a cake! You’ve been through a lot but have managed to keep very positive. Did writing your memoir help you with this and perhaps lay some ghosts to rest?
Susan Joyce: Wow, can’t wait to read this one..
Sarah Jane Butfield: Keeping my journals and consequently writing my book has been a very cathartic exercise
Sarah Jane Butfield: sorry dog walk took longer than usual due to an unexpected green lane encounter with quad bikes!!
Cherry Gregory: How do you discipline yourself to write? Do you sit down at a certain time in the day or do you write any time you have a spare moment?
Susan Joyce: Sarah Jane, I’m off to make lunch. I’ll try and catch a bit more later. Thanks for taking time with the group. I look forward to reading your book.
Sarah Jane Butfield: I love to write and even if I am not on the laptop working on an article, blog post or my next book I am jotting down notes. I have notebooks by the bed, in the kitchen and on the coffee table in readiness. I aim to write for 4 hours a day with no internet as I get distracted!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Thanks for your questions Susan
Cherry Gregory: Four hours a day is a very good rate! I’m impressed. And of course your notebooks must help too. I have notebooks, but I keep losing them or somebody else in my family picks them up . I even saw my cat chewing on one the other day!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Or you open it up and find random shopping reminders or codes for car parts on ebay jotted in them. The one time I declutter and tear the page out and throw it away is the time I am asked where is that page in the notebook with the ebay code!
Cherry Gregory: Exactly!
Cherry Gregory: In your rare moments of spare time, what sort of books do you like to read?
Sarah Jane Butfield: back from lunch. I’m curious about your experience of having your kindle book on special. Does this actually help book sales or hinder them in the long run? Many of my friends are authors and most have totally different opinions about this marketing approach.
Sarah Jane Butfield: I read across many genre’s. I love non fiction/true stories, but I am also partial to crime thrillers and romantic fiction. I have recently started doing book reviews so I get a cross section to read normally in bed!
Alan Parks: Sarah what are your favourite foods from the UK, Aus and France? And do you miss anything from the UK besides family?
Sarah Jane Butfield: As a newbie to book promotion Susan, I am trying all sorts of marketing activity, that I see other more experienced authors doing. I have no intention of reinventing the wheel In my experience to date the discounted books sold less well than full price. I haven’t had any free promotions so far because from what I have read it only benefits authors with more than one title to sell. I am selling books everyday so I think I will continue to increase my exposure on free sites, blogs and review sites!
Susan Joyce: Thanks for your answer!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Alan great question as I sit here watching Nigel prepare my dinner In Australia I loved having a huge variety of fruit and veg available all year round. In France it is the croissants and cheeses! I really miss proper fish and chips from the UK. When we lived in Looe in Cornwall Kelly’s fish bar was my guilty pleasure!
Catherine Lockwood: Visiting Australia is on my bucket list. Would you recommend it and if so, where would it be a nice place to go?
Sarah Jane Butfield: Hi Catherine, Australia is an amazing country with such diversity that it really does have something for everyone. Depending on what kind of visit/holiday you are looking for Queensland is the best for whale watching, beaches, snorkelling etc. Tasmania has beautiful coastline and inland forest areas and is tourism focused. Canberra is a very interesting city to visit if you like political history. Sydney and Melbourne for shopping and Brisbane for fun! If you like the mountains and skiing the Blue mountains and for mountain beauty Cradle mountain in Tassie.
Cherry Gregory: It all sounds so beautiful. I doubt I will get there, but if I ever did, I might choose Tasmania from what you describe.
Sarah Jane Butfield: A lot of grey nomads tour Tasmania in motorhomes or as house sitters. It has seasonal weather similar to the UK (sometimes 4 seasons in one day!) Sightseeing is amazing Cherry Gregory especially if you like nature, wildlife and photography.
Jill: When you had written ‘Glass Half Full’, or even before you’d written or finished it, had you planned to write a sequel or is this a project you’ve decided on after the event. I’d also like to ask which avenue has been most effective for you in promoting your memoir?
Tim John: Hi Sarah – sorry to join so late, hope it’s not too late. Have been working all day and, as you noted, need to keep internet off when writing. How terrible are the spiders and snakes and other things like that in Australia? That’s always been my greatest fear.
Sarah Jane Butfield: Hi Jill, it was while I was editing and friends and colleagues were reading it, that I realised how far we were into our French escapades and how many adventures, and funny and family orientated moments we had experienced. Glass Half Full needed a what happened next, which has the same open and honest format but with a french slant to it. After I published I had, and still do receive emails, asking for updates on Jaime and Samantha, however the most popular characters are my boys Dave and Buster our Australian cattle dogs! In relation to promoting the book, blogs have been the most productive so far.
Cherry Gregory: I love it that the most popular of your characters are the two dogs!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Hi Tim, nice to meet you. I was worried about the snakes and spiders, but I only saw 2 snakes in my time there, I have seen more in France! In relation to spiders you have to learn basic prevention tactics quickly like Mortein around all doors and windows, check under chairs outside before you sit etc. They look worse than they are and they are not out to get you really, if I can overcome this anyone can!.
Cherry Gregory: Are there scorpions In Australia?! For some reason, I’ve always had a special fear of them!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Yes there are scorpions, we only saw small ones whilst bush camping but they never caused any problems you just have to watch for them in your swag! However the worst critters are the Inch Ants, they hurt
Cherry Gregory: I’ll try to avoid the dreaded Inch Ants!!! By their name, I take it they are quite big (for an ant!)
Sarah Jane Butfield: A full inch!!
Cherry Gregory: That’s quite impressive! Did you find it difficult to get used to such creatures, or were you quite blaise about them?
Alan Parks: Our shearer is from Oz, he tells stories of going to farms where the entrance gate is a full two hours from the door, and spiders in barns measuring the size of dinner plates! And ones that drape over your steering wheel!
Alan Parks: Thats drape over, not sit on!
Susan Joyce: BTW Cherry, Australia is a MUST SEE country. Exquisitely beautiful–where poisonous plants and animals abide and thrive. Beware signs mean just that.
Linda : Hello Sarah Jane. What a great interview! You have certainly endured some ups and downs throughout your life. It looks like you came out of them with flying colors – not to mention a great attitude! I don’t believe I read the answer to this question. How long did you end up living in Australia? Did you rent a home there? What was your home like? Do you have some favorite pictures from Australia you would like to share? Thanks in advance. Your book is on my Kindle and I’m looking forward to the read.
Sarah Jane Butfield: Hi Linda, we were in Australia for four and half years. We initially live in a rented house and bought our first home a lovely 3 bed house with garden and swimming pool after achieving permanent residency I have lots of photo’s on USB’s and I share them on my blog! I hope you enjoy Glass Half Full
Frank Kusy: Hi Sarah, sorry to be so late to the party, been down with flu (*sniffle*) I just read your book sample, blimey, you’ve been through a lot! Loved the explanation of ‘Pommes’ and the description of Alice Springs, but gawd it sounds HOT. Did your new house have air conditioning??
Frank Kusy: p.s. I went to Sydney once, couldn’t believe how many Huntsman spiders could fit into a shower, brrrr
Sarah Jane Butfield: Cherry, it never pays to be blaise about spiders etc my tactic was just treat them with respect. Alan the outback ranches do indeed require a drive to the property. Drovers or roaming ranch hands for cattle and shearing still do good business in the NT and shearers are big business in Tasmania. The biggest spiders we saw were Huntsman, when we lived in the woods they were everywhere and one hitched a lift on a road trip to Melbourne, only showing himself when we arrived at the ferry port after 3 days driving.
Sarah Jane Butfield: Hi Frank sorry to hear you are unwell Yes most houses have some form of air con.
Cherry Gregory: Arggghhh! My daughter would have a fit. She is terrified of even the smallest spider
Sarah Jane Butfield: A nearby waterhole/gorge where you go to picnic and swim with the wildlife, it is awesome Linda.
Victoria Twead: Wow, Sarah Jane, that looks amazing.
Sarah Jane Butfield: It is a lovely day out, the rock to the left of the photo is a favourite for backpackers tomb stoning
Frank Kusy: Awesome pic! But backpackers tomb stoning, wot’s that??
Sarah Jane Butfield: Jumping from ledges into the waterhole with no knowledge of how deep the water is. I am ashamed to say my son tried it in Cornwall until he realised I was on the beach one day!
Victoria Twead : I absolutely love Australia, the wildlife and plants are so crazy. Did living the Good Life in the woods in Queensland teach you anything about yourself?
Sarah Jane Butfield: Victoria I found out that I am stronger physically that I ever thought I could be, and that the simple, good life feels awesome. I don’t regret a day of the time we spent there. Simple pleasures
Teenager living in the woods in Millmerran
Victoria Twead: That’s a fantastic thing to learn.
Cherry Gregory: That’s wonderful, Sarah.
Frank Kusy: Hmm…boyz do crazy stuff, don’t they? I dove (dived?) into 4 ft of water once, nearly broke my back. What’s your favourite book Sarah, and why?
Sarah Jane Butfield: Favourite book is ‘Left neglected’ by Lisa Genova because it could happen to any of us and its good to appreciate life
Susan Joyce: I read your book and feel for all that you had to endure. Hope things are better for you know–where do you live and when is your next book out?
Frank Kusy: Just looked up Lisa’s book, brrr that happened to a friend of my wife’s, took his eyes off the road for a moment… And yes, good to appreciate life, to see, as you say, your glass half full. As a Buddhist, I try to do that too, don’t always succeed!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Susan we are in France currently and I hope the sequel will be out at end of Feb
Sarah Jane Butfield: Buddhist snap
Cherry Gordon: How long did each of your books take you to write?
Sarah Jane Butfield: First book took 9 months, but second in progress
Susan Joyce: 9 months? That’s impressive.
Cherry Gregory: Yes, I’m impressed. That is very good going.
Susan Joyce: Sounds like a normal book pregnancy. Guess mine took longer since I gave birth to an elephant.
Sarah Jane Butfield: I really enjoyed your elephant
Susan Joyce: Thanks Sarah! I am referring to my first book for children, “Peel the Extraordinary Elephant.” It took forever to write.
Sarah Jane Butfield: Lol sorry xx writing is a labour of love and the more I learn, the more self critical I become. I never believed anyone would be interested. The first and best advice I was given was ‘write like no one will ever read it’ to reveal honest raw emotions
Susan Joyce: Great advice
Cherry Gregory: Sarah, have you ever thought of writing fiction
Sarah Jane Butfield: Indeed, I started 2 books whilst I was completing my Diploma in Creative writing assignments. My tutor advised that I complete them and so I will. One is romantic fiction the other is a thriller.
Susan Joyce: Sounds like you’re on a roll.
Cherry Gregory: I’ll look out for them!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Thanks Cherry don’t worry I will let you know as they develop.
Cherry Gregory: Please do!
Susan Joyce: Me also! Thanks for a great interview!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Thank you to everyone who has asked questions and chatted today, it has been a motivating experience.
Susan Joyce: Sarah Jane, keep trying to connect with you on library thing, but can’t find my details. Will soon. Thanks again!
Cherry Gregory: You’ve been great, very interesting and inspirational. Thank you for answering all our questions so well.
Victoria Twead: Sarah Jane, you’ve been a totally brilliant, fascinating Sunday Spotlight author. Thanks so much! I’ll leave the thread pinned to the top a little longer in case any latecomers come in. Please cast your eye over the thread and choose 2 winners of ecopies of Glass Half Full and let me or Alan know. Thanks!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Thank you Victoria for featuring me it has been an amazing experience.
Frank Kusy: You’ve been gt, Sarah, I’ve got lots more questions (like what kind of Buddhist are you, how long one etc) but am dribbling over my keyboard with flu (*snuffle*) Take care!
Anne : I would be interested to know what kind of Buddhist you are too – I had never thought about Buddhism until I read Franks book – it made me do some research.
Micki: Only just finished my to do list! But have enjoyed reading the questions & answers. Thanks, Sarah!
Sarah Jane Butfield: Frank and Anne I will happily continue the Buddhist discussion, and if anyone else wants to message me feel free.
