VSWritingThoughts- Veronica Shaw

Recently out of hospital so currently resting. Recovery taking longer than I expected.
Apologises I couldn’t joint the writers event at the Best Western. I was really liking that king forward to meetings my you and reading some of you work. Sad 😢 . Next time. Definitely. Vx

Come share my thoughts......Look out: for my new book, coming soon....Currently with no name... The excitement is mounting.

Here is a taste of Chapter One Page one....

Traditionally a hat is worn to suit a person’s unique personality. Of which I have many. My mood dictates the appropriate hat I would wear for that day.
The Dark Hat is different, it denotes my degree of depression. It comes and goes at its own discretion. Sometimes it hovers in the distance as a reminder of what’s to come.
Like the stranger who stands in the dark distance and observes....

Marketing Redirection….
I've finally re-written my Original Dark Hat One, book, which I self-published with the help of Empire printers in Leeds in the summer of 2020. God that feels like so many moons ago.
For my 2nd edition, my journey took me to Kindle Unlimited & Amazon in 2022. That never really got off the ground as I couldn't get on with the technical side of things. It was all too exhausting for my troubled brain at the time.
After a long unravelling journey of my brain's wires and much historical research, I've decided to go with a Mental Health Publisher of repute who understands my idiosyncrasies and can manage my marketing for me. I wrongly assumed that Amazon edited and checked the formatting of books inserted into their templates. The stress of trying to unravel mistakes I had made just got too much for me.
Within, another couple of weeks of polishing, my first book of the New series will be ready for a name.... It will retrace elements of my childhood traumas and some of their origins giving the book more substance and less rantings of a crazy woman, lostfull of medication. It's been a painful and exciting journey as so much has changed over the past 5 years of my life....
I am really looking forward to the next phase... I will keep you posted as to how you can buy the new series... and where my publisher has decided to place me in the marketplace. Veronica.

Thought for today....

Thought for the day!
Happiness is what you make it....
It comes from within...
Only you have the power to change your world....
Look around for inspiration...
You will always find something to make you satisfied...

Thought for the day!
Happiness is what you make it....
It comes from within...
Only you have the power to change your world....
Look around for inspiration...
You will always find something to make you satisfied...

Let's help to reduce food bank stigma as a barrier to enable more people across the county to access food support when they need it.
Nottinghamshire 'Food Stigma' Survey is for all residents over 16 years old in the area.
Complete the Survey and help our local council to understand what they can do to reduce the stigma.
Follow the link to complete a few tick-box questions https://qrco.de/beV3sR.
The more people who complete the survey will enable the council to help people who really need it. So please spread the word, no one should be hungry in today's world. Thanks.Vx

Life is certainly full of surprises. Who would have thought that moving into a bungalow to help with my mobility would cause me other mental health problems?
Neuropathy is one of the worst things I have experienced. Especially if you are a writer. Fingers that have you climbing the walls every time you move your hand or arm are a killer.
Not being able to write in my diaries or type required a different way of communication. So now I'm learning to talk to this machine.
Its certainly a challenge. Vx

Hi Morrissons…., in part of your comments on helping people with disabilities you say...."All members of staff in stores have undertaken disability training and will ensure that as far as possible any additional needs are met. Please ask at the Customer Service Desk if you require any assistance."
As a customer with Mental and Physical disabilities, I find it difficult enough to manage my shopping alone, but I try to continue to maintain an element of my independence.
Recently I have been learning to go through your self-service checkouts as the queues at the staffed ones have been too long for me to stand in and agitate me...
Most of the marked-down shopping has been rejected at checkout due to a specific internal issue, which has created problems with my learning experience.
This has caused me to twice miss my more card spending from being logged correctly. I have tried to rectify this twice now by asking for help both at the checkout and at the customer service desk. Unfortunately, I have been told that I need to ring the number on a leaflet I was given as the staff are not allowed to credit my missed receipts for me.
As a mentally disabled customer, I am so stressed by this that I can't begin to put it into words... I have tried to ring the number several times but have lost the plot with the lengthy waiting times.(Over 40 mins)
I really don't think it is fair to say that you are helping disabled people as much as you can when this is the 2nd time I have had such issues with the new more card experiences. You invite us to spend money with you and when we do don't appear to be able to help us make the most of it. Help required please…. or shall I just give up...
yours sadly, Vx

Polish/ European History Research 001
Author ~ Heather Morris
Book Title ~ Three SistersPolish/ European History Research 001
Author ~ Heather Morris
Book Title ~ Three Sisters
Total Pages ~ 464
Your Recommendation ~ loved and hated every bite of it, I have never shed so many tears. The strength of these sisters' love to enable them all to survive to fulfil a promise to their father is utterly incredible.
Your Rating ~ 5 Stars Plus plus, isn’t enough for being able to retell this cruel unimaginable story in such a kind and gentle way. Thank you for writing this and helping the survivors.
Review Research ~ Jan 2023
Veronica Shaw
Disability Inclusion/ Cautions ~ Humankind abuse at its vilest level, Child Abuse, women abuse, degradation of humanity to its cruellest most barbaric point.
Reading Rating ~An extremely emotional, happy and cruel book sharing the highs and lows of three sister who survived the vilest n**i prison of war camp. The painful reality, of Cibi, Magda and Livia, 15~19 trying to keep a promise to survive together, although , not, for the faint hearted. Is written with such empathy and compassion, to enable us all to understand what really happened behind those gate of Auschwitz.
Inspiring and beautiful at times, not easy to read, or understand the extreme elements of cruelty and madness of others. Great read for anyone looking to understand the hardships their ancestors overcame to survive WW2 Camps. It really helped me.
Encouragement factor ~ I found this really helpful to understand the challenges both physical and mental for family member dealing with such an immense scale of human abuse and then returning to a life and still being able to find love. Beautifully narrated, the girls strength and love shines through all the cruel adversity of the challenges that are poised in front of them at such a young age.
Recommendation ~ Inspiring for anyone who, like me was seeking answers to what really happened behind those gates and understanding who people lived through it….
Heather's books never fail to deliver to her readers. This is the third of her books I have read and look forward to many more.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Sisters-breath-taking-Tattooist-Auschwitz-ebook/dp/B08VNKRY9Q/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3984TBK4JRNVQ&keywords=three+sisters+heather+morris+kindle&qid=1675957080&sprefix=three+sisters+by+heather+morris+%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1

Total Pages ~ 464

Your Recommendation ~ read, loved, and hated every bite of it, I have never shed so many tears. The strength of these sisters love to enable they all survive to fulfil a promise to their father is utterly incredible.
Your Rating ~ 5 Stars Plus plus, isn’t enough for being able to retell this cruel unimaginable story in such a kind and gentle way. Thank you for writing this and helping the survivors.
Review Research ~ Jan 2023
Veronica Shaw
Disability Inclusion/ Cautions ~ Humankind abuse at its vilest level, Child Abuse, women abuse, degradation of humanity to its cruellest most barbaric point.
Reading Rating ~An extremely emotional, happy and cruel book sharing the highs and lows of three sister who survived the vilest n**i prison of war camp. The painful reality, of Cibi, Magda and Livia, 15~19 trying to keep a promise to survive together, although , not, for the faint hearted. Is written with such empathy and compassion, to enable us all to understand what really happened behind those gate of Auschwitz.
Inspiring and beautiful at times, not easy to read, or understand the extreme elements of cruelty and madness of others. Great read for anyone looking to understand the hardships their ancestors overcame to survive WW2 Camps. It really helped me.
Encouragement factor ~ I found this really helpful to understand the challenges both physical and mental for family member dealing with such an immense scale of human abuse and then returning to a life and still being able to find love. Beautifully narrated, the girls strength and love shines through all the cruel adversity of the challenges that are poised in front of them at such a young age.
Recommendation ~ Inspiring for anyone who, like me was seeking answers to what really happened behind those gates and understanding who people lived through it….
Heathers books never fail to deliver to her readers. This is the third of her books I have read and look forward to many more.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Sisters-breath-taking-Tattooist-Auschwitz-ebook/dp/B08VNKRY9Q/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3984TBK4JRNVQ&keywords=three+sisters+heather+morris+kindle&qid=1675957080&sprefix=three+sisters+by+heather+morris+%2Caps%2C77&sr=8-1

Three Sisters: A TRIUMPHANT STORY OF LOVE AND SURVIVAL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ Three Sisters: A TRIUMPHANT STORY OF LOVE AND SURVIVAL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ eBook : Morris, Heather: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Are we really committed as a country to helping people with Mental and Physical traumas?

So much money is being thrown at Mental Health why then am I still meeting so many people who are suffering from Long Term traumas after an operation or mental breakdown and there seems to be no real structure that works to help these people.

I hear all you Mental Health specialist screaming yes there is!
My answer to you all is ! Yep totally agree! Only if you can afford to pay for it ?
Our NHS resource and funding for trauma recovery is painfully lacking.

Life is full of surprises.
Some good some bad.
All amazing memories.
Never to be forgotten.

Once your brain loses those memories.
It’s a sad battle to remember them.
Always fight with your brain to get them back!

Memories are something no one can take away from you!
They are free and make you smile.
No one can take them away from you!

They are what made you,
Good or bad.
So, they have to be cherished!

They are worth it! Vx

So true! 🙌

Lets Spread what Depression is all about !!
Anyone wanting me to come and have a talk to their groups about Anxiety & Depression and thoughts on battling against it. Please contact me. Veronica.

“A riveting, experience of life for three orphan children and their survival during the early 1914 England just as war was breaking out.
“Together for Christmas.” By Carol Rivers, one of Carols many delightful books educating the reader in 1914 East End London Life, published in 2014, it’s a fascinating page turner.
It is a masterpiece, a very gently written story exploring and testing the relationship between three very close orphans. Detailing how each dealt with the years of separation from each other. The story is told through the friends’ eyes. Each struggling to understand the world of war and emotions they have been thrust into from the age of 13 to work and support themselves.
The story very cleverly describes three different characters, Will, Flora and Hilda, each, knowing what they want to achieve in life. Yet bound firmly together by where they found themselves in their young lives. Their navigation from the age of thirteen into the world of the Great War gives the reader a wonderful appreciation into how hard their life was. How ingenious they were to make do and create with the things they received. Where they lacked in money, they had abundance in love and character which is what makes the story so wonderful. Their friendships and sound grounding in life makes their choices in life so exceptional for such a young age.
I would give this novel a 5-star rating because of its ease of reading and an ending well worth waiting for. Everyone’s reading abilities have been considered in the construction of this book. The only area I would suggest adding would be maybe to explain some of the East End expressions. I will be suggesting my 16-year-old granddaughter read it with her google close by. Some expressions are wonderful the way they are. Thank you, Carol.
Veronica Shaw
Author.
Five-star book review 016

The Dark Hat 1: Surviving Madness Paperback – 23 Jun. 2021
by Veronica Shaw (Author),
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Only six years from retirement and Veronica's dreams were cruelly crushed. The would be writer's spirit, long with her many happy journals full of adventures, diaries, disabled travel pieces including a book I written ten years ago about her journey to Everest base camp. All waiting to be re-edited, but all came to an abrupt end. Her, brain decided it wanted to take a different direction. It took her on a both painful and extremely dark journey, but for once in her life she was going to fight to ensure that writing won out! There was very little she could do or remember during her early days of her illness, so she wrote everything down on post it notes just to survive. Even remembering her meds was a nightmare. The Dark Hat 1- surviving madness, is a result of these post it’s and a system Veronica fell between the cracks of, sadness tears and many feelings she did not know how to describe were experienced. Losing her home due to lack of funds, her car due to her disability and lack of state support . This is her brains journey to hell, warts, and all. While trying to get help from the state and doctors to aid in my recovery she's find out just how hard life is out there for those of us who are no longer employable. Some days, her brain is like a scene from ghostbusters with so many white demons coming out all at once it’s frightening. She tries to catch them, but they are slippery little suckers. Hiding to resurface another day. Her brain at one stage goes to total mush she feels tortured and hopeless. Pushed to the brink. She has no idea what she is doing or saying some days. Experiencing so much fear and anger, she loses her ability to function. Her life is so messed up she has no idea how to put it right. She is an unreliable mess. Her biggest issue is how to get people to understand how bad she feels. What started off as one book became an inevitable series . The illness , her demons and her ability to cope at times . The first book in the series details the destress and near su***de she gets to before she finally sees some hope and something to live for, thanks to someone's love for her, the way she is. Veronica finally sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

2nd June 2021 - Wednesday
Day 4 Update. – My Slimfast Manic Depressives Challenge.
Given I was so negative yesterday today I am off in the sunshine hunting and foraging head full of ideas.
Dark Hat not allowed to visit my head anymore. Only good positive thoughts.
Didn’t wake up until 10.00am. Wow I must have needed it 12 hours that is not me. I must have really got my knickers in a twist last night.
Moving on …..Today I have having Coffee for breakfast and am going to try the Silmfast Keto Fuel Shake, it’s normally dearer than the others in Boots but I found it in ASDA on offer for £6.00 the Smooth Mocha flavour 10 serving and given that I’m a coffee lover it’s got to be worth a try. You only add cold water to it as well no milk.

I have to admit I have been looking at it for a while.
But I must have had my negative head on. Because this morning it looked full of possibilities.
Here’s the first one of the days. I made it look pretty and modern, so I’d enjoy it on a warm summer’s day. I can always remember wanting to drink iced coffee in Spain years ago before it was popular. The staff at my favourite breakfast cafe would never make it but they did bring me all the ingredients and let me mix it myself.

Now you see me!
Now you don’t.
Did I enjoy it? I’m
not sure.
I did have a coffee as well.
On the side. So, watch this space for what I do with the next one.

Ok so I put I spoon of my normal coffee \cafe noir in my measuring jug with 200ml hot water and I’m going to save it until it cools then add my 2 measuring spoons of Slimfast smooth mocha to it whisk it up add my ice and a straw and I’ll keep you posted.

I’ve just watched the most amazingly honest interview from Megan and Harry .
I feel sure there will be much said by some.
In all honesty I am so proud of them both for talking about their Mental Health and how it nearly destroyed their family .
To listen to someone who cries for help is an amazing gift. The small time that you give to someone who is so unhappy and help them to survive is worth so much to them.
Our world is so cruel now that any imperfections are seen as unacceptable and as much as politicians and institutions tell us all this money is out there to help people with Mental Health I still don’t see any real action being taken for those of us who need help.
Anyone who has real Mental Health issues needs more than talk and understanding they need real help and support to get them back on the road to real recovery.
I found it so difficult to explain to Dr.s and government bodies how difficult it was and that o needed help.
There is help out there Real therapy to help people recover and find live of life. We need to start channeling the money into proper treatments and help people to regain their self worth and respect not ignore them because life has messed their brain up and they don’t know how to recover.
Love and respect Megan and Harry. Big hugs . Thank you for sharing. Vx

The Dark Hat - Surviving Madness
The first book in my Trilogy about my fight against anxiety and depression is Currently being re edited to be ready for its second edition release at the end of April. 2021.
A Passionate and powerful story about a woman who's life is turned upside side and her battle with both her brain and society to survive.
The fight is beyond hard and often takes her very close to the edge. She hates her dark hat days and fights them with the determination of a boxer in a ring. Eventually finding out that the system that is supposed to protect her and help her both psychologically and financially to recover is seriously floored .
Where time and money would seriously aid her recovery very little money is forthcoming. Every penny she is entitled to she has to fight for which only adds to her heightened anxiety and many manic episodes.
Everything becomes so hopeless when her brain refuses to function and she constantly finds herself asleep. She can't even remember what she's done 2 mins ago. Everything she does needs to be written on post it notes.
She decides to start keeping a diary of her journey back to freedom . It's gutsy full of past life traumas and painful memories. Endless triggers of her past life which had been hidden deeply in her brain, slowly started to seep out. What happened next was a journey into survival which stretched over the next five years and is still evolving . .........