Rockcliffe and New Abbey Trip

Henry (dog), Rob (my husband) and I enjoyed an outing to Rockcliffe in Dumfries and Galloway this week.

Rockcliffe is a pretty village with a beach, art gallery, café and hotel. 


We took a walk along the shore to Castlehill Point, from where you get wonderful views across the Solway to Cumbria.

The weather was clear and sunny and the scramble over the beach and through a field up to the point was very enjoyable. The walk is about a couple of miles long in total, and is over uneven ground, requiring good walking shoes.









Rob took this photo of a gorse bush on the beach.

On the way home, we stopped at Abbey Cottage – a gift shop and restaurant next to Sweetheart Abbey in New Abbey.

I ate a ploughman’s lunch made with local cheeses; fresh, crunchy salad; chutney; and good, wholemeal bread and butter.

Rob had a jacket potato with vegetarian chilli and salad garnish.

For pudding, I had caramel shortbread ice cream, made by a local company, Cream O’Galloway.

Rob had the sticky toffee pudding.

Everything was superb, including the tea and coffee, and friendly service. Highly recommended.

Start Improving Your Life Today! - Six Recommended Self-Help Books

I’m quite addicted to reading self-help books. I find that they are useful as I work through them, but the effect gradually wears off and I need to top up with a new fix to get me motivated again.

Many authors regurgitate the same basic information in different forms or with a new spin, but I have found that the following books are all worth reading and following.

If you take the trouble to try out the exercises and genuinely think about the issues raised, they can help you to think about your true priorities and goals in life and motivate you into achieving them. Of course, at some point you have to actually take ACTION rather than just reading about what you should be doing…

6. Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy
Advice on setting, prioritising and achieving your goals.

5. How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie
A classic text with sound tips on:- making people like you; winning people to your way of thinking; and changing people without causing resentment.

4. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R Covey
Advice on achieving balance in your life and on being successful while adhering to your principles.

3. I Could Do Anything If Only I Knew What It Was by Barbara Sher
A good starting place if you are drifting through life and feeling generally dissatisfied and unfocused.


2. The Artist’s Way By Julia Cameron
Whether you’re a painter, an actor, a writer, or a craftsperson, this book will help to ‘unblock’ your work and move you towards becoming a fulfilled artist.

1. Life Strategies: Doing What Works, Doing What Matters by Dr Phillip C McGraw
I found this to be the most helpful self-help book I’ve read, it contains ‘Life Laws’ and assignments, which will really get you to assess your life and change it for the better.



Can anyone recommend a better self-help book? I’d love to add to my collection!