Vibrant Imaginative People

April 2025, Issue No.38

Your VIP Newsletter from Soulla's Writing Room

______________________________

Hello my dear friend!

How are you? It really feels like spring is finally here and we can throw off our heavy duvets, pluck out our favourite sandals and wear our brightest colours.

Spring is finally here and we especially let it over our Easter Weekend where we were able to enjoy or Big Fat Greek Barbeque with all my family… with food, love and a whole lot of fun in abundance I felt truly blessed to be able to celebrate with so much love… my house was bursting with it. We baked flaounes together, we dyed boiled eggs red and smashed them on Easter Saturday night after our church service, we cooked together, we sang together and we celebrated one of our biggest religious days with shouts of Kalo Pascha, Happy Easter and Xpistos Anesti, Christ is Risen.

It’s been a joyfully happy and busy month, as always, yet there has been something quite relaxing and bubbly that has come with warmer weather and brighter days. And it hasn't been all work...

______________________________

The Fragrance of Southern India

Alan and I enjoyed a fabulous afternoon session of cooking at the Jamie Oliver Cookery School. We tried out a new recipe with Alan (a wonderful birthday gift to him from his son and daughter) alongside another three couples (two best friends, a husband and wife and a father and daughter) to make a Southern Indian prawn curry which we prepared following the instructions and demonstrations of our chef, Robin, for the afternoon.

We chopped and sliced, we popped, crushed and pounded, we sizzled and stirred… the aromas were beautifully fragrant: kicking ginger, powerful garlic, fresh coriander, red onions, fat juicy tomatoes, creamy coconut milk, punching green chillies… It was delicious! A real treat!

Alan and I cook a lot at home, often in the kitchen at the same time, sharing the space, but not often preparing or cooking together on the same dish. This was a really lovely experience. We both loved it and have since recreated the dish again for our family at home. We got a big thumbs up!

What’s your favourite dish to cook at home? Do you like to cook alone or do you enjoy having someone else to help you? I would love to know what you cook. Share it with me, inspire me!

______________________________

Therapy: Breathing, Painting and Creating

A couple of weeks ago I picked up a paintbrush and stared at a blank white canvas in front of me—not because I had some big artistic plan, but just because I needed to breathe. I organised a painting session with my two sisters. No pressure, no rules. Just light conversation, colours, a blank canvas.

Honestly, it was the most calming thing I’ve done in ages. I didn’t care if it turned out “good” though when I was at school, I didn’t see the point of art if there was no right or wrong way to do it. (whatever that even means). It was all about the feeling—the swirl of colour, the way the brush glided across the crepey canvas, the quiet buzz of creativity coming alive. It felt like my mind had finally unclenched. It is so different from writing, from editing client stories and from creating something from words.

There was this one moment—deep blue mixing with a splash of turquoise—that made me feel unexpectedly emotional. It reminded me of the sea in Cyprus and just like that, memories came rushing in. It’s fabulously fun how art can tap into emotions you didn’t even know were sitting there, waiting.

I didn’t realise how much I needed this kind of outlet. Just to play. To express myself using a different medium. To lose myself in the moment. We have had three sessions so far! I’m definitely going to keep this up—no fancy tools or techniques, just paint, emotion, and a bit of messy magic.

This little painting session turned into a form of therapy I hadn’t expected. It reminded me how rewarding it is to be making things just for the sake of it. Not for work, not for perfection, just to feel, to relax, to be.

So, here’s my gentle nudge to you: if your brain feels a bit scrambled or your heart feels a little bit heavy, try painting. Or doodling. Or whatever feels like play to you. No pressure, no overwhelming waves. Just you and the paint colours, or a pen and paper, doing your thing.

Who knows what you’ll find in the process.

______________________________

Saying yes...

So with a new month looming, and longer days still, I hope you find many

glimmers to keep you buoyant and happy. I am saying yes to more invitations and more work too. On Friday I am off to celebrate a dear friend's 60th birthday and on Saturday I am disappearing to St Albans on a fishing trip with Alan. Yes, me... in a bivvie... overnight... wish me luck!

Can't wait to catch up again in a few weeks. Stay well my dear friend.

Lots of love, Soulla xxx



If you've enjoyed this newsletter, please share it with others who may like to receive it too.

https://sendfox.com/soullaauthor

My Books - enjoy!

My Blog - have a browse.

My Writing and Support Services - let me help you!

Twitter - let's connect.

Instagram - let's connect.

Facebook Book Group - share your love of books.