Hello, how are you today?

Me?

I'm Judy McDowell.  I like using words.  Lots of words.  Why use three when you can use a hundred?

I like to talk words.  My favourite is to speak them to humans, but when none are available, animals will do.

Small confession here.  I am becoming one of those people who talks to the telly and radio sometimes.  I know, stupid isn't it.  But it's satisfying.  Have you tried it?

Why did I set up this website?  Well, originally it was to advertise my books for sale on Amazon.  I've had great fun writing stories, not so much fun battling with the technology to get them posted.  The second book had the word "Introduction" plastered just above "Chapter 1", and I have no idea why.  I'm not sure if it's still there.  I suspect it is, but I don't want to look.  I can't get rid of it.

I've got to reformat it to publish it as a paperback, so hopefully I'll get rid of extraneous words then, at least in that format.  If not, I hope people will understand it's not down to me, heart and soul, just my failings when it comes to using computers, and just enjoy the oddities as little gifts to pamper your own ego, because you probably wouldn't have done so badly as me.

Since coming up with this idea of a website about the books, I thought why not blog as well?  That's just like talking to myself out loud, and being quite happy for anyone else to listen in or reply.

What sort of person am I?  Let's see.  I'm quite old.  But in the past my body worked well enough to produce two beautiful children (who I doubt will read this), and my brain co-operated in allowing me to gain a BSc in Psychology and an MA in Education.

It's been all downhill from there.

When I'm not generating words, I can sometimes be found out in the garden improving a tiny patch of the world for nature.  I see through my windows birds of many varieties, squirrels, butterflies, flying insects, the occasional damsel fly, bees, plants of course, my own pets.  At night hedgehogs sometimes come to visit.  I can't put food out for them because the dog would just eat it.  Oh, and foxes amble in at times, which makes the dog bark a lot - his favourite hobby.  I have seen frogs out there, but not for a year or two.  I think that's since the advent of invisibility cloaks for amphibians.  The fairies use them too, but I know they are there.

Right, that'll do for this section now.  Let's see if I can do a blog.....