I’ve had a fairly adventurous life, living through the Blitz- time in England – I watched and remember the Battle of Britain as a two-year old – had a stint in post-war Germany with my army family, living at Belsen, living in the Beast of Belsen’s old apartment, travelled to school in Malaya in an armoured convoy through bandit-infested jungle, and later found myself trapped in the middle of the first Red Guard march in Hong Kong during the Cultural Revolution in China.In New Zealand, I once awoke to find a grey-suited man with a stocking over his head in our bedroom during my husband Pat Booth’s fight to free an innocent man wrongly jailed for a double murder (he was pardoned at the end of the eight-year battle). Then there was the time I found the wheels of my car had been tampered with to cause an accident when the Mr Asia drug ring – a world-wide drug ring my crusading journalist husband had exposed – had put a price on his head.I grew up in an army family, joining the British army myself. Living in Hong Kong with my army husband, I had to learn journalism on the run when the marriage broke up in order to support my two children. Eventually I came to New Zealand with the children aged five and six, knowing no-one, with no money, no job and no home, to start from scratch in a new country. We arrived with three suitcases, in two of which I’d packed sheets and cutlery to start a new home!I was Woman’s Editor of the South China Morning Post before leaving Hong Kong, In New Zealand I became a writer at the liberal paper the Auckland Star, where I wrote a column for twelve years, became Woman’s Editor, and at the same time wrote a column for families and children in the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly for fourteen years. I stopped writing for magazines last year after fifty years of journalism, and have also written twenty=two books..
Now retired, I still write my blog, am writing several more books, and live in the middle of a protected forest miles from anywhere with my new partner.
Hobbies are gardening, grandchildren, reading, cooking, moving house and restoring and re-decorating old houses, friends, music, opera, pets and people watching ( there must be more). I don’t have dogs any more, but over the years have had seventeen, mostly rescued, usually three at a time, including three afghans, two salukis, a borzoi, a labrador, six cavalier King Charles spaniels, a boxer, a mastiff-boxer cross, a mastiff, plus the lodgers – the dogs who came to spend the day with me while their owners were at work !
It isn’t just pets that I care about, I’m involved with several world –wide animal organisations both to save animals from being tortured and exploited (including bull-fighting and bear-baiting) – and to save wild animals whose habitats are being destroyed by hunting or clearing. And of course, like the rest of us, I worry about preserving our planet before it’s too late.
I write this blog because I love writing – about anything – but actually I write about the things that interest me , and they’re different every day.
valeriedavies 
So many of ex Slimmers (for want of a better word) have ended up with colorful lives! Not that traveling by ‘coffin’ up those mountains was tame either…looking back! I loved reading about yours.
Were you ‘on the hill’ when Harrison hit the head boy over the head and knocked him out during rags? Or when the cooks boy ran a carving knife through the cooks stomach during lunch?
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NO, I don’t remember either of those stirring events! They must have been before sept 53 and after february 56. Our years must have been peculiarly tranquil! I did learn from Robin Benn, (the HM during my years), some years later, that when we were there, the cooks had been siphoning off our food to the bandits in the jungle around us – hence the appalling food we endured. I used to lost half a stone every term. Good to hear from you…..
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Valerie,
I have been pursuing your blog posts. Your subjects are as you say varied and quite interesting. However, I find them too long for a blog post. The recommended length is 400 words maximum. The reason is most people won’t read an entire post if it is too lengthy. You have fascinating stories to tell. Sometimes you change topics in the middle of a post and that is
confusing. Why not break your posts up into two or three shorter ones. You can actually write them all at once and auto post them so you have a new post everyday. Again your tell interesting stories..
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Thanks so much for your advice. I really appreciate you taking the time to contact me. I’d love to know more about you – are you a blogger too?
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Hi Valerie, Thanks for the visit to The Nutrition Doctor is In the Kitchen and liking some of my posts! Happy Writing! Cheers, PK
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Thank you… I’ll be keeping up with your writng and recipes
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Wow! You have for sure led quite the life! Fascinating. Thanks so much for finding my blog – I look forward to following yours!
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Thanks for the enthusiasm – the great thing is – life is still an adventure! thank you so much for connecting, go well!
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Thanks for stopping by. I hope to hear from you again.
Your life is a fascinating one! 🙂
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Thank you. I’m looking forward to leading a vicarious life drooling over your beautiful blog and photos
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I am glad to have found you. Just beginning to read some of your posts. Fascinating. I’ll enjoy following! 🙂
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we have 2 things in common the army background – me being married to one and the second our love for blogging and interactiing with fellow bloggers. looking forward to reading your blog 🙂
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Valerie,
Shirleysorbello.com has nominated you for a Liebster Award . Go to http://shirleysorbello.com/blog/ for the “rules” and to snag the badge to post on your website.
Shirley
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Shirley, thank you so much for nominating me for this award. I’m very touched and delighted – and also intimidated! Not only am I having such trouble with my computer at the moment, I can’t even find my stats any more, including the bloggers who follow me and I follow. I will have to discover how to do all the fiddling around with getting the questions printed, and discover who has little blogs like mine that I’m following! Does it matter if I seem a bit slow in following up? Sorry to be such a pain , but as I replied to my daughter this morning when she said I could sort all this out myself if I just concentrated, I’m just an old bat…. but a very grateful and appreciative old bat!
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Valerie, I don’t think it matters. You can do it at your own pace. It took me a few days.
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Dear Valerie,
I’m delighted that you took the time to read Sweet Wine and The Fullness of Time. Thank you for tapping the ‘like’ button to let me know you’d visited.
Reading your ‘About’ information is an adventure in and of itself. Your readers are fortunate that you like to write and I, for one, can’t wait to dive into your posts.
Aloha,
Doug
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Doug, thank you for connecting, and I look forward to following you. I loved your pics almost as much as your words, great to hear from you
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“Fairly adventurous” is putting it mildly!
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Delicious comment thank you Robin!
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I see many blog friends here and I love that you are hanging with me. I am your latest follower!
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Robin, great to be connected. I love your blogs, and am delighted to think I’ll be able to get the book for the fell purpose I revealed on your blog!
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Hi Valerie, Glad you like Mutant Foxes. I do want to link and put you on our blogroll — will figure out how to do that today. Our blog just went up yesterday and we’re delighted to attract creative minds. Pat
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My blog is only two and a half months old, so I’m still learning too… I think since I’ve pressed ‘following’ I’ll get your posts automatically… I’ve always wondered what a ‘blogroll ‘ was – I presume from your remark that it’s the list of followers????
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Thanks for visiting carefreecomposition.com. I appreciate the blog like. It’s nice meeting you!
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I think so I’m now following you but I think the blogroll is a different thing. Will let you know if I figure it out. Pat
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Congratulationsm Valerie!
I have nominated you for the Kreativ Blog Award.
The rules are at
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Thank you so much for this. A real honour from the creator of such a distinguished blog as yours. I realise I’ve replied on one of your posts, so this is my formal thank you!
I will now wrestle with the technical side of receiving such a gift!!
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You really deserve it 🙂
Good luck with the technical issues 🙂
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Thank you as ever, warm wishes
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It is obvious that your varied experiences have provided a lot of inspiration for writing and I’m so looking forward to reading more…
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Thank you for coming to my site. I love yours and will savour summer gardening when we are in the depths of winter!!
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What a fantastic life story! I’m really going to enjoy following your blog! Thank you for visiting mine and for your positive comments. 🙂
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Oh thank you for visiting me, and for following – what fun all this blogging and sharing is…
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Hi Valerie! Thank you so much for visiting & following my blog, and for your lovely comment. You have led such an interesing and fascinating life and you have so many interesting stories to share. I’m glad to meet you! Warm regards from Finland 🙂
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Thank you so much for connecting and for your comments. What a thrill it is to feel connected to wonderful people in all parts of the globe. I’ve always had a special fondness for Finland, apart from your magnificent history of opposing the Russians.. love the sound of the lakes, and the birch forests, the wonderful clothes and colours you wear, your really inspiring education system…I won’t bore on – but so good to know we’re connected
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Hello Valerie, thank you for stopping by, and I am so glad you did! You have lead an adventurous life. I look forward to reading past posts and getting to know you through your writing. I am very glad to meet you, from on Army child to another, although I am an American Army child, wife and mother. My father was stationed in England and Scotland during WWII, before moving on to France. He did not discuss much of his time there, but I know he fell in love in with the “Brits” and the “Scots” as he liked to say. Blessings – Patty
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Hello Patty, thanks for coming to my site – yes, army backgrounds are something you have to experience to understand, don’t you!
I’ll look forward to catching up with your blogs – great to connect
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Oh my, Valerie! I don’t know how I didn’t read this before. What a full and colourful life you have lived! Unbelievable, really (and I am curious how you ended up in NZ…). I have visited NZ once – it was quite a surreal experience in many ways. A lovely, and complex place. Anyway, so pleased to have met you 🙂
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Alarna Rose, I love hearing from you, and reading your delicious quirky blogs. If you come back to NZ, let me know, I on the other hand, love Australia, particularly Melbourne, which is my favourite city in the Southern Hemisphere – visited my grand-daughter last year, and was fascinated by the poems in the pavement at St Kilda, and of course, couldn’t not go to Tutankhamen and the Viennese Exhibition…
Early every morning I went down the rocks at St Kilda and watched the little blue penguins in the breakwater..
Keep writing your blogs, lovely to be in touch
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I also saw Tutankhamen – it was amazing (the crowds less so, but what to do?). I shall indeed let you know when I get back to NZ, and likewise when you come to Melbourne! 🙂
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How much I enjoyed reading your biography, Valerie! (Now where do I buy the book?? I’d love to hear more…) I’m still working my way through your blog and I’m enjoying every step!
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Thank you so much for connecting, Carole, and thank you for your enthusiasm.It tells you how to get my book either on Amazon or Smashwords, or a hard copy from me on the other page which is about how to my books – there are also some reviews in the review section posted at the top.
Good luck with your blog, look forward to following them,.
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Hello, I have just nominated your blog for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award:
I would be honoured if you accepted the nomination!
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How generous you are. Thank you so much, I am the one who is honoured to accept such an inspiring Award. I’ve written something in the post which I’m putting up tomorrow. which explains how slowly I am managing to cope with the the complexities of blogging! Anyway, I’m thrilled to have received this nomination, and thank you, valerie
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I have truly enjoyed reading your blog posts! You have lived and continue to live an amazing life – so glad that you are sharing your knowledge and wisdom. I am also new to blogging …and learning as I go along. What an adventure we are on….
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Isn’t it fun! I’m enjoying your blogs, and also your lovely photo!
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Hi Valerie, I can’t believe what you have fitted in! Is there anything you haven’t done? And what a prolific writing career. I’ll be back (to quote Arnie S) Regards Leanne
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Thanks Leanne for your lovely comments… alas there’s plenty I haven’t done., and I know I’m running out of time energy and money to do all the things I’d love to do. Blogging helps to make up for it – If I can’t walk the Camino Trail, I can follow Dave who is doing it right now, sort of thing!!!
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Hi Valerie
I send you an award…. do with it what you will…
http://expatalien.com/2012/08/20/inspiring-blogs/
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HI, just found this message! I will indeed do with it. Thank you so much – I am so touched that you should have thought of me- thank you again, valerie
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Hi Valerie,
What an extraordinary life!
Ann
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Hello Ann, Thank you for coming to my site and commenting – always a thrill, as you’ll know if you’ve read Bloggers Complexes, my last post. As for life – well, as they say at the bottom of the page when writing a newspaper story – More to come! Thank you for calling it ‘extraordinary’ – it never seemed like that… you just live! Best wishes, Valerie
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Hello Valerie,thanks for the follow and like.Welcome to OAK.
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I am extremely impressed with your life! WOW!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
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Hello LInda, am finally catching up with my correspondence, though I think I got to you yesterday, didn’t I? Don’t know what to say about your lovely comment! It just seems like life to me!!!!!
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Thank you for reading my blog and liking my post.
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You write so incredibly well that I can see more books coming. And you always seem to know what actually happened. I’m so chronologically challenged that I simply hang out in the present moment. Maybe that’s why my life has happened so out-of-normal-order. I’ve/am enjoying mine but I see that it can be wonderful either way. Keep writing. Pat
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Pat, thank you so much for your generous comments, and thank you for coming to this site. I really value your insights and am looking forward to reading more of your blogs… and yes, there are some more books on the way!
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Thank you for reading and liking my blog post. I hope you have a wonderful day! Stop by again.
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Thank you for your comments and for following me…I think I’m following you, but will have to check in with your blog, as I still haven;t mastered how to get around my own blog! Go well!
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Hi, I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. I hope you will accept. Check it out on my blog on the Fluffy Moments page. 🙂
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You are a very interesting person. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
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What an amazing, adventure filled life you have lead. Thank you so much for stopping by my little blog and for the follow. I am thrilled to be able to read more of your tellings…seems I have a lot of catching up to do. 🙂
Jess
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Jess, thank you so much for coming to my age, and making your lovely comment. I’ve only just discovered your message, and do apologise for taking so long to acknowledge it. I’m feeling rather disorganised at the moment, and must check all my posts more often. Looking forward to reading you, I love the name of your blog. ( haven’t learned how to do those smiling yellow circles yet, but please take it as read!)
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🙂 = colon followed by a parentheses !
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Thank you for stopping by my blog!
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Hello Valerie! Yours is the most interesting and exciting “About” page I have read to date. I look forward to returning to your blog frequently!
( I hope you enjoyed your visit to my humble corner of the world. 😉 ) Peace!
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Hi there, thank you so much for your comments, that is a real compliment!
Yes, I do enjoy my visits to your corner of the world, and am hoping to understand all your expert advice! – Can’t do those yellow smiley circles yet, but please accept the thought for the deed!
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Hi Valerie,
I am glad you enjoyed my blog. I am fascinated by your life and your story! I am wondering how you found my blog (jenniferengracio@wordpress.com).
I am also in the process of getting a children’s ceremonial book into e-book and printed form here in Canada. I would love any tips you care to share. We created a site for our book if you want to check it out:
All the best to you,
Jen
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Hello Jen,
Thank you for visiting and commenting. How I found you? Well you’d better read my latest blog, under Bloggers Addiction, and go down to Bloggers Fancy!
I’m such a newbie to this whole technological business, that I needs tips probably more than you!
Will follow your progress with interest,
best wishes, valerie
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You are a hero and make me proud that I am a woman. What a life! Thank you for sharing and thank you for reading my blog so that I found yours.
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What a lovely bouquet – thank you so much Maggie.I don’t know what to say!!!
I’m really looking forward to following your blog
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I’ll tell you what Valerie, you had me at The Blitz. My dad was a bombardier in WWII with the RCAF. We always marveled at his stories of going to London for R&R when he was safe in the Midlands but went to a target rich zone for fun.
I don’t know one American who has been to NZ who hasn’t LOVED it. Maybe someday for me but wow that’s a long plane ride.
My best.
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