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Vivika's Musings

My Best Gift

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For me the best gifts are those given with real thought in mind. I have always valued sentimentality in presents over monetary value. I mean, precious gems, fancy holidays and the likes are not to be sneezed at but for me it is far more important that someone gives some thought to why the one receiving the gift would love it. This is something I try and keep in mind when I’m buying gifts for others. With that considered it made me think of some of the beautiful gifts I have been lucky to receive over the years.

There was a time in my life when I needed that sentimentality more than ever. I was in my second year of medical school, I was battling depression, exam stress and was isolated hundreds of miles away from my family and friends. Christmas came and on the morning in question my dad presented me with a hand drawing he had made for me of Frankenstein’s monster. To put you in the picture not only is my dad an amazing artist but Frankenstein is also my favorite novel, favorite movie and – dare I say it – one of the reasons I was inspired to study anatomy in the first place. Not only was this incredibly thoughtful but it was also something I could take back to medical school with me, pin to my wall and remind myself of what I was working towards (the degree I mean not the ghoulish experiments …)  

You see for me it really doesn’t matter how much was spent on a present. It doesn’t need to be expensive or flashy. Some of the best gifts are those little things that you see and think, ‘so and so would love this.’ It’s a cliché platitude but it really is the thought that counts. A gift should be something that shows a person that you were thinking of them. When it comes to big events it is too easy to get swept up moving from shop to shop to find something that meets a financial expectation. Birthdays, holidays and general moments of sharing should be about what the other person means to you. In my humble opinion the best way to show that is to show that you have been listening. I guess what it all boils down to is showing how much you really know them and want to make them happy with your gift.  

So, what was some of your most thoughtful gifts? Are you a sop like me and love the sentimentality or is it the shiny things you enjoy most?   

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Vivika's Musings

My Worst Advice

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No matter how old you get, no matter how independent you are you will always be given advice. A whole manner of issues and events crop up in life when others will feel the need to advise you on what to do. I’m not detracting from the natural support group that it is important to surround yourself with. What I’m discussing here are those who give unwarranted suggestions or advise on issues that are of no consequence to them. Busybodies if you like.

We’ve all had our fair share of terrible advice. Most of it comes from a good place but it got me thinking about the worst advice I’ve ever been given.

“There’s an operation now that can make you taller. You should go and get your legs stretched.”

My five foot tall frame has never bothered me. I’m the short girl. It means about as much to me as my having blue eyes or brown hair. This came completely out of the blue and if I were to follow such sage advice I’d have put myself through unnecessary surgery as a teenager for the sake of a few extra inches, which if it really bothered me that much I’d wear heels to fix.

“Try your best to fit in with the other kids.”

I was never the bubbly child. Sure I was lucky to have lots of friends but what I always enjoyed most was time alone, reading a book. I interacted little with the children in my class and for that I was made to seem odd. Most people that know me would argue I am a little odd but when you’re still growing up and finding yourself being made to seem like you are misbehaving because you had a different view of how you wanted to spend your leisure time was not helping.

It’s best to know your own mind. We all make mistakes of course but at least mistakes can be made of your own accord. I guess what my point here is is don’t let terrible advice make you change who you are. Whether it’s your looks or your hobbies or even how others perceive you.

So what is the worst advice you have ever been given? How did you react to it?

#amreading a blog by @VivikaWidow

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The latest thriller from Vivika Widow is available now.

Bring me your sick. Bring me your troubled. Bring me those that society can no longer cope with. They will always have a home here at Harbour House.

Characters

Character profile: Chad Perry

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“Damnit Chad!”

Name: Chad Perry aka

Occupation: Kappa So Frat bro!

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK ; HARBOUR HOUSE ; PURPLE RIBBON ; THE BOSS ; GOOD GANG: GREAT STATES

The son of Austin and Amy Perry of Perry Zoo, Chad is heir to a global zoo dynasty. Unlike most of his bros who don’t have enough of daddy’s attention or mummy’s affection Chad actually hails from a surprisingly loving family. He is especially close to Grandma Perry who was an alligator wrestler in her younger days!

Chad’s attraction to the Kappa So Chapter House comes mostly from his love of his bros, especially Chapter Leader Buddy Owen. A dedicated follower, Chad is willing to support his bros no matter what. He is a caring spirit really but when you are surrounded by chaos it’s hard for that to shine through. Chad is also wild one, the source of a lot of the trouble the bros find themselves in. They say he cannot be tamed!

What will become of Chad Perry? Who knows? But no matter what happens it is almost a certainty his bros will be there right along with him.

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Vivika's Musings

Letter to My Younger Self.

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“If only I knew then what I know now.”

This is one of my absolute favourite platitudes simply because it is so true. If I had the knowledge I have now as a woman in my thirties when I was a young teenager setting off for medical school things would have been so much different. I don’t doubt I would have made mistakes, no one’s perfect, and even as I get older and (hopefully wiser) I will still continue to make mistakes but the journey would most certainly be different.

With that in mind I decided to address my younger self. If I could go ahead and advise my teenaged self from my current perspective I would firstly want to urge that fire within.

Things will get difficult, that there can be no avoiding, but with the right frame of mind there isn’t anything you can’t handle. Don’t let the opinions, emotions or selfish needs of others dictate to what you are doing. Do right and good by others as much as possible but remember you are not responsible for their happiness. It is important to take a step back every now and again and examine your life. Know what you want and remember you’re a little fire cracker and can achieve anything you set your mind to.

I am pleased to say you will achieve your dreams but that will only come from a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Those sacrifices will be worth it but you won’t always feel that way and you will have your days of regret. However, just remember all the little glimpses of the future you always hoped for are there for the taking.

Look after your health. It is more important than anything. Without a healthy body and mind the rest is moot. Exercise and eat right. Pay attention to mental health too. You can find yourself slipping into your own head so easily. Don’t let yourself miss what is going on around you.

Finally, know that you are loved. If you forget that or don’t realise that just hug one of the little ones. They’ll soon remind you!

We have things we’d like to say to our younger selves, to warn them against or even encourage them into. What would you say? Would you do things differently if you had the knowledge?

Vivika is the author of various thriller books, graphic novels and short stories. Proceeds from her novels support Ragdolls UK who are helping Turner’s Syndrome girls achieve their full potential.

Her latest novel Harbour House is available now.

“Bring me your sick. Bring me your troubled. Bring me those society can no longer cope with for they will always have a home here at Harbour House.”

Harbour House, Knock Knock

0109: Interview with tawny mcinney

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Harbour House 2020 trailer.

A woman, middle aged, frizzy haired and full figured is brought before me. She is smiling despite her surroundings. She has an unlit cigarette in her hand. She knows she’s not allowed to smoke in the office but she clutches it for comfort. Behind that smile is perhaps a little nervousness. She is Tawny McKinney better known by some as The Baroness. She’s an old show girl from the Knock Knock club in the Shanties and if you had told her she looked nervous just a few short years ago she would have dismissed it with a laugh.

Interviewer: So how are you feeling today, Tawny?

Tawny: I feel good. Better than I have done in a long time.

Interviewer: That’s good to hear. You’ve settled quite well into the routine here. When you first arrived you were mute.

Tawny (laughing): Some people would say having me shut my gob was a good thing!

Interviewer: You were brought in here as a trauma resident. Do you feel you can talk about what happened that night at the club?

Tawny (laughing again but now nervously): You really want to hear about that?

Interviewer: It’s why I’m here. I’d like to hear your own perspective on it.

Tawny: A lot of people got hurt. A lot of people lost their lives.

Interviewer: It was a horrific attack.

Tawny: Yeah those bastards!

Interviewer: I’m not here to discuss the cause of the attack or the motives of the attackers. I would just like to help you open up about what you saw and how you felt.

Tawny: They were like family to me. How do you think I felt?

Interviewer: I think you feel somewhat responsible. Is that correct?

Interview terminated. Resident 0109 becomes hysterical and requires porters and nurses to calm her. Interview will continue when she is in more of a state of mind to face the reality of her trauma.

#amreading #thriller #harbourhouse2020 by @VivikaWidow

Bring me your sick. Bring me your troubled. Bring me those that society can no longer cope with. They will always have a home here at HARBOUR HOUSE.

The Baroness was a much loved figure. An attack on her club would split the city in two.

Download the entire first season to kindle or read for free here at vivikawidow.com.

Vivika's Musings

Community Spirit

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This week I’ve been thinking a lot about community. Because of quarantine I realised we take being able to see our neighbours and speak for granted. It isn’t until we are advised to keep a distance from each other that we realise just how much we need that all important human touch. Even for a introvert like myself it’s been tough going. I can only imagine how hard it has been for people who enjoy surrounding themselves with company all the time.

It’s been three months now I’ve been in isolation and (with fingers crossed) it looks as though things may start easing off a little in the coming weeks. Don’t quote me on that, I can only go by what my own news and sources are telling me. When things do open back up the first thing I will be doing (apart from sorting this mop of a hairdo) will be to grab a cuppa in my local café and having a chat with friends I haven’t seen in such a long time. I’ve been luckier than most in that some of my family isolated with me. This meant I was able to see my niece and nephew which after three months I would have been missing like crazy!

But the good thing about quarantine is that it has given me a lot of time to thing about priorities and that all important word ‘community’. I have been thinking a lot about the work of Ragdolls UK. When I first set out with the charity I had visions of helping some local girls with Turner’s Syndrome. As the years went by the reach became bigger and suddenly we were able to offer support and advice to girls across the world! So that’s what brought me to community. Now, more than ever before, we need to act as a global family. They say the world is a small place and when we are all forced indoors and each and every country is affected that becomes more apparent. So with that in mind to my TS sisters, my readers and supporters and to the global community let’s take what we can from this horrific past few months and bring some positivity moving forward. Let’s remember our neighbours and what is really important.

So what will you be doing when lockdown is lifted in your area?
What lessons have you learnt from this?
Has lockdown been lifted? Has it made a difference?

#amreading a #thriller by @VivikaWidow

The latest novel by Vivika Widow is now available. In need of rehab? Come visit the best clinic in the Shady City.

Coming Soon, Harbour House

Setting the Stage

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Good evening folks! The Knock Knock club proudly presents … TRAUMA.

Trauma may make an enticing spectacle for others but what about those who are lost in their heads?

Tawny here had been on top of the world and her name was in lights but sometimes light can attract the bugs.

A native of Hathfield Bay island Tawny travelled to the Shady City for a new life.

When the bombs rained in and the shooting began the scene was set for a very dark night.

The name of The Baroness was in lights no more. What she saw that evening caused the curtains to draw closed.

Tawny’s protests drew the attention of the city.

So bring me your sick. Bring me your troubled. Bring me resident 0109 for she will always have a home here at HARBOUR HOUSE.

#amreading #harbourhouse2020 by @VivikaWidow

The Baroness was a much loved figure. An attack on her club would split the city in two.

Available now.

A cure guaranteed for all your ailments. Not to worry. The Baroness is in good hands.

Vivika's Musings

My Bucket List

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Being on lockdown has given me a lot to think about. Mostly I’ve been thinking about what I would love to do when we are able to move about freely again. So let me introduce you to my bucket list. The ideal situation would be to strike all of these off before I reach the age of forty.


SWIM THE ENGLISH CHANNEL
This is something I’ve had in mind for a long time. Despite being a strong swimmer I do realise that in order to do it safely I have some training and preparation to do. One day will be greasing on the pig fat and running into the sea with the aim of reaching France. It seems lucky that I’ve never minded cold water then, doesn’t it?


VISIT PARIS
Of all the places in the world with all the fascinating histories, sights and draws, Paris is one city I would love to visit. Again this is something I have been aiming to do for along time. In the course of a short flight I could be ready to experience the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and a whole host of other things. Over so many other places in the world, Paris has just had a draw for me.


VOICE A CARTOON
This sounds like a strange one. I’m not an actor by any stroke of the imagination but ever since I was a little girl I have always wanted to provide a voice for a cartoon, especially a musical one like a Disney flick. I’m not saying I have the talent for it (speaking or singing) but I know I would be a very happy woman if I was given the opportunity to be part of an animated movie. Perhaps one day …


GET A DRIVING LICENCE
This isn’t so much a bucket list item as it a necessity that my family keep begging me to do. It’s not that I have an aversion to driving I’ve just always managed to get wherever I need through public transport so I’ve never felt I need it that much. I’m a bit of a clumsy B at the best of times so I can only imagine what kind of menace I would be on the road. Besides, I do love just lying back on the train with my headphones on and losing myself in my own head. Can’t do that when driving. Can you? Ok mum and dad, I’ve added to my list.


BUY A BOAT
Who needs a car when you can have an boat, right? This one is cheating a little because I did have a boat before but cutting a long story short it sunk (see above clumsiness). On my bucket list is to have one again, perhaps bigger, prettier and it would be named the Cooper Mare (see KNOCK KNOCK). The adventures I would have! The places I would sail to!


HAVE A PLAY PERFORMED
I’ve been a writer/ author pretty much my entire life in greater and lesser extents. I have had written plays and I have been in discussion with the productions of plays and I have had performances but I am still yet to see an entire stage performance. I love the theatre and I would love the opportunity to see an entire play of mine performed.

So that is my list. What about yours? As you are held at home have you been thinking about what you plan on doing afterwards? What things do you miss the most? What are your dreams and ambitions?

#amreading a #thriller by @VivikaWidow

The latest novel from Vivika Widow is available now!

05:02 is the slaughter time. Welcome to Harbour House.

Vivika's Musings

What should have been.

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Tonight’s blog should have been about fears, what shapes them and how they impact our daily lives. It was a carefully constructed article (If I do say so myself) that tackled the issues of childhood trauma and facing those fears. Then unfortunately WordPress happened. Thanks to a issue saving the article the whole thing was deleted. I’m not a huge tech whiz so there may be a small chance that it was my fault somehow but I’m trying to not cry so let’s just leave it at that.

Instead you may consider yourself having read a terrific article and are now thinking, “Wow! That’s probably the best thing I’ve ever read on the internet.” I’m trying to cheer myself up here if you will indulge a girl. Anyway, if you find my article zooming about cyber space feel free to nab it and prove me wrong.

This isn’t the greatest thing you’ll read on the internet but at least it’s a tribute 😉

In the meantime I’d like to continue on the theme of fear with a few words:

They sow doubt and plague our minds. 

Fears hold us back; routed deep in our design.

A time comes when we don’t have a choice.

They come at us full on with a screaming voice.

Then we decide to run or to fight.

Do we give in to that all consuming fright?

Face them for the sake of those who rely.

Face them or at least give it a try.

Enjoy this? Read more articles from Vivika Widow by clicking HERE 

Coming 2020

Bring my your sick. Bring me your troubled. Bring me those that society can no longer cope with, for they will always have a home here at Harbour House.

Click HERE to pre order.

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Characters, Harbour House, Knock Knock

Character Profile: Kieran Mack

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Name: Kieran Mack

Occupation: Unemployed (technically)

Features in: KNOCK KNOCK ; HARBOUR HOUSE

“You’re all fecked.”

distillery
The Mack Distillery, located on Love Street in Bellfield.

Kieran is the eldest Son of MACK AND SONS brewery. However, his age didn’t make him the natural successor of his father, BRENDAN MACK. Instead the distillery will pass to second born son, PADDY. The reason for this is that of his brothers Kieran is the most erratic. He has shirked responsibility for as long as he can remember and truthfully he too agrees that the lead of the distillery should fall to the more capable son.

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Kieran will always stand by his family.

The Macks had their reserved table at the Knock Knock waiting for them when a long hard day at the distillery had drawn to an end. Kieran would be especially excited when he heard favourite Knock Knock girl would be on hand. They called her Big Diane (or Double D) and her party trick was being able to serve drinks from underneath her large breasts. For Kieran’s 25th birthday THE BARONESS had treated him to having Diane use her breasts to break water melons on his chest, Kierans favourite part of the party piece.

That’s not to say that Kieran isn’t without his merit. The Mack and Sons form such a tight unit because of their loyalty to each other. Kieran may be the first to cause a headache for them but he is also the first there on hand to help when trouble arrives on Love Street. He will follow Paddy’s lead to the death if need be and should anyone believe he is a weak link in the Mack chain they would be mistaken. Brimming with the Mack spirit of fighting to the end Kieran may let his mouth run away with him most times but he will not go down without a fight.

img_2245
Brendan Mack head of the Mack clan.

It is no secret there is a strong bond between the KNOCK KNOCK club and theMACK AND SONS brewery. The Macks have supplied the booze and the club supplied the entertainment. For Kieran the bond was stronger than that. For him it was an extension of an already large family. As his father always told him, “yer an eejit but yer family and family is what is important.”

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