Don Hale Blog

So What's Wrong With Dreaming?   Special Coast and Country book review:  Run in conjunction with: donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 *This is a direct link to Amazon books:   https://amzn.to/40LHDn7 Featuring author Richard John Campbell MBE, and his latest book - So What's Wrong with Dreaming? Born into a family struggling, like so many, from the after-effects of the Second World War; where the home was poor and shared by seven people, all packed into a small Victorian semi. With a father who had been in the Navy but having left our family home, permanently a month before I was born, I was ill-prepared for my future schooldays; days which were mostly very stressful, and at times traumatic.  A time when I, mostly, felt insecure at best and totally humiliated at worst; though, surprisingly, some good did come out of it. Once I had finished with school, I became determined to avoid the future expectations of my family and take every opportunity to, hopefully, build a life t...

*Pictured above - Welsh championship half-marathon medal winners Kay Hatton and Cheryl Frost from NWRRC. Road Runners won several surprise championship medals in Anglesey races... Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   It was wild, wet, and windy for over 1,000 athletes at the Anglesey 10k and half marathon events on St David’s Day, last Sunday morning, with the majority of entrants tackling the longer race distance over a challenging new course. In the 10k event which attracted 249 runners, this race was won by  Llyr Williams  in a very good time of 35 minutes and 10 seconds, and he was just 14-seconds ahead of rival  Shaun Hughes  in 35.24, and  Jack Hughes  in 35.40.     *Above left - Stuart and Joe  Culverhouse, with Gethin Wyn Jones, and Mike Hayton. *North Wales Road Runners  collected a number of prestigious age category honours and podium places.  Young Joe Culverhouse  led the team home in 29th place ...

Sarah’s solo surprise run on a very hilly and muddy flat course! Report by Don Hale. donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026   NWRRC endurance athlete Sarah Ferguson Hudson went solo on Sunday and competed in the Bromsberrow Speed Runway 10k, this time without her husband Ben, and thought it was going to be an easy and flattish type run…but how wrong was she! After her race she explained:  “Oh, my word. I should really read more carefully what I sign myself up to…   I thought it was a flat road race, and not 10k of hills, mud, fields, traps, and more. I was b ack in Gloucestershire where I grew up, and catching up with school friends.” *Despite all her challenges, Sarah (*pictured right) ran well and she finished 50th overall out of 159 entrants and the 16th female in 58.07. www.coastandcountry.blog

  *Pictured above - the popular thriller writer Jack Duncan The fascinating life and works of popular Scottish crime and thriller writer Jack Duncan - businessman turned author. Special Coast and Country book review:  Run in conjunction with:  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 Featuring Jack Duncan.  Businessman Turned Author! https://www.jackduncan.co.uk *This is a link to all Jack Duncan’s book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4kXB8Hk I am a ‘bon viveur’ and enjoy life. I have been fortunate during my diverse career to have been able to pursue my hobbies including motor racing, sailing, flying, travel, fine dining and the Arts, whilst still maintaining a very strong work ethic. My career began as a Scots Guards Officer, during which period, I gained my ‘wings’ as an Army helicopter pilot flying for the Brigade and for the United Nations for five years of my Service. I also hold civilian qualifications as a Fixed wing, Seaplane and Commercial Helicopter Pilot.  I hold va...

*Pictured above - the start of a previous parkrun at Rhos on Sea. UPDATE ON LLANDRILLO YN RHOS PARKRUN. Works on the promenade. Good to go ahead!  * Special report by event co-director Richard Peevor. (See below for details: donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 www.facebook.com/Ypromenadparkrunllandrilloynrhos After a stressful 24 hours for our event team and after Sharon and I, our two event directors have done a course inspection tonight we feel that we can go ahead safely on Saturday. For a period of approximately eight weeks two areas of the promenade that will have semi permanent kiosks built on them have been cordened off with metal fencing. They are essentially at each end of the Cayley embankment, one near the slipway approximately 400 m from the start and the second approximately 1000m from the start. Both areas are also obviously on the return leg of the parkrun course. The second area (as you can see in the first picture below), near the Rydal boat park should not cause any pro...

*Prolific Yorkshire author Mac McKechnie at a book signing. Special Coast and Country book review:  Run in conjunction with:  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 About the Author - Mac McKechnie. Mac McKechnie is a Yorkshireman who lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Now aged 75, he has the welcome luxury of time to return fully to his lifelong love of writing.  Mac is an active Christian and serves as Pastor of his local church in Barnsley.  His writing reflects a deep interest in human character, moral choice, and the quiet resilience that surfaces in times of crisis.  He has written several books across a range of genres, with science fiction and Westerns among his favourites, alongside more reflective and character-led work inspired by everyday life. Exodus: Escape From Earth: The Trilogy -Paperback. By author Mac McKechnie. *EXODUS: This is the first book in the Escape from Earth trilogy.  This is the link to the book on Amazon:   https://amzn.to/3OxDQq...

*Mac McKechnie's dog Daisy is shown above. Special Coast and Country book review:  * Run in conjunction with:  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 *Prolific writer and author Mac McKechnie (above) at a book signing. About the Author: Mac McKechnie (*pictured below) and his unique invitation to read all about Daisy:  One small dog. One big heart. Endless mischief . Meet Daisy - a fiercely clever, squirrel-chasing, slipper-chewing Sheltie-Poodle cross with a nose for mischief and a heart full of love. From her first day in a three-storey house (with far too many stairs) to life on an allotment, in care homes, and beside her human Mac through illness and recovery, Daisy's world is full of chaos, cuddles, and chicken treats. Told from Daisy’s witty and loyal perspective, this delightful memoir is a humorous and moving journey through one small dog’s big impact on the people who love her.  Whether she’s flunking her first therapy dog exam or reigning over her garden kingdo...

Special Coast and Country book review:  * Run in conjunction with:  donhaleblog.blogspot.com/2026 About the Author: Mac McKechnie, and his fascinating Garden of Words books... Mac McKechnie (*pictured above) is a Yorkshireman who lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Now aged 75, he has the welcome luxury of time to return fully to his lifelong love of writing. Mac is an active Christian and serves as Pastor of his local church in Barnsley.  Mac's writing reflects a deep interest in human character, moral choice, and the quiet resilience that surfaces in times of crisis. He has written several books across a range of genres, with science fiction and Westerns among his favourites, alongside more reflective and character-led work inspired by everyday life.   *Check out Mac McKechnie's Garden of Words series of fascinating books from Coast and Country online:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/perryscope21/list/1KF7IALOO18JR?ref_=cm_sw_r_tw_ud_aip_sf_list_spv_ons_mixed_...