Diana walks along the Fife Coastal Path from North Queensferry, beneath the famous Forth Rail Bridge to St Andrews. While on her way she treads in the footprints of a multitude of pilgrims and famous people through the ages, but she also follows in the steps of ordinary folks of Fife. She 'meets' some fascinating characters - from St Margaret in Dunfermline to the real Robinson Crusoe, Alexander Selkirk in Lower Largo. Diana's heart is captured by the beautiful surroundings along these coastal paths. As she pauses to have a 'wee blether' with those she 'meets, ' she learns a new way of looking at her world, finding ‘way markers’ for the next stage in her life. The further Diana travels, the more she becomes absorbed in the history of Fife, and her affinity for the area grows.
As you read on, you may find yourself 'walking beside Diana.' Her experiences might help you with some of the challenges you face in your own life, or they may inspire you to visit the region of Fife and have adventures of your own. Some would call this an allegory, but it is certainly a memoir with elements of fantasy. Diana leaves the reader to judge which is which.
Part 1: From Redundancy to Rejuvenation - Serendipity! Diana’s husband’s work is temporarily relocated to Fife. Diana follows when she is made redundant from a life time of teaching. During these early days they walk along the coast, while Diana reflects on the past and possible futures.
Part 2: Letting Go and Moving on. In order to live her new life to the full, Diana needs to let go of some of her old life. This does not mean forgetting family and friends in Bedfordshire, but finding new and deeper relationships with them, even at a distance. As she and her husband throw themselves into community life in Fife, deep down Diana is still searching for her true purpose, and with the encouragement of new and old friends alike, and the old monks at the newly built St Andrew’s Cathedral, she …