Dotty by name, Dotty by nature is how people mostly describe me. As I said earlier I am now 60, I live in a small village in Devon, married to the wonderful Phil (Kingy), mother of the most marvelous George and my joy (23 and a student). And then there is Lola, our 12 year old mixed breed doggy-woggy who has not left my side since I came home from hospital.

My job, I am a shopkeeper, a proud shopkeeper, an independent trader (but please do not call me Rodders), Dot Teas Wholefoods is in Tavistock and the accumulation of 12 years from my job as a Local Government Officer to becoming, by chance, a baker, to redundancy, to becoming a market trader selling my cakes in Tavistock Pannier Market to buying my shop and opening in June 2022.

I am also a runner, a short, slightly overweight runner but dare I say I have great stamina and endurance (until recently I could run for hours). I am known as the Bog Goblin as I am not afraid of knee-high bogs (neither is Lola, she can be a princess but she channels her inner Bog Goblin at every opportunity). I have run 150+ half marathons, countless marathons and lots more in between and run in all weathers, love hills and literally have the strength of an elephant (obviously a small baby elephant).

On top of all of that running I am a UK Athletics Level 3 Endurance/Long Distance Coach and have spent the last 20+ years coaching and running with the most fantastic people. Running has given me huge strength. I know there are people that have said, “all that running and look at what she is going through now” – I will let you work out the type of people these are, they are not part of my life but, let me tell you, without my fitness level, I would not be able to face this time head-on as I am fit and strong!

I also have the most amazing siblings and friends and they and the above will feature more going forward in this blog – however it goes – as they are the foundation of everything and Simply The Best.

Need a wee so more tomorrow or maybe Monday 🙂