And the Circus Came to Bathgate

By Paula Delph

This book is dedicated to my good friend Patricia Dunnigan who passed away in May 2018. At the time I was attending writing lessons and started writing this story and trying to think of a name for it, I met with Patricia on one of our regular coffee breaks. Patricia is from Bathgate and we often chatted about our families to learn that we had similar families. On that day we met for coffee, Patricia’s first words were “and then the Circus came to Bathgate”. This cracked us both into laughter and I told Patricia that she had inspired me for a name for my story. I am so grateful to Patricia for this.

Also, to my sons Kevin, Philip and Neil Mc Gregor for their support and for putting up with me throughout this writing.
Eternally grateful xx

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Aug 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781728391939

Paula Delph

Paula was born in Guyana South America and left in 1966 after meeting and falling in love with a soldier. Guyana was then known as British Guiana; a British Colony and the British Army were called in to quell political and social unrest at that time. Paula married her soldier and then came to live in Edinburgh, Scotland and continues to live there. Paula has three sons, all grown up, with six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The family have travelled extensively throughout the United Kingdom, eventually settling in Edinburgh. Paula decided to write this story which is mainly about her relationship with a pet cat which she had for 17 years before having to let him go due to his ill health. Paula believes that our pets also have souls guided by Spirit and they can be our guides and guards as we grow together to develop a unique relationship. This relationship can also be a help for our human relationships and it would be lovely to see more pets in more homes for the benefit of both parties.

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 Paula Delph. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  10/16/2019

ISBN: 978-1-7283-9194-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-7283-9193-9 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Foreword

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

This book is

dedicated to my good friend Patricia Dunnigan who passed away in May 2018. At the time I was attending writing lessons and started writing this story and trying to think of a name for it, I met with Patricia on one of our regular coffee breaks. Patricia is from Bathgate and we often chatted about our families to learn that we had similar families. On that day we met for coffee, Patricia’s first words were and then the Circus came to Bathgate. This cracked us both into laughter and I told Patricia that she had inspired me for a name for my story. I am so grateful to Patricia for this.

Also, to my sons Kevin, Philip and Neil Mc Gregor for their support and for putting up with me throughout this writing.

Eternally grateful xx

FOREWORD

Paula was born in Guyana South America and left in 1966 after meeting and falling in love with a soldier. Guyana was then known as British Guiana; a British Colony and the British Army were called in to quell political and social unrest at that time. Paula married her soldier and then came to live in Edinburgh, Scotland and continues to live there. Paula has three sons, all grown up, with six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The family have travelled extensively throughout the United Kingdom, eventually settling in Edinburgh.

Paula decided to write this story which is mainly about her relationship with a pet cat which she had for 17 years before having to let him go due to his ill health. Paula believes that our pets also have souls guided by Spirit and they can be our guides and guards as we grow together to develop a unique relationship. This relationship can also be a help for our human relationships and it would be lovely to see more pets in more homes for the benefit of both parties.

CHAPTER

ONE

Bathgate is a small town in Scotland, West Lothian. In 1315 Marjorie Bruce, the daughter of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, married Walter Stewart, the sixth Lord High Steward of Scotland. The dowry, which was paid in those days included the lands and castle of Bathgate. This marriage is still celebrated in an annual pageant forming part of the Bathgate Gala Day. Our famous X Factor singer Susan Boyle was born in Bathgate and she certainly left Simon Cowell gobsmacked.

I was born and raised in Bathgate in 1949. I had a pet cat named Corker. I hated Corker, even as a child. I am the eighth child of nine. I was a wilful child which was a challenge for my mother, bless her. I did not like being corrected, guided or told what to do. I was a wilful child wanted to be the leader. Yes, I was a popular child and I had lots of friends, but my family irritated me. My family kept a very busy schedule. Dad worked in the coalmines and was away from home for long periods of time. Mum was a seamstress and her sewing kept her occupied, when she wasn’t telling me what to do and how to behave.

My older siblings were also busy though I never knew their whereabouts. I was left in charge of my younger brother, Raymond. Raymond was my baby, and I loved dressing him and taking him for walks in his push chair. Although I often wanted to run away with Raymond, we only went where Mum allowed us to go. Because Mum was a seamstress, one of my jobs was to deliver completed sewing projects to her clients. I’d also collect payments to return to Mum.

I loved this task as the responsibility of taking care of Mum’s money made me feel very grown up.

I envied Corker because he seemed to have such a good life. No one told Corker what to do, he just pleased himself. Corker knew that I hated him. Wherever I sat, he would present himself and lick his lips. As I looked at him, which I often did, it was as if he was challenging me to have a go