February 2013
Welcome to my blog! I’m an American who has made her home in Scotland. I grew up mainly in Portland, Oregon. My professional background is academic: I studied and later lectured in French and Women’s Studies. After living in Connecticut and Illinois, my husband (who is an Irish-Ukranian Brit) and I came to Scotland in 1992. I taught and worked at the University of Aberdeen for 20 years. I also had the opportunity to study Gaelic for four years, which I can speak with some degree of fluency.
I’m blessed to have a great family. My husband still makes me laugh after more than 25 years of marriage. Our children are both Scots. Our (adopted) son is now grown up and lives in Edinburgh. In my blog I call our (biological) daughter “the Dafter,” after her perfectly logical mispronunciation of the word “daughter” – like “laughter” – when she was learning to read. Sadly she fell ill in September 2011 and has since been diagnosed with severe ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I’m now her full-time carer. Very luckily we’re a close and happy family. We enjoy each other’s company and are determined to be as positive as we can be in helping her recover.
When I began my blog, I had been publishing poems and short stories for several years in Scottish literary magazines and anthologies. I was particularly interested in questions of identity, belonging, adoption, cultural differences, faith and parenting. My writing life is currently on hold, but I hope someday to have the opportunity to write again. I love gardening, walking, Gaelic, knitting, and listening to Scottish accents. Before my daughter fell ill I was very involved in church life, as I am an ordained Elder of the Church of Scotland. (This does not mean, however, that I don’t still have many questions!) In all indoor activities, I am ably assisted by our sweet cat, Tilly.
For fellow members of Ravelry, my username is “tefighe” (pronounced chay-FEE-a) which means “she who knits” in Gaelic.
Dear Christine
I’ve been asked by the Scottish Poetry Library to write teachers’ resources for the National Poetry Day postcards, including your ‘Building Vocabulary’. I’m including some biographical details, and wanted to check your place of birth – Wish I Was Here says San Francisco, Silver says Portland, Oregon. Rather than guess, and possibly extend an error, I thought I’d ask…
Best wishes,
Ken Cockburn
By: Ken Cockburn on July 25, 2010
at 10:43 am
Christine…thanks so much for letting me know about your latest project…you’re wonderful book. It looks fantastic, and I shall immendiately ask for it in every bookshop I enter. I shall also mention it on the dreaded Facebbook coz many of my Scottish/American/Norwegian friends would be very interested.
Good luck with it, and see you soon
Jane
By: jane.grieve on August 5, 2010
at 10:45 am
Christine!
Just found your Website. Didn’t realise you had such talents – you are far too modest! I’m sure I’ll get much pleasure in reading what you’ve done plus any future projects.
Best Wishes
John
By: John Grant on August 5, 2010
at 4:00 pm
Christine!
‘MAY’[!] you have lots of success and enjoyment from, and interest in, your latest project.
All the best with the venture
Moira
By: Moi McArthur on August 10, 2010
at 2:40 pm
I came across your blog while looking for info about the knit camp at Stirling University. I clicked to read about your blog and see you wearing my favorite sweater, which I made myself. I am American too, love Scotland (made a 2 week trip to Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the Highlands in 2004), and love to knit! So much in common! I have added you to my list of blogs to read daily.
Best
Martha
By: martha chabinsky on November 1, 2010
at 3:51 pm
Dear Martha,
Thanks so much for your comment. I hope you enjoy the blog – I try to post every 2 to 3 days. (My daughter, “the Dafter” says more than that is total overkill for my readers!) If you’re on Ravelry, I’m “tefighe”. I’d be curious to know which sweater is the one you’ve made as well!
By: christinelaennec on November 1, 2010
at 5:24 pm
Please never ever stop writing Christine, it is a great gift that you share with the world
I loved the photos of the crocuses, btw, made me think of Seaton Park in the sunshine. Some very happy memories,
love to all the family
Tom
By: Tom Lloyd on March 6, 2011
at 11:36 am
Dear Tom,
What a lovely thing to be told: “never ever stop writing”. I am often tempted, but simply can’t! I once read that the definition of a writer is: someone who can’t not write. I’m glad you liked the photos and have happy memories of Seaton Park. Thanks again for coming by and for your good wishes. Love to you and yours.
By: christinelaennec on March 7, 2011
at 9:25 am
Prof. Laennec:
When discussing how engaged you felt when teaching, I am hoping that you remember your time teaching French at Illinois State University. As a student who struggled with learning a new language, I appreciated your passion and obvious enjoyment not only of French, but of your interaction with the students.
I have many fond memories of my time at ISU. What I loved the most were the people there and the relationships I formed with other students and the faculty.
Thank you for taking the time for us, your students.
With Warmest Regards,
Dan Wilkins, B.A., 1991
By: Dan Wilkins on April 9, 2011
at 6:16 am
Dear Dan,
What a kind, kind comment! Thank you so much – this is why people teach. Of course I remember I.S.U., and I remember your name as well. What struck me the most when we arrived there was that so many students would say, “Why did you come here from Yale? Why would you want to teach us?” I truthfully answered that I enjoyed the students’ sincerity and lack of pretension. I’m so glad that you have happy memories of your time there. I think what you say about the value of relationships with others is absolutely true. No-one can make anyone else learn a thing – we can only try to encourage one another. Wow, I’m having a flashback to being in downtown Normal! Thanks for coming by my blog. I hope life has treated you well in the interim.
By: christinelaennec on April 9, 2011
at 7:22 am
Hi Christine, my laptop is in the ICU at St. Best Buy. That means I don’t have your email address, please do send me a note, so I may reply, I have a question for you re: higher education in the UK from the son of a work colleague. All the best!
-Bruce Anderson
By: Bruce Anderson on August 12, 2011
at 4:34 pm
For the wonderful Writing from Scotland: I’ve just given you a Liebster Blog Award – http://lornastearoomdelights.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/dearest-blogs/
My post is a bit all over the place but here’s the proper info you need to dish out some awards of your own:
“Liebster is German and translates into English as “dearest” or ”favorite”. A Liebster Blog Award is given to talented bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, in a way the award not only recognizes these bloggers as amazingly gifted in their own right but also as your very own personal favorites.”
How to participate:
Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you.
Copy and paste the blog award on your blog.
Present the Liebster Blog Award to 5 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed. (Some say just 3 or more blogs of less than 200 followers each)
Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog.
By: tearoomdelights on February 16, 2012
at 5:16 pm
Lovely to meet you Christine, via your blog. Sending your “Dafter” my good thoughts and a very special Indian prayer. Keep well, stay happy.
By: teabuddy on July 1, 2012
at 5:18 pm
Thank you Shona, and lovely to meet you too on your own blog! The Dafter will appreciate an Indian prayer. She amazed us once when we were visiting the Victoria & Albert museum and she was able to name the various Hindu dieties depicted by the statues we were walking past. She had studied them in school and knew all about them – but had never mentioned this!
By: christinelaennec on July 1, 2012
at 9:20 pm
dear sister we bring greetings from india .
By: pastor richard joseph on July 3, 2012
at 8:12 am
Hi Christine, I just nominated you for the Illuminating Blogger Award: http://lornastearoomdelights.com/2012/07/09/awards-in-july/
By: tearoomdelights on July 9, 2012
at 3:45 pm
I stumbled upon this website as I am searching for a pen pal from Scotland. I to am from America. I would LOVE to visit and even dream of moving to Scotland. Scotland and Ireland have entranced me. I want to learn Gaelic and though having a pen pal would help me with that. Plus, I enjoy writing. I look forward to reading your work.
By: Beth Mast on July 16, 2012
at 2:58 pm
Dear Beth,
Welcome to my wee corner of blogland! I hope you will find your pen-pal, and find ways to study Gaelic. There are lots of blogs about Scotland and Ireland in the meantime!
By: christinelaennec on July 18, 2012
at 10:38 pm
Hi Christine, I nominated you for the Capture the Colour challenge because I know how much you appreciate colour and you take such lovely photos: http://lornastearoomdelights.com/2012/08/06/capture-the-colour/
By: tearoomdelights on August 6, 2012
at 4:50 pm
Oh Lorna, that is very kind of you! I’m very chuffed. I didn’t know I enjoyed taking pictures until I started my blog. I’ll check out the challenge soon. Sounds like fun!
By: christinelaennec on August 7, 2012
at 9:28 pm
Christine, My Patrick)’Brian friend Sara in the UK posted a bit on Facebook. I don’t know if you saw this or if you really want to more since I am sure you are very aware of all about ME you want to know. Sara says she developed ME in her fifties and counts herself fortunate that she has not been as severely affected as many young people but I think she still has her ups and downs with health issues.
Anyway, here’s the link: If you are unfamiliar with this paper, let know me know and I’ll try to send a real link. It is:MAIL ONLINE and the columnist’s name is SANDRA POULTON. It is SANDRA POULTON’s BLOG and it appeared in the Friday, September 21, 2012 edition.
Best.,
LindaC
By: Linda DeMars on September 21, 2012
at 11:50 pm
Dear Linda,
Thanks very much for thinking of us. I’ve had a wee look around the Mail Online, and there is a columnist called Sonia Poulton and one called Sandra Parsons, but I can’t find any articles about ME. I’ll maybe look again another time. It certainly is a mysterious illness!
By: christinelaennec on September 22, 2012
at 8:12 pm