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Donna Clark

@dozy_writes

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Writer and blogger
Curious and inquisitive being
Loves a good blether!

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Two years ago I had a post published on Tiny Buddha. For some time after this, I received emails from people all over the world who had been touched by what I'd written.

People felt a connection and shared their grief and sadness, as well as their hopes and dreams with me.

It was a humbling experience.

A year ago, Tiny Buddha got in touch to tell me they were going to include a quote from that piece in their 2026 calendar. To say I was chuffed is an understatement.

Then I read the quote that had been selected and felt disappointed because I wasn't happy with the composition of my quote.

I thought back to when I wrote the piece and I remembered struggling to find a way to word this sentence.

I knew exactly what I was trying to say but I found it difficult to compose. Eventually I settled on the form of wording you see here.

Looking at it a year later, it felt clumsy and I was frustrated that I hadn't found a more streamlined way to explain my ideas.

I worried about how it would be received. Would people criticise how I'd written it?

But then I realised that I was concentrating on the wrong part of this scenario.

Instead of focusing on what I felt was a failure on my part, I should instead celebrate the fact that someone else found it worthy to include in a calendar that would be bought by thousands of people.

I also realised that it was an opportunity for me to recognise how much my writing is improving. Sure, my grammar and punctuation can be dodgy, but my ability to convey my thoughts and ideas is continually improving.

Today, the 21st of September 2026, is the day that thousands of people will tear yesterday's page from their calendars and be faced with these words, complete with my name written under them.

That feels like a major achievement and something to be proud of.

My published post was about being kind to people because you don't always know what they're going through.

It has now also become a reminder to be kind to myself and focus on what went well rather than fixate on minor mistakes.

Let's be honest, having a positive impact on people's lives is so much more important than a clumsily written sentence. by @dozy_writes

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11 days ago

Hey folks, it's been a while. I've been busy with work and social events - so many 50th birthday parties this year 🎉❤️

My most recent social event was hosting Alex Mechanikool for his first ever visit to the Highlands. You can read all about it in my latest blog post.

#highlandgames #culture #mechanikool #ScottishHighlands #dozywrites taken in Scottish Highlands by @dozy_writes

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2 months ago

Well, Kathleen, who can believe we're hitting 50 this year?

This photo is us at 19 years old, on the way back from a college trip to Edinburgh to observe a high court case.

The case involved a man who had admitted killing someone after striking them with an axe 57 times, but somehow, there were questions as to whether or not it was murder. The case had very little to do with our business law module, but it was offered as an incentive to ensure that we would visit Companies House in the afternoon (much more suited to business law).

We never made it to Companies House, opting instead to go to the pub. The whole gang was there, all of us piled into a corner in some olde worlde pub in the Grassmarket.

The return bus journey was a bit more riotous. Lots of laughter, singing and general mayhem.

A standard gathering for us.

We listened to the Wannadies as they sang the You and Me Song and I remember thinking that life was pretty fucking epic.

Sometime during the return journey, I had my diary out, presumably because I needed to check the dates for something in my busy schedule which mostly involved going out drinking with you and the rest of the college crowd.

Fuck knows why I had a diary, I was always carrying one around with me, a habit that could seem ridiculous if it weren't for the fact that I got to capture this moment.

You wrote in it, commemorating the date that we got pissed on a bus trip, and I knew straight away that I would keep this little diary cutting, sensing somehow that we were coming to the end of a chapter.

Two days later I met the man who would become my first husband and things changed in a momentous way.

You were by my side when I married him and there to comfort me when we got divorced.

You were at my wedding to my second husband (heavily pregnant but still looking fabulous) and long after our divorce you were the first person to get in touch when you found out he had died.

Our lives have taken different paths over the years and we haven't seen so much of each other, but I've always known you were there for me.

Whenever we catch up, we just fall straight back into our easygoing chatter as if we were 19 again, listening to Pau by @dozy_writes

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3 months ago

[Link in bio] Have any of you researched your family tree yet? My latest blog post talks about the benefits and dangers of uncovering your ancestry as well as my desire to travel back in time.

P.S. These are real photos of some of my ancestors ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

#familyhistory #ancestry #genealogy #dozywrites #writersofinstagram by @dozy_writes

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5 months ago

[Link in bio] It's probably no surprise to learn that I am prone to losing my voice. I'm willing to concede that perhaps I like to chat just a little bit...

My new blog post recounts some of the experiences I've had when losing my voice.

#expressyourself #voicingfrustrations #challenges #dozywrites #writersofinstagram by @dozy_writes

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6 months ago

Signs you're back in the Highlands No.2
The sheep have just as much right to be on the roads as cars
#scottishhighlands #remote #roadtrippin taken in Syre, Highland, United Kingdom by @dozy_writes

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6 months ago

Signs that you're back in the Highlands No.1
Saturday afternoon, and it's a four hour wait for the next train...
#scottishhighlands #remote #roadtrippin taken in Ardgay railway station by @dozy_writes

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6 months ago

Thank you @dozy_writes for being a guest on tonight's episode of "Why can't we all just get along".

Loved hearing perspectives and insights on Scotland and relating it to the wider British identity conversations.

#scotland #highlands #britishculture #greatbritain #identity by @dozy_writes

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7 months ago

I'm super excited to be joining Alex Mechanikool live on Instagram on Wednesday 11th March at 9pm for a good old blether about my experience growing up in the Highlands and how that fits in with the British identity.

It would be great if you could join us 🙏❤️

Give Alex a follow, and you will be alerted when the discussion starts.

I will share the replay afterwards for anyone who can't make it. by @dozy_writes

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7 months ago

Our LIVE discussions are back!!
"Why can't we just get along" Installment no.3

Why this weeks special guest @dozy_writes

We will be exploring Donna's experience of growing up in the Scottish Highlands and discussing how that fit with the British identity.

Donna has a wealth of lived experience and is an infectiously curious person. Looking forward to this conversation .

The LIVE will be Wed 11th March.
9mp - 10pm
Held on my @alex_mechanikool account.

#scotland #highlands #britishempire #conversations #women by @dozy_writes

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7 months ago

[Link in bio] I hung back from finishing this piece because our social media feeds have been jammed with everyone talking about their achievements during 2025.

I spent most of 2025 in survival mode, and I wasn't sure if I even wanted to keep sharing stories about my life.

But when it came down to it, I wanted to share a snapshot of what it's been like grieving for the end of a long-term relationship and processing massive change. It has also been a helpful exercise in reminding me that I achieved a lot despite it feeling so difficult.

So here it is, a summary of how 2025 went for me, shared with you all on the day that Scotland used to celebrate New Year.

Settle yourselves in for a roller-coaster journey.

#heartbreak #dozywrites #writersofinstagram #healing #newstart by @dozy_writes

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9 months ago

Wild mushroom and sour cream crisps - what kind of abomination is this??? 🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮🤢🤮 #bogging #mushrooms #weirdflavors #weirdflavours #crisps by @dozy_writes

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a year ago