I was brought up in a quiet little village in bonny Scotland called Carfin and I had the most AMAZING childhood – really I did!

Obviously, this was before the days of home computers and mobile phones, when most local children where outside on the streets playing together and using their imaginations to make up fun games that were played for hours upon end.

Everyone knew your name in Carfin and as you walked by every local resident, you were always greeted by your first name and a warm hearty smile.

Those were the days when no one needed to lock their doors at night and children played together safely outside till 10pm during the summer school holidays.

I believe my childhood back then was beyond magical and a wondrous gift that will live in my heart forever.

In my experience, there are no better friends than your childhood friends and I can still see us back then playing “kick-the-can”, “football rounders” and the best game ever “lee-voy”… still no idea how you spell that one!

As much as I loved my upbringing in Carfin, I never really wanted to live there all my life (well my first 26 years I did) – I have a fond memory as a child in the local swingpark, being mesmerized by the faraway distant night city lights – imagining it was America and I’d get excited about the dream of being there one day! I really was that “big dreamer” type of kid and thankfully, still am to this day, and I truly love that about me!

Being an ambitious dreamer has gotten me everywhere in life and I wear this badge of honour well, with unshakeable self-belief – “if they can do it…well I can do it too”.

I also have this belief in others and always encourage others to adopt this strong positive mindset – it’s my nature, like an inbuilt software computer programme deleting any doubts and negativity like a virus.

At the young age of 81 years, my mum still lives in our childhood family home in Carfin and when I visit, I often stay in my old bedroom – it feels like a haven of safety and love and when I look out the bedroom window, I can still see all the beautiful memories of my childhood flash before me – it forever makes me smile.

Not only was my childhood in Carfin special, this small quaint village is also famous for its beautiful Grotto. Carfin Grotto, opened in 1922, is worldly known and is visited by tens of thousands year on year. As a child, I used to attend their late night candlelit processions, joining hundreds of parisheners and visitors in an open prayer ceremony for world peace, healing, health, unity and love.

The Grotto is situated just across the road from the primary school I attended, and often, me and my school pals would pop over to the Grotto during lunchtime and dare each other to enter the holy caves – unfortunately the huge fear in my imagination never got me down past the first step!

To this day, Carfin Grotto stands as beautiful and magical as it ever did and a recent visit with my mum and boyfriend most definitely proved that. I feel so priveleged to have experienced daily, such an extra special place in Carfin.

I live in Central London these days and my next visit to Carfin will be for my mum’s 82nd birthday.  If you ever get the opportunity to visit Carfin Village, please make sure you visit Carfin Grotto with its beautiful glass chapel, mystical caves and miraculous holy statues and shrines.

No matter where I roam, I am proud to say I am a born and bred Carfin lass – I think it was written in the stars!

Remember….you hold your dream for a reason, don’t let it go….use it to empower you to reach great heights and ALWAYS help others along the way!

Stay special.

Clarabelle