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Scallywag – My Duvet Diva is a true story about a man trying to rebuild his life, and a dog in need of a second chance.
It tells of their adventures together ashore and aboard their canal boat “Bluebell”, of their developing relationship and of their deepening companionship.
Atmospheric, funny, and sometimes sad, it will make you both laugh and cry.
Keep the tissues handy!
Christopher was educated at Bradfield College in Berkshire and at The Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
After a brief but very worthwhile spell in the Army, he chose a change in career to become a chartered surveyor – thereafter spending the next 47 years writing condition reports on such properties as Georgian rectories, 17th century farmhouses and period cottages, for dewy-eyed clients intending to buy them!
Now, in his early seventies, Christopher has finally realised that writing children’s stories is far more fun and much more interesting – beautifully illustrated by his wife, Sandy.
However, this was interrupted in December 2020 when their much-loved whippet-cross Scallywag died suddenly.
Christopher and Sandy were grief-stricken, and Christopher found that the only way of dealing with his grief was to write about her, revisiting happy memories.
This book is the result, a tribute to honour a beloved friend who came into Christopher’s life at a critical time for him, likewise for Scallywag who was in need of a loving home. It is also to safeguard many precious memories of happy times together at home and aboard their narrowboat “Bluebell” on the Kennet & Avon Canal – and later on March Hare.
From the age of 16, Christopher spent much leisure time during his life on boats, crewing on a variety of yachts belonging to friends of his – sailing to the Channel Islands, to the north coast of Brittany, to the Scilly Isles and along the south-west coast of England, also taking part in the “Round the Island Race”, circumnavigating the Isle of Wight.
These days, it is the gentler pace of the Kennet & Avon Canal and the beauty of its surrounding countryside that tempt Christopher to leave his laptop in favour of spending time on his cabin cruiser in the Somerset Coal Canal, one of the loveliest linear marinas in the south of England, just off the K&A.
"Scallywag - My Duvet Diva" has been enthusiastically received so far - " charming", "I was completely immersed in it", "love the writing style", "I laughed, smiled and cried", "any dog lover or canal boat aficionado is going to love this book"....are just some of the feedback remarks that I've received. Thank you all so much. Please tell your friends about it. Best wishes and happy reading!
I loved Scallywag, My Duvet Diva, it was beautifully written and drew the reader into the warm and loving relationship between two “lost souls” finding each other and the journey they went on to enjoy. It was touching and honest and reflected how dogs and humans can learn to understand one another so implicitly. For any dog lover who has loved and lost a dog, this will definitely be one to read and reflect on their own experiences.
Scallywag My Duvet Diva by Christopher Weedon is a wonderful book written in memory of rescue dog Scally. It is beautifully written and you will need tissues!
Christopher Weedon admits he has “never known such grief before” on the loss of Scally. He wrote this book to help him traverse his days of grief.
The book is about the authors day to day adventures with Scally. The two formed such a beautiful bond. He rescued Scally but in so doing so, she rescued him after his relationship break up.
We hear of their adventures on a canal boat. We witness the love and care given to Scally to help to make her feel safe. And we see lives blossoming.
I love the fact that Scally is given a voice in the book and that we ‘hear’ her thoughts.
There are many photos of Scally which are a pure delight to see.
I thoroughly enjoyed Scallywag My Duvet Diva. It was a beautiful heartfelt book in memory of Scally. She came to life on the pages and in my heart. I feel as though I, too, have lost a beloved pet.
I found this book really resonated with me as we have had four of our five cats put to sleep with cancer in the last two years (July 2020, Nov 2020, Dec 2020 and Dec 2021). I, also grieve their passing. Our pets live on in our hearts.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
