Blog

Sitting here in rural France in the early morning sunshine listening to birds twittering and the distant sound of grass being mown it’s difficult to not be inspired, to write. I intended to write in an organised fashion this year but this hasn’t actually transpired. There’s inspiration all around. Maybe that’s what’s wrong? Perhaps my brain has been overwhelmed…as if!

I have written a little so I don’t feel a total disgrace. Perhaps I should start considering this a time of reflection and regeneration (brain cells!) and that when I return to reality all the writing I intended to produce on holiday will come flowing out and on to paper!

Holiday is not a time for discipline, that’s my mantra for today. If any seeds of literary gems trickle into mind I’ll catch them and note them, if not, I’ll just chill and wait for them. A bientot!

Well….I’ve finally done it! After months, nae years, of promising I gathered all the notebooks I had amassed, each with impulsive scribblings, and organised them. I tore out pages and after assessing their literary worth (haha or aha!) I binned some, filed some and am about to actually use some in writing. I now have 8 empty notebooks, which I will use one at a time, and 16 empty notebooks heading for a charity shop. Do I feel better for the purge? I should say so! Should have done this ages ago, now I can actually see the wood! Let’s hope the clutter-free mindset will produce amazing creativity! Watch this space.

Well, I’ve just finished my stint as volunteer at the festival, held in the wonderful Dumfries House estate, and what a time I’ve had!

On Friday it was Schools Day and I accompanied one of the local primary schools. We were enthralled to hear Jason Lewis talk about his human-powered circumnavigation of the globe, what an inspiring young man. Determination is his secret and I’m sure the young people who heard him will never forget him.

A ‘James Boswell’ character then told the children snippets from his life in the house’s beautiful Tapestry Room after which we had a mini tour of the house.

On Saturday I was assisting at the Children’s Festival where there was a selection of authors reading and interacting, wild critters to be seen and held, seed bombing and mask making.

I was fortunate to experience Nick Sharrat’s event. What stamina this author/illustrator has. He showed the children how he illustrated his books as he told his stories. Some children were selected to assist him and at one point there was the strangest looking sextet of Vikings on the stage with him……instead of horns on their helmets they had a selection of food…..bananas, carrots, croissants etc! It was all great fun and I’m sure the parents enjoyed Nick as much as the children.

I thoroughly enjoyed my volunteering at this prestigious event.

We are so fortunate to have such an event on our doorstep.

This was drawn by a little ‘witch’ fan! Love it!

I had a Tommy Cooper moment last night at the Ayr Writers’ Club Success Night. I was reading my 2nd place Children’s story, Body Work in the Crypt, at the time. The adjudicator had proffered “it will make you laugh or groan”. Bearing in mind this story is for age 12+ I especially wanted them to “groan”, I love having that effect on my 16 year old grandson! Anyway, I was reading away when I realised a particularly groan-worthy line was coming up and I started laughing. I told my audience, “I know what’s coming next!” and we all had a good laugh….before the groan! Thanks Tommy!