Tuesday, July 16th 2019 : "Catching up once more"
I apologise for the long gap since my last diary entry. Despite my web mistress's attempts to persuade me to bring it up to date, I keep forgetting to write. But I'm still here, still working and still travelling. So here's a brief summary of what's happened since the last entry.
May took me to Shetland for the wedding of two close friends. They were married on the beach at St Ninian's, despite arctic temperatures and we celebrated that evening at String, the lovely little restaurant and bar, where we'd launched Wild Fire in September. The food was as delicious as it had been then.
June is usually a quiet month, a time for holidays and writing. Not this year. It started with two days of writing and reading workshops for the Unite Union in Bristol. I'd met their bus driver learning rep, the indefatigable Lou Guy, at a session in London and found myself agreeing to come to Bristol to work with her there. I'm so glad I did. It was huge fun, beautifully organized and we ended up with some great writing from the drivers.
Then it was further south for the Sidmouth Book Festival and an event at Greenway, which was once the holiday home of Agatha Christie. Then back to North Devon for a couple of days to catch my breath in Matthew Venn country, before a wonderful partnership gig with Crediton Library and the Crediton Community bookshop.
I left Devon for Portsmouth and the ferry for Le Havre and the festival Polar a la Plage. An international weekend with writers and readers from Scandinavia and France. Thanks to Ann and Dominique for the kindness and hospitality.
July took me back to another Scottish island, to Islay. There was an opportunity to catch up with old friends and to explore the island before Cathy Geldard and I brought Shetland to the round church in Bowmore with words and music.
Later this week, I leave for Harrogate, and Belfast and Armagh. But I promise not to leave it so long next time before we catch up again.
Posted by Ann at 04:35 PM GMT
