Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day...

It was hard not to hear the words in my head from that familiar Oklahoma! song as I headed into Belfast on the train yesterday morning. The sun was shining, the sky was brilliant blue and a Saturday morning spent with writing pals - old and new - over coffee beckoned.

We spent a very pleasant morning at our SCWBI meet up catching up on news, sharing the titles of some of our favourite books and making new friends.

The rest of the day was equally enjoyable as an afternoon in the garden was called for - enjoying beautiful sunshine, noticing new growth and doing some obligatory weeding. Another coffee, this time outside, was enjoyed, while listening to bees buzzing, breathing in the heady scent of deep blue hyacinths and finding this year's first ladybird. Bliss!

chocanana muffins can mean only one thing

Chocanana muffins baked early on a Saturday morning can mean only one thing. It's the baking order for Coney Island, the fuel we need to fire up our imaginations to write.

Yesterday was another great Saturday morning spent with writing friends, catching up over coffee and sweet treats and celebrating achievements - Mairi had fantastic news to celebrate, having recently won the international Commonwealth Class Short Story Writing Competition.

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/co-down-teacher-wins-peace-14490289

We were privileged to hear Mairi read her story to us before she submitted it - but you can read it here -
https://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/about-programmes/commonwealth-class/story-writing-competition/top-entries/teachers/m-mccurdy

Along with a few giggles, there was of course some writing thrown in for good measure.