catching up over coffee

I have to admit I am a coffee addict. It's an addiction that runs in our family.

I can't function without starting the day with a coffee and I need a few more cups during the day, every day. If I don't have coffee I develop headaches. And during this hot spell of weather we've been having I've still needed the coffee. Thank goodness for iced coffee - I've enjoyed several this week.

 

All of these coffees are good on their own, but when accompanied by something sweet the experience is enriched - be that cake, a banana, chocolate, a biscuit... This morning at the Belfast SCBWI meet up a piece of fruity tea brack was the sweet accompaniment.

 

 

But the best accompaniment to a good coffee is good company. And in our group we look forward to meeting up with each other, catching up on our writing and other news, sharing our writing plans, successes, hurdles and the writing journeys we're each travelling. Writing can be an isolating pastime, when a cup of coffee is an encouragement and comfort, stimulant and nourishment. That's why it's so important to spend time with other writers. It was lovely to see everyone this morning and to meet new people. Here's to our next catch up over coffee. Now, I'm off to have a coffee in the garden.

 

 

Return to Cranford

I first read Cranford many years ago as an undergrad arts student. It was the first of Elizabeth Gaskell's novels I'd read and immediately I was hooked by her writing - her characterisation, the gritty north of England and her witty humour.

I soon read some of her other work - Mary Barton, Wives and Daughters, North and South, enjoying each one more and realising how underrated she is compared to the Brontes and Dickens.  When I completed my undergrad studies I vowed to re-read all the classic novels I'd had to study, but somehow I never got round to it.  Roll forward a few years and Cranford was dramatised on our TV screens featuring Dame Judi et al and I enjoyed it once again.

And last night I returned to Cranford for a third time. This time it was another dramatisation, when Chapterhouse Theatre Company performed Cranford at the Theatre at the Mill.

It was time for our annual open air theatre outing. Grey skies and heavy rain showers all day must have impacted on the size of the audience. And while it was a smaller audience than usual, the theatre company received a very warm reception

Along with Gaskell's sparkling wit, they thrilled us with the humour of Betty Barker's cow falling down the well, Mrs Jamison's dog, Carlo's disappearance in Signor Brunoni's conjuring trick and Mrs Forrester's cat eating Mrs Jamison's lace collar and the subsequent retrieval of the lace.

I've seen Chapterhouse productions at this venue many times over the last few years and this has to be one of their best productions.  While the threatening rain meant we didn't indulge in our usual pre-theatre picnic, it was still one of the most enjoyable outdoor theatre events I've been to. And maybe that had something to do with winning tickets to one of next year's open-air garden productions anywhere in the UK in the raffle. Roll on next summer....