Back to school

It's that time of year when everyone's heading back to school, picking up winter activities and hobbies, starting new evening classes and learning new skills.

This afternoon I took part in a fantastic writing workshop in Belfast organised by the Community Arts Partnership and facilitated by Shelley. So it was 'back to school' in terms of spending a few hours writing. It was good to meet up with fellow writers and be creative with Shelley's writing prompts 

Tonight 'Back to School' was the theme at this month's 'Ten X 9' storytelling in the Black Box http://www.tenx9.com/ I went along to hear one of my writer friends telling her true story, which she delivered with humour and style. The audience loved it! Well done to all the storytellers who moved and entertained us with their tales from the best days of our lives.

Au Revoir

I spent a few hours this morning in the company of other writers . We met up in the splendid Linen Hall Library in Belfast for coffee and a chat. It was good to see some familiar fellow writer friends and to meet some new ones there too and hear what everyone is working on.

 

It's worth popping in for a browse round the oldest library in Belfast. The shop has quirky literary gifts for sale and the treats in the coffee shop are tasty.

Coffee and books are always a good combination so it's such a shame the library has taken the decision to close (along with its coffee shop) on Saturdays from this autumn.

So while it's 'au revoir' to the Linen Hall Library coffee shop, thankfully with so many coffee shops opening up I'm sure we'll be able to find a welcoming coffee shop where we can meet up, chat and read.

Ten Significant Books - Day 10

This is the book I probably read the most in my teens. Long, long before the days of wiki books were used for referencing and I used this one many times to learn. At that time in my life I wanted to be a music journalist and this book was one I gained extensive knowledge from.

I chose it as part of my school prize that year. It had to be specially ordered by Mullans bookshop in Belfast (sadly no still longer around) and some of my teachers were a bit perplexed at my choice (I think they were probably secretly jealous).

I haven't had a look at the book for a very long time. But when I took it out of the bookshelf tonight,  like so many of my books I found a newspaper cutting hidden in the leaves. It's tucked into the page where my family members have an entry in the book.

Beating A Retreat

Military Beating Retreat concerts have a long tradition dating back to the 1690s. Originally the beating of the drum was used to order troops to break off fighting and withdraw to the safety of camp as darkness fell, later it signalled the closing of the camp gates at the end of the day and called troops back to base for the night. Today a Beating Retreat is an evening military concert with a marching display and usually marks the lowering of the Regimental flag at sunset.

It wasn't this sort of retreat - but it would be very difficult to beat the last few days away.

Plenty of good food, great craic, good company and intensive writing - is indeed hard to beat.

We may not have had 'wall to wall' sunshine this time on the retreat, but it was still warm and dry enough at times to enjoy the beach at Coney.

Ten Significant Books - Day 9

This is another school text book - the first one on our 'O' level syllabus. It sticks in my mind as being the first book I felt I 'had' to read and the first book I didn't enjoy reading. Up until this point, all school text books, had been enjoyable, even though they might not have been books I would have selected to read.

When I look back on it now, the writer and the book were not at fault. 'Treasure Island' is a brilliant book with fantastic characters. Without Long John Silver we probably wouldn't have Captain Jack Sparrow.

I didn't enjoy this due to the way it was taught. Our English teacher was sarcastic and had a habit of belittling pupils in the class who weren't her 'favourites'. I can remember her reading out misquotes from the book to everyone in class that some of our class mates had invented in their exam papers and she never seemed to like any of the boys. I'm pleased to say I wasn't one of her 'favourites' and that her behaviour didn't put me off enjoying the other text books, going on to study 'A' level English and having an appreciation of pirates.

Ten Significant Books - Day 8

This book haunts me. But not only because of the wonderful story written so brilliantly.

And not just this novel - but this particular version of it.

It was one of my 'A' level English texts which I had recurring anxiety dreams about many years after I'd passed my exams and completed my English degree. Unfortunately our teacher took ill during our 'A' level course and we were very much left to our own devices to get through the syllabus. While it stood us in good ground for working on our own at university some of us might have got better grades if we'd been allocated a temporary teacher to support us rather than being shoved in with another class. Parents today wouldn't put up with it.

As I looked through the novel I still have I came across a couple of interesting bookmarks!



I didn't realise at the time the impact this had on me and for years afterwards if I was feeling anxious about something I would dream that I needed to re-read 'Wuthering Heights' again for my exam the following day.

I passed the exam with a very respectable grade and went on to university. Had I got a better grade I would have gone on to study law rather than English literature, and I'm more than happy that I spent three years reading novels, poetry and plays.

Significant Books - Day 7

Between the pages of a book many an adventure can be had, new discoveries made, secrets hidden and memories awakened.  In looking through this book again I came across a clematis flower from my childhood garden which I had pressed in between the pages. The book was chosen for this purpose as it is large and could withstand the weight of other books on top of it.

The book was one I chose as a birthday present as a child, my Dad taking me to the bookshop when we were on holiday in England. We had this book in school and I loved it! - I loved the beautiful illustrations which bring the poems to life. The book is a special one because it has become something I treasure and I still love reading it with my nieces who are now discovering the magic of books.