Reflections

During these strange days some of us are getting a bit of time to reflect on life, what's important and maybe how we might change when we return to a new normal way of life.
Simple pleasures like a coffee in the sunshine suddenly seem really special.

Each day in the garden there's some new shoot sprouting or a new bud about to burst, or a bird, bee or butterfly visiting.

And indoors I'm enjoying spending a bit more time baking, trying new recipes and enjoying the results (the mincemeat cake is particularly good!)

I haven't had much time for writing or reading, but hopefully that will change soon. And today through the post I received a copy of an anthology which features one of my poems. 

'Reflections 3' is the third anthology produced by the Lagan Navigation Trust following last year's annual storymaking festival. I'm delighted that my work has featured in all three anthologies, and that I was a prize winner in the last two years of this festival. I'm looking forward to spending some time in the garden over the weekend, reading the stories and poems in this collection while I enjoy a coffee and some home baking- bliss!

Strange days

We're living in very strange times. In difficult days we usually turn to our friends for support and while we can telephone them, we can't meet up with them presently. What's making this period of social distancing more manageable is social media and technology. We can at least keep in touch and have virtual meet ups. I'm used to this in work and with family and friends but not so much with my writing groups. I had one of these virtual meetings during the week with some writing pals, another one today and a further one is planned next week.
Today was the morning we should have been back in Coney Island, and we were, virtually. Thanks to technology and a willingness to 'keep calm and carry on' we had a virtual meet up.

With the wonders of technology we were able to catch up on each others' writing news, drink coffee and still get a glimpse of the Coney shore thanks to Maddie. And of course there was baking, although I could only share the chocolate queen cakes virtually. Technology hasn't advanced so much yet that we can taste cake virtually - maybe that's still to come

But believe me they were VERY good!

St Patrick and St David

It's St Patrick's Day tomorrow, traditionally a day of much celebration throughout Ireland and across the world- but this year it will be very different. Why not celebrate the day by learning more about Ireland's patron saint?
Did you know what links St Patrick to St David?

I discovered working on a writing project about St David.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Crime and Punishment

It was lovely to see one of my short stories included in a collection about crime and punishment in Co. Down. My story 'Dear Martha' is based on excerpts from 19th century editions of 'The Down Recorder'.  A copy of 'Foul Deeds Will Rise' popped through my letter box yesterday.

Even better still, the collection includes stories by two of my Coney Island writing pals Rhonda and Mairi.

Happy St David's day

Happy Saint David's day! The first day of March is the day Welsh people everywhere take time to celebrate the life of their patron saint.

And although not Welsh, I'm celebrating finishing working on a writing project about St David.

So what do you know about St David?

In a week's time we'll be in a new month. And the first day of March is also the day Wales celebrates and remembers their patron saint  - David.

But what do you really know about St David? Who was he? What did he do? Why are leeks the national emblem of Wales?

I've learned the answers to these questions and more by reseraching and working on a writing project about St David.

 

Back in Coney

It seems we've been having wild weather forever now - the third weekend in a row of wet and stormy weather.  One spectacular aspect of the storm is the seascape, and where better to be on a stormy morning than inside a cosy house looking out at crashing waves and driving rain. Even better when you've good company, good food and are writing.

A battered Coney Island was where I found myself this  morning. It was good to catch up with my writing pals, share our news and flex our creative writing muscles. And even better that this was accompanied by coffee and chocoatnana muffins. I'd  dreamt up a new recipe this morning, tried it out and my writing pals and family were the Guinea pigs. Given there are now no muffins left, I'd say it has turned out to be successful!