Bliss

The March edition of Writers News, a mug of hot chocolate and a box of Marks and Spencer's cherry liqueurs......bliss!

Writing in Botanic Gardens

Lovely to see everyone  from our writing group yesterday on a cold but bright, frosty morning at the Ulster Museum and Belfast's Botanic Gardens.

 

And what an inspiring backdrop! It was good fun to try something new, being at one with nature to gather ideas for writing and to realise the importance of researching thoroughly when thinking of the setting.
 

And how fortunate that we were at the Palm House to see a most unusual plant - the Voodoo Arum which has never flowered in Belfast before and only flowers for 48 hours.

Such vibrant colours, delicate perfumes, exotic plants, differing temperatures and atmospheres, sounds, our senses were battered in a short space of time.

Lovely to see this poem by an old friend, Lindsay, hanging in the Palm House. We paused to read it.

There has to be time to stop and stare and soak everything in and to find inspiration throughout the palm houses.

Lovely coffee and cakes in the museum cafe followed by more coffee in the university library cafe. Looking forward to seeing what develops from the ideas we gathered and to seeing everyone again next month.

It is a truth universally acknowledged....,,

Happy 200th Birthday Pride and Prejudice! What a wonderful start to one of the greatest novels ever written. We owe so much to Jane Austen, a woman ahead of her time.

Reading

Books I'm currently reading:
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes and
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
So far I'm loving both of them

Back at Coney Island

Great to be back down at Coney Island with fellow writers yesterday. Good to see Maddie, Rhonda, Fionnuala, Yvonne and Charlie and to be inspired once again to get back to our writing after the Christmas break. The writing exercises were just what we needed to kick start our brains.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. Hope 2013 is as happy, healthy and successful year and that the writing and publishing journey continues to be enjoyable and fun with writing colleagues. Haven't got the new writing year off to a good start as I can't find my special writing pen so am having to make do with a freebie biro from Marriott Hotels and Resorts. Loving my new tablet. Thanks Santa - it should make blogging even easier!

Christmas at Coney

Crackers, candy canes, cinnamon stars, cranberry and orange muffins...the blinding sun shining on a crisp, cold, December morning....

Lovely session down ay Coney Island yesterday with Maddie, Fionnula, Jo, Rhonda, Yvonne, Mairi, Mia, Jana (and their jokes!) and I. Good to review the positives from 2012 and think ahead about our writing goals for next year. Great fun with our word workout - I never thought it could lead to such treasures! A great session was followed by a lovely Christmas lunch.