Storytime

We've all heard stories of the writer wrestling with his/ her novel, perhaps in a cold dingy attic, or maybe after the family have gone to bed, sitting up at the kitchen table, tap tap tapping away on the computer. Alone.....always alone. Years ago I was lucky enough to meet with a group of writers and over time we formed the Lazy River Writers .  On the weekend we celebrated fifteen years together and I wanted to share fifteen reasons why this group works for me. 1. They make me accountable . I can't imagine turning up at one of our monthly meetings saying  I have written nothing. Not an idea down, not a first draft, not an edit of a haiku. Nothing. I'm positive over these fifteen years there have been times when this has happened, but it would be rare. I like the fact that this makes me do something, even if starting an ideas folder. 2. At the moment there are eight of us (a good number) and we have totally differing view points and opinions. Different lifest...

Sometimes, just sometimes, when I know I should be writing and I even know what I want to write, I find it damned difficult to start. I mean where exactly should I begin? With this word, this phrase, this moment, with this action or perhaps over here? And yes, I know we are told to simply write and before you know it you'll be in knee deep and problem solved....however.... Remember those workshops you did where the tutor/ speaker/ author would start a writing exercise with those words 'I remember...'. That's because we all do, remember that is. Something, no matter how close or distant, there is always some memory that catches us off guard and before we know it, we are putting it (and all its emotional baggage) down on paper. Often used when facing the dreaded blank page...writers block...or simply a way to find a way in. Last week at Storytime I was giving the usual 'hints' to what the day's theme would be. In this case it was ducks, and I talked abo...

Everyone knows that old show business saying 'Never work with children or animals.'...yet my job revolves around me working with children. Every day. Mostly small children. It's a job I love (when it goes well) and I have learnt a lot that can be helpful when speaking to an audience ...whether an open mike or a poetry gig....an author talk or running a workshop. During the school holidays one of my programs was Zoom into Outer Space! We had a good turnout and sitting there with his smaller brother was one seven year old, who could not only read well (so knew when I was ad-libbing during the stories) but regaled us with ALL the information he knew about space. And he knew a lot. He knew about planets and stars and gasses surrounding planets and which would be the best planet to live on - Earth says he in a very condescending tone, it's the only liveable planet! So what have I learnt over the years of 'performing' for children - and it is a performan...

Where on earth is the year going? I'm sure it was only a week ago that I pulled down the Christmas tree, swept up the last of the pine needles and hid the wrapping paper covered in laughing Santas. But without missing a beat the year has marched ahead, against my will I must add....and we have just had Easter. A time, in my household, for too much chocolate and great family get-togethers. This year not only did we have son and his family( my excuse for an Easter egg hunt, as if I needed one), daughter and her husband (that is so strange to write let alone say)....even if separate occasions a day apart- but also other half's mother and my dad popped in. To top it off, we had some lovely weather. Won't talk about the unwanted wasps that made the al fresco Easter lunch turn into, quick grab the plates and head inside. Of course now that we have over indulged on chocolate...we open glazed eyes to discover that it is now April and half way through autumn. (side n...

I garden therefore I am a gardener, of a type....a kind of bit of this there, some over here, what on earth is this and should I let it grow kind of gardener. But I do get out there and dabble. I've done this for years, dabbling as well as gardening...and one of the most important lessons learnt (apart from what I think the end result will look like is nothing to reality) is to have patience. Why else would we plant seeds and seedlings with the hope that they will grow into something huge, or in some cases, delicious? We plant ----we give as much love and care as we can ----and then we wait. Sometimes it's not that long, a few weeks and we are rewarded with flowers or fruit. Sometimes we know we are in for the long haul...shrubs and trees demand time. So does having a big picture in mind. I am attempting (must be old age) to have some cohesion, some sense of style and design. Not simply buy anything that interests me then find a place to put it...and pray it...

I went away to Mornington for the weekend, a belated birthday present. It was lovely, not only the weather was glorious, but we walked along the beach... and had some fantastic food at various places. The highlight was going to Heronswood  , where we happily wandered the gardens for quite a few hours before having lunch then hitting the plant shop. Other half and myself were content to look at the gardens, to ooh and ahh, to ask 'can we do this you think?' and take photographs. And this is where it always interests me, we saw the same things, the same plants, the same garden beds, the same everything. But we always see things in a different way. Our perspectives are different so we take totally different photos. We frame them differently... we focus on different aspects. Nothing is ever the same no matter how similar the starting point is. This is something that intrigues me all the time in our writing. One of the writing groups I go to h...

Recently we had a wedding in the family. It was the most wonderful day (even with a few hiccups)...with lots of love and smiles, family and friends. And of course words are so important in these events. From the signage (example A above)- so guests know they are in the right place....to the name tags at the reception....from the signs telling people which punch was 'kid friendly' .......to the actual vows. Can I say these vows not only included 'my lover and friend' but also included their cats, their 'bears'.....how true to the couple is that? I think for most of us the day sailed by. The morning was spent getting the garden ready, then back to the hired house for hair and makeup- which was very relaxed...but then it was 'OMG we have 20 minutes to get you in the dress and ready to go'. But we got there.... The bride looked stunning....and I don't think the smiles left faces the rest of the day. I was cool and relaxed, ...