Plodding on, Morris & Yorkshire Dales

Well, first the bad news - I didn't get anywhere in the Calderdale Short Stories competition but, as you probably know, you just have to keep plodding on writing and submitting work. At least I have more faith in my own writing now and that seems really important.

So, good news. Though not really writing news. One of my favourite pastimes is playing melodeon for a women's Morris side (team) - you can find us at www.persephonemorris.co.uk I'm one of the musicians and we wear top hats as part of our kit. You may know that there is now a film about Morris dancing. There's a good clip on this site and you can find out more if you're interested: http://www.morrismovie.com/ It looks to be a really good laugh and has even gone down well on its USA tour!

A few of Persephone went walking over the Ribblehead railway viaduct in the Yorkshire Dales last Sunday. The rain even kept off for a lot of the time in the afternoon even if the cloud didn't. It was hard work walking on the gravel besides the line but a great little experience. And if you've never been to the Yorkshire Dales in the UK then in my considered opinion you haven't lived! It is a big county with all kinds of scenery, villages, towns and cities. I could go on and on ... but for now you can see the photo of Ribblehead viaduct at the top of this post.

Lancaster's online writing course is now well under way and after a lot of blood and sweat (well, lots of thinking anyway) I have posted most of a short story for feedback. For the first time I'm including more than one point of view in a short story. It's so rewarding getting feedback from a good group of writers - everyone has something to contribute but everyone has something to gain too.

Writing and not writing

Hugely enjoying the writing course at Lancaster University and would recommend it. It's six months long and is really good value for money, and no they are not paying me to say that!
BUT it has put paid to any other writing. Though to be honest I took on some invigilation work this last month so that has taken my time too. As well as playing my beloved melodeon for Persephone Women's Morris. And I've not been able to do as much of that either - I do suffer from low energy levels and get more viruses than normal so have to pace myself - even now I'm retired.
Never got to put a poem in to Grey Hen Press but one aim is to get a short story either submitted to them, or submit one for a competition.
On the mundane side of things I do like this hot weather, even it is humid - it can remind me of my teenager-hood in Hong Kong. That was in the colonial days of course, in the 60s. Lot of water under the bridge for me since then, as well as for China and Hong Kong. Maybe I'll put up a little more detail on that in the next post. Watch this space.