If only I’d been bothered to bring in the duvet covers and sheets when I had the chance. Now they are dripping on the line, more wet than when they first came out of the machine. The sky is grey and lumpy and I need something to cheer me up. So, let me share with you the photos from a lovely day in Oxford last Friday, when my son finally decided to put in an application for a college place.
With the success of last year’s event, the Dorset Writers’ Network are hosting another story slam as part of the Open Book Festival in Bridport. Organised by Jennifer Bell of Storyslingers, the evening will be modelled on previous story slams where participants are asked to register in advance through zomzara@googlemail.com (or turn up and register on the night). If there are more registered writers than time slots, the names will be entered into a draw. Each time slot is five minutes maximum (about 780 words). All genres and styles of original prose welcome. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your talent so get writing and share your work with a supportive and enthusiastic audience.
The County Show has been celebrating the countryside and all things Dorset since 1841. These days there’s a focus on family entertainment, showcasing agriculture and shopping but the old traditions of a county show remain, including the competitions. There are 1,000 competitions to enter and although we didn’t spend much time looking at the livestock, the homecraft and horticultural tents are endlessly fascinating.
With the rise in popularity of television shows such as The Great British Bake Off, the competition for the best of baking is considerable. Criteria for entry is strict sometimes identifying the required size, shape and ingredients, others offering the chance to use your own recipe. One category I continue to find perplexing is:
I wonder what Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood would make of that!
Unfortunately, for all the delights of Victoria Sandwiches, Swiss rolls and flapjacks, they were displayed inside plastic bags and not the best circumstances to photograph, so I can’t show you any of the entries. However, I can share with you the following:
THREE CARROTS, stump rooted, tops trimmed to approx 76mm
PAIR OF MARROWS (any size)
These had my husband anticipating an entry for 2014.
Some of the other categories, however, had me in stitches. For example, THE LONGEST RUNNER BEAN of reasonable quality. I’m not sure that would be worth eating. And then there were the monster entries, the largest pumpkin and the heaviest marrow:
After all the excitement there was one last treasure. An opportunity to stroke the loveliest of rabbits and meet the proud new owner.
During a long journey yesterday I listened to ‘When God was a Rabbit’ by Sarah Winman. The family saga was brilliantly read by Emilia Fox but the story was predictable in places. Rabbits at the show and one in a novel – that must be enough rabbits for one week.
The suitcases are now put away for the summer. After a week in Edinburgh we made a dash for Galway City to catch up with Regina who was celebrating her fiftieth birthday. So here’s the party girl with her husband, Andy.
It was a splendid occasion: a chance to meet Regina’s family and friends and touch base with her children who are the same age as mine. The Salthill Hotel put on a wonderful spread and we sat on a table called ‘The Enablers’ with others who have worked in the UK, Ireland and overseas. What a great compliment to be considered an enabler. The company was splendid and when the talking was over we danced well into the night.
You might like to watch the You Tube clip of one of the songs played repeatedly!
We also had the opportunity to look around the city and take a walk by the coast. What a lovely place – somewhere we would certainly like to make a return visit.
Having enjoyed the Edinburgh Fringe and International Book Festival last year, I booked again for a return visit in 2013. Had I known in advance what would be in store for me during the intervening period, I would have reserved a week under a sunshade. However, having galvanised a bit of energy, I made it to Charlotte Square most mornings for the 10 at 10 session which featured a short reading from a visiting author. One of the treats included the opening pages from the The Universe versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extense. This is a debut novel that is included in Richard and Judy’s Summer Book Club. The story is told in the distinctive voice of seventeen year old Alex and revolves around an unusual friendship with Mr Peterson, an American, pot-smoking widower. You can read more about the book in a Guardian review here.
Further highlights included another debut novelist, Courtney Collins talking about her book The Burial, a story inspired by the life of Jessie Hickman a twentieth century Australian horse rustler. I also got to touch base with Ronald Frame talking about his latest novel Havisham.
In terms of the Fringe, we caught a few comedy shows including Rachel Parrish whose singing/comedy act had me in stitches (the performer is tagged as the Glee-Club chick gone wrong).
When we returned to Dorset, the plants in the garden decided to put on a welcome home display
Begonia
Dahlias
Yucca
Just when I thought I had to return to the office for three more days of work after taking leave next week, I discovered that I’m actually owed some days. As a result, my last day of employment with the County Council will be Friday and I’m madly trying to get everything done ready for a holiday in Edinburgh starting on Saturday. We’re flying from Southampton and taking hand luggage only, so decanting liquids has been the order of the day. Fortunately, the flat that we’re staying at in Stockbridge provides shampoo and shower gel, so it’s only face creams that I need to worry about.
I’ve packed a couple of paperbacks including The Coward’s Tale by Vanessa Gebbie and The Polish Boxer (which was recommended by Sarah Bower) and you can read a review here. I’ve downloaded two audiobooks to my ipod: Catch 22 and The Unbearable Lightness of Being. So when I’m not attending sessions at the Book Festival or the Fringe I’ll have plenty to keep my busy.
Have a good week.
This time last year I was offered the post of Service Manager for a teaching team working with Dorset County Council. Now my colleagues, who are all on teachers’ pay and conditions have finished and I’m left with no-one to manage. It’s not too bad – I am allowed to work from home during the summer and the end is in sight. I’ll receive my final salary and redundancy package on 30 August. With the end to a new position only one year after starting, it makes the anniversary something of a bitter-sweet event. Bitter owing to the end of a career in local government that I’ve loved and sweet due to the new beginnings it provides. I’ve secured part-time work with an educational charity to start in September and I’ve the MPhil in Writing to begin in October, so things are looking positive. A new start and studies that may lead to a new career.
My wedding anniversary falls in August but we’re long past the point of celebrating with cards and gifts. Indeed, this year we’ll be travelling to Edinburgh for a family holiday with our teenage children. I’ve visited the Edinburgh Fringe and the Edinburgh International Book Festival previously and enjoyed my time so much, I decided to return again with my family. I have tickets for a couple of events at the Book Festival including a session offered by Ronald Frame. He was a tutor at an Arvon course I attended in 2011 and he’s been wonderfully supportive of my writing. So it’ll be a pleasure to see him again, especially as he’ll be talking about his most recent book, Havisham (read a review here) which imagines the life of Catherine before she appears in Great Expectations. It’s well worth reading.
The anniversary that I’ve most enjoyed of late came at the weekend. We we unexpectedly offered tickets to attend the Anniversary Paralympics where Hannah Cockroft and David Weir won their races and Richard Whitehead amazed the crowds on his golden blades. The wonderful achievements of the athletes from 2012 was certainly an event worth celebrating.
Which anniversaries do you celebrate?
Here is my son seated in a popular restaurant chain recently opened in Dorchester’s Brewery Square. So, where did we eat last weekend? Look at the decor, look at the furniture. There are chairs where usually there are benches! There are cushions! There is no need to eat at a communal table. For me, something of the Wagamama experience is lost in this Dorset-ised version of the restaurant. Instead, next time we eat out, we may try another chain.
The days of hankering for a decent pizza are over with the arrival of:
If neither of those suit, you could always try:
Or when all else fails, there’s always:
I hardly know what to do with all this choice! Any one fancy fish and chips?
No wonder my handbag was feeling a little heavier than usual. When I turfed out the contents I found the following lurking at the bottom:
Bearing in mind that I can only use one pen at a time, there surely is no need to lug around FIFTEEN! And what a motley assortment of biros! I may have to purchase a rather more distinguished writing implement once my redundancy pay comes through. Any suggestions for a posh brand?
In the meantime, I have a task to complete for 21 July when I will be returning to the Bridport Arts Centre for the second part of a two-day writing course delivered by Paul Dodgson. The first session included the following:
I very much look forward to the next workshop and thank Paul for a wonderful day of literary stimulation, lots of laughter, fun and sharing.
the writer is a lonely hunter 