The New Jilly ...

Returned a couple of days ago from our lovely break in Jersey, CI.  Have you ever been there?  If not then please try it as I cannot recommend it highly enough.  We first went about twenty years ago and we fell in love with it so much we have now been back to it a further seven times!  Over the years we have seen it grow and develop but it will never lose its charm.  It is steeped in history, has a lovely climate and there is plenty to see and do.  We walked miles every day - along the coastlines, round the quaint little towns.  The people are warm and welcoming.  It truly is a place to relax and unwind (and after losing my old mum in June, bless her, I was ready to do some relaxing and unwinding, believe me!).

On our last full day there, Steve and I opted for a two and a half hour boat trip.  It went round half the island, from St Helier to Corbiere Lighthouse and it was near Corbiere Lighthouse that we found ourselves being entertained by a family of dolphins.  This was nothing short of a miracle as far as I was concerned and was one of the highlights of the holiday.  The family - we think a mum, dad and calf - showed up out of the blue and frolicked around us for at least twenty minutes - swimming along beneath the helm of the boat almost as if leading us ashore, diving in and out of the waves.  And the water is so clear there that we could even see them as they passed below us.  The male was at least eight feet long and the most ethereal blue/silver colour I have ever seen!  The female was around six feet and the baby around four feet and they seemed to enjoy the company of the humans almost as much as the humans enjoyed the company of the dolphins!  We were all hanging over the side of the boat snapping away with our cameras and we got some cracking shots of them I have to say.  Talk about excitement!  The skipper eventually announced regretfully that we had to get moving again and it was with an air of regret that we watched these magnificent creatures fade into the distance.  But the memory of sharing that twenty minutes with them is something I will never ever lose.  It really was an amazing experience.

Since we got home, we have slowly been getting back to the usual routine.  I added at least another five hundred words to The Epic this morning in the coffee shop before heading to the Day Job and I have just started getting things together for the first Young Writer session on 5th September.  That has come round unbelievably quickly, I can tell you, so I have my work set out for me for the next few days.

Don't forget to let me know of any Christmas or Autumn fairs or bazaars coming up so I can sell some more copies of My Writer.  I desperately do not want it to fade into oblivion because it is far too important if I am to continue nurturing the next generation of writers and poets!

And I am always looking for new opportunities.  If you have a parish magazine or know of any editors looking for columnists please point them in my direction ...

Farewell ... Until My Return ...

Just a quickie - off to Jersey in a couple of days.  Holidays and vacations are wonderful but on this occasion it will be so much more.  It has come at just the right time what with losing Mum and dealing with my recurring Ear Nose & Throat problems (I have now been referred to the ENT clinic) - I desperately need a complete break and the opportunity to recharge my batteries.  My plan is to come back and just write, write, write all through Autumn and Winter - even if I don't publish a word of it.

Flying out on Wednesday morning.  Many thanks to neighbour Keith for Housesitting.

See you in a couple of weeks.

Finding My Pen ...

Yes ... I did get The Epic out the other day.  It is still out.  But I haven't as yet added anything to it.  That isn't to say I won't.  Just that it is taking my somewhat stunned Creative Juices a little while to get back into full flow.  I make no apologies for this.  I just crave your kind understanding.

The Young Writers had their final session of the summer the other Saturday.  We are back on 5th September.  I now have my work cut out trying to think of how to maintain the momentum and keep their interest.  I am thinking of trips out, more special awards, competitions, maybe get a couple of other local poets or writers in.  Perhaps I could appeal to you guys?  If you like to write and you are local to Croydon, why not get in touch.  It would do the Young Writers good to get a new perspective and you'd only have to come in and meet them, maybe show them some of your work and answer a few questions.  It would be brilliant!  Let me know if you can help or if you know someone else who could!

Am off to Jersey next week for ten days.  It has been a while since we were there so looking forward to it.  Think once we are back I will definitely have to get my head down, find some local autumn/winter/Christmas fairs so I can sell some more copies of My Writer.  Also work out exactly what my Writing Plan is!  I do know I have to get organised - it is what Mum would have wanted because she believed in me 150%

Don't talk to me about Waterstones by the way.  So much for them supporting local writers.  they have let me down big time.  Stay away from them - because unless you are a best-selling author they will turn their corporate noses up at you.  Go on Waterstones - prove me wrong ...