sabbatical Thursday

Writing group tonight was all about images and one of mine was this selection of stripy socks seen in a Mayfair shop.

Feel more like myself today after three days of adjusting to a life without going to work. No I am not ill or on holiday - I am definitely in transit. I have been writing and reading poetry today which felt like such a luxury. I am working on the poem about an ice cream van that I began on St George's day. The theme was England and as I had just heard the first chime of spring, that's what inspired me. Planning to publish it on the cryptwriters website when it is finished and will be chasing icecream vans to get a suitable image to accompany it. Icecream vans evoke so many memories of childhood. High days and holidays always meant icecream and if lucky a crumbling chocolate flake and that red juicy stuff that dripped from the whipped folds of cream.

Just watched a programme on BBC4 about Sylvia Plath's Yorkshire poetry. Very enjoyable as it was filmed in an area I know well - the North Yorkshire moors. It was good to hear this neglected area of her output given an airing and I enjoyed the glorious photography and, once I was used to it, the super-imposition of the words onto the landscape. I particularly enjoyed hearing Wuthering Heights with scenes of Bronte's Top Withens, which is said to be the inspiration for Heathcliff's house.

sabbatical monday

It's the first day of my sabbatical and my first day of no office and no tea rounds and no commuting! Felt a bit lost first thing and weary after the last few weeks of saying goodbye to people and starting the letting go of London process. I gave myself one task to do today and was determined to do it whatever! So at 330 I was in Dulwich hospital having some blood taken. Nice to be able to go at a time that suits me and not have the hassle of having to make up the time or try and do it when everyone else is there too! So that is one big tick for today! Task done! I thne went shopping in Somerfield and had to laugh when a blind man asked my help with finding the bread. He must have thought it was his birthday and christmas all rolled in one when I offered to help him with his shopping. There followed a crazy game of me running off to find milk, cheese and baps for him! Yes, baps! A northern word for bread rolls. He was so grateful and wanted to buy me something for my time. I felt even more lost as I realised that helping blind people is what I do but not any more.

Now that I am on sabbatical (OS) I will be writing more regularly as I will have so much more to talk about - especially when I get to Madrid. I meant to write about the poetry performance which was amazing. However the best way to find out about it is to go to the website at cryptwriters.info and see the photos and words of David Canning. I had such a special time as so many friends came to support me and to hear me speak my words. They were all genuine in their praise and affection and just as good was their pleasure at attending a poetry event and realising what fun they can be. I have plenty of time to do lots of writing over the next few weeks and I am looking forward to finishing off some work and doing some new pieces. I have been exposed to so much creative work recently that has triggered lots of ideas. I have also been taking a lot of photos which I will start to add to this blog.

A funny thing happened today. I found my old blog that I lost! I don't know what to do with it now I have found it. Poor neglected old thing with only four posts. Hardly had a chance to live did it.

Art is on my mind because I spent yesterday at the open studios of my artist friend Tescoman. It was a really good experience and I learnt more about his art simply by being in his work space and asking lots of questions. I love the way that he works with bright colour and I really like the optimism of his work. He deserves to have more success as he is creating pieces that are marketable if he can reach the right audience ie music people. We went for mezze and he couldnt stop talking and I understood why. I was just the same after my performance. The adrenalin of performance or exhibition is good. We had a really interesting discussion about music and how when I hear music, I definitely hear it in a circular form - as in a needle in a record's groove, a CD spinning or a tape looping. I wonder if an mp3 track loops? When he paints circles of colour that spin like discs, it makes sense. Hypnotic glorious colour that bounces and shines and gives energy.

Public appearances!

I meant to say that I have appeared as a film extra again. this time for a short film called Tears. I was at a funeral in Ladywell cemetery on Saturday where a fake vicar blessed an empty coffin and we all looked sad and tearful - especially the actress with the fake baby bump! The scene was repeated at least five times - I lost count. It was interesting to do as the weather was gorgeous and my brother was directing so it was lovely to see him and various other family members in action. For more info see www.bigdipperfilmcompany.co.uk and for a write up by David (writer friend) go to www.cryptwriters.info

My other public appearance will be on Saturday. I am appearing at the Poetry Cafe as part of the Shuffle poetry night. I will be reading a few of my poems (about five minutes) and will be appearing alongside some professional poets. Gulp! Come on down if you can - it kicks off at 7pm and I bet I am on at the beginning. Now what shall I wear? How will I introduce myself? No panic! Actually looking forward to it as it is a great feeling to perform my own words and get feedback.

Tuesday again!

See what I mean! Well it's been an interesting week and I have made progress in some areas of my life.

Firstly, I have now done stage one of a Reiki healing course. Thanks to the synchronicity of meeting Anthea and then discovering she lived around the corner from me! It was quite an experience and a really good day of chatting and reflecting on my spiritual journey so far. I am pleased to report that I now officially have "hot healing hands" and I need to use them!! The next stage of the process is 21 days of self healing and then I get to do stage 2. I can honestly say that I am feeling the benefits of Reiki already - having had treatments from my friend Sarah before. And I was duly impressed when Anthea healed the pain in my shoulder on Saturday so my natural cynicism is being broken down.

Secondly my writing group performed last night and I really enjoyed reading my work to an audience who may have been small in number but were certainly huge in appreciation. Cakes and wine were shared and we all bonded over the microphone in our lovely crypt. My next gig is Saturday 25 April at The Poetry Cafe and I am really looking forward to it now.

Otherwise it has been a time of more clearing out and I managed to get rid of a few books this weekend at a book crossing meet up in Kent. Sunday was a lovely sunny spring-like day but freezing. I was glad to be in a cosy pub with a non-meat roast lunch and some good company. If you don't know about book crossing, check it out at www.bookcrossing.com

So, only five more weeks at work and hopefully I will soon have a training date for Spain as I am keen to move to the next stage of planning/sorting and maybe even packing. Hasta luego!

Writing ...

I have been in a writing group since September 2008 and I really look forward to our Thursday evening meet ups. I wrote a lot about five years ago when I took a certificate in creative writing at Birkbeck and other writing courses and summer schools. Then when I got ill, I lost the ability and my creative voice. I was so frustrated and angry when I found that all I could do was journal every day or write cliched and tired material - well I thought so! But since my Seasonal Affective Disorder diagnosis and my treatment with lights and CBT, I have rediscovered my voice and the group has been a brilliant place to get inspired and creative all over again.

In fact I have never felt happier about my writing as I have a body of work to draw on already and have been adding to it with new poems and some work in progress monologues. The group is reading some work on Monday 30 March in the evening in the crypt of St Peter's Church in the Walworth Road so if you are reading this and feel inclined, do come along and support me. Free admission and the church was designed by Sir John Soane. There will be cake and wine too. Check out our website at www.cryptwriters.info for more info.