Author diaries

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5 May 2005 Entry: "Away with the Fairies"

The prodigal returns to her blog. When I was a kid and didn't turn up to school because I was off buying clothes in Croydon, we called it playing the wag, so maybe now as a big grown up and I'm renaging on my diary duties, I'm wagging the blog...or something like that. A lot has happened in the last six months. For me professionally, I'm nearly half way through a writing residency with Age Concern Newcastle which is going really well. I love working with older people. They inhabit a different, slower and in some ways, kinder culture than mine. Biscuits and soft cushions become very important and a smile and a good drop of gravy seem to work wonders. They are generally a charming bunch and I come away feeling privileged to work with a group where there seems to be a high level of contentment.

Also proudWORDS continues to occupy my time to the extent that my own writng has dissipated somewhat. But for now that feels OK. I'm happy with my work and that's good. Maybe my new found contentment results from working with the over 80s. Big news is though that I'm off to the States next week to attend the Saints and Sinners Literarture festival in New Orleans then I'll be spending two weeks in San Francisco, networking with lesbian and gay writers, writer groups and venues. I'll be garnering ideas for the October 2006 festival and generally soaking up the vibe and a little bit of sun, along with catching up with my novel ( writing rather than reading!) I'll probaby return with another wooden musical tram car that plays " I left my heart ....etc" at half speed and of course in California I can stock up on clothing accessories for the dog... baseball caps, rainwear coats, doggy sunglasses...