Category Archives: inspiration

Happy 24th February -because it feels like spring

It’s happened again and what’s more, I noticed. Like many other bloggers, diarists and commentators on life, I want to mark the day. Today is the day that I noticed that Spring is on its way. The sun is so … Continue reading

Posted in dogs, Family, inspiration, M.E., ME, CFS, natural world, Uncategorized, wildlife, writer | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Still life with sparrow hawks

I have just spent ten minutes watching a sparrow hawk perched like a statue on the terrace wall. I swear it did not move even the tiniest bit, but merely watched – and watched. It was a peculiarly spiritual communion, … Continue reading

Posted in bird of prey, CFS, dogs, inspiration, M.E., ME, CFS, natural world, Short stories, short story, Uncategorized, wildlife, writer, writing, writing competitions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Donkeys and pristine notebooks

I have a beautiful  ‘Paperblanks’ notebook that is dedicated to first drafts and notes for the War collection of poems that I am currently working on. It was a brave step to start writing in it because I am one … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, inspiration, poet, poetry, Uncategorized, war, writer, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Timelines, gateways, clusters and brain dumps

Have had my head down all day today, planning as well as writing. I find it hard to move between the genres of poetry and fiction in the same day however. This morning I was thinking about longer short stories … Continue reading

Posted in inspiration, novelist, poet, poetry, Short stories, Uncategorized, writer, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Twiddles and Tweets

I have found that it is entirely possible to spend the whole day fiddling with blogs and tweets and facebook walls. Linking them and making them look pretty is a consuming pastime but I need to remember the reason I … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, CFS, Family, inspiration, M.E., ME, CFS, poet, poetry, Uncategorized, war, writer, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Entries and eulogies

Just come  back from a great writing session. The mix of styles in the Wednesday group is impressive, as is the combined accolades won by group members. Entries were being compiled for the Slough Arts Festival as the closing date … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, Family, inspiration, Loose Muse, poet, poetry, Uncategorized, war, writer, writing, writing competitions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Found

I was listening to Andrew Motion talking to Andrew Marr on Radio 4 about ‘found’ poetry and it reminded me that I had written one such piece two years ago. It was taken from an article in the Daily Telegraph … Continue reading

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Small Boots, Big Ideas

There are so many nifty bits to this blogging business and yesterday my ideas were too big for my boots. I have added a ‘ Home’ page, not once, but twice. It is the same page, but there are two links … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, Family, inspiration, poet, poetry, Uncategorized, war, writer, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Poetic Pomegranates

Fifty poems. I need fifty poems by the end of July, all linked to the theme of War…or rather, what it is like to have a close family member serving in the Armed Forces at a time of heightened activity. … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, Family, inspiration, ME, CFS, poet, poetry, Uncategorized, war, writer, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Throat lozenges and good friends

Throat Lozenges and Good Friends It had to happen. One of the great tools in dealing with ME, and one it has taken me five years to understand, is the need for balance. An easy enough principle you’d think, but … Continue reading

Posted in Family, inspiration, ME, CFS, poet, poetry, Uncategorized, writer, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments