4 June

Back in Nairobi after zooming all over the place it seems. Yesterday we were visiting beekeepers in a very remote forest - find Nanyuki then drive for about an hour on a sand road, then an hour through the forest to reach them. Really lovely people. One of them had been able to open a tiny shop with the money made from selling his honey. I bought some tea - probably his furthest travelled customer. On the way back we saw elephants, buck, jackals as well as the many goats and camels which the local people keep. Other highlights (or memorable moments) from the trip: crossing the equator and not knowing it, getting fleas, ordering toasted toast for breakfast and of course all the lovely people we've met. Yesterday I took part long distance at Newcastle University's First Thursday reading.Thanks to Ellen for reading my poem.

20 May

Hello from Nairobi. Nice and cool after India. It's in the mid-20s. We are visiting some Masai people and yesterday were at a small town's livestock market. Lots of scrawny cattle because of the recent drought. We wanted to video some ladies making beadwork in the local market and I ended up buying quite a lot of their crafts so have plenty of gifts for home. If you want to see a video made from the material gathered during my visit to India last year click here.

16 May

Sorry, sorry, sorry for the lack of updates. All I can say is that work has taken over. Since I got back from India I've been nose to grindstone sorting out images and stories for Traidcraft's new autumn catalogue (it's going to be great, some lovely products.) And in the middle of all that, trying to sort out a trip to Kenya - I go tomorrow. Managed one get together at the Bridge writing group on a Saturday but only two of us there (still good though) and two Wednesday classes which were great. We have a new mix of people which is always interesting. The IPL cricket tops were well received so worth the effort of locating them. Today the weather is dismal which makes going to a wet Kenya not so bad. Temperatures about 20 degrees less than India so  in the mid 20s. And I will miss our First Thursday reading at Newcastle Uni through being away, which is a shame. Thanks to Ellen for offering to read a poem on by behalf.

28 April

Just managed to lose a mega diary entry so this will be shorter. Last full day in Delhi today. I officially opened a tuition centre for kids and tailoring centre for young women when we visited a workshop in the outskirts of the city today. A cutting the ribbon job (twice!) Yesterday we were in Agra. Not seeing the Taj Mahal (maybe among the few overseas visitors not to) but visiting some Zari workshops. Very skilful. On the way back we stopped at a dhaba. These roadside eateries were a great feature of my first trip to India nearly three years ago. Last night was a first in that I saw boys with monkeys on leashes entertaining people to get money - the monkeys somersault and sit on top of a stick. usually my brain doesn't cope with working, typing up interviews and anything creative. But this morning I wrote a first draft of a poem about them. So not completely brain dead after all.

23 April

Sorry for the long gap in writing. I'm in India just now - have been here for just over a week. Worked a couple of days in Delhi visiting some groups that make jewellery sold by Traidcraft and have just come back to the city after five days in Jaipur. It is a beautiful city but at this time of year it's not the best temperature-wise. Up to 43 degrees the day we were outside filming people washing cloth. We were visiting blockprinters and it is a fascinating art. I had a go at it and now fully appreciate the skill that's needed to match up the blocks so the colour makes a seamless design on many metres of cloth. Seeing one man print, with his own signature tap or taps on the wooden carved blocks, being followed by another three men doing the same as they put on the layers of colour and design was a real privilege. They are such lovely people too and so many of them running the small businesses are passionate about it. I also met three daughter's of Ganesh, one of the blockprinters. They are school-age but one of the daughter's is a bit of a rebel so not wanting to go to school - she is brilliant at playing one of the traditional Indian drums though. And when one of them told me that she enjoys cooking, her mum quickly said that yes, she likes cooking but she doesn't like clearing up afterwards. We were in a rural village with camels in the streets outsides, pigs and cattle wandering freely, water that is fetched in buckets - and yet kids can be the same the world over. Did lots of zooming around in open tuc tucs and found some lovely little shops, also an IPL cricket top for my son. Last year I was in India when it was on but never managed to find one. I'm very grateful to the staff at Jas Vilas, the lovely guest house we stayed in, who rang round friends and sports shops until I got what was probably the only XL cricket top in the city.

31 March

April tomorrow! Been beautifully sunny here today. Was in London for a family weekend which was a little chilly but lovely. Went to the war cabinet rooms - intriguing, this hidden world under the pavements - and the Imperial War Museum, the chilling and memorable Holocaust museum. Enjoyed coffee in the Poetry Cafe in Covent Garden, my first visit there for a couple of years. The landmark Oxfam shop on the corner walking from the Tube is no longer. Finished reading Saturday and then read the White Tiger in just over a day. Excellent, particularly as I'm off to India in a couple of weeks time (that's scary, so much to do before I go.) And the writing? Well, my emails to New Writing Scotland to attempt to send them a biog and Word version of my poem for the anthology has failed at least twice. Resorted to cutting and pasting into the body of an email to try to get through the security of their system. Will probably find out tomorrow whether it worked. So what else has been happening? Saw Fascinating Aida at the Theatre Royal - very witty and clever but their 25th anniverary tour and that meant a tinge of nostalgia and sadness too.

15 March

Just back home after a little jaunt north of the border for my sister's 50th birthday and also saw my three nephews and brother-in-law in Montrose Operatic's production of Oliver. Very good although I am, of course, biased. Managed to totally surprise my sis who I'd seen in Edinburgh last week and who didn't think we would make it for the celebrations. Writing front has been not too bad at the moment with some poems written as I get ready for the Mslexia competition, deadline next month. Also entered the Bank St Arts Centre comp for writing a poem A Cup of Tea as they look for poems to put on mugs in their cafes. That was fun! Getting ready for my next work trip - India - which is just after Easter. Finally started reading Ian McEwan's Saturday on the train back this afternoon. Has been on the reading shelf for well over a year.

5 March

Back home and watching Billy Connolly in the Canadian Arctic on TV. Very familiar even although I was a bit further south, and very different from where I've spent the last couple of weeks. The rest of the SA trip went well and I was able to get pretty much all the things on my family's shopping list. Made lamb tomato bredie last night which they seemed to enjoy. Last night was a little snow and frost but it's amazing how you adapt to meet the weather conditions. Just drove home slowly. Writing seems to have taken a little bit of a backseat recently, because of all the work stuff, but I have managed to send out a couple of things. Last September I sent some poems to New Writing Scotland and yesterday I heard that one of the poems will be in the anthology, so that's good news. Typically it's the one that I added in at the last minute to make up the numbers.

24 February

My second week in South Africa and nearly time to come home. Just had internet for last couple of days. I spent the first week in the Northern Cape - very hot - visiting the farmers at Eksteenskuil who are based on some islands on the Orange River. They are harvesting grapes that become raisins used in Traidcraft's Geobars. Had a really great time meeting them, visiting local schools who received schoolbags paid for with the Fairtrade premium (they used plastic bags and books got wet in the rain) and also attending a community church event on Saturday. It was really a special time and proof that buying Fairtrade products like Geobar really does make a difference. On Sunday Richard, the photographer, and I flew to Cape Town and we've been working in Paarl for the last two days. It's not supposed to be rainy season here but I can hear the rain coming down outside.

8 February

Just back from a weekend in Glasgow (anniversary) and enjoyed three sunny days with no snow. Can recommend House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park which was a lovely way to spend a morning. Also had a delicious afternoon tea at Fifi and Alley's in Princes Court and a strange curry in an even strange restaurant with the Mama Mia soundtrack blaring. MOH and I felt a bit out of it, not having fluorescent headbands and party poppers. Took Judy Walker's new book, Frankie, which was a great weekend read. Also managed to cover the hotel carpet with glitter from a Lush bathbomb. Visited the Oxfam bookshop in Byres Road which had very tempting selections on the shelves and then a book fair at the Botanical Gardens. MOH ended up having a very heavy bag to carry round the Transport Museum in the afternoon because of all our bargains. Managed to send off my one-act play to the SCDA competition. Am off on a worktrip to South Africa next Sunday so need to sort out February deadlines, but first another cup of tea...

18 January

Have spent the last few days transforming a short story I originally wrote about two years ago. At the time it was, of course, fnished to my satisfaction, but two outings in competitions with no success and an impending deadlne for the Mslexia short story competition (23rd so still time for you to enter too) made me open the Word document and print out a copy. First of all, it was far too long - over a third to edit out to meet the 2,200 word target. At first it seemed an impossible task and then I started looking at it in detail. There's usually a sick feeling in my stomach when I get out the editing pen with such a mammoth task - how can I keep the story and lose so many words? But then I looked at the first paragraph and the second. Wasn't the first creeping into the story, something I'd used to get myself started? Out it went. And near the bottom of the first page, that line of thought from one of the characters - it just repeated what the described action showed us. Slowly I marked changes on paper, changed them onscreen and checked the word count. Every time I reread the new version, I checked whether I'd taken out too much, maybe added in another word to clarfiy, but mostly found that the meaning, the necessary detail was still there. So now I think it's ready to be sent off. Once I got started I really enjoyed the challenge and whether or not it wins I think I have a better story. So, just one more read through...

9 January

Friday night and at last the weekend! You'd think after three weeks away from work that I'd feel raring to go, but this has been the longest week. Lots of planning and as usual, many things clashing. Enjoyed my days at home after SA, nice and lazy and went through a knitting phase. Also did some reading which was good. Not a lot of writing but it's the Bridge group tomorrow so I need to find a poem to take. This might encourage me to finish something from the many notes that I've acquired at the Wednesday writing group (starts next week). Got freebie tickets for a preview of the film Slumdog Millionaire a few days ago and it was excellent, really couldn't fault it. Definitely recommend seeing it.

30 December

Adding this update while in the KLM Lounge at Schipol airport waiting for my flight to Newcastle. We flew from Durban to Jo'burg yesterday and then overnight here. I was upgraded to business class seats which meant lots of space and wasn't too disappointed that the food was still standard airline stuff. I have, in the hours I've been in the business class lounges, worked my way through the wide range of snacks and quite a few soft drinks and coffees too. Since the last update we had Christmas with about amother 30+ people at David's sister's place near Parys, which was busy but good, and then we drove down to the south coast which had rain, thunder, lightning and lots of people as it's peak holiday season. We stayed at a nice B and B, thank you Gary for all the lovely food! Now back checking emails etc and see that the audio version of my short story, Limpopo Legends is now available at Shortbread Stories Not had a chance to listen to it myself but will do when I get home.

19 December

Just spent six days in the Kruger Park enjoying the usual pattern of eating, sleeping, up early and game spotting. First day we were there it was 39 degrees and unfortunately Air France had not managed to get my luggage to Johannesburg at the same time as me (they did upgrade me to business class which was very nice though!) So I had my long trousers, long-sleeved T-shirt, socks and jeans in all that heat. However, they did deliver my suitcase to the Mopani restcamp in the park where we were staying, which would have involved a very long drive - and will apparently reimburse me money for buying essentials - so that's not too bad. Saw some lovely animals in the park - lions, leopards and some unusual things like baby hyaena chewing on a giraffe leg bone. Rob (soon to be 21) flew up from Rehoboth in Kwa Zulu Natal to join us which was great. He also lent me The Shack, a book I definitely recommend. Read it in 24 hours, along with game spotting, eating, sleeping of course. Jamie (elder son for newies to this blog) is flying out from Paris as I type so it will be good to have the four of us together again. I have printed off and brought with me the story so far on my one act play, but of course not touched it yet. I've also, in this heat, been on the Haggis Hunt website and managed to spot a haggis Ah, the wonders of the internet! 

11 December

According to the weather forecast it's minus one in Newcastle tonight and this is my third day with no central heating. However, I have progressed from the very studenty open oven door, on full blast, to two borrowed heaters (thanks Blanche and Judith!). And two hot water bottles. This has hampered my getting ready to go to South Africa, well, the packing and also the trying to clear up the house, although the area around the cooker (source of warmth) is quite improved. Still ploughing through loads of work and lots to do before I leave on Saturday, but hopefully most of the stuff on the list will  be ticked before I go.

1 December

Have tried updating this a couple of times and lost the entry each time. That was on the train, heading up and then back from Montrose, so now I am back in the loft am hoping that the internet connection will work ok. Had a little flurry of entering poetry competitions a week ago so that was good. Have also had a go at the travel writing competition on the Telegraph website. Still time to have a go if you want. Have sent off my biog and photo for the Shortbread Stories website - will add a link as soon as I have news that it is up and running. The Live Theatre Short Cuts evenings are this week - Thursday and Friday starting at 8pm. Will be there on the Sunday and have already started working on my five minute entry to see if I can build it up into a one-act play.As always, the first draft for me is a complete slog and then the fun starts when I begin the rewriting - and the frustrations of course.

21 November

My Other Half has headed off for the sun of South Africa and the weather here has taken a nosedive with -5 forecast for tomorrow if you include the windchill factor. Of course, he will miss tomorrow's Strictly Come Dancing... With the house to myself this is the perfect time to be catching up on writing and now, first time on my tod, I've been chatting on the phone and also starting on the Christmas cards, which are mightily trimmed down this year. The theory is that this will free me up for writing, so will report back later. Had some good news today in that my script that I hand-delivered to Live Theatre has been chosen for the Short Cuts evening of read throughs next month. More on that later. It's just five minutes but it will be great to hear it being read by actors as I hope, if I have time, to work on a one-act version of it next month. Just listening to the news and the announcement of increased rail fares which apparently are due to more people travelling on them. Having experienced the squash of overcrowded trains recently, I think that we deserve better for the money we're paying. OK, off soapbox and about to put on socks before heading for bed.

13 November

I think more poets and book clubs should get together! Last night was very enjoyable and interesting to hear from people who wouldn't normally read poetry but very generously tried some in preparation for the evening. I think most people managed to find a poem that they either liked or could relate to (sometimes maybe both) and there was a lot of discussion about the poems and the process of writing - as well as some lovely eats and coffee, which is always a plus point for me! Also a very striking bouquet with the luxury of November catkins and choccies which are as yet unopened, but will probably start calling my name over the weekend, so I can share some with MOH (my other half for any newcomers) before he heads off to South Africa next week. Have been working on a poem about a bat nursery that was in the loft of a log cabin we stayed at in Ireland a few years ago (sadly the forest cabins are all closed down now). Interesting, as I sat down to try to write something about Peru, but isn't that what usually happens. Either that or a poem starts being born when I'm driving, can't write anything down and have to repeat the lines to myself until I can park safely.

10 November

At home tonight and catching up with domestic stuff (ie eating, making tea, reading the weekend papers) as I'm out for the next five nights. I'm doing my first "book club" on Wednesday which should be exciting. They have been reading Garibaldi's Legs. Had a little writing flurry yesterday when I realised that I was still in time to send in a five minute piece to Live Theatre Short Cuts, so printed out my two copies and delivered them by hand, having to put them under the entrance as I couldn't find a letterbox. Hope they get it. Second visit to Live as MOH and I went on Wednesday to see Fiona Evans' play: Geoff Dead: Disco for Sale which was excellent and very thought-provoking. I got a nice little card from Innocent drinks thanking me for the bobble hats I kntted before I went to South America. Think the bottles with the hats will soon be on sale in Sainsbury stores, so if you buy one that is purple, shimmery and with a pretty wonky bobble, then it will be one of mine.

2 November

Just back from a weekend in Montrose and I have to say that while I had a great weekend, the train journeys were the worst in ages. Missed connection on the way up, and no seat reservations on the train, so had to wait in Dundee, then tonight both trains were packed with loads of people standing and again, seat reservations missing. Some not so happy travellers - I was fortunate to get a seat. Enjoyed catching up with people over the weekend and also seeing the Round Table fireworks display from the warmth of Roo's Leap restaurant. Last week was busy both with work and a breakfast reading at New Writing North's launch of the awards and an anthology, Ten Years On, which includes ten of my poems. It's a lovely book and great to be included in it. First time I've read that early in the morning! With so many of my poems published recently, I really couldn't find anything I felt suitable for the National Poetry Competition so didn't enter. Am hoping that I might have some poems sorted for the November deadlines coming up. Nothing out at the moment - it feels strange as it's the first time in ages.

21 October

Sunday night. Even with the clocks going back and the extra hour the weekend seems to have flown by. Think the reading went ok - I enjoyed listening to the others and as I was first to read, I could enjoy hearing the other three without that dread of counting down to my turn. And was delighted to receive a copy of next year's Mslexia diary, hot off the press! It has become a vital part of life, I like the format and the writing space and ideas, so to get one as a gift was lovely. The rest of the week has been mainly work, plus a little bit of writing. Yesterday was almost back to usual with breakfast in town, shopping, coffee, trip round charity shops. Just watching Stephen Fry doing some ice fishing on his TV series that's taking him around America. I have been ice fishing in Canada, not as well dressed for the weather as he is, but I also caught fish before losing all sensation in my feet and up to my knees.

20 October

Just printed out poems (in large print) to read at the Durham Book Festival event at the Gala Theatre tomorrow night. As the evening is organised by Mslexia I've picked poems with a link, so they've either been published in the magazine or were submitted, but ended up being published elsewhere. The final selection isn't made yet - probably have one or two extra at the moment, but will read through and see which ones go best with each other. Of course, by the time I read tomorrow night I'll probably have changed my mind. Spent the weekend in Edinburgh with My Other Half (MOH). Had forgotten it was still tattie holidays so the Holiday Inn was quite full of families but managed to enjoy the pool a couple of times, almost childfree. We went to see the stage version of Calendar Girls which was great, and MOH survived being in the front row. There were a few men there so not totally outnumbered. We spent most of Saturday at the zoo, me hanging around the penguin enclosure for as long as possible and timing the end of our lunch with the penguin parade. I would love to say that I'd outgrown being thrilled by it, but no, it has the same effect on me as pipe bands - I want to run along beside them. We stopped off at the Barn at Beal with its lovely views of Holy Island on the way home and had lunch. Definitely worth a visit. MOH ignored my request for only coffee after the bacon and brie baked potato and brought back some Malteser tray bake (Ms being the world's best confectionery) which was a perfect finale to a weekend which had haggis, kippers, porridge and a lovely Brittania Spice curry on the menu. Definitely no Edinburgh Rock.

15th October

My last day in Peru and my birthday! It started on the overnight bus from Piura to Lima and at midnight I should be on the flight to Amsterdam on my way home. A truly international celebration. It will also be my third night of overnight travel in four - two on a bus one on a plane. Watched Harry Potter with English headlines on the bus north on Sunday night. Then yesterday I came face to face with the Grimm - the traditional Peruvian dog only this one was sick and drooling. So glad it was on a rope. We were visiting ceramic workshops in Chulucanas and it was great to see how they make the beautiful pots sold by Traidcraft. They were doing the spring order so it was great to see the process, but sad to learn that there are so few orders at the moment. When the order is finished, some of the people won't have any work. As one of the owners said, it's hard to tell people you can't employ them. We whizzed about on those little tuk tuk, motorised bike come rickshaw things, four of us plus driver. Chulucanas is also a city of donkeys, lots of them pulling carts with water for people's houses, wood etc. Yesterday on our way back we had a lovely seafood lunch. Not herring but many delicious kinds of fish. Far too much for me to eat and I felt bad about a little boy watching us from the street, but was very happy when the owner gave him what was left on our plates. Now about to sit on my case to get it to close. I have been to the local supermarket and having seen so many different kinds of quinoa now have a suitcase full of the stuff. Looking forward to trying the porridge when I'm back home.

11th October

OK, just did a mega diary entry and it disappeared along with my internet connection, so this will probably be shorter. In Lima. Been to Machu Picchu (despite rail strike, power cut, pouring rain, cancelled flight) and had a lovely day seeing it in sunshine and rain. Last three days have been very tame compared with the rest of the trip which has been very nice.Today after battling with work expenses for two hours, I've had some time off. Ellen Phethean sent through the writing exercise from the Wednesday class I missed and it was about firsts so this morning I had my first-ever French manicure. Interesting experience! Sat in the Sofa Cafe in the Larco Mar shopping centre, which is right on the coast, and enjoyed coffee and writing before going on a tour of the city which included a visit to a church where there was a picture of the last suppper with Jesus and the disciples eating... guinea pig! Now back in the hotel and have found something other than BBC News and CNN that's in English. It's Trinny and Susannah doing a make over for men. In Newcastle.

6th October

What is it about hectic journeys and this trip? My departure from Bolivia was as unplanned as my arrival! After our time at the glassworks, four of us hired a car and headed south towards Uyuni. Interestingly this is where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were heading (but from the south) when they had their final shootout. Our biggest challenge was the state of the roads and the other drivers, but thanks to Marcelo we arrived safely at Oruru where we stayed overnight. I was in a separate wing from the others and after many turns along dimly lit corridors I ended up having a room at the end of a corridor which I'm sure they could use to make a sequel to The Shining. Inside the room curtains were black with a satin trim and reminded me of funerals and Jack the Ripper, but that's the problem with having a writer's mind. Next morning we set off again and headed for Challapata where we visited the quinoa plant, donning masks, coats and hard hats for the tour. Slight problem in that the local garage had no petrol, so the Anapqui person due to travel with us couldn;t until after the afternoon delivery, so we booked into the most memorable hotel I've stayed at. First, it looked picturesque with many plants and washing, but the sign in Spanish warned, no breakfast, no TV, no powerpoints in rooms so don't ask! My room had the window held together with brown tape and no powerpoints to charge up anything. It was, basic but ok. Outside we all had two toilets to share and a big drum of water outside them with a jug to use the water to flush. Oh, and the lights didn't work - so pleased I had my head torch. Even more happy when that evening there was a power cut and I could see. About 3.30am there was hammering on the outside door and loads of noise. Enough to wake everyone except Carlos our photographer whose room was right above it. An incident with a woman and two men - the one outside not being too enamoured to come back and discover the woman had company! They were all chucked out. Interesting but it led to a definite shortage of sleep (for me!) Next day we drove across the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt lake, to visit the farmers. It was amazing. And then yesterday, when my plane from Cochabamba to La Paz was an hour late, I missed my connection to Lima and spent the most I have ever done on phone calls (well, Traidcraft did, not me) trying to get another flight. Nothing until Tuesday. So Carlos and I did our great trek over the border! Taxi to Peru, taxi to Puna and then an eight hour bus ride to Cusco. This means I've bypassed Lima (and the clean clothes that are in my suitcase there) and arrived in Cusco about 16 hours early. This is fine for me but not for Carlos, so after breakfast we start the whole looking for a flight to Lima thing again.

30 September

Hello from Cochabamba in Bolivia, home of the largest statue of Christ in South America and possibly the world. I am here visiting a glassworks that supplies Traidcraft and it is certainly hot close to the furnaces! Our journey from Lima was a little more hectic than we'd planned after the Foreign Office announced British Citizens should avoid Santa Cruz, which was where we were heading. So after a visit to a silver workshop I got back to my hotel to have 10 minutes to pack and leave a day early, leaving a lot of stuff in the hotel (which I'm returning to)

next week.) Four of us spent the early hours of the morning trying to get new tickets at Lima airport. An anxious moment at La Paz (highest airport in the world) when we didn't know if we'd get seats on the connecting 7am flight to Cochabamba, but we did and have been here the last few days. It is an amazing city. Unfortunately, when we had some time free on Sunday, the cable car to the statue wasn't running. I also have internet in my room and have been checking emails and seeing all the writing deadlines that I should have tried to meet for today. Typically none of them seem to be online ones. And for those who are missing the fishy mentions in this diary, yesterday I ate surubi, which is a delicious local fish.

26 September

My only excuse for not updating this earlier is that for the last four days I've been high in the Andes and think that my body - especially my head - much prefers sea level, which is where I am today in Lima. I am six days into my South America work trip and it has been eventful! The lowest point was when I was in the middle of interviewing some lovely ceramic producers in a beautiful village and suddenly was hit by altitude sickness. Dragged myself round all day trying to work and taking a variety of local remedies, but my head still felt two times too big. I really could say my brain hurt! Not good when you are supposed to be interviewing and organising photography, not trying to lie down at every opportunity. We were staying with a very welcoming family, and Valentina did some stuff with burnt herbs, our spit and breath, rubbed over my face in the sign of the cross, then thrown into the wind, which she said was the cause. Next day - after sleeping in my day clothes and fleece it was so cold - I did feel much better and then wind was calm... Of course I know many people are also praying for me and so was I that night! Yesterday we visited the knitters at Juliaca, an amazing flat, dry place - we could see them walking to meet us for miles. I bought some beautiful alpaca knitting and I have to say that if you are looking for a Christmas gift, I recommend the green wrap and the teddy on the Traidcraft website I was fortunate to visit the home of one of the ladies and it is a harsh life that they live, but they knit and that money they earn makes a difference.

11 September

A quick update as the next week will be really busy. Read at the Cruse bereavement charity book launch in the Lit and Phil last night. The anthology was the result of a poetry competition judged by Linda France and I have three poems in it. Two were commended so I was invited to read at the launch and it was a lovely evening. My Bridge writing group was well-represented with Gerard Rudolf taking first prize and Ellen Phethean in second. Leslie Mountain was also commended. One of my poems, Legacy, was about the many handcreams I inherited with my mother-in-law died, so it was fitting that I won body spritzer and handcream in the raffle! I was also able to buy the Birtley Aris original illustration that went with my poem, He Tells Me. That was a real bonus as it is genuinely my favourite illustration in the book. Today I also heard that Shortbread would like to audio record one of my short stories, which I submitted ages ago. No fee paid for this, but I think it sounds like an interesting website so have decided to say yes.

2 September

Hola! Yes, I am attempting to learn a few more Spanish phrases before I go to Peru and Bolivia in less than three weeks time. I have a CD in the car and seem to forget everything in between journeys. There are 10 CDs and I am still on number one.... Other than that, have been quite busy. Met the Hairy Bikers on Saturday at a glorified farmers market and even had the nerve to ask if they'd considered doing a fair trade series! Then Sunday I was at the Sage and in Antiques Roadshow country getting my guitar valued. Learned a lot about it - birdseye maple from mid-1800s and the finest example Lars has been - but the all important maker's label was missing which means that I can still play it without feeling it should be in a museum. The chances are it is a Palermo (the label inside shows the owner lived round the corner from their shop) but without that all-important branding, the zeros in the estimate drop away. Have written a couple of poems since my last diary entry, but have had other writing projects too, and of course, work. The Bridge writing group meets on Saturday so that's an incentive to get something else written to take along. Oh, and I'm also knitting the mini bobble hats for Innocent smoothie bottles again. I got a fabulous glittery wool in a charity shop in Darlington and have about six stylish hats finished already. Quite addictive.

14 August

Off work this week as have my folks to stay. Enjoying days out despite the rain and today we're heading to Darlington to meet up with the rest of the gang who are holidaying in Whitby. I know, Darlington is not exactly top of the tourist route, but we hope the refurbished railway museum will suit all tastes and ages of our party of eight. So far my parents have discovered the delights of the Sunderland Glass Centre (the glass blowing display is not only very interesting but very warm which is good for chilly August). Watched a fascinating film on sea anemones there, known by MOH and me as osey eggs which is the Newfoundland name for them. We've also been to Tynemouth Sunday market, the Rendezvous Cafe and Durham, including an enjoyable cruise on the river (all amazingly without rain). If you're shopping in Hexham head for Artefacts which has a half price sale that includes everything in the shop, including 2009 calendars, so we came back to Blaydon with several Christmas pressies, which suited the mood after an afternoon enjoying tea with friends in Allendale in front of a roaring fire. With trips to the Metro Centre and Ikea, we've been doing our bit to keep the economy going. And in between I've been snatching moments for working on poems. I have been researching fireweed, so think the first draft might change quite a lot to include a some of that. Also finished a poem for the Arvon comp - deadline tomorrow and you can enter online, so not to late for you to do the same.

3 August

Just back from Edinburgh via Aberdeen after a hectic but good weekend. Friday did my taxi stint collecting MOH and Jamie from the airport after their South Africa trip. Then Saturday first stop was the Post Office to collect copies of the Fish anthology which includes my flash fiction short story. Then MOH and I headed for Edinburgh where we stayed at the Point Hotel, voted Edinburgh Hotel of the Year apparently. Well, I'm assuming that must be because of the restaurant because our room certainly wasn't anything special. Weird mix of furnishing - modern, sleek and then clunky dark wood wardrobe and desk. But it was nice and central. We went to two Fringe shows - Lady Garden, which was entertaining and topical, and Itsoseng, South African play which was brilliant. Definitely recommend seeing. We also went to the late night performance of the Tattoo, starting at 10.30, although next time we'll not arrive quite so early and end up in a mega queue. But it had an advantage, as we started chatting to the man next to us (we were last in the queue) and a couple of things struck a chord, so I asked if he'd been a lecturer at Napier College and guess what, it was Donald McDonald, who taught me over 30 years ago! It was great to catch up and to see him looking so well at 82. Made the queuing worthwhile, although the show and the fireworks were also great, and even better it didn't rain. Up early this morning to head up to Gerrard Street Baptist Church in Aberdeen for J's baptism, a really happy and special time. It is a very friendly, God-filled church - and again the sun shone. Back home now and even some rainbows on the drive home.

23 July

Things have been quite busy on the related-to-writing front, although my own writing has been on the back burner. This despite having the house to myself. So much for blaming others for distractions, I can create plenty of my own. Have been busy putting reading dates in my diary, sending photos and poems out - you can read one of my new poems on the Blinking Eye website. Hope you enjoy it. I am also planning a little foray into the Edinburgh Fringe, combined with the Tattoo (Saturday night, late, fireworks, so hoping for good weather.) Now the main thing is, what are MOH and I going to do the rest of the day? I've spent far too long going through the thick and very unwieldy fringe guide - I have two versions, one a little more official than the other I think, but I prefer the one with lots of ads and pictures. Pot Noodle the musical sounds tempting, but there are two of us to consider, so probably not. I have circled several acts, some funny, some more serious, so now I need to check on times and locations. With MOH plus elder son in South Africa, I am lacking feedback on this. Itsoseng, a play set in a SA township... Bombay to Beijing by Bicycle...The Tailor of Inverness....These are just three of the shows that I'm considering. Ah, decisions....

15 July

Well, the Fish anthology with my one page story in it should be out now - was invited to read at the launch in Cork but couldn't make it. Hope to get a copy soon. And my feature on our church link with housemothers at Rehoboth Children's Village in South Africa is in the latest Woman Alive magazine. Double-page spread with some lovely photos of the kids and the bonus of a fee for the article, which we'll use to get something nice for the housemothers. Rob left for Rehoboth today, he'll be away for six months. My Other Half and Jamie leave on Friday so I'll be on my own for two weeks. As usual, I have great writing plans for these days, but of course I do still have work and all the other things that eat into evenings and weekends. But who knows? Maybe I'll get a decent stint of writing done. Momentous time tonight - have a washing machine again. Clean clothes at last, without hand washing! While it's been busy I've finished reading Cold Granite by Stuart MacBride. A bit gruesome but a good story and  having worked at the P&J in Aberdeen it was good to read something in that setting.

4 July

Such a lot has happened since the last update. On the writing front, there was the news that I am a runner-up in the Mslexia poetry competition (that is, not in the top three but in the batch of 12 - they published the top 25 poems in the magazine). This was with my poem, Wedding Anniversary on the North Sea, which proves that even My Other Half being very ill after eating a rare hamburger in Bergen has a bright side. Well, at least for me, maybe not for him, although I am pleased to report him fully recovered (except for the hay fever). And then, just to balance this out and make sure that I don't get too big for my boots (ok, I know, it was only a runner-up but there were 2,500 entries), I didn't get into this year's New Writing Scotland. Having had poems published in the last three anthologies, I was disappointed, but it's judged anonymously, so not a case of being in too many times. Was up in Scotland this last week and managed to miss a few end of June deadlines, but there are still quite a few coming up. Off today and doing all the domestic stuff like washing, cleaning and of course, taking time out to update this blog. I also need to download the photos from Montrose. J graduated from Aberdeen Uni on Wednesday and it was the rarity of the four of us being together, so we had a proper photie taken. The fact that both sons managed to forget half their clothes (ie, suit jacket, ties, cuff links, socks,) meant it was a little more expensive than planned, but who knows? Maybe something from the day will ferment in my brain - like the wedding anniversary - and end up as a poem some day?

21 June

Longest day of the year and it's raining and cloudy, making it darker than last night. Have had a busy Saturday with a mixture of domestic and time to myself. The two have been interspersed throughout the day which included a visit to the Laing Art Gallery and the Love exhibition, which is very varied and with some interesting paintings. Bought the guide to the exhbition and with it came a guide to the work and play exhibition which I saw last year so that's a bonus. My Wednesday writing group visited the Love exhibition while I was in India, so I hope that I might feel inspired to write something. My flash fiction based on the Norman Cornish exhibition will be published by Fish next month, so who knows? Maybe this exhibition will spark something off too. If you're wanting to test your vocabulary, why not visit www.freerice.com? Every correct answer means more rice to be distributed among the world's poorest communities.

13 June

In the loft and should be getting ready for work but decided I need to update this first. Music theme continuing when My Other Half organised a mystery day out on Wednesday which ended up at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, to see Neil Diamond - the very man I spent my teens listening too (such a fan I even had a scrapbook and poster, paid for with a postal order - how does that date me!) Anyway, compared to some of the audience I was a spring chicken. Mr D was excellent and sang lots of my favourite songs - I have forgiven him his sparkly shirt era, but the best music is still from the early days and the present. There was a very moving photo and video slot when he sang Brooklyn Roads with pics of him as a kid and young man plus some snatches of video. And he played many songs from Hot August Night, which I nearly wore out playing on the record player in my original loft room in Montrose. Interesting to see that the souvenirs on sale reflected the age group. Not sure many of today's bands and singers will have teatowels on sale next to the T-shirts. And on the writing front, fresh from my trip to India and my many bites, I spent last week working on a poem for the latest Mslexia theme - bugs. Whether it gets published or not I have to wait and see, but I can guarantee that the experiences in it are authentic.

1 June

On the train again, this time heading south and the weather is getting steadily worse. Had a very musical weekend - listening to it that is. Was at the Average White Band concert on Friday night which kicked off the first Montrose Music Festival - excellent - then spent much of Saturday in the High Street listening to the wide-ranging programme of music. If I say the Tomlinson brothers were my favourites then you won't be surprised (if you know the family connection). The weather was fabulous, warm and sunny all day without even the trace of the chilly NE wind that often comes up the closes and round corners. Today started off sunny but grew cloudy when I was heading for the station, complete with my Watt's steak rounds and ginger biscuits to take south of the border.

30 May

Still travelling but this time it's on a train to Montrose. Got back from India yesterday - nearly three weeks away - and I have to say that the temperature in Blaydon was lovely. Warm, the grass has been cut and it had that just starting summer smell. India was great, but it's completely different in a work situation in that you see things and experience them completely differently. Highlights of the latter part of the trip were: visiting some more coffee farmers in the remote Araku Valley and visiting them in their villages - so different from the other places we had been; learning the traditional dimsa tribal dance - this link will take you to a video of it, thankfully not of my efforts! Also enjoyed visiting Pondicherry where as well as having some great coffee in a coffee bar by the beach, I ate on a rooftop restaurant overlooking the crashing waves, and even managed to finish our food before the unseasonal rain started. Did my novice Easy Rider bit getting a lift back to the guest house, thankfully when the rain had stopped. The train trip mentioned in the last diary entry was different in that we shared a carriage with the Indian security minister and his entourage of staff and police. They did say our luggage (chained and locked) would be safe as they wouldn't be sleeping, and they were true to their word. Heavy boots passed my curtained bed very frequently. Other travelling companions included the American cheerleaders of the Bangalore Royal Challengers, one of the IPL cricket teams, who were on our flight from Bangalore to Chennai. We also had a cancelled flight and had boarding cards for three different airlines in one evening, before eventually getting a flight to Kolkata. All in all it was a good trip and my many bites have started to go down. I'm also enjoying not being drenched in sweat, so although the Scottish landscape that the train is whizzing through is a wee bit dreich, I'm happy. And for those a-fish-ionados among you (sorry) who are bewailing the lack of mentions of herring, I have no idea what kind of fish I had in India but the fish curry in Pondicherry was amazing.

18 May

At last the elusive internet is working and typically I am just about to get on an overnight train. Mad dash to email people before we leave. I watched the film, The Darjeeling Ltd, coming back from Dubai and am looking forward to my first train journey in India. Things are going well. As usual, a few slight hiccups. Trying to buy coffee with counterfeit money, losing my driver in Mumbai and tonight our car was stuck in a rally so we had to walk back to our hotel. Hope the driver gets out in time to take us to the station. Have met some lovely people - mango farmers, coffee farmers and today some ladies who make lovely creations with dried flowers and leaves. Tomorrow we are in Kollam, so more people to meet. I am turning into one angry bite after my encounters with spiders, mozzies and a few other creatures. So itchy!

9 May

OK quick update now I have got everything packed for India. So many props for photography - T-shirts, tubs of coffee, jars of coffee, Traidcraft mugs - it's a wonder I've got any clothes in the case. Also as I'm going for nearly three weeks have had to do all the boring things like make sure care insurance is renewed, credit card paid, rail tickets for trip north of border booked. All time-consuming. Managed to get a couple of writing submissions sent off but many more deadlines will just fall away. C'est la vie.

5 May

Why do long weekends go so quickly? Having said that, we did pack a lot into three days. Saturday morning  My Other Half and I had breakfast out as usual, M&S Deli which we are revisiting after it improved again. Read an interesting article by Jean Sprackland in the Telegraph about entering poetry competition. Saturday afternoon was our High Level Bridge poets get together, which was good. Sunday we were at a wedding then had a braai in the evening, complete with boerewors. And today MOH and I went to Trow Quarry near South Shields, which is never as busy as the main beach. Enjoyed a few hours there, although there was a haar (sea fret) building up. Too long a queue to indulge ourselves at Minchella's though. And back to work tomorrow.

30 April

Good news from Fish Publishing - my entry for the one page fiction competition is one of the six runners-up . The story, 'The Busters', was written after I visited the Norman Cornish exhibition and saw a brilliant painting of a street scene with everyone round an old-fashioned fish and chip van. I imagined it in a Scottish setting (Arbroath) and the little story just came together. Managed to get my entry to the Templar Poetry Pamphlet competition sent off. As usual the end of month deadlines seem to have crept up on me. And I'm just realising that there are not many days left until I go to India - not back until the end of May - so I need to visit a few websites and check my competition entry form file. First up is the Commonwealth Short Story Competition with a May 9th deadline. No entry fee and you can enter by post or email... 600 word deadline... Fancy having a go?

26 April

On the train from Montrose to Newcastle and taking advantage of the free wi-fi service to catch up on emails. Had a real surprise when I discovered emails from Mark who was a fellow volunteer in Canada with Frontiers Foundation (their project was called Operation Beaver, and yes, we did have sweatshirts with that written on the front of them). He contacted me via this website, so maybe all the effort of updating pages is worth it after all! The train was lovely and empty all the way to Edinburgh, now packed with Saturday travellers heading south. The view is as usual stunning, made even better by the sunshine and the bright yellow of the gorse. The light is that fantastic full-of-promise one that you get in spring. Had a good time in Montrose catching up with family and breaking with tradition, I have, not a steak pie from Watt's the butchers, but haggis and some interesting sausages. Plus of course, the famous syrup biscuits from Goodfellows. Just to keep you updated, my short story didn't make it to the winners or commended in the Happenstance comp, but it was good to get shortlisted. And in case you are looking for a worthy way of wasting times, I recommend www.freerice.com where you can test your word knowledge and earn free rice for the world's poor at the same time. Enjoy!

11 April

Back home and already a week at work gone by. Had some good news in that my short story, Off the Map, is on the "short long" list for the Happenstance Competition (that means it was on the very long list and has got through to the shorter one). Also I've sent off some poems for the Mslexia comp (deadline later this month) and have a few more lined up to enter. Of course, that means I also need to work on some new poems. My mega reading sessions from holiday have of course dried up as domesticity has set in again. Just off to empty the washing machine yet again. Have been trying to hang out the washing to be more environmentally friendly, but today's rain has been a bit of a problem. Have to say that it's good to back enjoying radio, TV and newspapers here. Listened to the afternoon play on Radio 4 and managed to watch the last episode of Ashes to Ashes on BBCi. Not as good as Life on Mars, but worth watching. And I missed the start of the new series of The Apprentice with being away, which is probably good news as now I have more free time for writing (once I've worked my way through the pile of laundry - shrinking by the day.)

4 April

Sorry about the silence. No real opps to go online on this holiday. Even no mobile reception at Wyndford where we spent three days in the beautiful Maluti Mountain area. Also enjoyed our time in Margate. Went to Rehoboth where Rob our son has been volunteering for six months and will return in July - which gave us pretty near celeb status, being Robbie's parents! Also enjoyed breakfast at the Waffle House, a trip round the flea market at Uvongo and a swim at St Michael's beach which was all great. Flying back home tomorrow.

25 March

Hello from South Africa. Very quick update as not my computer (had more than a week offline!) Just back from Kruger Park which has been the setting for many of my stories and poems, so as usual took a few more notes and have some writing ideas. Now back in Jo'burg which has warmed up thank goodness - was about 10 degrees and raining when we arrived here. Off to Exclusive Books this morning and the Seattle Coffee Co which is always a favourite visit. No doubt will buy some more books to use up some of my 20 kg luggage allowance.

14 March

I should be packing and trying to sort out the house a bit before I go to South Africa tomorrow, but here I am, updating my blog while I wait for iTunes to update on my laptop. It seems a mega task. Must also watch Ashes to Ashes before I leave. I watch in iPlayer, so I know from past experience that you can't access it in other countries, so tonight it is - which means that packing will be in the wee small hours. At least I got my entries to the Biscuit Flash Fiction and the Cruse NE poetry competition in the post today. I was in Asda, buying some pencils and crayons for the kids at Rehoboth, the children's village where Rob has been working for six months, when I spotted a great file holder that could revolutionise my records for sending out work. Now I just need enough time to enter all the information.

3 March

OK, so don't faint but I've added another page to the website. It's my Fionas page and includes THE poem by Richard Price (see diary entry a couple of weeks ago.) Have been finishing off a couple of poems that I started last week, so that's been good. Also managed to send off an entry for Peterloo Poets competition - the deadline crept up on me - and probably missed lots of other competitions I was thinking of entering.So what else have I been up to? Well, had a day in Edinburgh with my sister which was great, despite a slight glitch with the zip on my lovely duvet coat which involved buying a pair of scissors at Boots in Edinburgh railway station and snipping myself out. Had repeat incidents in Always Sunday, the nice eatery in the Royal Mile, plus again on Saturday when I had to go into M&S in Newcastle and get a shop assistant to free me (it's a Per Una coat so felt request was justified). So, sad to say, my lovely warm coat is being returned before I have any more waiters delving down my front! Friday night Moh and I went to the Theatre Royal to see Elephant, a brilliant production by Dodgy Clutch together with a theatre group from South Africa. Then on Saturday we had our High Level Bridge writing workshop, last one with Bob Cooper who is moving to Birmingham and has been "Mr Bridge", sending out emails and making sure we got our 10 minutes per poem, as well as giving great feedback. Bon voyage Bob and hope you get those 90-plus boxes of books moved without too much trouble!

25 February

Hi everyone. It's the start of Fairtrade Fortnight today and as I've met literally hundreds of producers benefiting from fair trade, I'd just like to say, please try some of the lovely products now. There are loads of special offers in supermarkets (20% off Fairtrade products in the Co-op and Waitrose) and if you visit this website you could even win a lovely Traidcraft hamper! 

24 February

OK, so what's been happening? Eaten a lot of nice food, especially curry at the Spice Cube in Newcastle, and then did a talk for a Fairtrade Fortnight event yesterday before gong to a ceilidh and well, loads of other things packed in this weekend, but no writing, which was my intention. However I had a good writing day on Wednesday when the writing group I go to went to Northumbria uni's exhibition of paintings and drawings by Norman Cornish. Could either be a poem or some flash fiction I've ended up with - I think it reads better as fiction, but could change my mind. Also heard from Richard Price who wrote the poem The Fionas, with the news that it's changed to The Kirstys. Of  course, I am biased, and as I've had the original poem on my fridge for eight or nine years, I've probably read the poem more than anyone else, so I think I'll stick with the original.

12 February

Where is this month going to? Zooming through the days at the moment. Had my folks down for a long weekend which was lovely. We went to sunny Harrogate on Saturday and had lunch at Betty's which is worth the queue. Had the fish and chips - first tried them this time last year - and they were delicious. Also had to buy some fat rascals to take home (crumbly, upmarket scones doesn't do them justice). Since the last diary entry we've had lots of prayers and phone calls to South Africa when Rob became sick. It was eventually diagnosed as hepatitis A, so he's on all sorts of tablets and feeling much better, but it was horrible waiting to find out what it was. On the writing front, I'm back on poetry, although I had a very weird idea for a short story early on Saturday morning which I might try to write sometime.

2 February

Back home again and survived my 13 hour wait at Bangkok airport. Hard to believe that this time last week I was visiting the Killing Fields just south of Phnom Penh - it is a very dignified memorial but still hard to take in what happened there. Today I am in Blaydon, getting ready to go to my High Level Poets writing group this afternoon, which is always something to look forward to. Last year I was away for a lot of first Saturdays of the month, but since I got back from Chile I've managed to be at every one. I signed up for the BBC Scotland write a novel in a month daily newsletters which you get all through February (leap year so extra day!) and was intending doing some writing this morning. Yesterday wrote about 200 words of the suggested 1,000 and this morning have frittered away some time on this website My World 66, which does nothing to promote reducing world travel with its quirky little map. Click on the countries and it composes your own statistics - I've visited 31 countries which is 13% of all in the world. So much travel and only 13%!

25 January

Quick update as I am in an internet cafe, Cafe Fresco (lovely Americano) as the internet is down in the guest house. Tomorrow is my last full day in Cambodia and I have done all my interviews, so after spending tonight typing them up I will be very happy. Only one cockroach in my room (so far) although my toilet has started leaking, but I think it is clean water. Yesterday we visited some silk weavers in a small village that took a couple of hours to get to, by ferry, a rickety wooden bridge (we got out and walked) and a long drive over dirt track - and then back again.

22 January

In Cambodia for a few days now and things are looking up! For the first few days I couldn't get the internet on my laptop, my business credit card wasn't working and the shower in my room was running cold. But I now have internet, used my credit card at a lovely coffee bar which we discovered round the corner from our guest house tonight and got back to discover that my shower is working beautifully! The hot water couldn't have been better timing as this afternoon we went to the city dump in Phnom Penh. It is like nothing I've experienced before. Click on the link in the previous sentence to see what I mean.

16 January

Countdown is now on to my work trip to Cambodia as I leave on Friday. The dining room is filling up with stuff to go in the suitcase, but I have less workstuff to take with me this time so shouldn't be so heavy. Having said that, I will have in total almost an entire day hanging around in airports so I've got some extra notebooks and books to read. That's always the hardest thing, choosing which books to take with me. My Wednesday class started up again today. The name has changed to A Room of One's Own but it is still run by Ellen Phethean and for the moment in the same location. A nice mix of familiar and new faces this morning. The good thing is that the class really is a springboard for our own work, so it didn't matter that the writing exercise took me somewhere quite different. We had sad news from our son, Rob, as one of the boys at the children's home he is volunteering at in South Africa died in hospital at the weekend. Helps to put all my little everyday gripes into perspective.

9 January

Feels like weeks since New Year. Been back at work since the 2nd but had a great writing-focused weekend. Met up with other members of the High Level Bridge Poets on Saturday at the Bridge Hotel in Newcastle. Not many there but we had a really good session, not only discussing our poems but also doing some writing based on our names. Thanks to Bob Cooper for organising that. Bob is getting ready to move to Birmingham and has been the backbone of our group for years, so will be a great miss. Also an excellent timekeeper when we tend to go over our 10 minutes for each poem. Then on Sunday it was the Blue Room, with an excellent workshop led by David Almond in the afternoon. Shared a table with short story writer and novelist Romi Jones who was reading at night and it was, as always, great to meet new people and hear them read. Have sent off another couple of poems and have also managed to do some writing every day - ok, so a couple of days it has been very small and not really producing anything worth keeping, but it's keeping to the routine. The challenge will be to see whether I can keep it going. Have been very good and not bought lots of stuff in the sales, so have probably contributed to the downturn in High Street sales being reported in the news today. Could have done with buying some new shoes after my favourite pair suddenly developed a rattle in one of the heels. Took them to the stall at Grainger Market where the kind man tried to fix it, but the whole thing is sealed so he couldn't remove the piece of loose plastic (but never charged me, bless him!) I sound like I've got my own percussion section attached to my ankle.

1 January

Happy New Year! I have started as I mean to go on - yes, managed to send off work for a poetry competition with a 31st December deadline and already have something sent off for a January one too. Am determined to get back to my organised self. Last year went ok until October/November when I was hardly at home and my submissions rate when right down. Of course, I also need to write some new stuff to send out. I am still doing my long-distance course and an assignment is due in, well, now, so that will be my task this week. Problem is, I've had such a long break I need to re-read all the previous ones. But I've been skimming through my new Mslexia diary and feel quite inspired, so hope that continues. Christmas was a good family time up in Scotland. Yesterday we went to the Glow festival in Newcastle where some people had made amazing vehicles which formed a cavalcade through the city centre. Favourites included a car done up like a golf course, fire engine with real flames, monster complete with man working the controls in its head and a car covered in mosaic. But the most eye-catching were the cyclists whose clothes and bikes were covered in lights - brilliant! I realise there has been little mention of herring recently, so just wanted to assure you that I have enjoyed some very nice herring on little sticks recently.

21 December

Last day at work! So still in work mode (for the next 35 minutes anyway) I'd like to invite you to visit the Traidcraft website Click on the producer messages link and you can hear from some of the producers and supporters that I've met this year. Hope you enjoy them (and if it asks for a password, just keep clicking, it doesn't really need one!)

19 December

Well, we have survived the worst bit of Christmas - sending out the cards. This always creeps up on us until it is almost too late. Last year, going to South Africa mid-December, we were printing off newsletters until the taxi arrived to take us to the airport and even then some of them didn't get sent off until we got back. I am trying to cut down on sending cards, especially this craziness of sending to people that we see. No other country seems to do it to the exent of us Brits. I missed the deadline for the Mslexia zoo theme - was working on a poem about a hyaena but not in any state to sent off. I would love to say I've been doing lots of writing - my own writing - but sadly all my creativity is being sucked dry by work. Brain dead by the time I get home. If I look at my creativity levels they have been declining steadily since I changed my role. Hopefully Christmas will be the break to get my writing back on track.

10 December

Freezing cold tonight. Just back from the Sage where we experienced Christmas Champions, an amazing music and speech journey back into the English world of mummers. Beautifully done and very atmospheric. I booked the tickets in October, just before I went to Chile, and have no idea why I chose this out of all the Christmas programme as I'm not really a folk music person, but it was excellent. The show is touring before returning to Gateshead. It's based on a Radio 3 Late Junction programme so you should be able to listen to it here. My deadline for submitting the poems for my extended course at Ty Newydd is nearly here, so no guessing what I'm about to do now. There's just too much going on at the moment to fit everything in.

6 December

Was at the Blinking Eye book launch last night at the Lit and Phil. I was reading a bit of my short story which is in one of the anthologies. Despite being the second last person to read, I really enjoyed the evening. Lots of  great poems and intriguing snippets of stories which I'm looking forward to reading. Jeanne and Judy provided a lovely selection of snacks and drinks, so the interval was a great time of eating and catching up with people I'd not seen for ages. It was also Jeanne's last event as she's stepping down from BE which she set up when we finished our MA. It's been fantastic seeing how her first ideas have developed into something that is now part of the writing calendar and obviously appreciated by so many people. Well done Jeanne - hope you now have lots more time to spend on your own writing. Had my Mum with me last night as she and Dad have been down in Blaydon for a week. Lots of coffees, meals out and shopping. I managed to get four preview tickets for The Kite Runner which comes out in a couple of weeks. All of us enjoyed it, so would definitely recommend seeing it.

28 November

A sure sign of a good break is how difficult it is to get back into the work routine and this week is so hard. Really glad I have uni this morning. Had a good journey back from Wales - car, train, train, train, bus. The little trains are a fantastic way of getting an idea of the area. Bangor to Chester was full of Saturday shoppers, lots of mums and daughters heading for the city for the day. At Chester I had a coffee and marvelled at how much money a guy in a security jacket fed into a slot machine. He tried both of them in the cafe before shrugging his shoulders and leaving. Then at Manchester it was packed with people, so much less friendly as people rushed to get trains. And then the last leg into Newcastle and the lovely view as the train crossed over the Tyne. I was disappointed that I only had a ten minute wait at Bangor. Kathy who was on the course told me it's like the one from Brief Encounter, and she was right.

23 November

How can four days go so fast? Tonight we ended our course with a wonderful roast lamb meal cooked by our tutors, Christine Evans and Celia Brayfield, and gifts of wine with the meal and travel books. They have been fantastic tutors during the week, so this was an amazing bonus and a lovely end to our time together. We prepared an anthology of our work and everyone read this evening. Some very moving pieces and also lots of laughter. There are so many extracts of stories or personal journeys that have drawn us in so that we want to hear the rest of them, which is always a good sign. Today the weather was beautiful. Blue skies, sun and a November crispness when I walked to Criccieth and back. This was my second journey there. I went yesterday in very different weather and wrote a poem, The Criccieth Headsquare. Worked on it for ages but really enjoyed it. Last night we also saw the film, The Story of the Weeping Camel, which I can recommend. Might even add it to my Christmas list. Have just been working out my train times for getting back tomorrow. Some of us are getting a lift to the station at 8am so just about to set my alarm. The journey continues. 

20 November

Hello from Ty Newydd. Arrived here yesterday after seven train journeys in four days which was probably a good start for a writing course that is about Journeys and Journals. Am in my room after a busy but good day which was beautifully sunny although it's raining now. My room is in the annexe and is completely opposite from my loft room at home in that the view from the window is dug out from the slope, so the grass starts more than halfway up the glass (there is a path between the building and the lawn so it's not claustrophobic, just interesting.) Am enjoying having time to write but most of all to think about writing. A real luxury. And I've been very good just checking emails early morning and now, at 11pm, updating this. Of course the other good thing about a course like this is the mix of people. Lots of interesting reasons why people have come here, so many stories just waiting to be rounded up and shaped.

15 November

Opted to stay in tonight after sneezing most of the day. Am at the stage of wishing I could amputate my nose, but at least in between sniffs and sneezes I've spent the last hour or so editing some writing. I have two books to finish reading before my Ty Newydd course on Monday - Celia Brayfield's Deep France and Burning the Candle by Christine Evans. Still, I have three train journeys before then as I'm heading to Scotland after work tomorrow night to see my sister and her entire family (alias the Von Trapps) appear in a local production of Allo Allo. And Chris (see last diary entry) is Herr Flick.

12 November

Was back in Montrose for the weekend and doing a talk at the launch of a steering group to help it become a Fairtrade town. It was really nice to see the pupils at my old school, Montrose Academy, so fired up about fair trade and wanting to become a Fairtrade school. On the train I started my entry for BA's High Life magazine's travel writing competition in long-hand so will need to type that up and do a word count. Have a feeling that it's way too long, but I quite enjoy editing. Like eating olives it's something that I've acquired over the years. On the poetry front, I was at Newcastle's Culture Lab on Thursday for the readings by Jackie Kay and Sean O'Brien who was reading from The Drowned Book with which he won the Forward Prize for the third time. Both readings were excellent and the room was packed. My travels mean that I've missed a lot of readings recently but I'm not complaining. And my most unusual task over the weekend? Helping to find a black mini skirt for Chris - who happens to be my nephew. Hopefully it will look great with his fishnet tights (more on this next week).

4 November

Back home again and in the office tomorrow. Discovered in the post that one of my poems was shortlisted for the Second Light Network poetry competition, which is good news, even although I know I didn't make it to the final three. Pitlochry was good. Moh and I abandoned the healthy eating plan and indulged in haggis and white pudding suppers after our little outing and before we went back to the hotel. The sound and light show on Friday night was very good but so were the autumn colours when we drove from Pitlochry to Montrose yesterday morning. And it was sunny.

2 November

Ah, back in my own bed! Mega journey of about 28 hours to get home, but it all went ok apart from the fact that one of my cases didn't arrive. It was the one with the camera equipment, so I supposed on the positive side, I have all my goodies from Chile to take up to my folks this weekend. A change in the programme for my last couple of days meant I ended up in Santiago a day early by myself and I walked my legs off, linking up some of my knowledge of the city. I already know my way around quite well, but I now know some lovely cafes - even found the Starbucks we'd spotted on our first day and then not managed to track down again. Went to the exhibition centre which is an old converted railway station - fantastic building - and went in to the book fair, mainly to see the interior, but had a lovely time wandering through the stalls even although the only  books in English which I found were a book of Pablo Neruda's poetry (which I have) and some very badly printed, expensive paperback novels. But I did find the Pablo Neruda Foundation stall where I bought a few Christmas pressies. Heading for Pitlochry later today to visit the Enchanted Forest and hoping it doesn't rain.

28 October

In Curico now and joining the 10th anniversary celebrations of Lautaro wines, which are from a small village nearby. It has been a great two days with lots of meeting the farmers and learning about how fair trade is benefiting them - they are so confident speaking about it but say that before fair trade they couldn't have done it. And there has been lots of presentations, speeches, singing, dancing, eating and of course wine. We went to a wine tasting too which was very interesting but the best thing has been hearing about children doing to university because of the scholarships made available by the Fairtrade premium, and seeing people who are proud of what they are achieving. We have also had the tables turned as yesterday we were being videoed for the Chilian Ministry of Agriculture, so someone else was saying, now please walk down this vineyard. Look at the vines. Now walk here please.... It was an interesting experience.

21 October

Still in Valdivia and getting honey and blueberry stories. Yesterday we visited Celia, who came over to the UK 18 months ago and travelled up to Aberdeen and Ellon with me for some fair trade events. It was great to meet up with her family again and exciting to see her new house that is almost ready for her to move in. As she said, it's all because of the bees. We had tea with Guido and Sonia, a lovely couple who have been able to buy a pick up truck - or will be next week - and their 18-year-old son has just learnt to drive so he will be joining them working on the family farm. The area is really beautiful and last time I was here it was sunny all the time but this week has been very like Scotland - all seasons in one day. Richard (photographer) and I have been eating out in the little restaurants around the hotel and as neither of us speak Spanish and my dictionary and phrasebook don't seem to have a lot of the food names, it's been a bit of an experiment, but everything has been good, if not entirely what we were expecting. And we seem to have cracked the coffee code in a country where Nescafe rules. Cortado grande does the trick. Yesterday I was in need of plenty of caffeine after the conference attendees staying at the hotel had a disco until about 3am. No need to tell you whose bedroom was right above the party....

18 October

Catching up after a busy few days. Was working with Fundacion Solidaridad in Santiago Tuesday and yesterday. Visited a group of six ladies who embroider and make beautiful clerical stoles and also cards. They were lovely. Then yesterday met up with a family who make wooden toys. Now have a very tricky little puzzle - looks dead simple but for my brain anyway was a real teaser. Last night we caught a plane to Valdivia, which is further south in the Chilean lake district and now we are working with Apicoop which supplies Traidcraft with honey used in Geobars. This is my second visit here and it was great to meet up with people again. We have been interviewing and photographing all day - thankfully it didn't rain - so have had a great start to our time here. Thank you to Chino, Juan and Marina in particular but also to everyone who has been so patient. Also discovered in an email that the DVD I took part in for the Time Together mentoring scheme is now online. Think it might mention me as Thomson, my AKA name, but it's still me.

15 October

Coming to the end of my birthday on a day spent exploring Santiago by foot, a large chunk of the time being followed by a stray dog on heat. I know, why do I never have normal visits to places? Today has been a public holiday in Chile, possibly changed in my honour (well, I like to think so, or maybe just to muck up my carefully planned work schedule!) Anyway, it should have been Friday but was today. I must say I don't think Santiago takes its tourists very seriously. Apart from the palace, which we were able to visit, ie be searched and then walk through a nice courtyard with some interesting sculptures and fruit trees, everything else was closed. Museums, most cafes and restaurants, all closed. Churches and cathedrals, closed. There were quite a lot of shoe shops open and I could have had my shoes polished, but in terms of actual things to do, the best we could come up with was a walking tour following the tourist map I picked up at the airport. Actually, the day was so lovely - warm, sunny and with totally blue sky - that it wasn't a hardship. Richard (photographer) and I have now seen the outside of many closed churches, museums and monuments. We also visited many parks and plazas which are the heart of city life, each with a character of their own. We've also been in the posh part of the city and the not so rich, seen some amazing buildings, a lot of them giving hints of past glory, and explored some rundown areas too. All following the map which had us doubling back at a few locations, mainly it seemed to get us past coffee shops and restaurants, all of them sadly closed. But we did make a new friend. A stray dog who stuck close to our heels for a few hours. And because she was on heat, she attracted a few admirers, one of them a mangy dog that refused to leave despite her barking and snarling at it (I did wish I knew the Spanish for, that dog's not with me). Through plazas, past dogs yapping behind gates, over a high walkway, through six lanes of traffic - these dogs did the city tour too. Eventually we went to a big park where the dogs got on one side of a little train for kids and we got out of the park - alone. This has been a big weekend of change for people in Chile. Not only did they move the bank holiday from its usual day, but the clocks went forward one hour yesterday. And did anyone tell us? Well, what do you think...  

13 October

Hello everyone. Quick catch up from Santiago, having arrived in Chile this morning after three flights and a long journey. Still, we got here and so did our luggage. Have spent the day staying awake (good) and doing lots of walking around Santiago. Also made a return visit to La Chascona, Pablo Neruda's house, which I could visit many times and not tire of. The most amazing place. And now just about to go for dinner before catching up on my sleep. As I have wifi in my room, hope to update this again soon.

10 October

One more day in the office and then I'm off to Chile. Was at uni this morning, which was good, and off this afternoon so was doing all those last minute things that always seem to creep up when you're going away for a few weeks. I've just weighed my case - 4kgs left of my luggage allowance and so far no personal stuff packed! But I do have boxes of Geobars, Traidcraft sweets, Traidcraft catalogues, magazines and copies of the annual review. Traidcraft pens, button badges, pencils.... Oh, and a couple of calendars.Have checked on the weather and it's very variable where I'm going, so a new mac in a bag has been bought and I'm getting my "capsule" wardrobe ready. That translates as, mainly black, easy to wash and as little as possible. As I gave several bras to Curves, the gym I go to, to support their Breast Cancer Awareness Appeal., I had replacements on my shopping list today (always a good excuse.) One good thing is that the Geobars, sweets and publications won't be coming back, which means more space and luggage allowance to bring back souvenirs. Of course, I also need to sort out my reading material. Although I hate to part with books, I've bought some from charity shops, which means I'll be able to leave them for other people to enjoy without feeling too guilty. Almost forgot to tell you, posted off my 12 knitted hats to the people at Innocent drinks today!

7 October

The trouble with being an international family is that sport is an emotional rollercoaster. So today we've endured South Africa scraping through against Fiji in the rugby, Sunderland being beaten at the end of a well-fought game of football, and now I'm about to go through the tension of Scotland v Argentina. I managed to spend most of my youth being completely oblivious of sport, but with three sport-mad males in the family, it's impossible not to get drawn in. I even enjoy cricket now! So, with an eye on the TV I'm updating this blog. Have just been going over the proof of my short story in the Blinking Eye anthology. It's set in the Kruger Park and I wrote in "on location" which I think really adds to it. Do I remember all these details now? No, but they're in the story. Even doing it from notes wouldn't have been  the same. The book launch is at the Lit and Phil on Wednesday December 5th. Was at the Bridge poetry group yesterday which was thin in number but big in content. Some great poems and lots of discussion. I have a problem with the word sling in the poem I took along. I meant as in sling shot (but didn't want to use the word shot) but someone read it as sling for an injured arm. Always worth sharing work with others to find out if a poem is really saying what I mean. When I've finished this blog I'll be knitting some little bobble hats for those Innocent drinks people to help them raise money for Help the Aged (50p a hat). They hope to have 400,000 hats on their fruity drinks (sadly, sold only in the London area I think). I have knitted four so far. Wonder how many I can knit before the rugby finishes?

3 October

Just back from uni which was very good. A new mix of people on the first day of term, which is always good. Ellen had us responding to nursery rhymes and although my effort was very rambing - a poem that turned into prose - I want to edit it into shape as I feel it's worth working on. We all read and it was great to hear all the different responses. Today I also heard that my poem, 'The Secret Life of Feet' will be published in the Blinking Eye anthology from their competition. It's one of my newer poems - that's always nice to think that I've not lost the knack!- and is quite quirky. You can read more about the results here.

2 October

Well, the medical kit has come back with me from work along with the first batch of Traidcraft catalogues and magazines. Yes, it's now next week that I go to Chile. In the meantime I'm enjoying a week of semi-normality, going to work, the gym, eating, shopping and of course, updating this diary a bit more frequently. Received the winners' anthology from the Virginia Warbey Poetry Prize in the post today. No, my entry didn't get anywhere, but it's always interesting to read the winning poems. Tomorrow is the start of my uni class again. It feels like ages since the end of the summer term. We have a new tutor, Ellen Phethean, who taught on one of the first courses that I attended when I first moved to Sunderland in the early 1990s. And of course she and Julia Darling published my little Diamond Twig book, Lip Reading. I'm off all tomorrow so can be environmentally friendly and get the bus into Newcastle tomorrow. Tonight I need to look out a new notebook - some of you might know that where other women indulge in shoes or clothes, my shopaholic tendencies are notebooks, pens and lip salve. Despite several new notebooks piled up on my desk, it's very tempting to just buy a new one tomorrow.....

30 September

Writing the date I'm reminded of all the end of the month deadlines that I've missed. Some good competitions around at the moment but not enough time - and for once that's genuine not just an excuse! Still, got a couple of important ones off so that was good. I didn't get anywhere on the shortlist of the Ilkley Festival short story competition, but 'Riddling' is now on the Twyford Writers website. If you do read it I'd love to get your feedback. Had a nice catching up day yesterday with Moh. Made a return to the M&S deli for breakfast for the first time in several weeks, and lounged about in Cafe Nero with a latte and the Saturday papers. What did we do without coffee shops? Sorted out my poems for Ty Newydd last night and finally sponsored some friends who are doing the Great North Run today -glad it's not me!

28 September

Ok, am I allowed to say I had an 'L' of a trip (because I've been to Liverpool, Leicester and London in the last three days). Cheesy I know, but couldn't resist it. It's nearly 1am and I only got off the train just before midnight, having spent three very long, hectic days escorting producers from Mauritius and Malawi to Traidcraft supporter days. It all seemed to go very well, which was good, but after working at the conference last weekend, it does seem ages since I had a day off. Managed to complete my entry for the Second Light poetry competition before I left on Tuesday so at least that's one deadline that's been met. And I've received the info for my course at Ty Newydd in November, so will need to get my pre-course poems sorted next week. No writing done while travelling. It's usually one extreme or the other and this time it was the blank page that stayed blank, but I did catch up on some reading.

22 September

As my friend Jeanne would say, I'm having a purple patch! Got home last night to discover that I've won first prize in the Twyford Writers short story competition. That in itself is great - just after being shortlisted in another comp-  but so is the cheque for £200, which will pay the rest of my Ty Newydd course (see 14 September entry). The story that won is 'Riddling' - very different from my usual writing - and it's going on the TW website, so will add a link when it does. Yesterday was very busy but full of good things. First, I had to take Loreta from Salay in the Philippines to M&S at the Metro Centre to get some photos of her by the Traidcraft cards made by people at Salay. They are beautiful, handmade cards and even better they bring fantastic fair trade benefits to the producers in the Philippines and Bangladesh. Loreta was so happy at seeing them in a mainstream store that she was nearly in tears. Then we had some (fair trade) coffee and snacks in the Revive cafe before the manager presented Loreta with gifts including a big bouquet of flowers and choccies. Considering everyone at work was manic with plans for the conference, I think we got the best deal. Then last night it was the launch of plans for the Northern Writers Centre at the Hatton Gallery. Quite a posh do compared to many of the writing events I go to (even a cotton shoulder goody  bag packed with info and some lovely poetry postcards). As well as speeches and poetry readings by Bill Herbert and Sean O'Brien, there was a film of what the finished centre should look like, with a performance space and workshops area, individual writing rooms and the offices of New Writing North. Apparently it was one of the biggest gatherings of local writers so we had a photo taken at the end. Somebody did suggest they were sending it off to Special Branch.

19 September

Hello everyone. Just back from a lovely drive through very sunny countryside to Allendale where I was dropping off some Traidcraft stuff with a friend. It always amazes me that I used to do that journey every day when we lived there. It is such beautiful scenery. I also listened to a couple of interesting programmes on Radio 4 - nice. Checking emails tonight I had a welcome surprise. One of my stories is through to the shortlist of a competition - won't say which one as it's being judged anonymously. Whether it gets placed or not, it's always a boost to make it onto a shortlist. Have been sorting out some poems to send to New Writing Scotland. Because I'm away so much over the next few weeks, I need to start thinking about October deadlines as well as September. Scary! 

18 September

Big date looming - the Traidcraft conference is this weekend so it's pretty fraught at work just now. The good thing is that after a disastrous, falling apart day yesterday, my trip to Chile has made a miraculous recovery (that's the power of prayer for you) and the flights are finally sorted. My intention was to learn some Spanish before returning (last visit two years ago) but that's not happened. Might try to find the CD and book that I got last year. It will be gathering dust somewhere. I'm back on track with writing a little every day as my means of staying sane through all the busyness. So far it's lasted three days. Just off to make it four. 

16 September

Having a lazy day interspersed with laundry and all that entails. It is the endless washing of odd socks as I find them all over the place, especially Rob's room. Part of the lazy Sunday involved buying a Sunday Times and I was thrilled to see the fashion special mag had a feature, The Joy of Socks. Although I am a socks only with trainers girl, I love them and am at my happiest when the temperature means I can wear some (today they are tie-dyed blue, pretty ancient ones, a pressie from my sis). Sadly the feature was about knee-length ones only, and I am an ankle socks fan.So what else is my lazy day involving? I hear you cry (or not). Well, eating a lot of guacamole nachos with dip, followed by some minty chocolate things and sort-of watching the sports channels (yes, Moh is in the room) plus a rather gruesome programme on the planet's most dangerous snakes.According to the Sunday Times, this season's must-have clothing and accessories have a snakeskin pattern, so in honour of that I've put my poem, Anna C on the poems page. Now it's time for the 20 20 cricket, SA v England (I'm not even going to mention the rugby!) and a cup of Earl Grey tea. I will probably read a bit more of Joyce Carole Oates'. We Were the Mulvaneys, then it will be time to take all the odd socks off the washing line.Maybe this evening I can find them some partners.

14 September

Another milestone day in our family as Robbie set off for South Africa today. I am now appreciating what it must have been like for my parents when I kept on heading off for various parts of the world for months at a time. At least with Rob, he has been living at home, but I used to pack up houses and flats, fully expecting my poor parents to not only collect the stuff (thank goodness for their VW camper van) but also to store it. They are still using the fridge freezer from my Falkirk Herald days in the mid-70s and no doubt have the eaves of the house full of my junk - so I won't feel too bad about the things scattered all over our house. I did have to ask on the way to the airport, what am I supposed to do with the tennis shoes soaking in the kitchen sink, but as someone who once crocheted a lettuce on a ferry back from Spain, maybe eccentricity is part of the gene pool. I had some good news in the post in that I've managed to get a bursary towards attending a course at the Ty Newydd writers centre in Wales in November. Quickly sent off my application and was pleased to learn that they had a single room left. I don't mind sharing, but I often like to read out loud the stuff I've written, so am probably not the best room-mate.  

11 September

Thought you might like a link to Robbie's blog. The mega washing session before he set off continues....

7 September

OK, second attempt at updating this. Our wireless internet connection is just back on after a very bad experience of trying to buy a new router from Computer Solutionz at the Metro Centre. I have to say customer service is something they've not heard of. It's taken us two weeks of hassle to get a faulty router replaced after they never bothered to ring us back, then sold the replacement one to someone else and basically had our money and couldn't care less. But enough griping about poor service, other more exciting things have been happening. On Sunday I had my photo taken outside the Baltic by Austrian artist Fiona Rukschcio who is on a mission to photograph women who have the same name. It had almost spy quality to it (wear black, meet the other Fionas at the Baltic) and although a little chilly, was great fun. Fiona was heading up to Edinburgh and Aberdeen and hopes to produce a book of all the photos at some point. Since then, work has been dominating most days. I am dotting between trying to set up an urgent photo/story assignment in India (which other people will carry out), planning my trip to Chile next month (that sounds scary), sorting out a presentation for the Traidcraft conference in two weeks time (also scary) and sorting UK travel to take a couple of producers to supporter events the following week. Oh, and at home, Rob is getting ready to work at Rehoboth, the children's village for youngsters with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. He leaves on Friday, then it will be just MOH and me. What will we do when the internet/TV/computer doesn't work?

1 September

Fantastic weather today, so even the fact that there were only four of us at the Bridge poetry group was good, because it meant we could sit outside. Read and discussed poems while surrounded by Newcastle fans as they waited to go to the match. Today my poem, Inside the Kist, goes on the Diamond Twig website as poem of the month. Hope you enjoy reading it (don't forget there are lots of lovely books you can buy too!) Fnished Crow Lake in record time and am now reading a book of short stories I picked up in South Africa, all based on newspaper headlines. Started on the first draft of a poem when My Other Half and I were at M&S for breakfast today. I am convinced that my poems shy away from pristine, white pages in a notebook. They always make an appearance when all I've got is a scrappy, almost full notepad, or, as it was today, when I end up writing on the back of a receipt. Maybe it makes them feel daring, sneaking in around all the official type, conditions of sale and VAT details. Whatever. As long as they keep making their way out of my cluttered brain, I'm happy.

26 August

Just back from the Newcastle Mela which started today. Lovely sunny weather meant there were loads of people. We got there early so avoided the very big queues for food and had a very nice mixed plate, followed by pistachio kulfi. I am in two minds about whether I want to find a shop that sells this in tubs. One, it would be lovely to enjoy it at home, two, I think it would be an eating my body weight situation! Anyway, we enjoyed having a wander round the stalls, watched some stuff on the stages, including a very impressive belly dancer, and then headed home. Forgot to say, I got my copy of the Dynamics of Balsa, the latest New Writing Scotland anthology, which features my poem, Jackfruit. Have had a quick look through, but just read a couple of the poems so far. Finished reading Restless by William Boyd which I really enjoyed and last night started on Crow Lake, bought and recommended by my mum. After completing this diary entry, I'm off to make some tea and read a few more pages. Bliss!

24 August

I know, such a long gap, caused by mega problems with our internet at home. Yes, it's confirmed I am an internet addict. Anyway, in the time since the last entry I've done lots other than be online. Went to a wet Lake District last weekend. Saw Under A Blue Sky by David Routledge at the Theatre by the Lake in Keswick which was excellent. It was in the studio, which is lovely, reminded me a bit of Live Theatre in Newcastle. Nearly managed to update this in Lakeland (as in plastics) at Windermere where they have free internet beside their restaurant. They also have flat screen TVs in their loos. Very strange to sit there, watching parcels being despatched from their warehouse. Just hoped it wasn't a two-way screen.

5 August

Coming to the end of another weekend and this time the weather has been great, very warm and only a tiny promised shower while we were in Newcastle yesterday. No rain when we went to Belsay to see the exhibition Picture House which was fabulous. Artists, film directors, actors, fashion designers - they've all been given a room or area and have created the most amazing exhibition. From soundscapes in the eerie cellar to a mirror that captures your image and plays it back mixed in with other visitors to the room, to a room full of cups and saucers - even coming out of the fireplace -, a bed with a tree growing out of it, walls of keys. There is just too much to describe and, to be honest, it's one of those things that you have to experience for yourself. I took some photos, which have turned out well, but think I should have bought the book as some of the stories about how the installations came about are fascinating. Feel a return visit is called for. The thing about Belsay is that it was left to Engligh Heritage on condition that it's not furnished and it is a haunting place, part fascinating, part repelling because of the size and dimensions. It is the perfect place for fairytales and nightmares. Even the gardens, which go from the traditional to the Alice in Wonderland quality of the quarry garden, with the croquet lawn in between, feel as if they are from a parallel universe. Which of course, is part of the appeal. But Saturday started not with a preserved building but with one that's being knocked down, the concrete multi-storey car park opposite the Gate in Newcastle. We arrived as machines that looked like dinosaurs were eating away at floors that tumbled down like cardboard. I had to take loads of photos and we stood, like tourists at a work of art, watching a chunk of the city disappearing. There is something so compelling about seeing doors that open onto mid-air.

2 August

Ah, MOH is back which means he is doing the 6.45am run of younger son to Pizza Hut. My only involvement was making breakfast - I do breakfast in bed for all my household each morning, just as my dad did in our house. Spare room available (although it's full of boxes and has no wallpaper and bare floorboards.) Which means that I'm still in bed and checking up on early morning happenings at Montrose Basin via this new webcam. Despite all the viruses and spam emails, the internet can be great.

31 July

Just back from the recycling centre after a little round trip of dropping off cardboard (which can't be put in our recycling boxes), taking stuff to the bin in the garage under our house and getting some petrol. It's a beautiful sunny evening but as expected, rain is expected tomorrow when MOH comes back - well, he has to be able to complain about the weather here. And of course I should be doing many other things now, such as clearing up the house, tidying so I can at least walk in a straight line to the bed and loads of other stuff too. Or, of course, writing. Writing something proper that is, not this little diary. But instead I've made myself a cup of coffee and am catching up with Coast which is about the herring industry - giving me a lovely little herring link for this diary and also, a perfect excuse for drooling over Neil Oliver (one of the three sexiest voices on earth in my opinion). More excitement in that I got an email inviting me to register for the BBC iPlayer where I can watch programmes on my computer - including Coast! While this is great, it's also another obstacle for tidying/writing and generally connecting with life outside the loft. So it's as well that in the post (the proper post through the door that is, as today there was no strike) I got the new programme for Live Theatre which is about to re-open. Lee Hall's The Pitman Painters is the opening production so I hope to see that before my trip to Chile in October. We saw some of the paintings by these miners when we visited the Ashington mining centre last year. It will also be interesting to see what the theatre's like, especially with the new seating arrangements. Might even try the new Cafe Vivo.

30 July

Had a little flurry of end of the month entering competitions (short stories and poetry) mostly those which can be entered online because of the postal strike. Thank goodness for email. I had an interesting email from an artist also called Fiona who is in Vienna and is working on a project of photographing women called Fiona - and she would like to photograph me. So it looks as if it will be happening when she's in the UK in August/September. It reminded me of a poem which I read in the Independent, when they still did their poem of the day slot. By Richard Price, I think, called the Fionas. A yellowing copy of it is on my fridge so I think I must copy it and send it to Vienna Fiona. It is a great poem. Just done a little search to see if I could find it on the internet but no luck. Instead, Google came up with the suggestion, did I mean to look for The Donnas? Er, no. Went to see The Fever at the Lit and Phil on Friday. Very different, harrowing and felt rung out at the end. Have also been catching up on some video watching including The Prestige (great) and Tristam and Isolde (watching now as I multi-task). This is typical as the house (especially bedroom) is in a complete guddle (mess) and I have only one night to do a major clear up before My Other Half comes back from SA. Oh, and I've been working on a new poem about gloves, which is the next Mslexia theme (deadine mid-September, don't miss it).

25 July

Back late last night from a day in London to join in the Time Together celebrations for the project's fifth birthday. It was a very nice day, made better once we'd seen the little film that Negin, my mentee, and I feature in, and realised that our 30 seconds of fame were ok! Think I might have told you that we did some mega filming sessions, for the BBC, then for Time Together (a whole day) and then some still photography. We were one of four mentor/mentee pairs featuring in the four-minutefilm, so for a couple of hours we had a very watered down version of what it must be like to be celebrities, with everyone recognising us. Anyway, even although fame isn't guaranteed, I'd definitely recommend getting involved because it's a great scheme. Visit www.timebank.org.uk for more info on volunteering. Negin and I went on the London Eye afterwards where a bride and groom were among those in the queue. Couldn't spot any guests and they didn't have a pod of their own. Have written it down in my, could inspire a poem or short story notebook....

18 July

Isn't it strange how writing seems to have a mind of its own, or in my case feet? There I was at the weekend, switching on my laptop ready to continue with some work when all of a sudden the title, The Secret Life of Feet came into my head. So instead of finishing off the short story, I began work on a poem which pretty much continued for the next three days, about some wayward feet that set off on their own. The main problem was the ending, which has changed about five times so far. The current one has been considered ok for the last two days, so I'll see what my reaction is at the end of the week. If I still think it's finished, I'll probably send it off to a competition. So many deadlines coming up that I need to go through and check which poems I've got to send off. Didn't get anywhere in the Ledbury so that's another two poems to check over and then send out again.  

10 July

Birthday celebrations for Jamie today who was home briefly on his way to Belfast.Out for breakfast at Blake's, in Newcastle, very nice now it's smoke-free, and then birthday cake tonight. Got back from Scotland on Sunday night to find proof of my poem Jackfruit which will feature in New Writing Scotland, and also copies of Mslexia mag with my runners-up poem, Casting Off. And a copy of Edinburgh's Instant magazine with my poem in it. Even better, no bills.

6 July

Still in Scotland and have been catching up with lots of people. Bumped into George Doig who was in my class at school when we were in Forfar - I have not seen him for at least 30 years but we recognised each other. As always, my coffee intake has gone up a lot with meeting folk over coffee at least a couple of times a day. My elder son Jamie was down from Aberdeen so we dragged him and his cousin for coffee this morning. Yesterday I went to the William Lamb Studio in Montrose which has opened for the summer season this week. With a new lighting system and the sculptures displayed in a different way, it is a great place to visit. Some lovely work. Earlier this week I visited the Betsy White exhibition at Montrose Museum which celebrates the life of this travelling woman who settled in the Montrose areas. Fascinating photos. Tried to add a link to my recorded poem (see last diary entry) but didn't work so maybe when I'm home next week I'll get one sorted. But the fishy theme continues. My sister painted a fantastic picture of fish that has just been on display in the Meffan Gallery in Forfar and she's given it to me as a pressie. If you'd like to see some more of her work, here's a link.

2 July

What a coincidence... just been to Stonehaven Harbour and looked round the Tollbooth Musuem which has a nice little fishing display and got back to have a message from someone who also has a thing about herring and has recorded my poem! I am borrowing my sister's laptop to update this, so just about to check out the poem.

1 July

Back North of the border, for a week this time. Glad to escape work which was extreme this last week. Still, always good to have the challenge of thinking, do I really want to spend my days doing this? Of course, what I'd really like to do is write full-time but having seen so many friends who have to earn a living filling days with running workshops and then putting their own writing on the back burner, I think I need to stick with working for a little longer. The benefit is of course that this week is paid holiday. It's a long time since I spent a week in Montrose and already the first two days have been busy. Started Saturday with coffee at the Coffee House then a potter along the High Street in the sun. At night we went to High School Musical in the Town Hall where my three nephews were among those on stage. An excellent production, even with my own family bias. Just saying to my sister today that Montrose Town Hall has a unique smell, I would recognise it anywhere. She has the same view so either we are both as mad as each other or it's a fact. If you've ever been to Montrose Town Hall and agree or disagree, please get in touch! Discovered today that a poem of mine is in Instant Magazine, which is the kind of Time Out equivalent for Edinburgh, but free. Sent it in ages ago, as in years. It's Heart Scald from Garibaldi's Legs so if you'd like to read it you could always buy a copy, or, the cheaper option is to visit the website and look at the current mag. I think it's on page 17 of the pdf.

27 June

Have been having a mad flurry of sending out work for end of June deadlines, especially with the planned postal strike on Friday. It's amazing how many competitions can be entered online but for poems that have a special layout, it's a bit of a risk I think so better to print out. Had our last uni session today at the Laing Gallery when we were writing in response to artwork in the Work, Rest and Play exhibition. My first piece was in response to a Victorian painting and had a bit of Dr Who time travel about it.Not quite sure how that crept in. We also got our class anthology so I've been enjoying reading that. It's called Living on Stilts and I have to say I really like the title which is just as well as it was my suggestion. Glad others liked it too.   

20 June

Still continuing on the filming theme! Tonight the news report (see last diary entry) went out on our local BBC news and it seemed fine. Our interviews were good, no-one could see the cake, so we didn't look too piggy and hopefully lots of people will sign up for the Time Together scheme. And Negin and I were filming again today, for a film to be made by Time Bank which runs TT. It will be shown at an event in London next month and used at training sessions for mentors and mentees. We started off in Caffe Nero, then were back in the Russian shop - this time for a very nice lunch - and then it was off to the Sage and the Angel of the North. Thankfully it was nice weather and we had quite a nice day, despite the fact that everything was being filmed. We even did some filming ourselves with a little handheld camera. Unfortunately, I kept paying more attention to the conversation than what I was filming, so I doubt if much of my efforts will be used. Just as well I like using words to create images.

15 June

Ok, the theme of this last couple of days has been filming. This is to do with the mentoring scheme that I'm a volunteer with, to be used in Refugee Week which starts on Monday. So, after quite a few emails and phone calls, my mentee and I were filmed and interviewed at The Samovar, the Russian Shop in Newgate Shopping Centre, Newcastle. Of course, everything had to be done more than once, but it was a fun afternoon. If you see the interview, supposed to be going out on Monday, please don't think we eat that amount of cake when we meet up every week. Normally we have one biscuit or a tiny cake, not two big slabs of tiramisu cake (each). Today I took the guys from the family to the airport at 3.30am. Used Moh's car and when I fed my card into the exit machine at the car park, the barrier went up and I promptly drove under it and then stalled. Don't think I have ever started a car so quickly. Envisaged my conversation when Moh rang to make sure I got back home ok. "Yes, fine. I've left half the car in the airport car park... for when you get back. This afternoon has also involved filming, or should I say, saying no to an early morning interview on Monday (too complicated to explain). And today we've made arrangements for a film company from London to record the whole mentor/mentee thing on Wednesday, to be used for a big conference and also promoting the scheme to get more volunteers. Hope it's finally stopped raining by then.

13 June

Where has summer gone? My fault probably since a few days ago I told Moh that it was tropical... We have a full house here tomorrow. Both boys home and my parents aka the wrinklies (this will test whether they visit my website!) Moh and the boys are heading for South Africa early on Friday morning while I'm spending the weekend with my folks. Have just done a mega clean of the main bathroom (usually used only by younger son) and am now rewarding myself with a cup of tea and watching the final of The Apprentice. No wonder I never manage to get much housework done. Ten minutes work equals half an hour's reward. On the writing front, we had a good session at uni this morning. Had to take notes "on location" ie, in the wet and cold. I chose Union News, the newsagents across the road, and ended up buying a carton of pomegranate juice and some cherry drops plus gots lots of phrases and brand names which I enjoyed making into a poem. I realise I didn't tell you that I got my copy of the British Council's New Writing 15  in the post, which includes my poem, Inviolata. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend the launch party in London in about ten days time because I'm the only one in the office. Have been dipping into the poems and short stories and particularly enjoyed one by Catherine Smith. And I had some good news about a poem in another competition. Results will be out officially in July

8 June

Life is often stranger than anything we writers can put together...... Last night, in the interval of the reading, My Other Half checked his phone messages and got the call that everyone dreads. His mum had died. And of course, by the time he got back to the reading, I was sitting in the front row with the rest of the winners, waiting to read my poem and short story....

7 June

Having a few days of readings this week. Was at the Black Bull for the Blaydon Races Festival poetry evening last night. In the past I've helped to organise the event, but my trips away meant I wouldn't have enough time, so another local writer, Joan Johnston, did the stuff. Writers groups from Blaydon and Ryton took part last night and it was nice to be able to listen to other people reading without thinking about when it was my turn. Today I was reading - a poem at Newcastle Uni as part of the Writing from the Inside Out group. It was a really lovely event and nice to catch up with some people I'd not seen for a while. Interestingly, I was sitting next to Louise and we are both reading in Alnwick tomorrow night. Look forward to hearing her winning poem. Of course, the big question when reading is always, what am I going to wear? A new, sparkly ring, but what else.... 

1 June

Sitting in bed in my little loft room looking out at a very misty, dreich Newcastle on the other side of the Tyne. Still nothing like as cold as it was at my sister-in-law's in Johannesburg. About freezing at night and as I'd given away most of my clothes, including my trainers, in Malawi, I was not too cosy. It's really strange because the days are warm and sunny in mid 20s then it can be minus anything at night. Anyway, flights back were fine and got home to discover that my copy of the British Council's New Writing 15, with my poem, Inviolata, had arrived. The launch is later this month but unfortunately I am the only one in the office that day so no chance of going to London for it. But on the bright side, I have won joint first prize (short story) and joint third prize (poem) in the Northumberland Writers Competitions. The celebration evening is a week today in Alnwick and Moh is coming with me. Both the story and the poem were started in the Wednesday writing class that I go to and are quite quirky (ie, wasn't quite sure whether they worked) so it's good to find out that for this judge, they did. Must check out June deadlines for other competitions....