Late summer flowers in Cannon Hill Park
I may be venturing into new writing territory. I was asked today to consider writing a biography. From fictional stories to real life ones. Interesting. Anyone out there with experience of biography willing to offer me some advice?
I need to do a Shamanic journey to seek some guidance on this – feels a little outside of my comfort zone.
Brief Encounter plaque at Carnforth Station
It’s my last night in the land of lakes. The weather today is a reminder as to why there are so many lakes, but it’s been perfect for writing. I wrote 4 scenes of my play while the lake shimmered and swelled and swans swam gracefully by. I need a writing retreat like this on a more permanent basis.
Luggage as it used to be on Carnforth Station
Reflected on the trip to the Carnforth Railway Heritage Centre that I visited on a sunnier day.
Carnforth Station and Heritage Centre
It was renovated to its former glory when it was used in the film ‘Brief Encounter.’
Birmingham Caribbean Festival
I took a few hours out from slaving over a hot laptop (I’m trying to finish the Love is Not a Reward Sourcebook before the end of the month) to check out the Birmingham Caribbean Festival.
The food, the music, and the colours made me extremely homesick for the Caribbean. Alas the weather was not always as Caribbean as we would have liked.
Thanks to Ayaso Food for taking the time to prepare and cook a special fish for me even he’d packed up for the night. It was divine, and well worth the wait.
Young poetry performer at BCF
Girls enjoying jelly coconut
Ita (aka Miss Culture Jam) and Chester manning the bookstall
Ita and Joan (Festival organizer) getting down to the beats
Soul Kitchen – hot off the press for the festival. Buy it, download the app and it will talk you through how to prepare the dishes
Tuesday 29th April 2014
Never on Sunday by Penny Dixon
I’ve just had some good news. A pastor who read Never on Sunday is going to be using it in the relationship ministry in his church.
He said ‘It is a timely book.’
Buy it here Never on Sunday
Sunday 23rd February 2014
Moon on a Rainbow Shawl
I went to the matinee production of Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, a surprise gift from a friend. I had never heard of the play and was unprepared for the effect it would have on me.
Not surprising that it won the Observer New Play competition in 1957 and was staged the following year at the Royal Court Theatre in London. The story line is strong and the acting superb.
Set in post war Trinidad the play touches on the lives of a group of people living in a slum yard, and their desperate and often humorous attempts to find a way out.
Martina Laird was so realist as long suffering mother; wife and confidant Sophia Adams that I’m not afraid to admit that I wept open tears.
I was also weeping because I was witnessing more beginnings of absent fathers – a subject I’ve written about in my latest book Love is Not a Reward.
Moon on a Rainbow Shawl is finished in Birmingham now but is touring and can still be seen in Malvern, Watford, Oxford, Cambridge, Bath and Colchester.
Do yourself a favour and go see it.
It’s really given me the urge to begin my piece for the stage. After months of non-fiction writing I’m desperate to get back to the creative stuff.
Friday 27th December 2013
I received this beautiful Christmas message from a dear friend. I enjoyed it so much I thought I’d share it.
Faith makes all things possible, Hope makes all things work, Love makes all things beautiful, May you have all three for this Christmas. May the timeless message of Christmas fill your heart and home with joy now and throughout the coming year.
Sunday 15th December 2013
Yaz Alexander who organised the event
As Nelson Mandela becomes the latest high profile ancestor on which we can call for guidance, as his body is finally reclaimed by the African soil that gave him life and sustained him through his life’s ordeals, as the world reflects on what it means to forgive, the Drum in Birmingham brought together a host of artists to pay respect to the giant of a man that’s left our physical world.
Drummers at the Nelson Mandela Tribute event
It was good to see so many people brave the damp and grey Sunday evening to join their energy to that of our departed brother. Rrefreshing too to see the multicultural nature of the performers and the span of ages.
Dr Joseph Aldred in his tribute beseeched us not to think of Nelson Mandela as the man who taught the world to forgive without thinking of the true nature of forgiveness. Forgiveness is not for the other person, the ones you think have done you wrong. Forgiveness releases you from the self-destructive energy of bitterness, anger and resentment. It releases the negative revenge energy and replaces it with the healing energy of love.
Dancer Sandra Golding
As Joe Aldred said ‘unforgiveness is the equivalent of drinking poison and expecting your enemy to die.’
Sunday 15th December 2013
Barbados Steel Orchestra
This time last week I was at the airport in Barbados awaiting my flight home. I was still full from the superb buffet lunch we had at Southern Palms hotel while listening to the Barbados Steel Orchestra. We even ventured onto the dance floor so I could have one last dance on this beautiful island.
Camella and Kemmerick enjoying each other as much as the food
I was still a little worried about my weight allowance for the flight home as I’d had to pay excess baggage on the way out. One solution was to wear all my jewelry, carry my loose change, purse, camera and phones in my pockets, and wear as much as possible (after all they don’t weigh you)
One way to reduce the baggage overweight problem
In the end I need not have worried as my case was just within the limit and they didn’t even weigh my hand luggage!!! Having insisted on the way out that it could not be more than 5kg.
I wasn’t looking forward to the cold, the grey and the damp of England but I was looking forward to holding the first hard copy of Never on Sunday which I knew was waiting at home for me. I was also looking forward to seeing my children, my family and friends.
The day before at Bathsheba
My head was also full of the publishing possibilities for Love is Not a Reward, and for the parenting course. Alas it was not full of Christmas – and it still isn’t. I’m still waiting for the Christmas excitement to kick in.
Saturday 14th December 2013
Barbados beach
When I left Barbados on Sunday evening the temperature was 28 degrees C. When I landed in Manchester it was 9 degrees.
I’ve been very restless since I came back – and it’s not just the weather. Although I’ve not been to my home in Jamaica for over 15 years I am feeling an almost magnetic pull to it.
I’m wondering if this has something to do with the information I received on the family constellation workshop I attended in June. www.writingcreativelywithspirit.com/2013/07/08/family-constellation/
Maybe it’s time to honour Jamaica, to step into her outstretched and welcoming arms. Or it may also be the howling wind with a wind-chill factor of 2 degrees, or the fact that it was dark at 2.30 on Thursday, or that I’m contemplating passing up on a party to stay home in the warmth.
Sunday 8th December 2013
End of the day on Miami beach
I’m leaving Barbados today. Leaving behind the sand, sea, sun and clear blue skies, but they are the things that everyone who come here leave when they step on the aircraft.
What I’m also leaving behind which not every visitor may have shared is the easy acceptance of almost everyone I met.
The people at Crystal Waters in Christ Church on Sunday afternoons, the music, the happy hour and the two young men who challenge me to a dance off. Sorry guys, you didn’t even come close to winning – but I loved your sense of fun.
Leaving behind too the patrons at Basil’s Bar in St Philip. Such a bohemian crowd, and Harvey I love your painting. I’m looking forward to seeing the completed ‘The Blue’ that will accompany ‘The Green’ at Hoopies.
Leaving behind a fantastic night at Zen restaurant in The Crane Resort, including the fish that welcomed us on the way in and said goodbye as we left.
Leaving behind fantastic friends who made me feel soooooo at home, taught me so much, and gave me soooo much love.
At Zen restaurant
I swear they said ‘goodbye’ as we were leaving
Till next time… stay sweet Barbados
Writing Creatively With Spirit 