Return

Once again, I am back from Fowey, and once again, I am so sad to be back. I was exhausted when I got back - crawling into bed just after nine. But Monday morning, I woke up so sad not to be waking up to this view:

And eating breakfast outside in the sunshine, on the steps, with some lovely people.

I've got used to it now, being back, and I was happy to be able to get on with some proper writing (I made scribbles while I was away, but nothing like just getting on with something). It was a wonderful week. And one of those strange times when it both raced by, but at the same time, it was as if we had been there forever.

The week started off wet and windy. At the start of the week, I didn't know any of the other student volunteers, but by the end of the week, we were close and all so sad to say goodbye to one another! I could easily have gone down to Falmouth with them - that's how hard it was to say goodbye.

Anyway, the first weekend most of us were helping out with the Family Fun Weekend at Trenython, which was new for this year. The theme was Inspired by Nature. Despite the wind and rain, it was a great weekend. I was put on the role of helping with the author events, which was enormous fun and meant I got to meet lovely authors, such as Liz Kessler (author of North of Nowhere).

There was lots of other things going on, such as den building, seed planting, camp fire cooking, and willow making.

Monday was the first day we were all in the town. After a briefing, and all clad in our bright green tshirts, which became quite a feature of the week, we set off on our different tasks. There was lots going on throughout the week, and our roles ranged from different things, such as giving out information, front of house, helping with Waterstones, and much more!

It was great to be back in Fowey, of course, and to see everything I love - and talk lots of Daphne! One of the events I was able to attend was one of Laura Varnham's reading group on Frenchman's Creek. It was fascinating, and relit my obsession quite fully! I now want to reread everything once again, and get utterly absorbed (not a bad thing). Other great events I attended included Helen Taylor, Veronica Henry and Ruth Rendell.

I drank lots of coffee and cider, ate lots of fudge, pink iced buns, and ice cream, spent time on the beach in the glorious sunshine, walked though fields and around Fowey, laughed a lot, wrote, read, met lots of lovely people, and had an ace time. It was the best week.

It was funny too to be staying at the same place I had the previous year, although upgraded in a caravan, and revisiting the same beach that I had first started windsurfing. I can't believe that was only a year ago!

It all already seems a long time ago now. Sigh.

On the plus side, I have settled down to some serious writing this week. I nearly have a first draft of my dissertation creative piece done, and I've been busy editing Treading Water (once again). Phew!