Welcome to Travelling in the 90s -- the tale of my adventures in Europe, drawn from my original travel journal from 1993-1994... Our fresh-faced 20-something selves have just been road-tripping through Wales and are now heading north in our trusty Rover towards Scotland for a few days. *** [Thursday 13 January, 1994] Yesterday we drove … Continue reading Travelling in the 90s – Hadrian’s Wall and a few days in Scotland
ZILLAH The punt carries us downriver, out of reach of the arrows. The old woman -- Yag is her name -- instructs Ammonite on how to steer us to the northern bank. Those Testerris scum in Hyden's Ford have got their backs up... I think maybe Ammonite and Calwyn killed some of them, and we're … Continue reading D&D Chronicles: Trek through snow to the Lake of Tears
Winter sun. Wind. Waves. Words. Phillip Island in winter is quiet, serene, beautiful. With the blessing of a clear weekend, I hightailed down to the island this past weekend for some much-needed R&R and time alone with my WIP. It turned out to be one of the most relaxing and joyous weekends I've ever spent … Continue reading Sunday journal ~ time out at Phillip Island
Worst. Week. Ever. Last week, that is. Or, rather, the last three weeks. We were invaded again by a dog. (Buddy -- Smelly, yappy, panting thing.) And this time he was not content with stealing my food... this time he STOLE MY BED! Unbelievable. Just because I get to sleep in Ellen's bed whenever I want... … Continue reading Diary of a Devilcat: One Buddy I do NOT want in my bed
Phillip Island is one of my happy places -- although I don't seem to get down there nearly often enough these days. On one of my first solitary writing weekends on the island, I took a walk along the beautiful southern coast to discover the wreck of the SS Speke in the picturesque Kitty Miller … Continue reading Relic
Still in mourning for Mary Stewart (read my tribute here), I re-read a couple more of her books in June. Set in Provence, France, Madam, will you talk? is the story of Charity, a young English widow, who's on holiday in Avignon when she befriends a young boy, David, whose father, Richard, has recently been … Continue reading June reading: more love and mysteries
Inspired. Energised. A wee bit daunted. That's how I feel right now. It's been one of those weekends. A fabulous weekend -- don't mistake me. But my mind is now spinning like a wind wheel. Bright and shiny? Yes. But spinning oh so very fast. The weekend started with a most satisfactory cafe writing session, … Continue reading Sunday journal ~ Infinite possibilities (Oh, my!)
7pm. I get up and hover in the kitchen, eye the two sleeping animals (one cat, one dog) on the sofa. Who's hungry? I say. Two little heads lift, ears twitching, eyes lighting up. Meow, says the devilcat. The puppy (visiting) just looks excited. The devilcat is off the sofa first... Meow! Yes! Feed meeee! … Continue reading Dog and cat shenanigans – dinnertime
Gosh, another month has passed already... it's been a busy one. I'm still juggling creative endeavours with paid freelance and contracting work -- but as the latter gains momentum, the whole balance is becoming trickier. Business momentum is good -- yay! Displacement of writing time is not -- meh... I'm longing for a writing retreat … Continue reading Sunday journal ~ push and shove
I'm continuing with my Travelling in the 90s series today... Excerpts from my travel journal kept during my 1993-1994 grand adventure in Europe and the UK. We pick things up in the Midlands, where H and I have been staying with family friends and touring the region with a hire car. But two is about … Continue reading Travelling in the 90s – Of Stratford peregrines and Welsh cockerels
Ellen Gregory 