The Brain Bone's Connected to the Nose Bone, over on ABBA

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Last night I dreamed I was writing a story about a character who, every time she coughed, was whipped into another dimension. I thought, "I should remember this - this would make a great book."

You can't really count on dreams, can you.

Cheers, Joan.

What I Want For My Birthday

How many times have you been told, "Oh, you must watch this thing on Youtube - it's hilarious" and you've dutifully watched and it's been utterly ho-hum?

Trust me, this time, it's going to be different ...

Watch this. And then please, please, get me a Brontesaurus for my birthday!

Cheers, Joan.

Sharp-eyed Sheep and an Open Mic

This is a post in two parts.

For the first - please click here for a wonderful post by Leila Rasheed. Above is her photo of a sheep which I really like, even though it isn't exactly the sharp-eyed end.

For the second - I've been thinking about an informal poetry reading I was part of one evening on Islay the week before last. It was in my hosts' sitting room with a fine view out over the evening bay and across to the square white lighthouse of the Oa. Why do I keep forgetting how much I like poetry? Writing it, listening to it, reading it out loud? I don't know. I'm going to try to get back into poetry properly. I really am. Writing it, submitting it - and I'm going to try to find some Open Mic evenings and stand up and read it.

See if I don't. Though perhaps that should be, See, if I don't, could you just boot me gently in my poetical posterior.

Cheers, Joan.
P.S. Anyone who knows about Open Mic opportunities within an evening's travelling distance of Fife, please give me a shout.

Islay - Part Three

(All right, this is not a picture of the Islay Writing Circle. It's a picture of some picturesque Islay ponies. I just really liked them.)

I'd been looking forward to this workshop since the first day it was suggested, and I wasn't a bit disappointed. Getting to come to Islay again (I was one of the authors at the Islay Book Festival last autumn - if you ever get asked to do this one, say YES!) was an obvious plus, but then having a whole day instead of the usual hour, having 4 people instead of an entire class or two (or twelve), having participants who all wanted to be there - you just knew it was going to great! Add to that the rich variety of voices (actual and written) of us all, the good food, an inspirational view and a glorious day - I wax effusive because I can do no other. So, many thanks for having me go to the Islay Writing Circle - makers of Probably the Best Writing Workshop in the World!

Cheers, Joan.

Islay - Part Two

The Islay Writing Circle tackling the Lunchbreak Writing Challenge head on. To find out more, visit Islay - Part Three!
(It's this strange thing with Picasa only letting me transfer 4 photos at a time that makes for all this Part One, Part Two nonsense. Never mind.)

Islay - Part One