Hi Everyone
It’s tough being in lockdown and coming out into Tier 3 – its tough whatever tier you may be in – and enough said of tiers because it all feels somewhat lacking in consistency and logic to me. I worry, especially about the North and our future…
Some days I open up my tablet – look at the news, scroll down through the headlines, know I am in danger of being overwhelmed by things over which I have no control – and close it quickly. So much inequality and suffering…
To stay positive I have to write or at least think positively. I haven’t written much these past few weeks, though I’ve attended workshops online and I have lots of words but as yet no inclination to revisit them. The words will wait. In the meantime I’m trying to stay positive and for that reason I thought I’d share with you some of my ‘lockdown’ positives. Of course, I’d love to hear yours too – what’s kept you going through these months – do let me know in the comments below this post.
Here are 8 of mine –
Walks with my friend and her lovely dog Willow – we take our flasks with us and find a spot to socially distance, then sit and drink tea for as long as the light or cold will allow
Planting tons of bulbs, especially my paperwhites which are flowering now. I especially notice them at night when I can’t sleep and I come down and sit in the semi-dark at the table with a cup of tea and drown in their exotic scent.
The emails I’ve shared with my writing buddy and friends – I’m always so eager to read them when they fall into my Inbox
The precious phone calls with my children
The work I’ve done with North Pens Writers Group and the film produced from their writing, by Lonely Tower Film & Media. The film, ‘Our Isolated Dale,’ can be enjoyed here, as a whole or in extracts do take a look.
Zoom!! – yes I know we love to hate it, but it has brought me connection in these lonely times. It’s taken me to Aldeburgh for the poetry festival, it’s allowed me to do readings and workshops, ( if you were in my Winter Gathering workshop, thank you for coming. I really enjoyed it, especially the way everyone joined in ) and also connect with the larger family.
Box sets – I’ve got to be honest here. I’ve spent hours engrossed in dramas from BBC, CH4, Netflix and Sky ( we have it in this house for the sport!) many of them very akin to soaps, though a little more sophisticated, some of them like, The Crown, compulsive viewing – to my shame I’ve watched more than I’ve read or written – that’s my lockdown confession. Whatever gets you through…
Finally for this list – discovering frozen croissants ( I love croissants! ) which means when I feel like it I can stick a croissant in the oven (not as good as Lidl’s but you can’t have everything) and make some coffee and pretend I’m somewhere else entirely.
Like I said – I’d love to hear from you
Avril x
Is it only I who ever comment, and here I go again . . .
Lockdown: personally- terrible. Writing wise- pretty good. It’s offered some givens within the context of an audio drama and a number of short stories. Social rule as rope rings which frame the fight of story telling. And what is good about this time of year? I know of just such a wood in which next month, maybe even now, there’ll be clumps of snowdrops, those graceful arcs in virgin cowls!
But I love that you comment Warren – so thank you. I’m so pleased to hear that lockdown has been good for you in writing terms. So many people say it’s been impossible for them to write but it’s been good for me too. A lot of time and energy and very few distractions. And yes, the snowdrops are coming up, at least in my garden. By luck, over thirty years ago we bought a house with a front garden full of snowdrops and we’ve managed to ensure they keep coming up. I look forward to them every year.
At the same time, many antique