Harvest Festival: Crafty Foodie Heaven
When I was 12 years old a Harvest Festival meant a meagre scraping together of tangerines, potatoes and a tin of beans. Items would be deposited at the front of the school hall by each bewildered child, wondering why they had to part with their lunch. Many years later Waterford has shown me exactly what…
The Short Story Sequel and Me
Sequels are always a challenge because they have something to live up to. A short story sequel is no exception. The reader expects the original characters to appeal to them in the same way as they did previously. They also expect them to have grown.
Irish Paralympic Pride and a Riveting Rivalry
The 2012 Paralympic Games have been the most dramatic and inspiring ever. Team Ireland has excelled with wins from fastest Paralympian ever: Jason Smyth and enduring distance runner Michael McKillop.
The Story of Our Baby Swallow
We found a swallow in our garden last week, a baby swallow or fledgling. I’m not so sure he was ready to fledge but he found himself out of the nest all the same. Watching him flap his wings and cooing over his downy head (well, I cooed) we found ourselves arguing over what to…
Story Wise: A Short Story Workshop
It’s official! I’m branching out into Creative Writing tuition starting with a Short Story Workshop. For those of you still humming and hawing about whether to book a place here are a few ‘Story Wise’ secrets to give you a flavour of the workshop . . .
Jimmy’s Forest: A Real Hoot
Jimmy Doherty, famed for his pig farming and links to Jamie Oliver has set himself a new woodland challenge, resulting in the Channel 4 programme: Jimmy’s Forest.
The Super Furry Inhabitants of Fota Wildlife Park
So this week I swapped watching the Olympics for a walk in Fota Park. It wasn’t easy as walking involves actual activity, not just observing the exertions of others but I managed it with a supporting arm from hubs, some sustaining gossip from my sis-in-law and a whole lot of enthusiasm from my nephew.
London 2012 Olympic Gold Compendium
I’m enthralled by the gold medal stories emerging from London 2012. As a massive tennis fan I was particularly thrilled to see Andy Murray exact his revenge on Roger Federer by putting him to the sword in an emphatic three set defeat.
One Wedding, One Day-Trip, One Olympic Ceremony
I’m just back from a trip home to Wales where I attended the wedding of a close friend, took a day-trip to Hay-on-Wye and experienced ‘spectating gold’ by watching the Olympic Opening Ceremony!