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Chapter 5: Silence in the Library I named this chapter after one of my favourite Doctor Who episodes from 2008. It is also objectively one of the three greatest Doctor Who stories ever (along with Blink [2007] and Genesis of the Daleks [1975]). I thought of this chapter title weeks ago, when I...

Today has been a bittersweet day for me. It’s the final day of the course and I’m so going to miss this place, this community, these people, this indescribable experience. So I’m trying to soak in as much as I can. This morning we had our final workshops with the presenters. I’m about to have my...

I believe that the reason she's buried here is because of her estranged husband, Ted Hughes. The house where I am staying, and writing this, was formerly owned by Ted Hughes.

You should never underestimate my ability for incompetence!

Last night small group of us set out after dinner… These are called dry stone walls. They don’t contain any cement, are held together with gravity, and are centuries old. They took a lot of skill to build! I was very excited to arrive at our destination: my first English Pub!! It was...

Having walked down the hill to get to Hebden Bridge, I had no inclination to walk back up the hill – especially considering my purchases. So I caught the bus back up the hill. I loved listening to the Yorkshire accents during my trip. Tonight we have free time after dinner, and if all goes...

I’m on a bit of a high as I write this. The day isn’t over, but it’s shaping up to be the best of my trip. This afternoon I had my second 1-on-1 meeting with a presenter. The author I met with is, by any definition, highly successful: she has written a string of bestsellers over a period of...

I wish I’d known that yesterday! It was kinda fun though… as well as a little terrifying.

I made it back (just) in time for my 1-on-1 meeting with one of the authors who is presenting here. All I'll say is that it was an amazing experience which gave me some brilliant pointers about how to make my writing so much better than it is -- in fact, if I can manage to do what was...

Eventually there was a gap in the wall. I’d survived! “Free at last!” I thought. I walked along the path just as it started to rain heavily. I just had time to put on my trusted Kathmandu Gore-Tex jacket, when the rain stopped. I emerged to see some signs of civilisation. I continued on...

It rained quite heavily overnight. As I looked out my window this morning, I reflected on the wonderful equation: (Same view) + (different weather) = (different view). The morning routine was the same as yesterday: breakfast, workshops, then lunch. I ate way more freshly-baked focaccia than...

I feel like I need a couple of matchsticks to pry my eyes open with right now. But it’s been a wonderful day. I fell asleep very easily last night, before 10pm – very early for me. Annoyingly, I woke up at 3am but I slept sporadically after that before finally deciding that it was probably time...

Exactly. What happens in Write Club, stays in Write Club!

Chapter 4: If Only They Could Write This chapter title is an homage to James Herriott. I grew up reading his books and watching All Creatures Great and Small … and now here I am, within spitting distance of the Yorkshire Dales! The Writers’ Workshop has started. Because what is covered there...

Having downloaded the Trainline app as instructed, I attempted to book a train ticket to Hebden Bridge. I was mostly successful, but there were a couple of rookie errors in the mix too. In my defence, the app is more than a little user-unfriendly. But I ventured across the road to Manchester...

… And woke up at 8am. Not nearly enough sleep, and it’ll be a massive day. I awoke to the news of a totally unexpected “Trip Report of the Month” honour! I went downstairs for the breakfast, past the bar area… ...To the breakfast buffet. It was a confusingly-laid-out but perfectly functional...

The flight ended up boarding at 12:45am, departing at 1:15am and landing at 1:35am (Manchester time) – three hours and fifteen minutes behind schedule. Unfortunately, the captain announced that the long delay was due to “the crew being delayed on their incoming flight due to severe...

Wow…. Didn’t see that coming at all. Thanks so much!

I left the lounge and walked into the terminal to use my EUR11 credit. Of course, all the eateries were closed (as was everything else). Big CDG Airport Cat. My flight has now been delayed further to 1:00am, with a current arrival estimate of 2hours 58 minutes behind schedule. Hey Air...

The departure has been pushed back to 12:30am (originally scheduled for 9:50pm), and the flight is now scheduled to arrive 2 hours and 31 mins late. I suppose a worst-case scenario would be arriving 2 hours and 59 minutes late! Given where the delay is now at, at this point an extra 29 minutes...