The do’s and don’ts of running a writers’ circle

It’s been mentioned by one of my members this week that the writers’ circle I founded and run is much loved and must “never change”. Intrigued by this seemingly random display of affection via a public tweet, I asked what had brought all this on. What I discovered didn’t surprise me that much, but it did anger me enough to write this blog post.

Twenty Years of Mary Jane

Those of you who know me well know that I’ve always been a hardcore folkie. I’ve always been a hardcore rocker, too, and a worshipper of the Bowie God. This love of music has taken me to various places and I was invited some years ago to write for a traditional music website called RootsReview. The website no longer exists – I seem to recall politics got involved somewhere along the line and the owner of the website didn’t have the stomach for arguing so often about petty issues – but we had begun to acquire something of a reputation and may even have been a rival for fRoots, had we continued on that path.

Kung fu days and autumn

I went training on Saturday, having not been for a week. Dave said I have more colour than before. At the end of the third class (hard style), he looked at me and said, ‘Have you noticed you’re not dropping by the end of the class, now?’ ‘Oh, yeah!’ I wasn’t. I was tired, but still had energy for one more push before we finished.

Art, design and Mother Nature

I’ve been meaning to write this particular entry for ages. Sorry, Kala. I have no real excuse except I kept forgetting about it, which is officially the world’s most pathetic excuse.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, turn and face the strain

So, I met up with Lizzie at the High Voltage Festival. We had a very girlie time, catching up, giggling (a lot), drinking coffee and stirring it with a plastic Biro, traipsing across a field to see different bands and then standing arm in arm to watch Thunder’s set. We even saw the guy who plays Sam in True Blood, not six feet from us. Rock on.

A life-affirming moment

Yesterday was the culmination of several weeks’ planning an event. It was to celebrate the 60^th birthday of our revered chief instructor Dennis Ngo, and everyone in the club was sworn to secrecy. A show was rehearsed in sparring classes and those involved got together at various points throughout that time, hoping Dennis wouldn’t see anything he shouldn’t.

January, and a new start

OK, I know it sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. I ended last year by determining to get up at a decent hour each morning, as this was something which has been difficult for me all my life.