Voewood Festival and The Sunday Scribble

If only I could afford
to sleep in this bed!

This weekend saw the second ever Voewood Festival in Kelling, Norfolk. It is lorded as The Arts Garden Party of the Year. Usually I need to rob my childrens' piggy banks to go to any social event-and I mean any-but happy chance found half-price tickets on the wonder that is Group-on, thus, I was at the festival on the opening night-

Friday. Although I had a sneaky peek at the house and grounds, on the 2nd wonder that is google, I wasn't quite prepared for how stunning the venue actually was. Feeling slightly out of place, lacking in vocab and plums in mouth, I headed straight for the Hendrick's tent-if the house doesn't blow your socks off the gin cocktails will (the price may also give you palpitations!) I felt like an aunts poor neice, but after managing to fit a 5 syllable word into conversation-without the use of the internet-and after 3 cocktails, I relaxed in the ambience that is Voewood. The chilled DJs in the Hendrick's bar, HMS Sweet Charity, who only play records found in thrift and charity shops (I was afraid Bananarama and, worse, Chesney Hawkes, may be infecting my ear drums!) played a great collection of sound tunes from many moons ago, some of which my Nanna would croon and swing too.

As this was the first evening there were, of course, a few hiccups-the veggie tapas selection was Gazpacho and dry bread-ER...yum? The garden expert was stuck in traffic, as was Kate Mosse-OO and John Hurt was apparently at Voewood, but we didn't see him because he fell off a wall during a party the evening before -sounds like a good night!-and the helpers/workers weren't sure where some events were happening-luckily it's a small venue so it would be hard to get too lost and the charm that oozes from the setting canels any hiccups out-the most amazing port-a-loos I ever seen were also a point of awe and wonder!

It may seem that we spent most of our time staring in amazement at the loos and drinking but we actually managed to see all of Kate Mosse's slot where she discussed her latest novel-she only finished editing it this week and read out the opening page to an awestruck audience-she also discussed 'labyrinth'-apparently Ridley Scott has just serialised this, and I believe Mr Hurt is part of the cast, however, I may have been in a gin haze and completely confused conversations so don't quote this!! I admit, I've never read Kate Mosse's work-shamefaced I am-but her focus on female heroines puts her on my pile of books to read!

The evening finished with a music set by British Sea Power-my lovely pal Cindy(a committed fan-of BSP, not of me) knows me well and said I'd love them despite the amount of the foliage they'd strewn around the stage-she was spot on-rock and rolllll! They were absolutely amazing-fab tune after tune after tune-I am a new fan! The lead singer fell off of the stage and right on top of me and STILL carried on playing-now that is rock and roll!  

The list of literary guests was mind-blowing and I'm sure the festival will grow and grow so get on the mailing list for next year and I'll see you...yes-in the gin tent!

Oh, and as of next Sunday the Sunday Scribble will begin-a spark will be on the blog and an invite to you all to write 100 words max relating to the spark-Go wild!

Voewood Festival this weekend...a good line-up-though my literary ignorance is shameful-Simon Armitage, Hanif Kureshi...Billy Bragg...get a ticket if you can and I'll meet you in the gin tent!!! Yes, there's a Hendrick's gin tent!!!!

Hi

Saw photos on my laptop looks very good.You were probably as hot there as we have been here over the past few days. after playing around with various bits and pieces I think I have worked out how to respond to a blog

All the best
John

Blogging phobic no more!

I'm completely new to this blogging malarky but small children have advised me it's the thing to do!

I guess they're right, you're never too old to learn something new and, as time presses on-we never know how much sand is left in the timer-I've decided to embrace every new experience that comes my way!!! 

On my list of things to do, the top priority was to take-up skinny dipping, but I'm going with priority number 2, which is only slightly less offensive to the public...that is, to take my writing more seriously, stop dreaming about it, and actually do it...hence the formation of Walsham Writers' Group based in the bootiful North Norfolk countryside. We began meeting in April 2012 and we've quickly grown into a small, but very friendly, dedicated group of both published, and aspirational writers-the debate of when to call yourself a writer can be discussed here!!!

Thanks to the group I have begun to embrace the long-neglected reading of poetry-our first 'social' was to a poetry reading by Wendy Cope in Stalham. She was wonderful, sharp, witty and highly entertaining.

 As one new discovery leads to another...holidaying in Spain we came across a real gem of a town called Orihuela. Once you've passed the prostitutes on their red plastic chairs, the stunning turquoise lake, and the salinas, you'll find a small, sleepy little place nestled at the bottom of a hill; on top of which, sits an ancient monastery. This town was once the home of a poet-I confess I had no idea who he was, but faked the emotions, for the benefit of the kind lady at the tourist info, who attempted to impress me with the sights dedicated to this one, Miguel Hernandez! Sadly, everything, bar the library, was closed on this particular day-a phenomenon that seems to occur every time we drag ourselves into an inland Spanish town, through 40 degree sunshine, with 2 very agitated children!! However, the exterior of every museum, church and cathedral was absolutely stunning and well worth a trip again next year! The one attraction that had little choice but to entertain us, was the most stunning outside gallery. Huge murals have been painted by a collection of artists, writers, children, teachers...on the sides of houses, in an otherwise poor, shabby looking part of town. Stunning!! I've posted some pics above- but the photo that I really wanted was of a young, ragged boy climbing out of a ditch, full of rubbish, holding 2 pigeons in his arms. He was standing beside the picture of the dove above, which exemplifies freedom. I tried to get out my camera quickly to capture the moment, but the car began to roll backwards down the hill, my husband and children began shouting, and the boy skipped off laughing, his pigeons tucked safely under his arm!!

I've just been informed my blog is too long, so that's all for now!
Please feel free to comment on any of the above, post work you'd like to share-be prepared for comments. I'd also like your short story recommendations-try this one, it's mind-blowingly fantastic,
'The Snow Goose' by Paul Galico.