Away from the desk

 A busy and enjoyable couple of days out and about this week. On Thursday I was lucky enough to be invited along to a joint Creative Cardiff / Cardiff University day on the Creative Writing Industries. It was interesting to meet a number of new writers, just emerging from the MA programme at the university, and to hear from alumni of that programme about their very varied career paths since graduating. A panel discussion on Voices in Welsh Publishing showcased four publishing houses (Seren, Parthien Books, Broken Sleep Books and Lucent Dreaming) and another session addressed the thorny question of Getting Paid and the Practicalities of a Writing Career. But, as always, the great advantage of the day was the opportunity it provided for networking - or "finding your tribe" as several speakers expressed it. Wales is a small country - but it has a very vibrant writing community and some very supportive tribes.

Then yesterday evening I went to the Millenium Centre to see Michael Sheen in Nye. It was by far and away the best theatre production I have ever seen. Every detail was incredible - the script, the acting, the sets, the staging. Aneurin Bevan was played as the flawed, arrogant, argumentative, brilliant character that he was. The action was amusing and moving in equal measure and by the end the whole theatre was on its feet in a standing ovation. Should you have any chance of seeing ithe play during its short Cardiff run, it's not to be missed. And with things as they are in the NHS at present, it's an opportune moment to be reflecting on the immense value of this country's most precious institution.

Out into the world

I sometimes think that the aftermath of launching a book is a bit like the "empty-nester syndrome" parents speak of having launched offspring into the big, wide world! It's as if a constant companion has left for pastures new - especially when that companion has been around for a long time. But it was a great delight to see Once Upon A Time In Wales making its way into other people's hands last weekend, and to have had such positive responses since from those who came to the launch. And it's interesting now to move on with a new "companion", one who is already demanding a lot of time and energy!

This week is Mental Health Awareness week. Creative and reflective writing have been proved time and again to benefit mental health, and organisations such as Write Well (about which I've written on this blog before) can contribute greatly to people's sense of wellbeing. In September I'm starting to work with two community groups on life writing projects. Life writing has been a particular interest of mine for some years. Working with older people in residential care for three years after I retired, following up on their life stories, was so rewarding and so enjoyable all round, and I'm really looking forward to my autumn groups. "Nothing is more interesting than human lives" said the Shakespearean actor Antony Sher - and I couldn't agree more.