Final postcard from Cyprus - posted in England!

I cannot believe it is four days since I blogged, nor can I believe I am now home and back at the day job. There is a reason, I've been unwell, too much sun fried the creative bits of my brain. It was painful and serves me right for being smug about swimming before breakfast and all that.

I didn't want to leave Cyprus in limbo as the end of my previous blog was a little clliffhanger, which is why I hope you have come back to read more about 'Omar' and 'Tom'. I don't know their real names, but it amused me to think of the two brothers who owned the hotel where we were staying, as stand-ins on my holiday for the two actors and their famous characters.

We planned a sail around the bay and on to Famagusta (now a 'ghost town', apparently still as it was when the people fled in 1974). We would stop off for a swim and lunch on board, how romantic I thought, especially as the boat was called, 'Shirley Valentine', it's true! Unfortunately husband was poorly so we could not risk him ruining other people's day out by throwing up.

This is the part you'll love, I was told by a reliable source that the boat is owned by an English girl and her Greek Cypriot husband; you've got it, she had done a SV, stayed, and is now running the leisure cruise with Tom C.., I mean her husband; you couldn't make it up.

The references to Dr Zchivago & Shirley Valentine, made me wonder how the inspiration behind these stories came about for the two authors, Boris Pasternak & Willy Russell, as they brought the two ideas to life. But that's just it, the stories are on observations of real life; simple as that. Now all I have to do is take a leaf out of their books, so to speak, and write my own.

You'll be pleased to know, I hope, that I did not have to pay excess baggage on the way home. Husband 'reorganised' the packin, I had to agree to throw away magazines, oils and potions; it worked. But as we approached the check-in desk, with not a word of a lie, the whole computer/baggage system at Larnaca Airport crashed. I didn't touch a thing; it took the IT guys 45 minutes to find the fault and restore order. What an exit from Cyprus.

I hope you like the image of me that husband captured for you. He was under strict orders for there to be no face, cellulite, profile or cleavage.

'Speak' soon, PP.

Swimming with Swallows & Sparrows; another postcard from Cyprus

Hi again,

just had lunch by the pool but it is so hot I thought I would have chat with you.

Actually I'm feeling a little smug because the last two mornings I've swum ten lengths of the pool before breakfast, which I've never done before; it definitely wakes you up, despite the lengths only being short ones, and it's far enough for me!

I've been fascinated to watch thirsty swallows swoop down over the pool, take a sip and swoop off again, all in one smooth action. The sparrows are more friendly and cheeky, they constantly roam around the tables for crumbs, drink from the side of the pool and take shelter from the sun inside the terracota tiles on the roof.

My novel continues to take shape as I am able to focus on that only, apart from the dilemmas of what to wear, eat and drink.

The sign by the hotel reception says 'Library - downstairs', I've been to investigate. Five short shelves contain exactly 100 books; I counted them. There is something for most tastes from what I can see, a wide range of authors from Bernard Cornwall to Barbara Taylor Bradford, Judith Krantz to George Elliot to James Patterson. Khaled Hosseini's 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', through which I remember crying often and his famous 'Kite Runner', are also there. Alan Titchmarsh stands beside Andy McNab and Elizabeth Mc Gregor. The only biography appears to be of Billy Connolly, 'Billy' by his wife Pamela Stephenson - did I hear right that she's going to compete in 'Strictly Come Dancing'? - no comment.

So which one did I choose? 'The Perfect Lie' by Emily Barr because she was one of the authors I listened to when she came to speak at last months' Literary Festival in Penzance. She lives in Cornwall, as I do, I've read the first few pages and it begins in the area I know so well and love, I am now feeling a little homesick, though I think I shall survive until Sunday.

Well I must dash as need to cool down. Another swim with the swallows and sparrows will be perfect. PP.

PS: Must tell you tomorrow about Omar (as in Sharif/Dr Zchivago) and Tom (as in Conti, think Shirley Valentine); I'm so blessed to be greeted in the morning by one , and wished a good night by the other.

Postcard from Cyprus

Hi,
We are here - but I'm missing you already - and my laptop - so had to spend a couple of euros writing to you.

Our first experience and impression of Cyprus is very good and very hot! We landed just before midnight on Sunday, it was 26 degrees, during the days so far it has been blue skies all the way and high thirties; but we'll cope.

Do you remember me saying that I was going to bring a stack of writing magazines to catch up with, well I did and they cost us excess baggage! A large red label was fastened to my case saying, HEAVY; husband was not amused. He's over it now, and I'm massaging sun cream on his back and going to the bar at regular intervals by way of grovelling.

What I wanted to tell you was, that in between the serious stash of mags and books, I also brought a copy of the June 2010 issue of Woman & Home as passed onto me by my sister. I'm not familiar with it but spent all afternoon yesterday,by the pool of course, reading it; would you believe I found 9 articles/features referring to writers: their lives, views and work.

Among them was a piece by Sarah Duncan (I blogged about her last month after she'd been at the Penzance Literary Festival), she was giving her account of the 'empty nest' feeling as her daughter begins university; very funny.

There was an article on an experience of going to a literary festival (not me, if only), another one entitled, 'Books that change my mood' by Alexandra Shulman, Editor of British Vogue and judge for the Orange Prize for Fiction. There's also a regular page dedicated to a selection of the latest book releases.

I hope I don't sound like a promotion for W&H but it has proved to me how much information and inspiration can be gained from many areas and publications not specific to writing. I think it may also have something to do with the fact that my observational skills and senses have been heightened as I continue to study on this great course, and that I have to improve my ideas and imagination if I am to be successful.

Must dash, he wants his back creaming again and another beer!
PP

PS: When it gets too hot tomorrow I shall write again and let you know ...

Final surprise.

Hi again, I forgot to say last night that I have a surprise of my own for husband; I'm not taking my laptop!

That has been a big decision to make but I think I need a rest from computer screens. This doesn't mean that I shall not be writing, of course not. I am taking several note books and hope to fill them all. They may well come back greasy with sun cream and the pages evern scorched with sunshine (sorry to rub it in, if you pardon the terrible pun), but they will be my creation and ready to bring to life as I rewrite and edit.

By the way if you're interested in the books I'm taking to read, they are:

The Cloths of Heaven by Sue Eckstein, and Troubling Love by Elena Ferrante.

Very different books. I have already dipped into them and they are both addictive. I heard about the the first from Radio 4 as it was being dramatised or read, I can't remember which now.

The latter was recommended to me for the structure and point-of-view. The author, Elena Ferrante is Italian, (as you've probably guessed), and she is an important and acclaimed contemporary author in Italy, however, she has shunned public attention and has chosen to keep her identity a mystery. Intriguing.

Must dash, got a plane to catch.

'Speak' soon,

PP

12 hours to go ...

Hello again,

(that's the title of a song, by Neil Diamond I think, I digress)

Tomorrow morning we will be heading for the airport to fly to Cyprus. If you've been following my blog you will know that it is a surprise holiday from him in doors, as the famous Arthur Daley nearly said!

I won't be buying glossy mags at Exeter airport as I'm taking my own stash with me. Months of writing trade mags that I have been too busy to read. I've had too many deadlines with my course so now I am going to enjoy every page from cover to cover, and backwards.

I was just tweeting that while I am on a 10 day break from real work that pays the mortgage, I am not on a holiday from writing, it would be impossible. Every hour of every day I'm thinking, making notes, forming sentences, and that's how I like it.

So now my 10 day holiday is a time for me to relish and luxuriate in the job I'd really like to do full time. I will have so much to share when I come back, so watch this space.

Best wishes,

PP

Update on surprise holiday - 3 days to go.

Realisation & Preparation:
I'm really going on holiday - abroad - I know that for definite, but not the destination yet!

Better start thinking of what clothes to take, fortunately it's going to be hot, so skimpy and floaty will have to do, I need most of my baggage allowance for books!

Expectation:
Could it be the Caribbean, Crete or the Canaries? Please tell me I pleaded and wailed pathetically.

Frustration:
He could stand it no longer, keeping the secret had been painful for him; we're going to Cyprus!


Never been, can't wait. Obviously I showed my appreciation.

Now looking forward to inspiration. I may become prolific by the pool, Cocktail in one hand, book in the other; one day it could be mine ...

I'll write again before we leave.

PP

Last minute holiday surprise! - reaction ...

Reaction -

When my husband announced he'd booked a holiday as a surprise (it is our anniversary), I was completely flummoxed. He's not a big surprise sort of person; we discuss and decide on everything together. Usually. Anyway, naturally I was pleased but my first thought was - deadlines!

However, he'd had the foresight and thoughtfulness (that's why I married him), because he knows what I'm like, to make sure there is WiFi available. In the hotel? That's just it you see, the even bigger surprise is that he won't tell me where we are going; only that it will be hot and we go on Sunday!

Destination -
I tried all weekend to no avail, and he hasn't cracked yet. I'll let you know when he does. I've tried blackmail ...

Yet to come - preparation - expectation - anticipation - and hopefully the destination before Sunday.

See you soon,
PP