More than 4 years since I last put something down on this blog…

Wow! Where has the time gone? The way it always goes – having lots to do and never enough time to do it? An excuse – perhaps. But I’m one of those people who are over-burdened with the work ethic. I blame my mid-20thC upbringing, and the influence of my Gran, who was never without something in her hands – be it knitting needles or a wooden spoon. She never seemed to sit down for longer than a few minutes, and was permanently dressed in an old-style pinafore with those wide shoulder straps. For all I knew as a child, she wore her pinny in bed under her candlewick dressing gown.

I digress. Where has the time gone? To the family – yes. Different generations have different needs, but as an In-Betweener, I’ve had responsibilities at both ends of the scale, from grandkids to aged parents. And their dependence on both me and Him Outdoors fills the hours, as it should of course. One day, and not too far in the future, roles will be reversed, and our family will have to look after us. And will we be able to stop worrying about them? Not a chance!

As I’ve said, I’m one who always has to be working, and achieving, be it learning a new skill, or improving an old one. Writing has been the main event, directed first at my MA in Creative Writing, and then into my PhD. Finally, two months ago, I donned a red robe to stumble across the stage of the Swansea Arena. I doffed (careful not to dislodge it) my black velvet hat vaguely in the direction of the Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University. And there I was, in a bizarre Tudor-style outfit, fully-fledged as a Doctor of Creative Writing. So now I am Doctor, Doctor (kind of) given that I’m a medical doctor too… So should I be Dr2 for short?

So, the PhD has swallowed up many many hours, leaving Him Outdoors a PhD widower, doing the chores and bringing me coffee at opportune moments. He’s been brilliant and so has the research. The academic writing? – very challenging and never to be repeated, I hope. The main project – a historical novel which has been a pleasure to write. Yes, you can indeed get a PhD for writing fiction, although in my case a biofiction – based on the life of a real 18th century lady poet. More on this later.

So what now? Lots of things stored up in my head to write about in the blog, and I start the long road to publishing my book. I’m thinking about a follow-up novel too. My family haven’t gone away of course, and I hope they never will. And Him Outdoors deserves a hand with the chores…