The End of the Summer

 

Looks like our extended summer is coming to an end now with wind and rain forecast this week.  It’s been a good September though - autumn at its best with lots of sun after such a grey August.  I love the light at this time of year.  

A couple of weekends ago we had a short break on the Northumbrian coast.  We stayed in Beadnell which has a huge beach where dogs are allowed.  As you can see from the sky in the photograph, rain clouds were threatening, but apart from a little shower on our first evening, it stayed dry.  We didn’t do much - walking and eating as usual.  On the Saturday evening we were joined by several up north family members and had a meal in the very busy local pub.  Good to catch up with our niece Clare and her partner Susan who we haven’t seen for nearly three years because of Covid, as well as Paul’s sister and her husband. We also tried the local seafood place, Salt Water Cafe, where Paul had oysters, his current favourite thing to eat. I am not keen on them at all and was happier with the fish cakes and scallops. 

Kate has now gone back to Sheffield and has started her teacher training course so it’s just the two of us at home again.  So far she’s enjoying it and has made some new friends, including several girls from Northern Ireland.  She’s taken my car with her as she’ll need it when she starts her teaching practice in a couple of weeks.  This means I’ve had to drive Paul’s car which is much bigger and an automatic. It is taking a bit of time to get used to.  He’s a bit anxious that I’ll scratch it or something but too bad. 

Next week I’m going back to doing some proper face to face teaching, returning to my local creative writing class. Really looking forward to it. I was also asked to deliver an online course for National Poetry Day and I have offered a one-off session on Contemporary Irish Poetry.  To prepare for it, I contacted the young Irish poet Stephen Sexton whose latest collection is reviewed in today’s Observer. I was delighted when he agreed to join the course on Zoom and speak to students about his work. But at present not many people have signed up so I’m going to advertise it on here.  It costs about £6 and is at 945am on Thursday 7th October for two hours.  It will be about reading and discussing the poems themselves - you don’t need to know or do anything in advance. If you are in the UK and free that morning,  I’d love to see you. Just click the link above for more information.