A Season in Quarantine - Day Five

So, today an essential trip out for work purposes took me past the National Trust's Wimpole Hall, where there's so much space it's perfectly feasible to have a wonderful walk and be socially responsible. These are some of the photos I took whilst wandering in just a small part of the estate.


The Hall itself is shut, but the grounds are open to the public.

A Season in Quarantine - Day Four

Not necessarily a great day, photographically speaking: very few pictures and most of them taken on my phone camera.

Basically today's fresh air was had by going into town for a dental appointment and then visiting shops to buy food. I had only intended to visit Waitrose, but in the absence of vegetables needed for tonight's dinner, I went to a local farm shop as well.

Anyway, I found what I needed (mostly) and also managed to take the following pictures.

This was taken on the walk round to the dentists. I made sure I parked up a way away and then walked. These were overspilling onto the pavement.

Cambridge was full of blossoming magnolias...

And then home.

A Season in Quarantine - Days One to Three

It does not seem that long ago that life was normal, but as more and more of us around the globe have to deal with the repercussions of COVID 19, normality is slowly sliding away from us.

As a writer and freelancer, I am relatively sanguine about self isolation. It's what I do much of the time. But I am also seeing the human interaction and income I get from readings, performances, educational work and workshops swiftly drying up. I am therefore exploring ways to respond positively to this situation.

I have always kept a diary, but (I admit) I have not always kept it regularly. As we head deeper into self-isolation and quarantine, I have made a promise to myself to write a daily entry, to capture the experience of this year (whilst hoping it is not to be repeated). I also intend to use the time to focus on my creative writing.

To compensate for the cancelled events and meetings that once encouraged me out of my house, I am also endeavouring to go for a walk once a day while I remain fit and healthy and at least on the days when my dwindling work commitments do not require me to go out (and, of course, while I'm still allowed to). It feels like these daily constitutionals should have a diary of their own. So, I am going to use this blog to capture an essence of my strolls out and about. The photographic quality will be variable. Some days I only have my phone with me. Hopefully, though, they will be a record of my experiences and the changing seasons in this little corner of South Cambridgeshire. While we retreat into our social bunkers, the world is growing onwards beautifully.

DAY ONE

DAY TWO

DAY THREE (TODAY)

In a Bar (or several) on 1st March

So, it turns out that I spent most of Sunday, 1st March in a bar (or several). Purely in the interests of literature, of course. It had nothing to do with alcohol.

Anyway, while conducting a writing group and promoting my new novel, Old Light, at various drinking establishments, I took some random and rather colourful photographs. These are them.

Old Light Cover Reveal - Finale

For this post, the seventh in the series, my writing and photographic activities overlap.

I have a new novel out on 29th February from Vagabondage Press. It's called Old Light and it's the second book in the Witchlight series and carries forward the story of magic and witchcraft started in Witchlight. Holly has had a year to deal with the family-sized portion of Old Magic she has inherited. Her focus is on the future, but when both The Coven and the past come calling, the future she has imagined seems to be slipping form her grasp.

The novel is available in paperback and e-book formats, ISBN 978-1-946050-20-5 and you can pre-order a copy over at Amazon

In time honoured fashion I have been sharing a cover reveal, but slowly.

Finally, here's the actual cover of Old Light. Ta da!

Old Light Cover Reveal - Phase 6

For the next two or so posts my writing and photographic activities overlap. I have a new novel out this month, February, from Vagabondage Press. It's called Old Light and it's the second book in the Witchlight series and carries forward the story of magic and witchcraft started in Witchlight. Holly has had a year to deal with the family-sized portion of Old Magic she has inherited. Her focus is on the future, but when both The Coven and the past come calling, the future she has imagined seems to be slipping form her grasp.

The novel is available in paperback and e-book formats, ISBN 978-1-946050-20-5.

In time honoured fashion I have been sharing a cover reveal, but slowly.

So, here's the sixth photo of the new book. The light is very close.