I’ve been writing again! The incentive was the Scottish Association of Writers conference programme setting out all the competitions to enter if you attended. So step 1, I booked my place for the 2023 conference in March and step 2, began writing. I won’t say what I wrote and in what categories I submitted (ok some are old efforts freshened up and edited) as it’s all anonymous and we won’t hear the results until the actual conference.

Not only has it got me back writing, but I’m looking forward to meeting up with friends I haven’t seen in ages and wondering if the room parties are still part of the weekend. How many folk can you squeeze into a bedroom? And how many bottles and packets of crisps can be consumed? And that’s on top of packing away glorious meals three times a day along with elevenses and afternoon tea.

And then there’s the talks and the discussions and the workshops! A stupendous few days which set you up for the rest of the year.

I’ve also got myself a wee job as a researcher for the Dementia Friendly podcast project at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. I interview various people who work in the theatre or who are associated with the DementiArts programme. I summarise it and hand it to Willy, the podcast presenter who uses it to conduct a recorded interview with them for the podcast. You can listen to the first one using the above link.

I also write a column for the DementiArts magazine that the theatre brings out. It’s called Hidden Lives and I tell the stories of people living with dementia and what surprising and wonderful stories they are.

I’ve also booked a place with a conference on How to Get Published run by the Writers and Artists along with the Open University in Edinburgh in March. Another chance to pick up tips and ideas as well as doing a bit of networking.

And if all that doesn’t get me started, then I’ll give up!