It’s beginning to look like Christmas
Gingerbread House
My wife and I are currently staying with our son and daughter-in-law in Sydney. We plan to be here for Christmas and look forward to sharing Christmas with our two little grandchildren, ages 5 and 2 and a half.
A few days ago we all chipped in helping to decorate the Christmas tree. Not one of those artificial ones bought in every shopping centre. No, we have a genuine natural tree bought from the local Scout Group who made them available to the local community.
Then the family gathered around the dining room table to make gingerbread houses. My almost two and a half year old granddaughter decided that it was far more interesting to eat her house straight away. Waiting for over a week to eat it is far too long for a little one.
Five year old grandson however, despite being an extremely active young boy, sat for over an hour with great determination to make the house shown above. We were all so proud of him – and I think he was too.
Writing prompts
We don’t have too many special traditions at Christmas time, but I know that many families do.
- Write about the special things you do as a family at Christmas.
- Relate a true happening when everything went wrong.
- Imagine a truly wonderful Christmas; make it into a story or poem.
Good writing.
Melbourne Writers’ Festival 2013
The Melbourne Writers’ Festival starts next week. I can’t make it this year but some of my readers might be able to get there. You can access all the details here. I’ve never attended this particular festival, but looking at the programme it seems like a very interesting time in store for everyone who attends. There is an excellent line up of writers attending from many parts of the world. There is a charge for some sessions, but looking through the list of free events I’d say that there is something in that long list for everyone.
I must try to get to it sometime in the next few years. The same applies to the Sydney Writers Festival, and I missed all of the sessions of this year’s Adelaide Writer’s Week. Roll on March 2014. In the meantime I plan to attend several local regional festivals here in South Australia.
Good writing.
Clare Valley writers festival 2013
Rural scene, Clare Valley, South Australia
Clare Valley Writers’ week: bringing readers and writers together.
November 25th – December 1st 2013.
In recent days I have written about several other writers ‘festivals here in South Australia. Late in the year there is another one scheduled to be held in the Clare Valley in the mid-north of South Australia. This was my home town until we moved to Murray Bridge some 30 years ago. My daughter now lives in Clare, just around the corner from where she lived as a young girl.
This is the inaugural writers’ festival in the Clare area. It has much to offer and a great deal of potential. Here is another example of reading, writing, fine food and wine coming together to celebrate not only our finest writers – the line up of speakers is impressive – but also our great food and wine heritage.
I plan to be there. I may even enter several of the writing competitions which are now open.
For further information click here.
For the curious and discerning reader you can read some of my writing on this site: just go to the contents section on the sidebar.
Rural scene, Clare Valley, South Australia
Langhorne Creek Writers’ Festival, South Australia
Langhorne Creek is one of the many wine growing districts of South Australia. It is less than a hour’s drive from the capital city Adelaide and even closer to my home town.
Wine and writing as well as wine and reading go hand in hand, one complementing the other.
So it is no surprise that the Alexandrina Council is supporting and promoting the Langhorne Creek Writers’ Festival to be held later this year.
There is also a writing competition but unfortunately this closes in a few days’ time; if you hurry you may get your entry in on time.
Dates: September 21 – October 19th
Links: