Yesterday Charlotte and I spent the entire morning writing letters to people who live in Felpham and are anxious about what is going to happen to Blake’s Cottage. It was a long chore, but a necessary one. This morning we felt we’d earned a bit of a break. We left the cottage to fend for itself for a day and went out for a ‘walk and talk’ along the Felpham promenade. It was as you can see, just the right sort of day for it.
Perhaps I should explain that ‘walk and talk’ is my way of sorting out some of the knots that snarl themselves up in most of my manuscripts while the work is in progress. My old darling and I were experts at it, my new darling and I are rapidly becoming experts. We set off along a lovely, quiet prom prom prom, with no brass bands going tiddly-om-pom-pom.
We walked for about a mile and the first knot was unscrambled within the first 100 yards. My 15 year old, feisty heroine has a putative boyfriend who admires her but will rapidly quarrel with her. The quarrel had to make sense from the POV of his character and hers. 
The sun shone, our walk continued and we turned our attention to her relationship with her father. I had set it up to be difficult from the opening chapter, when she dyes her long, blonde hair black and goes Goth to annoy him. But there was lots to be sorted out here too as we walked, talked and unscrambled. The sun shone on us all the way, the Felpham seafront sat contentedly in the sea breeze and by the time we decided we had earned ourselves a short rest, we’d walked about half a mile. Oh we writers have a terrible life of it.
On our return half mile with Butlin’s white tents glimmering in the sunshine ahead of us and the prom full of brisk dog walkers, we rejigged the chapters we’d disturbed by our unravelling efforts and worked up a considerable thirst and a healthy appetite, both of which had to be slaked. Like I said. We writers live a terrible life.
We said goodbye to the beach and the Felpham beach huts feeling very well pleased with ourselves. Back to Blake tomorrow, I haven’t forgotten it.
Beryl Kingston Blog 
Attention: @berylkingston new blog “Walk & Talk”
I love birthdays, including my own. I am happy to be here at age seventy. I suppose that, corresponding with added years, I’ve become more aware of putting things in their place, prioritizing projects which I plan to complete – God willing – and selecting ways to say “No!” to matters unconcerned with loving one another and working for justice for all people.
When @berylkingston shared her new blog “Walk and Talk,” I was delighted to connect with my Twitter friend, author of twenty-something substantial novels, a teacher, another fan of William Blake, and a resident of Great Britain. She is in her 80s.
@berylkingston, I love your Walk and Talk blog. That expanse of pathway atop a river(?) is lovely – something solid to take you out to Blake’s house. I tend to think that the contractors may be trying to make lots of money, without preparing a proper, formal yet cozy backdrop for followers of Blake to open their books, take out their notebooks, and write…. Free write…. Perhaps collect the essays and share them …. Reaching into the deeper level we might come to some new understanding about this gifted creative artist, with his spiritual blanket, special parchment paper, and his blessed etchings to keep food on the table.
I have a favorite setting for a photo, a copy attached here. It contains two New England chairs. When it snows here, the caption is “No Tea on the Terrace” and when it’s mild and green, “Come for Tea and sweets.”
I love the walk and talk title. Because of severe back problems, walking is sometimes very painful, even with the yoga stretching and range of motion. And my mind does not turn off at night… I think I do a pretty good job of keeping my mind active and involved as well. Plus, I read!!!
So here in the U.S. Hillary Rodham Clinton is the Democratic nominee for President! I am so elated, but also concerned as this appears to be a time of fragile peace, and many are skeptical. One older woman said to me, “Oh, no! I’m not ready for a women president!” I said nothing, but I wanted to ask if she planned to be open to that some time soon. Traditions can block our way at times.
It’s late here, so I’ll finish up and have a cup of herbal orange tea which my daughter Caroline brings over. Sweet dreams! @LatelaMary
I invite you to check out my blog at mlatela.wordpress.com, entitled, “I’ll Tell You When I’m Ready.”
LikeLike
Thank you for your comment Mary. Good to see you here. The pathway in the pictures is our promenade beside the sea. At one point in our walk Blake’s cottage was jut a few hundred yards away.
LikeLike