Arriving in Edinburgh

I arrived in Edinburgh at the same time as my parents, who had planned to drive down from the Scottish Highlands and to meet me for the weekend. It was very comforting to be in their presence after the journey I had been on. Once we were settled in, we sat in the sitting room with cups of tea and I told them about the places I had been and the people I had met along the way. I felt very fulfilled and excited by my road trip and what I had achieved!

I have decided to stay in Edinburgh for the foreseeable future as it’s an inspiring place to be and the city is very walkable. So, it feels natural to embark on my writing journey in Edinburgh, where I can seek inspiration and have a change of scene. Now that I was in Edinburgh, I felt compelled to create a writing space where I could start this journey. Hence, I decided to rearrange the room I am staying in and I asked my dad for help with moving a very large old table into the room, which would be my ‘writing space’.

My mum told me that she first came across the table when she met my dad 40 years ago in Manchester, and it was the dining room table in my grandparents kitchen! It’s funny to think that it has been in the family for so many years and now has a new purpose as my writing desk. Although furniture are not sentient beings, they do have histories and can tell stories of their own. The table is now a ‘desk’ and has a new purpose - I hope that it can support me and give me the inspiration I need to develop my writing.

Once I had sorted out my room and the desk, I decided to go for a stroll down to the local library. It was in an old building and as soon as I arrived I saw a poster on the wall which read “Attention writers! Our start writing workshops are taking a break but will return in September 2024”, followed by details for joining the group. It seemed like a sign and an opportunity to meet with other people face to face who also enjoy writing. So, I followed the instructions to sign up for the group, leaving my name and email address.

My first day in Edinburgh was very fruitful and I feel that things are starting to take shape, in terms of a path that I can follow to learn about creative writing! I am excited for the next few days and where they will take me.