Read, Write, Ramble

‘How far is it?’ he pondered. ‘Well, I’m not exactly sure, because it’s the end section of another longer hike. I think it will work out to roughly 11 kilometres, out and back. Two and a half hours with a break for a snack at the top,’ I said confidently. Wallsy had that skeptical look on his face, which indicated he didn’t have complete faith in my navigation skills, but acquiesced nevertheless, knowing we were running out of time for training hikes before our next big adventure. So it was that on a recent sunny Sunday in April, after walking Oscar to the Five Flags Merchants for his weekly dose of admiration and our dose of coffee, we packed our day packs with all the things we should take:   first aid kit, full water bladders, a warm puffer jacket stuffed in its little bag, raincoats, waterproof pants, pack cover and snacks. We dressed in sunhats, shirts made of fabric with wicking properties, Kathmandu hiking pants and our new hiking boots and socks. We didn’t forget the hiki

We were a diverse bunch of writerly types, all with different projects driving us, haunting our dreams and firing our passions. We had gathered in Geelong for a weekend writing-intensive which promised an environment that was ‘nurturing, supportive and stimulating.’ There were to be morning guided writing sessions, coupled with structured talks around key writing principles and opportunities to share our writing in a ‘supportive, salon-style atmosphere.’ Facilitated by the consummate ‘queen of the short story,’ Castlemaine local, Cate Kennedy, and hosted by the warm, welcoming and talented Ingrid Gaiotto, this fully accommodated weekend writing retreat delivered much more than it promised. The house was a sight to behold. Eastern Beach Art House, is, as its name suggests situated in the heart of the Eastern Beach precinct, offering expansive ocean views and quick and easy access to the beach, the Pavilion café, the Botanic Gardens, Eastern Gardens and the city centre. Built in