Conflict

Wet Bristol

My mind has been at war with itself for some time now. I can pinpoint when it first started and that was when I finished writing the book. As a retired, old dear who used to teach I found this new status of writer at odds with having produced something that I actually hadn't planned to write. What is worse, the process of writing fills my head so that almost every waking moment is dominated by thoughts of the book I penned. Basically my mind has been a whirl and a fugue despite knowing that it has been read on five continents already.

No more. I have just finished an NLP course down in Bristol and I can now say my head is clear and focused. I know what I want and I can see a clear path to my own personal redemption. I can tell people, "I am a writer." That is something I avoided before. I would say that I have written a book which is very much the "doing" and not the "being". I couldn't own the title of writer. I enrolled on the course for very selfish reasons. I wanted to sort my head out. However, many of the participants were therapists and professionals in the field - a fascinating bunch. They were in it for their career development. 

I got to know some of them, we went out for evening meals from the hotel and walked the sodden streets in the dark. Bristol is a beautiful place. I quite fell in love with city.  On our trip to a restaurant, one landmark pub was pointed out to me. The Llandoger Trow, a pub dating from 1664 which is said to be the inspiration for Treasure Island - renamed as the pub, Admiral Benbow Inn in that story, and, Robinson Crusoe was created after Daniel Defoe supposedly met Alexander Selkirk there. Even though it was pouring down, the thought that one building should inspire such works from two great writers gave me a big buzz. Wow! For once, I chose the right clothes for the weather. Others in the group were not as prepared. Soggy feet and wet knees seemed to be the norm and there was rivalry over who was the wettest. Smart people sinking to competitive banter. Even I got the blame for their sogginess as I had jumped the puddles! 

A very famous pub

So while all the conflict in my mind was being washed through me, my thoughts were with Naser, who has returned to Syria, looking for prospects for his future. The day after he left, the UK government sent me travel advice warning me of heightened tensions in Syria making it a "no-go" for British travellers. He might be travelling on a Syrian passport, but he was heading for a danger zone nonetheless. Now over the weekend he hasn't read my whatsapp messages. I am just a little worried. 

The conflict dominating this week is Trump's desire to take over Greenland. Me thinks there must be financial gain from this offensive move otherwise why would he bother. Anyone who is gratified by taking a Nobel Peace prize awarded to someone else has to have a rather large screw loose. Fortunately I was in a classroom and missed the argy bargy. 

So, now I am at the end of an intensive course at the Future Inn, Bristol. I don't often rate "chain" hotels. In reflection, I like the hotel even though this one didn't serve fresh coffee - errr. BUT... the restaurant went the extra mile to make a wild mushroom tagliatelle from scratch. Thank you, chef! You made my stay.