'Brilliant BOOKMARK'

That was the headline we got in our local press after last month's book festival here in Blairgowrie - our very first, in fact. So, that's my excuse for not having posted here for months. The whole festival thing just took over my life. But it has been so worthwhile. When you get lovely people like Liz Lochhead, Andrew Greig, James Robertson, Mairi Hedderwick and others all saying how much they've enjoyed participating in the event, you feel an enormous pride at being part of the organisational team. And what a team! All volunteers who've given up huge amounts of time and kilowatts of energy to the project. And they're already planning for next year's event!

Books supplied by our own independent book store!

Andrew Greig signs a copy of his latest novel, 'Fair Helen'.

Fiona Armstrong chats to Karen Campbell about 'This is Where I Am'. 

On the Saturday of the festival the heavens parted and we were treated to a spectacular but continuous downpour which threatened to seep inside the Royal Hotel venue. But, ironically, the weather proved to be a bonus as it swept people into the venue to buy up the few remaining tickets. It also meant that the closing whisky tasting event which followed on from an engaging session with internationally renowned whisky writer, Charles MacLean, put people in the perfect mood for later carrying on the 'tasting' in the bar to the accompaniment of a good going ceilidh!

It was wonderful to see so many children and young people at the event. Mini BOOKMARK offered a full menu: a taste of the Scots language for under 5s with James Robertson; a suitcase full of ferrets with the very entertaining Joan Lennon; an inside look at how Katie Morag finally arrives on the page; an animation workshop with the multi-talented, Kyla Tomlinson and finishing off with a Gruffalo Trail which brought together both book and wildlife experience, courtesy of the Perth and Kinross Council's Countryside Ranger Service.

Those who are cynical about today's youth should have been present at BOOKMARK to see for themselves just how wonderfully mature, responsible and capable young people can be. For example, we had a group of senior pupils from Blairgowrie High School taking charge of the technical production. Sixteen year old, Daniel Duncan, set up his company, 'Jam Productions' when he was just fourteen and now supplies technical expertise to a range of events. He and his team took charge of things with a maturity well beyond their years and with a level of courtesy that would show up many an adult! And then there were young, BOOKMARK T-shirt clad marshals who dealt with the public politely and efficiently. Our young blogger, Briana Freedsmith, whose blogs you can read at www.bookmarkblair.com, entered into the spirit of this her first ever book festival with an infectious enthusiasm and a mature professionalism. Well done to all!

The children were, of course, the stars of the show. Their faces say it all. And we loved it just as much as they did! We'll be back with a great BOOKMARK programme in October, 2014.

Raring to Write: Bookmarked, Baltic and Bliss!

Raring to Write: Bookmarked, Baltic and Bliss!: I'm acutely aware that I've been very remiss in posting any new blogs in recent months. My excuse? I've been up to the eyebrows ...

Bookmarked, Baltic and Bliss!

I'm acutely aware that I've been very remiss in posting any new blogs in recent months. My excuse? I've been up to the eyebrows in book fest. organisation. Last post I mentioned my moment- of- madness decision to seek funding for BOOKMARK, a new book festival to be hosted in Blairgowrie (East Perthshire) with fringe events in Rattray & The Glens. After months of delicate gymnastics (jumping through hoops of fire while tied to restraining hand and foot straps), the executive committee (three mad women) have finally submitted applications and await results with a mixture of dread and anticipation. Meanwhile, we have a draft programme (just mistyped as 'pogromme'!) in place but can't finalise anything until we get the green light from those who hold the purse strings ( in some cases to the point where fingers turn blue!).

But, at risk of completely contradicting myself, it's not been ALL work: there was a short interval of play when I took off from this wintry scene

h

 to some South African sunshine . . .

 

and a little wine from Laurensford Estate . . . 

Been back now for a couple of weeks and, although still recovering from the temperature shift (31 to 4), I've also been enjoying long walks in frosty, blue-skied days. Today's another story! I should have been out there climbing a hill to mark International Women's Day but high winds and driving rain - falling as snow up the glen - sent me scurrying back under the duvet. One's empathy has limits.

On these walks, I've had time to reflect: on the shameful contrast between the comfortable lifestyle of many (but not all) white South Africans and the endemic poverty of so many of their fellow black South Africans, despite heroic efforts (mixed with a liberal helping of corruption) by the ANC government to build new houses and provide clean water and electricity; on the privilege enjoyed by many UK residents and rural Scots, in particular, to roam freely without feeling threatened or compelled to live behind security gates and electric fences; on the sheer joy at being alive and fit (relatively!); on the central importance of writing in my life now that it has been so neglected over the last 6 months.

Five years after publication, I've finally got round to reading Steven Galloway's 'The Cellist of Sarajevo'. 

Coinciding as it did with my trip to South Africa, its reading had a particular resonance. The idea that in the midst of the devastation of war and all its attendant cruelties, beauty can emerge as a powerful instrument of truth and common humanity struck me with powerful relevancy.

So . . . it's time to get right back into that short story which I've been meaning to finish for weeks. Maybe it'll never have an ending but then maybe that will prompt the beginning of a new story. The circles of life are still being drawn.