Writing Days

The long grey of the Irish winter has begun. There's nothing better for writing than a rainy day outside and a warm fire in the hearth inside. So I'm working on the revisions of my screenplay for The Hunter's Moon (announcement coming soon, stay tuned) and I'm also transcribing my Camino notes from tattered copybooks to beautiful bound journal. Will post pics of same soon. Meanwhile, here's me at the end of all things, i.e. beyond my boots lie the rocks and waters of Finisterre on the western coast of Spain, Land's End to the Romans. The most wonderful thing about going through my notes is the full recall of the experience. I'm back there again ... on the sacred way.

A Rebel's Tale

I mentioned in my personal blog that I'm doing a full-time art course at the moment (writer turns visual artiste). Here's a little video made by the talented 2nd Years and directed by TP MacCurtain who's risking his life to teach me metalwork. Next year I get to do digital photography and filmmaking with himself. Will have some news soon about my own script and the film of The Hunter's Moon. Stay tuned!  

More Camino

Have I started work on my Camino book? No. First I need to buy a beautiful bound journal and transfer my three crushed and scribbled notebooks into it. That will bring back the entire experience - un viaje profond y mythico - and give me the boost to start writing. These two pics are another of the alpha and omega variety. The 790 marker is outside Roncesvalles, Spain which I reached after crossing the French Pyrenees (took two days, one sunny, one fog-bound). The 100 marker is somewhere in a Galician woods pointing the way to the sacred goal, the holy city of Santiago de Compostela.

Proud Mother

My marine scientist daughter has decided to pursue her other passion - delicious, healthy but not boring, gluten free food (she's coeliac). She has written a fabulous cookbook, with her own photographs, and within six minutes of sending it to a top European literary agent she was taken on! Her book is now being considered by no less than five publishers. Am I proud? You bet I am. Another writer in the family! (She didn't lick it off the floor.) Here's her website if you'd like to have a look: http://www.finsfitfood.com/

Alpha & Omega

First photo is the intrepid explorer in front of the church in St Jean Pied de Port - candle lit for safe journey! - before crossing the Pyrenees for Spain. I left June 18th. Second photo is triumphant arrival, 800+ km later, at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, July 31st. In the coming days I'll post a few photos of the adventures, companeros, delights and sights that went in between. Truly it was one of the most life affirming things I have ever done in my life - second only to giving birth to my daughter - and I would highly recommend it. Buen camino!

Pilgrimage to Heresy

Here at the end of my Camino, I'm chilling out in the wonderful retreat house of British-Canadian writer Tracy Saunders. It's a beautiful stone house opposite the church in a little Spanish village not far from Muxia. I've just finished reading Tracy's novel Pilgrimage to Heresy which contains two stories in one: a modern-day tale of romance and walking on the Camino Frances crossed with a mediaeval story of the Gnostic bishop Priscillian of Avila whom the author suggests is the true owner of the bones in the cathedral of Santiago. Controversial, fascinating and well-researched, it's an all round good read. For more information about the retreat house and the book see: www.littlefoxhouse.com.

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA!

Reached this beautiful city today, the end of the Christian side of the El Camino. Overwhelmed with emotion and still absorbing the whole thing. Got my compostela in Latin and will be attending the mass tonight where the giant fumador incense dispenser goes flying through the cathedral. Then, after two days rest and enjoyment of Santiago, Iĺl be off to complete the Celtic camino which ends in Finisterre and includes Muxia. There will be loads of photos later.