A really great trip in May 08 to the USA west coast included attending International Conference for Eating Disorders (See page on work in eating disorders) followed by a train travel to see the country from Seattle to Napa California where I visited  my friends Doris and Tom Smeltzer and enjoyed wonderful days watching the hummingbirds and butterflies, listening to the warm wind moving the chimes in their peaceful sunny garden. 

Then travelled north again for several days in Portland Oregon to catch up with my friend Val (we met aged 5 at Keith Primary School, shared a double desk and often got into a bit of bother for talking!) and her family.

Finally back to Seattle for final weekend spent exploring on foot, sitting in pavement cafés, listening to and watching the street activities around the Pike Place Market Center…as well as making notes for a series of stories…

Returned home feeling relaxed, refreshed and renewed – and ready to review all my projects, writing and other, with lots of thoughts on what I want to concentrate on, the best use of my days, how to achieve balance in all the various aspects of my writing while having more music and poetry in my life…