Its been a while since my last blog. Going back to work four days a week has left my head spinning and my routine fractured. I love my new job but its not leaving a lot of mental space for writing.
That’s all about to change.
Living in uncertain times
Less than three years ago, I contacted a couple of expat friends to see if she would like to meet me in London in a few months’ time – they were in Europe and I was in Texas. Within days, plans had been made and flights had been booked. It seemed our only worry was finding a suitably luxurious place to stay on a less than 5 star budget.
Fast forward to a few months ago and when I asked a similar question, the answer came back to say that it was tricky to commit when you don’t know whether your husband will have a job by then. Over the last year, this kind of conversations has become the norm for many expat as global recession, the price of oil and political change and uncertainty have led to job loss for many. Even more are living with ongoing anxiety about their future employment.
Becoming a writer
A couple of weeks ago, I applied for a very special writing residency program for expat writers. To be honest, despite encouragement from someone who had previously participated in the program and Himself, I thought I was a long shot.
In a sense I’ve been a writer for hire my whole adult life. I wrote my first press release for a real live, paying consultancy client sometime around my 17th birthday. I spent pretty much every working day from college graduation until our move to Norway writing in some form or another.
Postcard from Campbell River
Campbell River is a known as the gateway to northern Vancouver Island. Located on the eastern side of the island, its a picturesque waterfront town whose slightly sleepy exterior hides the fact that its actually home to a host of exciting opportunities to explore British Columbia’s natural world.
Our choice of adventure was an afternoon of whale watching with Discovery Marine Safaris, chosen by our local host because of their commitment to ethical viewing and conservation. Continue reading “Postcard from Campbell River”