I've been suffering a lot lately but it's not the knee problems, the coughing or the sickness bugs that has struck me worst.

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What's bugged me most is the blogger's block! Life has been busy but the words haven't been flowing, at least not blog-wise. Thank heavens, poetry hasn't deserted me too.

In fact, the Nottingham Poetry Society Awards 2008 ceremony last month with judge Julia Copus was very atmospheric and motivating. I was also lucky enough to find a free creative workshop near enough for me to get to easily at Droitwich in November. Although, there weren't many people there it was great to chat with writer Sue Johnson, who is amongst other things a Writers News home study tutor, and she passed on some useful competition details, as well as some suggestions for accessing 'the muse'.

And not only have I tempted the muse out of hibernation, I've even taken it socialising - with the first meeting of a new poetry group in Worcester last night. So all in all, I'm buzzing...but still not really blogging! Funny that the same tools that work for poetry and fiction don't seem to generate anything interesting blog-wise!

There is one good thing about blogger's block though - more time for reading. If you have some time, the latest issue of The Pages magazine is worth a read. (Okay, I admit I'm biased so why don't you check it out for yourself.) Meanwhile, I'm off to make a few last-minute additions to my Santa's list (poetry books or jewellery, poetry books or jewellery, which do I wnat the most?!) so I'll wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Fruitful New Year!