It's been a bumpy start this January... but those who made it to Chapelgarth enjoyed some intimate writing retreats which were no less productive..
PHOTO by Angela Lawrence
The year started with our regular - early January Writing Retreat - ever so popular and oversubscribed - planned in the diary well in advance. I was pacing myself for a busy few days following the Christmas holidays, but already our family Christmas had been derailed due to our relations having Covid, so I might have thought that it was a sign of things to come..
When the time for our first 2022 writing retreat came, the country was under a new shadow - that of omicron - the new Covid variant which was proving to be very contagious. We had five participants who chose to postpone - to the glee of those on our waiting list - but then one of them tested positive to the pre-retreat lateral flow test, so we were down to four participants.. We went ahead regardless - and those who made it were rewarded. There were high levels of productivity, lots of space for everyone, and opportunities to relax in front of the open fire in the evening... Thinking that writers are often keen wordsmiths, I had bought a game of scrabble, which was a roaring success!
The following cohort was a group of Newcastle departmental lecturers, who had attended the Chapelgarth Writing Retreats in the past. There were a couple of new ECRs with them - but again one of them was unable to make it due to testing positive to the lateral flow test on the day prior to departure.. there was definitely a theme this January. Those who came were able to reset and make a good productive start to the new year - there were also lots of opportunities to recharge in between writing sessions, with mindful walks in our wood and indoor yoga sessions in the evenings, as the short days curtailed any late outdoor activities.
Our last writing retreat of the month ended on the day Covid restrictions were lifted and masks were no longer legally required in England as Plan B came to an end. As many others, we have mixed feelings about the sudden change. For the time being, our retreaters should still expect to have meals in our spacious studio, which allows for social-distancing; we will still have at least two writing rooms which allow writers to work at a safe distance to one another. We are, of course, looking forward to the weather getting better, and eating outside on our veranda again... and there is some hope, judging from the first snowdrops that have shown up this morning..
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