Medicine is an artisan bakery, cafe and gallery.  The simple doorway leading to this incredible space is misleading.  Through the sturdy wooden door, that is sandwiched between shops, you immediately smell the gorgeous baked bread and cakes.

Upstairs, there are smaller tables considerately decorated with delicate flowers in glass vases to expose and admire their stems.  To the left, delicious baked goods tempt you to stay for another serving or at least a slice of cake to share.

To my favourite room, pictured above.  A huge room with large tables and art exhibitions adorning the walls.  During my visit, it was ‘The Art of Reggae Exhibition’ with poster designs from across the world.  A range of interpretations of what reggae is, what it stands for and what reggae means to people; the worldwide audience and contest entries show how far reaching this phenomenal music genre is.

Every Wednesday is a Wendylicious Wednesday!  Each week, I will post a weekly writing challenge for you to complete.  These weekly challenges will give you ideas as a starting point for a new poem, story, paragraph in the novel you’re currently working on or it could become the opening paragraph to the book you’ve always wanted to write.

It would be great to share your Wendylicious Writing with our community of Wendylicious Writers, so post in the comments section or email me at: wendyliciouswriters@hotmail.com.

 

On my way to Raymond Antrobus’  ‘The Perseverance’ book launch at The Rep Theatre as part of the Birmingham Literature Festival, a woman and her young son started to approach me.

I thought they were about to ask for directions, so in my mind I began to prepare an apology for not knowing the area.  New to the traffic jams, six lane city roads, Olympic construction and revitalisation of the city.  New to Birmingham’s branch of Waterstones with its impressive poetry section and exciting events.  My first year at the National Writers’ Conference, held at the University of Birmingham, and the Literature Festival.

I’ve no clue and still ask for directions or dangerously swerve to keep up with my sat nav, so there’s no way I could help them.

Instead, she approached pushing forth a big beautiful bunch of flowers and declared:  “This is a Random Act of Kindness, here you go!”  and she handed me the wonderful, smile inducing, restorer of faith, hope giving bouquet!

I gave her a huge hug, thanked her and as she walked away I assured her I would do the same for someone else.

If I approach you, it may be for directions, or I might just have a gift to brighten your day!

Every Wednesday is a Wendylicious Wednesday!  Each week, I will post a weekly writing challenge for you to complete.  These weekly challenges will give you ideas as a starting point for a new poem, story, paragraph in the novel you’re currently working on or it could become the opening paragraph to the book you’ve always wanted to write.

It would be great to share your Wendylicious Writing with our community of Wendylicious Writers, so post in the comments section or email me at: wendyliciouswriters@hotmail.com.

 

 

 

I’m on a budget.  As a writer and a part time teacher, it’s essential that I budget.  As a dreamer and goal focused person, it’s essential that I save for my future.  As a mother, it’s essential that I budget and provide my family with healthy food.

So, this morning after the school run with fifteen minutes left on my free parking ticket, I went to the town market.  Not the plush farmer’s market on the edge of town but the bog standard who-can-shout-the-loudest-for-their-custom market.  It’s awesome.

I bagged two delicious mangoes; bag of apples (Pink Lady, the crunchy fresh sweet ones); piles of purple plums; a huge bunch of bananas; piles of mini potatoes (you know the little ones that can be sleek and soft in a salad, tiny and crispy if roasted or soft and satisfying with bangers and gravy); carrots (my daughter hates salad but will eat heaps of grated carrot); green grapes; oranges (easy peel for speedy eating and little fingers in lunchboxes) all for under a tenner.  Ten minutes to be healthy and stay on a budget.  Brilliant!

 

I grew up in North Devon, a beautiful part of the UK, with beaches, moors, and breathtaking countryside.  Moving to the Midlands, I’d expected grim concrete.  Glad I was wrong.  On my way to visit galleries, go to a restaurant, and attend a Verve Poetry Press launch I stumbled upon this incredible artwork: