Footloose in the Caribbean …

Blog 57 – Footloose in the Caribbean …Ms Paige Turner makes an intentional error on each blog. Spot this one and she will edit a 200 word blurb for you

You need to have read Blog 51 – On Foot in the US of A – to get my drift on this one.
Two weeks before Christmas I was out to sea on the Thomson’s Dream Boat – and billed as ‘Live the Dream with Jan Moran Neil’ – I know, I know, it’s surreal – but there I was – crossing the Atlantic – things hotting up as we head for Antigua and all going swimmingly until a sun bed stabbed the fourth right toe on my right foot. (Bit of ‘dead wood’ with the repetition of ‘right in this last sentence.)
What is it about me and my feet? Why have ‘feet’ been the running (whoops) theme for me this year? Is it Divine Providence as my daughter Miss Trial secured her criminal barrister’s feet in April? I had verrucas on my right heel in an autumnal Los Angeles and as I entered the year and Missenden Abbey for a ‘Get that Book out of You’ course I slipped on black ice. I’ve been like Quasimodo all year.
The Dream Cruisers were a delight. Terry Flannery won the writing competition – entitled – ‘A Christmas Promise at Sea’. I wasn’t the Christmas Promise but sun beds featured prominently in this piece of winning flash fiction.
Ross and Brett were delightful assistant cruise directors – roughly about the age of Creative Ink actors – so I was able to discourse with them – and two amazing coincidences happened to me. The first was that Mr Justin Case (who was on a free cruise as a result of my lecturing Dream Cruisers) and I went to Antigua where we honeymooned 27 years ago. We re-visited the hotel where we stayed all those years ago and then caught a cab back to the Dream Boat. Who should take us to the port but GG – our driver from all those years ago?
The other coincidence was that the assistant cruise director – in his ‘on deck’ quiz asked who wrote ‘Jane Eyre’. Not much of a coincidence that I knew it was Emily Bronte – but that he should then ask if anyone was reading it and there a hard back copy was – in my sun bag. I was on my feet – yes – I was – waving Emily’s oeuvre at him. I don’t think a sea soul believed me but I was pleased to have packed it. It’s 50 Shades of Grey without the sex and my Kindle had lost its battery.

Creative Ink Classes – 2 places left on ‘Get Inspired’ – Tuesday mornings. Thursdays – ‘Get that Book out of You’ is full.
Saturday 26th January – ‘Get that Book out of You’ day course at Missenden Abbey is running – Tel: 01296 – 383582
Creative Ink Publishing‘Promises’ Short Story comp – full details on my website www.janmoranneil.co.uk