My gear for Rathlin arrived in the post yesterday - programme,
Kieran Goss concert ticket, very offical-looking security pass style nametag thing with my name, writers' group and such on the front and my accomodation details and the times of the workshops I'm booked in for on the back, map of the island and travel details and such.
I've been booked into the
Camping Barn (bottom of the page) which is not a barn, but a very pretty little cottage hostel-type place on the wild, nature-reserve side of the island - I feel a little jealous of those staying in the harbour, but it's nice to be so close to the bird sanctuary - I'll be keeping an eye out for the famous puffins :D
So yeah, I've been looking out my sleeping bag and my holdall, getting all my bits together, debating over what pens to take (but what if I lose my good one?) - packed my new Piglet notebook (thanks, dad :D) and a rather large lump of good wishes from glasgow (thanks, you two :D).
And yet...
I wasn't at the Gig on Sunday. Saturday night's concert was a blast, just like Friday's but with this Friday's ferry ride to Rathlin looming in the near distance, my body started to rebel on Sunday afternoon and I spent the day in a panic-induced fever being fed paracetamol and having my temparture taken. A lot. Bloody adrenniline surges. Still, dad managed to get DC to do the concert with him, and he said I'll really enjoy Kieran Goss on rathlin (he asked me to pick up his cd for him at the concert, so that's a good sign :D) so that sort of took some of the pressure off. Maybe I was doing too much, but I really hate the way my body tries to sabotage me whenever I'm trying to do something a little bigger than I've done for a while. I've not been sleeping and I've been feeling ill - dry retching, the usual - I'll be sick as a dog on Thursday night, I know it, but I also know that when I get home on Monday, I'll wonder exactly what I was so worried about. And I'll feel proud and relaxed... until the next time.
Still, I suppose that Melanie and co think I'm ready for this is a big leap... now I just have to prove them right.
Plus, I cannot cannot CANNOT!!! miss
Lemn Sissay's workshop... I can't believe he'll be there - I can't believe I'll be there, with him there!
Plus plus, I've just been to Kieran Goss's website, and having heard some of his stuff, I
can't miss him twice! :D