A holiday - not!

I'm officially on hols for a couple of weeks, but that doesn't mean I'm taking it easy and relaxing, by no means.

Firstly, I'm teaching at Tiverton High School this fortnight, on a project to encourage and improve creative writing.  The theme is superstition and beliefs, which gives us plenty of scope.  It's great fun and very rewarding, but also tiring - the kids are such a bundle of energy and ideas!  Every time I work in a school, I come away with more and more admiration for the wonderful work that teachers do, and Tiverton is no different.

As I've learnt you young folk say - respect!

A quick aside here in the rambling Hall tradition - years ago I thought I might like to be a teacher. But I just don't know if I'd ever have had the talent, stamina and commitment.  And anyway, I suspect the world of education breathes a sigh of relief that never came to pass...

Today, I'm in north Devon, doing some careers work with a couple of schools there - in Barnstaple and Ilfracombe - talking to the youngsters about a life in the media. Of all that I'm fortunate to be able to do, it's the education and careers work I find the most rewarding. I suppose it feels like a legacy thing, the ability to try to have just a little positive influence on a few lives.

In between all that - and there's not much time left, I assure, you, but I'm still trying to find some! - I'm working on ideas for a new tvdetective book.  Publishers are hungry beasts, who always like to know there's a new meal being prepared, so I'm trying to meet that demand too.

But after that little list of how busy life can be, I will now happily admit that I prefer it this way. A quiet life is something that somehow, I never got the hang of, and long may it continue.

Finally here, if you're interested in this jobbing author and passable hack doing some education or careers work with young folk in your area, you're very welcome to get in touch to discuss it.  You can do so via the contact page of the site - www.thetvdetective.com/contact.html