This may well be one of the first posts that I have ever posted anywhere that does not include a photograph. Which is strange because that is what I do, I photograph things incessantly and then post them. Oh, and when I talk, and write, I sometimes ramble a lot before getting to the point.
More recently, I decided that I would like to write more.
And to write better.
My first concerted effort to do so was taking part in Writing 201 Poetry. And now, here I am taking on what feels like a more intimidating challenge, Writing 101.
So this, my first contribution, is a response to Day Two, written and posted on Day Three and featuring “a room with a view”.
The room, the view, in question, was so special to me that I not only photographed it several times, I took out pencil and paper and sketched it.
The use of the room was the gift of a friend at a turning point in my life. So, for that reason alone the room acquired substance beyond the confines of its walls.
And what walls they were, a building of whitewashed stone. Approached by climbing a short flight of stone steps from a cobbled square in the centre of a small village on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea. The sea over which the sun set each night.
A simple room, two chairs by the window. Stone floor. Stone walls.
A window flung open to allow the sea breeze and the sounds of voices in the bar below to drift up and swirl softly around the small space.
A room in which, each day, I ate simply and well. Fresh crusty bread, ham, tomatoes, local grown olives and a glass or two of red wine.
A room with little in the way of furnishings. But what there was, functional, clean and comforting.
A room from which I first glimpsed a precious view.
Not the sea, not the sunset, not the villagers at the bar, not the coffee shop, not the model being photographed on the stone steps, not the tourists passing through.
The view from this room was far more precious.
This room, gave me a glimpse into my heart, my life.
A room with a view.
(for wordpress writing 101 – day two)
Very interesting drawing to start the piece off with. Your writing was quite descriptive. Nice start to the course.
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Thank you, a tough course for me, I’m more comfortable behind the lens than the pen (or keyboard) but I would like to develop…
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I totally get that. I enjoy photography a lot more than writing but i’m trying to make my blog posts a lot more personal – quite hard with a food blog. Good luck :). I think you’re doing great.
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Thank you again then, I must now go and take a look at your blog!
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How kind of you to go take a look at my blog :).
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My pleasure (just love those chips!)
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Thanks :). I like to think my photography skills have been improving with each post. The chips I must admit were a difficult one to do because I kept wanting to eat them ….
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I wanted to eat them too!
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Wow, Andy. This is so different from all your other stuff. I like it! It’s very… “conversational”? I hope you decide to post more of this here. 🙂
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Thank you Amy, a new direction for me so I really appreciate your kind words! Yes, you can expect more here 🙂
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Can’t wait!
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Thank you Amy (again) hope you like my most recent steps in that direction…
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beautiful and beautifully expressed.
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Thank you for reading and for your kind words!
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I loved this post. Your description of the room and your drawing made me want to step into that world. It is exactly the kind of room I have imagined going to to write. Amazing 🙂
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Thank you very much! And yes it was that kind room, that kind of time…
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Beautiful Andy, what a lovely voice you have. And it sounds like a wonderful place.
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I love this sketch, could be hung on a wall. What a lovely story too 🙂 Happy Happy x
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Thank you, it is one of my happiest memories. Ever. And I think somewhere that sketch may well be hanging on a wall. Or more likely, gathering dust at the back of a closet.
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awe hopefully on your wall somewhere, would be a shame for it to gather dust x
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Not on my wall. Who knows what happened to it.
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awe
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Can I tell you I love this!? Simple drawing and simple words combined to present a most wonderful color image in my mind. Andy Townend: photographer, poet, writer. Yes, that sounds right.
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Oh Lois, thank you yet again!! Sounds like my dream…
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I love this room – your words transported me there. Thank you!
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Thank you Julia, I am delighted my words were able to do that!
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