A very satisfying afternoon at the final event of the Lockleys Seniors Writing Competition on the topic of 'My Hope', with awards in both sections: a Second Place in the Poetry competition and First Place in the Prose Writing contest. This annual event always sets a challenge, in the form of a topic or theme for writers within the local government area, and I always enjoy exploring what can be done with a topic. And the prize money will certainly be useful in paying for four coming book launches.

Oh, such mixed feelings! Wonderful to be back after eleven weeks with friends and family. But so hard to say goodbye to the freedom and the fun of being away. After five weeks in Spain, roaming from Madrid to Valencia, then south to all those romantic Andalucian cities- Granada with its Alhambra, Cordoba and its mosque, Ronda, Arcos - then north through places like Caceres and Salamanca, to the end of the pilgrim track at Santiago, all across the north borders of Spain, cooking classes in Arriondas, eating pinxtos in San Sebastian, south again to glorious Segovia with that magical aqueduct. and back to gracious Madrid ... they were weeks to remember.

Hard to believe that in three days we'll be setting off for Adelaide Airport and two days later be in Madrid! Even harder to believe when I look at the pre-packing chaos on my bedroom floor. Somehow all that stuff for over ten weeks away has to be neatly assembled in my case. And weighed ... But it's going to be sunny in Spain, and that's worth all the effort. Meanwhile I've finished checking two stages of proofs on the next book and will have only the final read-through on return in early September.