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.

After thirty years as a concept, and three years writing, hard to believe that this book is really about to be printed. But it's true, and 'The Oberammergau Tales' will be published by Wakefield Press in October! Another verse novel, inspired by Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' - but this one is a modern story, with a group of travellers setting off on a four day bus tour. Ever wondered about your fellow-travellers in any tour group?