Chapter 5 The writing

In this charming house with the comfortable couches, deliciously cooked dinners -by Donna, and the mountains circling us as if they're protecting us from the rest of the world, it is easy to settle into my studio and do what I came here to do: write.

My studio is a smooth white space with modern-shaped alcoves and a ledge. Kate*, who was here before me, left some beautiful clay work and natural artefacts on display that have become my writer friends. In the middle of my workspace is a big table with my laptop, a vase of flowers that Chloe picked for me, and my watercolour and charcoal materials.
Out the window, with its authentic wooden grey-green window frame, I see the mountain backdrop against a clear blue sky. The window sill is big enough to sit in and do some professional staring.

I am continuing my short story collection about Amsterdam. I have fine-tuned eleven so far and just finished writing the first draft of a new story. It's about two teenage boys and their fading friendship, which is untangled while they are fishing along a canal. I've also prepared a mindful workshop I am hosting for a company when I return.

My routine? I've picked up many patterns from my previous residency, Can Serrat, which means I get behind my laptop around 9 or 10 am and work throughout the morning, interrupted by cheeky snack breaks in the sun.
Donna cooks large amounts for dinner so we can heat up the leftovers for lunch. There is also plenty of fruit, bread and spreads around. After my siesta, I often go for a hike, alone or with one of the others,
followed by a late afternoon shower, I work more on my stories, pictures, and this blog in the evening.

The ting ting of an old goat's bell tells us that dinner is ready, and we all mysteriously pop out of our studios, bedrooms or the yard. During dinner, we chat, exchange ideas, and look up names that we can't come up with on our phones. A quick tea and chats on the couch, and off to bed we go.

Some days, my daily routine has been thrown out the window for a group hike up the mountain or a trip into Velez Rubio, but more later. I'm hearing the ting ting of the dinner bell!

*clay art by @katelangrishsmith
Picture of me by Suzanne Gainer