The fruits of our labours…

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of delivering a creative writing session as part of the annual Apple Day at Hospitalfield, Arbroath. I think it’s fair to say it wasn’t the most clement of days to wander in the beautiful gardens, but every rain cloud, as they say, has a silver lining, and my little group decided to remain snug and dry in the house itself!

Moving from room to room, we found inspiration in every hushed corner of this grand old house, imagining those who had passed this way before us, perhaps dining by candlelight, or scribbling at one of the many sumptuous writing desks. Every painting and object contains a story to be retold by the curious writer…

While we had to deviate from our original plan- to write about the apples, trees and plants in the walled garden -we did find a stunning world of nature in the intricate ceiling of the drawing room, carved from fruitwood by David Maver in the late 1800s. The paintings too offered a wealth of creative ideas; people and their pets sprang to life once more beneath our furiously scribbling pens!

Personally, I have a fondness for the curious object, so this magical bottle of ink spoke to me, and the cherub’s head too…

And since I’ve always been fascinated by the iron ‘talbots’, or medieval hunting hounds, who guard the door of Hospitalfield. I couldn’t resist a haiku dedicated to the poor wet dog, waiting outside in the rain!