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In 2011, my husband and I made the decision to walk the entire coastal path of Cornwall. With much enthusiasm and convinced that we would complete it in a few months, we set off from Hartland Quay in Devon so that we may experience crossing the county's border on foot. We aimed to walk a section of the path whenever we could spare the time, however due to other commitments (both work and leisure), changeable weather and (shamefully) lack of dedication, we have yet to complete the 422 miles (697km) path. Last week, 11 years after we had started, we arrived in Sennen Cove and made a promise (as we do every time we walk a section of the coastline), to not leave it so long before we walk the next part.

I visited the Lake District in September. The natural beauty of the landscape is breathtaking, very inspirational and well worth a visit. While I was there I visited Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's most famous home. The 17th century farm cottage was gifted to the National Trust by Beatrix upon her death with the expressed wish that it should not become a museum, but be preserved in the condition of how it looked when she lived there. Her furniture, including her writing desk, are on display and it is easy to imagine Beatrix walking through the rooms and writing her children's books. Several parts of the cottage, including the oven range, inspired Beatrix's illustrations and can be easily recognised in her tales. She wrote many books, initially unaware of the success they would become...

“I am aware these little books don't last long even if they are a success."     Beatrix Potter

Beatrix Potter's home isn't the first writer's home I have visited. That accolade goes to ...

Every cloud has a silver lining. Yes, even a little light can be found in the wake of a pandemic. Let me try and explain why I believe this...

I know a lady who celebrated her 80th birthday this year. This lady (let's call her Alice) has always wanted to write a book, but she soon discovered that writing a novel is more difficult than she thought it would be. She has discovered that writing fiction requires skill, stubborn perseverance and an understanding of the craft. Some of this is learnt through trial and error, and some of it by study, but there is also an element of, dare I say it, natural born talent. Alice is the first to acknowledge this and she admits herself that she is not great at "imagining plots".  However, even I, a writer, could not imagine the real-life plot that was about to unfold during March, 2020.

This year has been like no other and will be remembered for decades, if not centuries, to come. My heart goes out to all those who have suffered during this pandemic, whether directly by the virus or indirectly by way of the restrictions placed upon us. I am also very thankful, and have great respect for, all those who had to carry on working, particulary during the first lockdown. It must have been incredibly stressful to go out to work in the early days when so little was known about the virus.