Hello dear friends!
You know I’ve been banging on about ‘the ghastly yellow’? Well, turns out it IS a thing called Photopsia and apparently is common in people with RP (retinitis pigmentosa). So it turns out I am not mad nor merely menopausal. Huzzah! The visit to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London was incredibly hopeful and helpful on every level. I felt really seen, heard and respected and amazed by their care and kindness. Thanks to Prof Webster, Dr Jhingan, Stuart (genetics counsellor), nurse Sam (apologies if I didn’t get your name right) and lovely, slightly baffled medical student, for giving me my eye mojo back.
Having said that I am now high as a fruit bat on treacle due to the potential cure for the said photopsia. Exceedingly large doses of Gaberpentin, an anti-epilepsy drug can, in some cases, disrupt (or soothe..?) the misfiring nerves in my retina and stop the awful colour wash. I’m currently on nine pills of 300mgs each and its not working quite yet. Side effects include, ironically, blurring of the vision and a little bit Cheech and Chong at one end and John Belushi at the other. My body is tolerating it okay and I can up the dose again if this doesn’t knock the yellow on the head. I will keep you posted…sort a’…well you know…maybe…hang on, who are you, again?

Okay, that aside. CO.WRIMO 26!!!!!! Oh hell, yes! As National Novel Writing Month is no longer a thing, I have decided to launch, with the help of my trustee team of volunteers, a Corsham Writing Month, Co. WriMo 26 which will run every day though this November. Anyone from anywhere in the world who would like can join in and sign up for free!

There is our on-line zoom quiet ‘write-ins’ from 8am- to 9am GMT every morning, including weekends, and more zoom-ins for ideas and prompts in the afternoons. The aim is to write EVERY DAY without editing or worrying – just write and let it flow or work on another creative project, academic piece or just some research. Anything that’s been sticking to your ribs that you just need to write/create out into the world!

Alongside the on-line zoom write-ins, we will also have local meet ups at Corsham Library on Wednesdays 2pm and in cafes/pubs on Friday afternoons. (Already we have one local pub offering a 20%discount so worth visiting Corsham just for that!)
If you aren’t local, (waves at Tam in Jo’burg!) maybe you could organise your own local gatherings to write together? If so, please feel free to use our flyer and adapt but let us know so we can all share ideas, successes and support!
Come on, what have you got to lose?!