Monday 9 September 2013

Inspiring Coffee Breaks

Many of you already know that I love to write in my favourite Costa one morning each week - inside a mall where I can also do some shopping before returning home. During this past week, I happened to have an unexpected free morning, which I probably should have spent working at home, and I headed off to a nearby town for inspiration.


I found it in the beautiful cathedral, after remembering about the coffee shop inside. The photo is the view from my seat and it actually distracted me from the story I was intending working on to set me day-dreaming about the past. I love medieval times and this is the perfect cathedral for inspiration (it's taken on my mobile so isn't as clear).

It reminded me of the wonderful medieval day they had inside and around the building and down by the river a couple of years ago. Fortunately, I heard about it in time to wander around and pretend I'd stepped back to the past. It wasn't difficult, with the musicians, jousters, dancers, apothecary, scribe, bakers - all in medieval costume. And yes, several storylines have come and gone since then but none has made it into a completed story yet. This is the cloisters earlier in the year.


After finishing my coffee, I wandered around the cathedral and then got chatting to a woman about my own age who attends the services. What a serendipitous moment to discover she sometimes takes part in a medieval plainsong community choir - something I've always wanted to try. They perform in different parts of the country several times a year and I now have the choir organiser's contact details so it's up to me whether I explore it further. Unfortunately, it's not within such convenient distance as the cathedral, so it remains to be seen if I ever get to take part. But the opportunity is now there.

That's the beauty of taking impulsive coffee breaks in different places - we never know what kind of inspiration we may find along the way. The next historical event in that particular town is a re-enactment of the famous witch trials of the 17th century, in October. If I happen to get into the town that day, I'll let you know. Meanwhile, it's back to the work I should be writing!

Over on my Flights of Imagination blog, I'm featuring YA author Kai Strand with her intriguing book King of Bad. Imagine an academy for villains!

Rosemary

7 comments:

joanne fox said...

It looks and sounds a very inspiring place. Good luck with the choir, if you decide to check it out.

Saw you in Writing Magazine, by the way, with all your inspiring news!

Wendy's Writing said...

Yes, yes... you must join the choir, Rosemary!

Linda D said...

Coffee, cathedrals, choirs - all sorts of wonderful inspiration there. You might have been enjoying a 'free' morning but I bet your imagination was working overtime!

Jean Bull said...

How wonderful to wander around the cathedral that time when they were re-enacting the past. There must be a story in it, especially if you join the choir. It's even getting me going with ideas!!

Joanna said...

Very best of luck with the choir, Rosemary, if you decide to join them.

That is a truly inspiring place for coffee. I'm sure lots of ideas are brewing. It's such a good idea to go out for coffee and writing on a regular basis. I'm planning to do it much more often. Best of luck with all your writing. x

Teresa Ashby said...

That sounds wonderful, Rosemary. And I think you should defintely join that choir :-) x

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks, Joanne - I hadn't realised it was in that issue until I opened it!

It's definitely tempting, Wendy!

It was indeed, Linda!

Glad it's inspiring you, too, Jean!

Thanks, Joanna - I always find it powers the imagination to visit other places now and then.

Thanks, Teresa - I'll let you know if I ever get to a rehearsal!