I love the word squirrel! As the creatures of the same name hoard their nuts in a safe place, so too do some of us collect and hoard little treasures for a blissful future time when we can enjoy them. Well, I certainly do!
In preparation for my nine hour train journey to Inverness (on Monday!! Squeal!!) I've been stockpiling some treats to enjoy while I, no doubt, anticipate the destination with equal measures of fright and excitement! I imagine I will write for a lot of it, but I've also been collecting novels I have wanted to read for a long time and have resisted dipping into since buying them in Oxfam or receiving the crisp brown boxes from Amazon. They are in my nightstand, waiting to be packed and enjoyed on the train! Oh such precious loot.
I'm also pondering what to squirrel away in terms of sustenance for the train journey, as I detest most train food with a passion. The good thing about being in first class though is that I'll at least have a constant supply of hot tea throughout! I'm planning on taking some healthy fresh food, but I also am pondering what little treats to take along. Will it be a bar of honey and pistachio Hotel Chocolat chocolate, or a box of Fudge's chocolate flapjacks, or a Nordic Bakery cinnamon roll, a Paul almond croissant, or some fresh olive bread and goats cheese.....or shall I just pack all of them?!
As you can see, I have an extreme fondess for chocolate, cheese and baked goods!
I think we also have to bring our own alcohol to the writing course. I am wondering whether I should take this opportunity to detox and have a dry week (!) or whether I should take up a bottle or two of my favourite red, in the hope that it will either win me friends or be a good remedy for writers block.
Most of all, I have been squirreling away ideas. Scribbled in my journal, or my mini Moleskine, on the backs of receipts, in half written text messages . . . there has been a lot of thinking, and a lot of brewing. I can hardly wait to start, and unleash.
What are your favourite things to eat/read/do on a long journey? All suggestions welcomed by this nosy squirrel.
Oooh so excited for you. Love the epic, solo train journey! So quiet and contemplative (especially if you pack earplugs or noise cancelling headphones. never know when some grotty person is going to sniffle for 6 hours, even in first class! ;)
ReplyDeleteMy sister has a pro tip: BYO teabags and ask them for some hot water rather than the made-up tea they slosh out to everyone. they even gave her her own wee teapot :)
Ooh! I like the sound of my own teapot! :)
ReplyDeleteDearest squirrel ;)
ReplyDeleteFirst, a massive thank you for the wonderful comment on my latest post! You're a wise lady! It's a cheerful comfort to know there are other people out there who are or have been on the same page as me :)
Very exciting to hear about your trip next week! I always seem to be able to read and get ideas more comfortably on a train, so taking books/moleskins = good plan!
Maybe take a small stash of wine. You could go the detox route, but have it there in case you suddenly decide you'd like some writer's bonding time with the others there! OR, you could save it as a treat to yourself for the last day of the trip :)
Personal essentials for my own train journeys would have to be some music to listen to and of course tea!
I also have acquired the habit of filming/taking pics of scenery zooming past the window, then scrap-booking them in a moleskin/online at the end of my trip.
Oh how exciting. I have been inspired by you and am going to Moniack Mhor (sp?) bound in July!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking sleeper train - but first class sounds really good!
Have a fab time.
Preparing for a long journey is half the fun of the trip! (espeically when that will be in First Class - very jealous!)
ReplyDeleteI'm heading down South on Friday and will be taking Tess of the D'Urbervilles and an Eat Natural bar. I always have a special Eat Natural bar on train journeys, nibbling away like a squirrel for ages and savouring every last nut and date :-) As for entertainment - I just love to watch the world pass by (the book will probably remain unread).
Have a great time! Maybe you'll be needing a bit of red wine to keep the blood flowing in chilly Scotland?
Thank you all for your comments! JJ, how thrilling that you're going up to Moniack too! I shall have to write in detail about everything for you :)
ReplyDeleteReverie and Jumbleberry, the more I think about it, the more I think taking red wine is a very sensible idea!!
Hope you have a glorious time! I love lists. What to pack. Favorite things. Things to do.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite thing to do on a journey is write...and write...and write.
Dude! Inverness = BFE! 9 hours on the train? whew.
ReplyDeleteWe're driving 7+ hours to see my mom's folks in southern Colorado tomorrow. The menu includes apples, bananas, dried fruit, raw shelled pecans, and crackers. Yes, we are traveling with a 19 month old child!
I vote for a bottle of something slightly spendy and unusual, to win over friends as you said.
Listen to some funny podcasts or stand up comedy, too. Laugh out loud so everyone wonders what's so funny.
I'm so excited about your course, you'll have a blast. Take some wine, or if not take something to share about I guess, liked some homemade baked good, or nice tea.
ReplyDeleteI have chronic motion sickness (since I was a child) so I normally take the opportunity to eat lightly, as it will most likely return, gross, but also sad and true :-(
But good anti sicky staples for me are gum, plain crisps, and sometimes cheese and crackers.
For you?
Maybe take a little selection, like a high tea kind of deal. With some grapes or something to go with your cheese.
Oh, I love train journeys! I've done quite a few of them myself. And a train journey all the way to Scotland... You can pretend it's the Hogwart's Express!
ReplyDeleteHave fun reading and munching. You'll be combining my three favourite things together - reading, eating, and traveling!
Jai
Oh, and if you suffer from motion sickness then take some aniseed balls with you. You know, those little red round balls that you can buy at any good sweet shop. Aniseed is great with calming down motion sickness.
ReplyDeleteJai
I'm afraid this is kind of boring really but I tend to use long journeys for dozing. Led Zepplin IV and Foo Fighters on the iPod and dozing :)
ReplyDeleteOh and have a great time on the course, very excited to hear how it goes :D
ReplyDeleteUp to Inverness, eh? Beautiful journey! I've been on the train that way once (usually take the bus) - and the only thing I can think to do on long train journeys is look out the window. That's why I should never learn to drive. :)
ReplyDeleteHope you have a good time! (And the snow should hopefully be gone by then...)
those fudges chocolate flapjacks sound pretty tasty! i like to bring a snickers bar with me when i travel, very sophisticated ;) i also like to bring cheese and biscuits in case i feel like something savoury instead of something sweet.
ReplyDeletecan i ask how many words you've written of your novel so far? i've just started a novel this year myself (i've gone back to school) and am feeling pretty dazed about the whole process! as a beginner i also keep wondering 'is this the story i should really write, or should i start over with a different idea?' i think i will stick with my current idea for now, as a way to discipline myself to write something from start to finish.
your course is going to be amazing!!! can't wait to read all about it.
I love long journeys. I spend most of my time staring out of windows, watching the scenery roll by, and story ideas spring up everywhere. I hope you have a brilliant and inspiring time! I'm looking forward to reading all about it.
ReplyDeleteEmma x
I just got back from a return trip to Liverpool on the train. For me there's nothing like that high speed image rush for getting the ideas rolling and I wrote for most of both journeys. Just what I needed! Interested to hear how your course goes.
ReplyDeleteI love that expression. :)
ReplyDeleteI love squirrels! They have so much personality. I always squirrel aside several books and magazines for a long journey.
ReplyDeleteiamemmamusic.blogspot.com
Hello there,
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog via Inner Pickle where I've seen you comment regularly. Inner Pickle is one of my favourites so I thought I'd drop by and say hello, and see what we might have in common! Firstly probably cheese and baked goods. I'm an English girl married to an Aussie, living in Sydney! Anyway, I was scrolling down your page and the title "squirreling" caught my eye. Brought back happy memories of a dear friend (who we called Chief Squirrel) no longer with me, with whom I used to go on squirreling adventures (a long story). Anway, as for train journey's, I'd take pen and paper, a thermos of tea and some cheese and branston pickle sandwiches. Hope you enjoyed the train ride!