Writer In Retreat

For years, the word Retreat has conjured up images of earnest, robe-clad vegans chanting mantras in oak groves and seeking for the meaning of life.  There’s nothing wrong with any of that, it’s just that it didn’t chime with me.  It never occurred to me that one day I might actually volunteer to go on retreat.  Who me?  Perish the thought! 

 

   Enlightenment arrived in the form of a small ad in Writing Magazine: Retreats for Writers. Hmm.  That seemed more promising. At that point I was embarking on a new book and really wanted time and space to get on with it, away from distractions and domestic responsibilities. A writers’ retreat might be a possibility, so I checked it out.  To my relief the only robes mentioned were bathrobes (provided) a vegan diet was entirely optional, chanting likewise and any oak trees were part of the local scenery.  There was no promise of divine revelation either, just the offer of a quiet place to work uninterrupted while being waited on hand and foot.  There had to be a catch.  I checked the tariff.  I blinked and checked it again.  The cost seemed unbelievably modest for what was on offer.  Maybe the website hadn’t been updated for a while. I sent an email to ask.  The tariff was correct.  I sent another email and made a booking.

   That’s how I found myself in rural Devon in the charming village of Sheepwash which, bucking the national trend, boasted a shop and a pub.  The retreat, run by journalist Deborah Dooley and her husband, Bob Cooper, was a lovely old house complete with thatched roof, thick walls and the kind of hearth that would take a Yule log and still leave room to roast a hog.  There were four guest bedrooms, all of which were spacious, clean and comfortable.  All had a kettle and tea/coffee-making facilities, a hairdryer, a bathrobe (see above) and a heater as well as a large work table and easy access to power sockets.  The shared bathroom was immaculate and offered a generous array of bath and beauty products for general use.  There was another bathroom downstairs.  At the back of the house was a garden to sit or work in, weather permitting.

   Guests were free to work where they wished and to be as sociable as they chose.  I opted for the best of both worlds: solitude during the day and socialising in the evenings.  Meals were comprised of delicious home-cooked fare taken in the communal dining room, although I could have opted for a tray in my room instead.  On sunny days we ate lunch in the garden.  A particularly welcome touch was the glass of wine that was brought to my door an hour before dinner each evening.  After that it was up to each person whether they wished to work on, sit and chat, watch TV, go for a walk or visit the pub.  An open fire and large comfy sofas made the sitting room a tempting option and I enjoyed meeting with and talking to my fellow writers.  Deborah was also on hand to give help and advice if required.

   Everything was done to ensure the comfort and convenience of guests.  Be warned though: don’t even think about doing any domestic tasks here.  Any such attempt will be sternly rebuked.  I was caught washing a mug once…

   My six-day stay flew past.  Quite apart from enjoying all the pampering and the peace and quiet, I made real progress on my novel.  I plan to go back as soon as I can manage it.  In fact, I could get very used to the idea of going on retreat.

 For more information see www.retreatsforyou.co.uk