This week, I went to Dublin on a family holiday. Even though it’s only 180 or so kilometres away from Belfast, the vibe is completely different. Seeing a city through a child’s eyes is always a good way to highlight differences. It’s further south, so of course is much warmer; a three degree difference was great for the sunshine (I love a lot of heat) though I got bitten alive by mosquitoes, something that doesn’t happen in Belfast. Another difference is that Dublin still has trams, unlike Belfast, which got rid of its trams in the 1950s. The population is also more than double that of Belfast, so it was far busier overall. If you’re a reader from another part of the world, you might be surprised by the biggest difference; the Republic of Ireland is still part of the EU and uses Euros, whereas Northern Ireland is part of the UK so we use pounds like England, Scotland and Wales. Fun fact though: Scottish and English banknotes can be used in Northern Ireland but Northern Ireland banknotes, I believe are not valid to use in other parts of the UK (maybe Scotland, though I haven’t been there in decades to find out).
Being away on summer adventures means less writing time, as my laptop stays at home while I’m travelling. It’s simply not feasible for me to manage sightseeing, spending time with family and squeezing in writing time. I didn’t neglect my reading though. I’m a glutton for book shopping. There was a huge selection of Junji Ito books, one of my favourite horror authors, so I couldn’t resist buying a couple of ones I haven’t read, or seen the adaptations of on Netflix. Have you read any Junji Ito? His stories are not only incredibly original but he has some of the most disturbing ideas I’ve ever read. If you love horror like I do, you need to read him.
Anyway, even though I haven’t managed any writing, I’m sure I’ll get back to my current WIP at some point. Travelling is always fuel for the imagination. At least I’m making an effort to keep up this blog, even if I’m not posting on a regular schedule over the summer. The snippets I do manage keep me writing in some form, which is good enough for now.
See you again in another few days or so!
Leilanie Stewart 
Glad you’re having a good holiday – I always find it helps the writing to take time away from it, in fact some of my best ideas have come to me while I’m on holiday with my mind off the topic. Like you I value writing blog posts, along with book reviews, as a method of keeping my writing arm fit even when it’s not engaged in writing a book. Enjoy the rest of your time and return home refreshed. 🙂