John, I wrote a long-ish reply to this lovely note, and now I can’t find it. I hope it reached you/will reach you. In summary I said a huge thank you - your support has meant a great deal to me, right from the early episodes of the story.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday- i can't wait to read about it!
John, thank you so much for this kind note - and the ones that came before. You are a very fine writer - and when you were one of the first people to comment on any of my episodes, I was blown away!
I’m sure I’ll write on Substack again at some point. But these days I only like to do one project at a time, so I’ll have to see how things go.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Can’t wait to read all about it!
Thank you for this beautifully written series about your writing life. It’s been a wonderful example of good writing, a lesson in itself - great characterisation, enchanting narrative rhythm, elegant language and a lovely limpid quality in every sentence. I hope you will be back writing on Substack again soon. I bet you’re a brilliant teacher too. What about a series on scriptwriting? When a student I used to work part-time at a residential Special School for ESN ‘educationally sub-normal’ children - as they were called then!! - boys aged 4-16 all jumbled together whatever the reason for them being there. I often think of them too and wonder how they’re getting on.
Oh. I didn’t expect, or want, the story to end. It was really an enjoyable and satisfying read. Thank you for telling it, have a great holiday and good luck with your new project. Really hope you feel inspired to come back.
Thank you so much for this, Jennifer. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the story. I hope too that I’ll feel inspired to come back before too long. I like it here.
I’ve only just seen this note Faith - it’s been a busy weekend! I’m so pleased you enjoyed the story. The play is only available as an ebook at the moment, though there is talk of a proper book at some point.
It's been so fascinating to find out how your journey unfolded Gillian, each piece has been so evocative and will stay with me. Thank you and enjoy your break (but come back!). I would love to buy a copy of the play - is there a non-kindle version?!
One of the very best things about these months on Substack has been meeting some very lovely people - of which you, Wendy, are most definitely one.
I was feeling a little teary myself yesterday evening.
Thank you for walking with me along the winding road, and for all your comments and restacks and support along the way.
I'm staying on here as a reader, and plan to return at some point with another story. Just not sure what or when. Have to wait until something emerges from the soup inside my head.
After I left teaching, I stayed in touch with a couple of the teachers from the school, but we had our first child pretty soon after that, and my deadlines and David's deadlines (he was in the early days of starting a music company) and our sleepless nights didn't leave much time for keeping up with friends and - as is so often the way - we slowly lost touch. I wish I knew what happened to those little girls when they left primary school. Secondary education in Hackney is very good these days, but back then - not so much. I hope they didn't get lost in the rough and tumble of the big school world, and, indeed, in their lives after that. If this was fiction, not real life, I'd give them both a happy ending. But I just don't know how things worked out for either of them.
Thank you for buying a copy of the play. As you know, I wrote it a very, very long time ago... It's now a historical document! Hope you enjoy it anyway.
Looking forward very much to reading your next Wednesday post...
Thank you so much Ashley. I'm beyond pleased that you enjoyed the story.
It was an exciting time, you're right. And great fun.
Not the least exciting moment for me was driving to a story conference sometime in the early nineties, while you sat beside me with your hands over your eyes... (You said at the time it wasn't my driving that scared you. Was I naive to believe you?)
More, you say? More??
Okay... If you insist...
I'll be back at some point with another story. Not sure what or when. Just have to wait and see what emerges from the pond inside my head.
Read yesterday (and misted up), re-read this morning. What a turning point. Beautiful way to bow out, Gillian. I do hope you'll be back here as a writer.
Did you ever hear anything of Caroline and Gaynor afterwards?
Thanks for the link to The Last Waltz script. Added to my Kindle and look forward to reading it.
I finished reading The Last Waltz on my kindle yesterday, Gillian. It’s so entertaining. Very funny as well as moving and dramatic. Wonderful dialogue. I was picturing the original actresses in those roles.
Wendy, thank you so much for reading the play and for such very kind comments.
Both actresses were comedy gold and were hilarious. The play was subsequently produced another five or six times up and down the country - including twice more in London. I was extremely lucky - & very pleased David hadn’t liked the first version which was, frankly, over planned and dull dull dull!
I'm sad too, I've met some lovely people on Substack - and have re-met you, which has been a total bonus (see what I did there?)! I'm going on hol soon, and when I come back there's another project bubbling on the hob. But I hope to be back before too long - assuming I can think of another story I want to tell...
In the meantime I'll still be here as a reader.
As for the juggling. It was nothing compared to the juggling after I had kids - but I hardly need need to tell you about that!
I’m sad. I love reading these Gillian. I’m in awe of how you juggled work and inspired by how exciting that time was for you. I mean even to have met Tony! I remember those 1986 storylines so well on EE. Twice a week tv and characters we loved so much. Please return. I felt like I was in that audience you made it so alive xx
I thought I'd replied to this yesterday, but my reply seems to have disappeared. After several months I'm still trying to work out the ins and outs of Substack
I like it here a lot though. I've met some really interesting people - and have re-met you, which is fantastic! Good luck with everything.
I will be back at some point with a new story. Just have to work out what and when. Gx
Thank you! This was a lovely, happy thing to read this evening. I’m glad that the professional part got underway in such a delightful way, and hope alongside you that your students’ lives have been good in every way during these decades since.
Thank you so much Maria. I'm glad you enjoyed the final episode of the story. I'll still be a reader on Substack, and hope, at some point, to be back with another story. I just have to wait for it to emerge from the murky pond that is my brain.
And, Caroline and Gaynor... I loved those little girls and I wish knew how their lives turned out. That's the problem with the real world - sometimes you don't get to know the ending.
John, I wrote a long-ish reply to this lovely note, and now I can’t find it. I hope it reached you/will reach you. In summary I said a huge thank you - your support has meant a great deal to me, right from the early episodes of the story.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday- i can't wait to read about it!
John, thank you so much for this kind note - and the ones that came before. You are a very fine writer - and when you were one of the first people to comment on any of my episodes, I was blown away!
I’m sure I’ll write on Substack again at some point. But these days I only like to do one project at a time, so I’ll have to see how things go.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Can’t wait to read all about it!
Thank you for this beautifully written series about your writing life. It’s been a wonderful example of good writing, a lesson in itself - great characterisation, enchanting narrative rhythm, elegant language and a lovely limpid quality in every sentence. I hope you will be back writing on Substack again soon. I bet you’re a brilliant teacher too. What about a series on scriptwriting? When a student I used to work part-time at a residential Special School for ESN ‘educationally sub-normal’ children - as they were called then!! - boys aged 4-16 all jumbled together whatever the reason for them being there. I often think of them too and wonder how they’re getting on.
Oh. I didn’t expect, or want, the story to end. It was really an enjoyable and satisfying read. Thank you for telling it, have a great holiday and good luck with your new project. Really hope you feel inspired to come back.
Thank you so much for this, Jennifer. I’m so pleased you enjoyed the story. I hope too that I’ll feel inspired to come back before too long. I like it here.
I’ve only just seen this note Faith - it’s been a busy weekend! I’m so pleased you enjoyed the story. The play is only available as an ebook at the moment, though there is talk of a proper book at some point.
It's been so fascinating to find out how your journey unfolded Gillian, each piece has been so evocative and will stay with me. Thank you and enjoy your break (but come back!). I would love to buy a copy of the play - is there a non-kindle version?!
One of the very best things about these months on Substack has been meeting some very lovely people - of which you, Wendy, are most definitely one.
I was feeling a little teary myself yesterday evening.
Thank you for walking with me along the winding road, and for all your comments and restacks and support along the way.
I'm staying on here as a reader, and plan to return at some point with another story. Just not sure what or when. Have to wait until something emerges from the soup inside my head.
After I left teaching, I stayed in touch with a couple of the teachers from the school, but we had our first child pretty soon after that, and my deadlines and David's deadlines (he was in the early days of starting a music company) and our sleepless nights didn't leave much time for keeping up with friends and - as is so often the way - we slowly lost touch. I wish I knew what happened to those little girls when they left primary school. Secondary education in Hackney is very good these days, but back then - not so much. I hope they didn't get lost in the rough and tumble of the big school world, and, indeed, in their lives after that. If this was fiction, not real life, I'd give them both a happy ending. But I just don't know how things worked out for either of them.
Thank you for buying a copy of the play. As you know, I wrote it a very, very long time ago... It's now a historical document! Hope you enjoy it anyway.
Looking forward very much to reading your next Wednesday post...
Thank you so much Ashley. I'm beyond pleased that you enjoyed the story.
It was an exciting time, you're right. And great fun.
Not the least exciting moment for me was driving to a story conference sometime in the early nineties, while you sat beside me with your hands over your eyes... (You said at the time it wasn't my driving that scared you. Was I naive to believe you?)
More, you say? More??
Okay... If you insist...
I'll be back at some point with another story. Not sure what or when. Just have to wait and see what emerges from the pond inside my head.
Aw, we'll miss you x
Thank you Maria! But I’ll still be here, reading. And I hope to be back writing too - just not sure yet what or when. Good luck with everything.
Read yesterday (and misted up), re-read this morning. What a turning point. Beautiful way to bow out, Gillian. I do hope you'll be back here as a writer.
Did you ever hear anything of Caroline and Gaynor afterwards?
Thanks for the link to The Last Waltz script. Added to my Kindle and look forward to reading it.
I finished reading The Last Waltz on my kindle yesterday, Gillian. It’s so entertaining. Very funny as well as moving and dramatic. Wonderful dialogue. I was picturing the original actresses in those roles.
Wendy, thank you so much for reading the play and for such very kind comments.
Both actresses were comedy gold and were hilarious. The play was subsequently produced another five or six times up and down the country - including twice more in London. I was extremely lucky - & very pleased David hadn’t liked the first version which was, frankly, over planned and dull dull dull!
Brilliant work, Gillian! It completely nails that time in the 1990s for us fledgling writers. So exciting, wasn't it? MORE!!!!!
No no no no don't stop!!!
There will be more… just don’t know what or when.
Thank you SO much for being such a great cheerleader!
Ah, thanks Suzanne.
I'm sad too, I've met some lovely people on Substack - and have re-met you, which has been a total bonus (see what I did there?)! I'm going on hol soon, and when I come back there's another project bubbling on the hob. But I hope to be back before too long - assuming I can think of another story I want to tell...
In the meantime I'll still be here as a reader.
As for the juggling. It was nothing compared to the juggling after I had kids - but I hardly need need to tell you about that!
Gxx
I’m sad. I love reading these Gillian. I’m in awe of how you juggled work and inspired by how exciting that time was for you. I mean even to have met Tony! I remember those 1986 storylines so well on EE. Twice a week tv and characters we loved so much. Please return. I felt like I was in that audience you made it so alive xx
Suzanne, thank you so much!
I thought I'd replied to this yesterday, but my reply seems to have disappeared. After several months I'm still trying to work out the ins and outs of Substack
I like it here a lot though. I've met some really interesting people - and have re-met you, which is fantastic! Good luck with everything.
I will be back at some point with a new story. Just have to work out what and when. Gx
Thank you! This was a lovely, happy thing to read this evening. I’m glad that the professional part got underway in such a delightful way, and hope alongside you that your students’ lives have been good in every way during these decades since.
Thank you so much Maria. I'm glad you enjoyed the final episode of the story. I'll still be a reader on Substack, and hope, at some point, to be back with another story. I just have to wait for it to emerge from the murky pond that is my brain.
And, Caroline and Gaynor... I loved those little girls and I wish knew how their lives turned out. That's the problem with the real world - sometimes you don't get to know the ending.
Thank you for a brilliant journey!