A Mini Adventure

Here's the tale of how three writers from far flung parts of the world came to meet on a beautifully warm and sunny day in the vibrant city of Cambridge. They met originally in the virtual world as a result of an online writing community called 'My 500 words'. Online, they'd shared, encouraged, challenged and enjoyed each other's virtual company and so intrigued and curious, they decided to take a risk and make it real. And that's how two women from California - one from the North and one from the South (no wicked witch references intended here of course!) and one from a small market town in Cheshire came to have a mini adventure.

They ate and drank at Bill's in a quaint quiet street away from the main crowds and they talked writerly stuff and about life and shared their stories - the stories that had shaped them and made them the writers and people they are today. They talked and talked and shared their wisdom and their truth over flatbreads and mochas and even more bacon!

Feeling comfortable with each other, whimsical and fuelled by the warmth of the sun and how good life could be, they strolled through the crowds of people, and made their way to the water to punt. Well, not that they were going to punt (they weren't feeling quite that adventurous). They found a zestful and energy-filled young man who once his palm was crossed with silver was more than happy to navigate his way through the dodgem-car like filled river. He regaled them with tales of Cambridge colleges, student antics, a woman named the Black Widow who'd carelessly managed to lose three husbands and a very sad tale about a war hero forced to suicide because of his sexual preferences.

The three woman sat back in the punt, listening to yet more stories and felt the joy of random connections. Ordinarily they should never have met, ordinarily their lives would not have crossed and yet they did and this wonderful afternoon was a result of that connection.

They finished their meet up sipping dark and stormies (is that a word? Just go with it please), local beer and thirst quenching sparking water on a roof top terrace overlooking the spires and rooftops of Cambridge. They did not know if they would meet again. Perhaps, perhaps not. It didn't matter because they had shared time together, connected and had a mini adventure and that was enough.

And here are some pictures in case you like the visual as well as the written.

My mini adventure companions Roslynn and Tonia

Our zestful and energy-filled Punt Expert - Kieran

A Cambridge building no doubt of significance

Punting acquaintances sharing our journey

Another significant building - I guess I wasn't paying much attention

An idyllic afternoon

My arty shot or in other words a swan out of focus

Going under the mathematical bridge

Tonia really getting into the swing of things

One final significant Cambridge building for those who like that sort of thing