Iona Winter

Another distraction from writing “The Novel’ was discovered this week – BAKING!

I was craving Afghan Biscuits, like my grandmother used to make. I knew I had the ingredients and a wrinkled old cookbook containing a recipe. I even unearthed a pinny from the depths of a kitchen drawer. Very 1950’s housewife!

My feminist friends would cringe at that I am sure. Never mind. Given the recent resurgence in baking, pinnies, red lippy and wearing heels in the kitchen I feel somewhat justified in my wee distraction. Baking is a very ‘in’ thing to do now isn’t it?

Mind you, I don’t wear red lippy and heels in my kitchen, but it probably doesn’t matter because I’m not in a TV show with the words “Hottest Home Baker” am I?

Surprisingly, the products of my distraction were deliciously edible and furthermore, amid Dickensian cries for “more please” I was again gratefully distracted. MANY times. Sadly I’ve run out of butter.

I don’t want you to think I’m doing ZERO writing for “The Novel”. I am writing. I’m just easily distracted. In saying that, I wonder if I could use the said “distraction” as research for a character. Or am I making excuses? Now I think of it, there is a line somewhere about a kitchen smelling of cakes and biscuits. Distraction justified again – aka “Research”.

I’m sure I could creatively find many reasons (or justifications) for further distractions. If I am honest, there is something seriously confusing about passing the halfway point in “The Novel” and not knowing where to go next. BAMBOOZLED. No road map. Stuck.

I can smell banana bread in my olfactory memory banks. There you have it. I’m off to bake again, once I’ve been to the shop for more butter.