The illustrator is taking a set fee, which means there will be more royalties in future for the fund.
So I didn’t answer your questions last time about my date and the house. That date was the first. Sofia is really great and we clicked. She wasn’t at all interested in the TV deal or anything like that, although she was curious about what it was like to work full time as a writer. She’s the director for a charity that works with veterans although she’s done more commercial stuff before. We went to a restaurant in Llandudno which was half way between where we’re both based. A week later, I met her in Chester, which is where she lives, and I stayed in a hotel – by myself, and then this week she’s coming here for a couple of nights and staying at the Puffin Inn. I like her – she’s funny and intelligent, and all of those things.
I kind of feel like I need to give it go. My brothers are settled – Freya has finally agreed to move in with Rowan and I can’t see it being that long before he has a ring on her finger too, which will make Mama Bernadette extremely happy. I’m over the moon at being an uncle in a few months, especially as my nephew or niece will grow up here so I can be part of their life on a regular basis, and I know I want my own kids – so I kind of need to find someone to do that with.
That might not be Sofia. I don’t think it will be, because I’m not sure she’d ever live somewhere like Puffin Bay and this is where I want to be, but we’ll see. No one, not even Freya has a crystal ball.
I’ve been to see the house and it isn’t for me. It’s three houses down from Roman and Amelie, and there’s nothing wrong with it, but it’s kind of not an old property, but not new either. The location’s amazing, but I didn’t get the right vibes. I have heard on the grapevine that the one next door – so two houses away from Roman – is going to come on the market in the next few months as the owner is moving back to Cannes full time. I think that’ll be the right place, although I might carry on renting the lighthouse and my cousins can use it to stay in with their kids when they come to the island, or I could market it as a writer’s retreat. Thane owns it, so I’ve probably got a conversation coming up with him about it. He has a few other properties around Puffin Bay that he has as long term lets or holiday lets, so it’s a possible business plan.
I feel like l’ve waffled enough in this.
You know, this is the first time I haven’t mentioned Ivy in a letter apart from about the fund.
I haven’t forgotten her. I never will. But I do feel like spring is brighter this year.
I hope it’s like that for you.
Love,
Gully
Dear Gully,
Bollocks! The two letters I sent were returned to sender by the post people. I’ve included them in here so you don’t feel like you’re reading a book that’s had a couple of chapters ripped out, although they were mainly me lamenting on my sister.
The anniversary of her death – just for a quick catch up in case the letters are TL;DR – I went skiing. I can’t really ski. Ivy inherited all the balance and I had zero. I would have far more in common with your Freya in terms of yoga and I’m not bad at swimming, but I didn’t ski or snowboard or surf. Ivy did all of those.
So I did something brave and I took skiing lessons and I didn’t chicken out. By the end of the week, I could ski – not quickly and not gracefully and I’m never, ever doing a black run, but I skied. It took my body about three weeks to get over it and I spent two days having to crawl round on my hands and knees because I ached in places I didn’t think it was possible to ache, so I don’t think I’ll be repeating the skiing any time soon.
I’m now in Alaska. It’s strange to say the least as we’re very far north so the amount of light is minimal, but every day, there’s a glimmer of more. People’s mood is changing because they know that the light is coming – that sounds weirdly religious and it kind of is, but more in a pagan way that anything modern.
I’m here on my own – no team required for this – and I’m spending my days playing with my camera, taking photos of people, buildings and the sky. I’ve set up a time lapse camera too. The rest of the time I’m toying with some of the pictures, editing them and making notes about the details of them – the type of lens etc, but also the date and the context of the day.
Especially people’s moods. That’s what I wanted to capture; faces as the sky started to lighten, smiles and laughter, although there will always be the grumpy ones.
Despite the dark, I’m enjoying it here. I like the people very much and the quirkiness of the town. There’s a sense of stagnation in many ways, an acceptance of this is what life’s like at this time of year and people really do just get on with it. It’s cold, frigidly so, but every so often I realise it feels a little warmer.
However, as soon as I’m done here, I’m heading somewhere sunny. I need a beach and several cocktails and that big yellow ball in the sky. I’m definitely going to need a massive dose of vitamin sea.
I’ve received the documents from the solicitor about Ivy’s Fund. I like the name – Climbing Ivy sounds about right. Everything’s signed on my part and sent back; I’ve just asked for regular updates about where things are up to.
I loved the story you sent. I’m glad those memories are being turned into something new. A book of fairy tales about the weather would be something our dad would’ve approved of, and the premise behind each one I like too – that’s what Ivy would’ve been most pleased with.
I had a day yesterday when I forgot to think about her.
I felt shocked this morning when I realised I’d spent a day without the cloud of grief hanging around me. Maybe it’s because I’ve been so immersed in what I’m doing here or maybe it’s because it’s so different I feel like I’m on a different planet, not just in a different country.
I’ve hooked up with a guy here, Jonas, who’s the deputy sheriff. You’d like him, I think. He’s earmarked to be sheriff when the current one retires and he loves his town and serving it. I think that’s helping too and I have thought a couple of times whether I could stay here because I might be half in love with him.
I can’t stay here though. As much as I like the place, this isn’t permanent for me, so I understand what you’re saying about Sofia. I guess a place like Puffin Bay has its similarities with where I am now – you have to fall in love with the place as well as the person to be able to commit to a life there.
Maybe she will. Maybe you won’t need her to because she might not be for you.
I looked up the house that’s for sale that you mentioned – I think it was the right one. I get what you mean; it doesn’t know what it wants to be. I also think I found an old listing for the one next to it and wow! That one is so much better. I think you should approach the current owners as it’ll be better for them if they don’t have to sell through an agent and it’d give them more privacy too. I didn’t realise you had a Formula One driver living on the island. I might’ve made another visit there if I’d known.
I definitely think the light has started to shine again.
Love,
