Thane registered it as a business in its entirety now, and it’ll be offered to writers and artists as a retreat destination. He’s doing some work of one of the floors to make it so that more people can congregate there, and there were two small floors that weren’t previously used, but he’s converting them into small ensuite double bedrooms so up to six people can book it for a retreat.
I’ve let my publishers and agent know, and there are already enquiries from authors who want to host new writer retreats and things like that, so I think it’ll be a good income for him.
I’m not hosting a writers’ retreat. I can’t think of much worse than being asked questions about my process – I’m really not in that frame of mind at the moment.
I went for my date with the agent. We met up in Chester, which is the easiest place to meet if someone isn’t in Wales. It was nice and we got on. I went back to her hotel room and all that, but I don’t think we’re seeing each other again. There was enough spark for one night but not enough to persist with the travel.
Have you found somewhere else to live yet?
Love,
Gully
One Year and Nine Months After
Dear Gully,
The photos of Elias with the scan picture were hilarious. I’ve pinned one up in my studio. I’ll try to get to Puffin Bay when the new baby is born and take some photos of them – not the cutesy pictures where they’re dressed as a sunflower but something more arty. Although I like a good baby sunflower.
I take it everyone knows now? How long did it take for the rumour mill to do its thing? I read that the lighthouse is becoming a shrine to the novels of Gulliver Holland and that there are groups of women turning up in Puffin Bay trying to hunt you down. This amuses me lots. They don’t know that you only change your sheets once a month and will wear the same pair of socks three times, or how infrequently you shower when you’re in the middle of a first draft.
I feel sorry for them. They’re crushing on a man who doesn’t exist.
I am not crushing on a man who doesn’t exist. Phil is very real and very nice and I really like him. We’re seeing each other three or four times a week, which I think might be a bit too much and we’ve got to the stage where he’s round a couple of nights just watching TV with me.
I’ve found another house to move into and it should go through quickly. It is empty, as it’s been a recent renovation, and the current owner has agreed I can move in and rent until we can exchange and complete. This is great as the buyer for mine is in a rush and obviously, as I had the stupidity to put in on the market before I’d found somewhere, it is partly my fault.
Still, what’s meant to be will be and all that jazz, and it means I can move on my terms and do some decorating etc before living in there, so that’s what we’re doing. It’s a good place and I’m thrilled with it to be honest. It’s a three bed, so it costs more than most of my internal organs, but I’m in the fortunate position of not needing to worry about that. Ivy would’ve loved it, which wasn’t something I focused on until I’d made my mind up about it, because this couldn’t be a sentimental decision. I don’t anticipate moving from here unless I have a child and need a garden, but then if that happens, a lot of other stuff will have gone on too. So much will have happened for that to be the case.
Phil did mention about me moving in with him. It was weird how he brought it up and the fact that we’ve only been dating a couple of months. To be honest, it put me off him a touch because it was too soon and I’m definitely not on that page yet. There’s a lot to talk about before we’d get to that stage and I’m not ready for those conversations and I’m not sure I ever will be with him – yet. It could happen.
He can be quite clingy and there seems to be an expectation that I’ll drop everything I’m doing when he finishes work latejust to see him. I was away last week and he sent a few messages hinting that I should come back to London sooner, which I couldn’t and wouldn’t have anyway. I was over in Paris doing a shoot for a glossy fashion mag for two interviews for upcoming editions which was amazing fun and I wished I’d stayed on a bit longer, if I’m honest.
Still, I’m spending Christmas with Phil at his parents’ house which is seeming surreal but I’m driving separately, so if it gets a bit odd, I can leave on my terms.
I need more house pictures. In fact, I’d like a video tour of the place. In the message you sent you mentioned Thane was working on a boat for you to have at the mooring at the bottom of the garden. This is exciting. You could just head out for a midnight sail or would that be dangerous given how the tides are on the Menai Strait? I now you’ve gotten kind of proficient with being out with the lifeboat crew, but how good are you? I don’t want to find out you’ve been shipwrecked and had to be rescued by a group of puffins.
Could puffins rescue you? Am I being dramatic?
What’s the other Puffin Bay gossip? How’s Mavis and the community centre? Is Roman’s granddad still growing his special blend? Any sign of Amelie and Roman getting married?
They know I stalk their social media accounts, don’t they? Even Mavis – in fact, she’s my favourite because she updates like ten times a day.
I would say you’re my favourite, but you’re not, because I know it isn’t you that usually posts.
What are you getting Elias for Christmas? What’s happening for Christmas this year? Are you all going to the Puffin Inn like last year or are you doing something at home for baby’s first Christmas? Although there’ll be another baby’s first Christmas next year too. Maybe that could be a Holland family tradition and you could have a baby’s first Christmas each year?
I jest. I’m nervous about this Christmas with Phil. I know it’s too much too soon, and I should make an excuse and spend it with my wider family, but that feels wrong as well because I’ll spend the whole time thinking about who isn’t there, so this is also a good distraction.
Write soon. I know I’ve taken ages to respond but that’s due to the amount we speak on the phone now. I do love our letters still.
Love,
Iris
Dear Iris,
You’re welcome to come to Puffin Bay for Christmas so your choice isn’t just London or with Phil. I know there are reminders of Ivy here and there will always be, but there are more distractions too. Elias is sitting up now and pointing at me when he sees me. I’m definitely the fun uncle – mainly because Roe isn’t even in the running because he’s so grumpy unless Freya’s there and then he lights up.
