Birthday Presents.

For my 24^th birthday, my sister, who was living in Japan at the time, sent me a pad not unlike the one in the photo. I still have it, it’s currently in one of my boxes in my sister’s neighbour’s garage back in Wales. 

When it arrived in the postback in 1994, along with four lovely pencils, I thought it was the the most beautiful pad of paper I had ever seen. The cover was sort of textured and there was a quote that, although very much Japenglish, was somehow inspirational. It felt luxurious, and I imagined it must have cost a fortune. It became the most important pad in my life, because it made me want to write. I only used pencil to write in it; the paper seemed too fragile to ruin with pen. I wrote thoughts and ideas and poetry; bad poetry, really bad poetry, extremely bad poetry. No, I am not going to share any here, but trust me, it was exceptionally bad. But everyone has to start somewhere, and that pad of bad poetry started to define me. The poetry was dire, but the ideas were good. I enjoyed putting my thoughts on paper and creating something, I started to think of myself as a writer. 

Now we are just shy of my 48^thbirthday and I have today returned the final proofs of my novel to my publisher. Before I am 48 and a half I will be a published author.* The culmination of a journey that started 24 years ago with the arrival of that pad. And coincidentally, today I found the same pads for sale at the university book shop where I work. I bought one of course. I took it to the cash desk and took out a 1000 Yen note, (about 7 GBP), I had no idea how much the pad would cost but I was willing to spend any amount of money to have another pad like my old one. To be honest for a pad of such beauty, I was not expecting much change. The lady behind the counter smiled at me, and chatted away at me and then gave me my change - 850 Yen. The pad had cost me 150 Yen the equivalent of 1 British Pound, 1.16 Euro. 

So my whole writing career was launched on something you could buy in a pound shop. But I care not, that pad, was and still is one of my favourite and most life changing presents of all time. Thank you. 

*Humans, Being available in all good bookshops and some bad ones from April 19^thor order directly from Cinnamon Press. Or come along to the launch April 19^that Cardiff Library and buy one there, or buy one direct from me. Whatever you do, buy one. :-)