Another sunny day in North Norfolk on the CHASE residency retreat. The lanes around the barn in which we are staying are full of blossom and the verges white with cow parsley. Crows caw loudly in the large horse chestnut in the field next door. We are falling into a productive pattern of writing in the morning and classes in the afternoon. Today we had a masterclass on narrative in poetry and prose, followed by a workshop which featured a play set in an Iraqi car wash in Wolverhamption and the opening of an historical novel set in India which drips with atmosphere. I have personally been working on the synopsis to my novel and have found the peace and quiet really useful for getting on with this hard task. Usually this would have taken me much longer than it has this week. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be here.