Sue is an extremely interesting person to meet and interview, and over tea and biscuits we found out a lot about Sue. Sue has lived here almost 18 years and is the creator and founder of the Lanzarote Creative Writing Group and Writersend.com
We started with our usual question of when and how Sue came to be in Lanzarote, we always find this an interesting question and enjoy finding out what the reason or inspiration was that brings people to the island.
LBRA. Hi Sue, thanks for taking the time to meet us, can we ask how long you have lived here and why Lanzarote?
Sue. I moved here on the 8th October 1998, and for anyone that knows me and knows how rubbish I am at remembering dates they will realise that it must have been a significant experience for me to enable me to recall the date so easily. I came to take up a teaching post but it was an amazing and almost accidental journey that brought me here. The previous year I had holidayed in Fuerteventura with friends, and we enjoyed it so much we decided to return, however the agent could not offer us any availability and suggested Lanzarote instead. Where’s Lanzarote I asked, next door came the reply so we said okay lets go with it. Having discovered Lanzarote I loved it and instantly it found a place in my heart.
During the holiday we happened to pass a school and a friend said you never know you could work there; we laughed and said if only. I had recently taken early retirement and was looking for part time or supply work in the UK. Back home I was meeting a friend for coffee one morning and as I was early and looking for a new post I stopped to buy the Times Education Supplement which I had never done before. At home later that day I opened the paper and staring at me in a large boxed advert was a teaching post for the British School in Lanzarote. It felt like fate and I just knew I had to apply. The wait to hear the outcome was excruciating and I felt ill and would have been heartbroken should I not have been successful. After a 3 week, 4 stage selection programme the post was mine and within weeks I was here starting my new life.
LBRA. Sue would you class yourself as an artisan, we know you paint, write, enjoy photography, poetry and other creative arts?
Sue. Gosh I had never thought about myself in those terms, I saw my early retirement as an opportunity to do things I had not fully had time to do before. I would consider myself a dabbler rather than an artist, and writing has always been my passion. In small ways I have fulfilled many of my ambitions by being in Lanzarote, for instance diving; so many things seem to be possible in Lanzarote, it’s a magical island.
LBRA. Tell us more about the creative writing group and Writers End?
Sue. I started the creative writing group in 2005 so last year was the 10th anniversary which I felt was a personal landmark, as many will know it’s often difficult to keep things continuing in Lanzarote, so to reach and surpass the 10 years was amazing and I held a celebratory lunch party.
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| 10th Anniversary party |
I had always been a scribbler and a writing group had always appealed to me. It was actually another lady who suggested we form one, and that gave me the spur to get started. However just as our plans were taking shape she fell pregnant and decided to leave the island, so I carried on and here we are. I started with a course which developed and it continued from there. We meet weekly on a Friday morning in Costa Teguise, the sessions are mainly stand alone but I do like to look back over previous work when possible.
The reason for them being stand alone is that they are flexible, drop in drop out, we have a number of members who cannot attend every week due to various reasons, we also have a few “swallows” for those of you that do not know swallows are what we call people who do not live here permanently who move back and forth throughout the year. We welcome everyone, even if just on holiday for a week or two and we encourage others to join us.
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Sue with a few members of the writing group.
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Writersend.com is the website, and it explains more about the group, what we do, and is a forum for members work. We have expanded the sections and as well as the group and individuals work it includes reviews, published authors work, various features including some on Lanzarote, articles, group activities and lots of good information and advice.
I also started a children’s group which focused on writing and reading, it was very popular but due to personal circumstances I had to close it but if there was any interest for it in the future I would be happy to start a new group.
LBRA. You also published some short bits of history about Lanzarote?
Sue. Yes I originally wrote these for “Buzz” magazine and subsequently due to the interest published them on a blog and they are still available now if anyone is interested in reading them.
LBRA. You are also involved with a games group and book club?
Sue. Yes the book club originally started at the Book Shop in Costa Teguise, it has changed direction but still continues after 8 years, meeting once a month. The “games” group meet weekly and really developed from the book club, people I met at the book club expressed an interest in meeting others to play games such as scrabble, backgammon, cards etc. We would also like to introduce cribbage and would welcome anyone who wants to meet other game enthusiasts to join us.
LBRA. Best things about living in Lanzarote?
Sue. On the practical side the cost of living particularly for a pensioner is so much lower, no real heating costs, council tax is so much cheaper, there are so many benefits. The climate and being able to always have doors and windows open allowing plenty of fresh air is an important factor. I have lots of friends and because I am retired I have plenty of time to enjoy life to the full, meeting friends, eating out and generally enjoying the Lanzarote life style. It is strange and a true fact that when I was seven I bought a Spanish phrase book. I remember it well as I had to save up and it cost two shillings and sixpence and it had a mustard cover, the weird thing is that I had never met anyone Spanish or been to Spain, I could have chosen French or Italian but no, I knew I had to have this book and I think the feeling was rooted in me then that someday I had to learn the language and live in Spain.
Years ago I visited Andalucía and thought “I could live here when I retire”, but the winter there is very different to Lanzarote, there they have lots of rain and it’s colder and the evenings are darker. The lifestyle here really suits me and I love the traditional music, Flamenco has always been a favourite of mine even from a young age.
LBRA. What if any changes would you like to see in Lanzarote?
Sue. Well I am not sure that I want to see many changes, I always said are we seeing the last of the best? When I first came here it reminded me of England in the 50s, but I knew that with time and media involvement such as the TV, changes would be inevitable. I liked the quaintness of it and its traditions, like Midnight Mass in Teguise, I remember going and during the service they opened the western doors and a troop of young people came in all in outfits and I thought how wonderful that in this day and age young people are willing to dress in costumes and learn traditional instruments like the timple. Carnival is another good example of people uniting to celebrate in time honoured traditions. I have never felt any resentment from locals to my being here and have always felt welcome at local fiestas, many of which are not advertised but when we attend they seem pleased that we go and enjoy their events. There will have to be some changes we all know that the health service is under strain and it is difficult for the younger population to find work, and I only hope that the local youngsters do not start to resent “immigrants” taking their jobs.
LBRA. I expect you have had lots of family and friends visit, where do you like to take them?
Sue. Love showing off the Manrique foundation and centres, Puerto Calero is also a favourite, driving through the Geria region and eating at inland Canarian bars and restaurants. I simply love the traditional and local places that offer authentic menus.
LBRA. Anything that would surprise people to know about you?
Sue. Well I was a professional Theatre Judge for the TMA regional theatre awards for 3 years. This allowed me to watch some wonderful productions and meet some great actors. These included amongst others: Frank Finlay, Timothy West, I saw Timothy in a superb show that his wife Prunella Scales had directed, David Yip, Dora Brian, John Thaw and his wife Shelia Hancock, but really too many to mention.
Another thing that people may not know about me is that when in my early 20’s, with 2 small children and a recent house move, my husband was killed in a car crash, you can imagine the impact this had of our lives. Of course I had great family support but had to work, I started working in a university library, which was ideal with my love of books. It was there that I realised that I needed a job that would offer us all financial security.
I considered doing a teacher training course but having worked in the university felt it would suit me better so I did my degree after which I did a one year teacher training post grad which launched my career. In life you find that one thing can happen that changes the whole picture, mine changed when I became widowed and a whole new picture emerged, I really loved university and for me teaching was a vocation not just a job. It was very rewarding and I enjoyed seeing the students when they made new discoveries, particularly on field trips and the theatre.
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| Sue pictured with Frank Finlay |
LBRA. 5 words to describe Lanzarote?
Sue. Spiritual, varied, romantic, diverse, welcoming.
LBRA. Any plans for the future?
Sue. Circumstances have made it necessary for me to spend more time in England so last year my partner Steve and I bought a Canal Boat, which had always been another of my ambitions. We spent most of last summer on it and plan to do the same most summer months, and we are looking forward to some exciting times on the water. I would never give up my base here but we are both hoping for some new adventures.
LBRA. Wow Sue what can we say, well done for all the amazing things you have achieved, huge admiration and what an inspiration to others, and we wish you every happiness for the future and look forward to receiving our Canal Cruising invite.
If anyone would like further information about the creative writing group, games, book club or children’s group then please email Sue on sue_almond2004@yahoo.co.uk
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