ON 2nd June 2025, I was invited to be a guest speaker on the panel of the 2nd Neurodiversity Conference at HMP Warren Hill, a familiar venue. With an audience of inmates, staff and professionals 100 hundred strong, it was clearly a very important and necessary event. Neurodiversity is of a high percentage in theContinue reading “Second Neurodiversity Conference”
Category Archives: how it feels from day to day
Prison, playacting and performing!
On March 19th, I returned to HMP Warren Hill to spend a day talking to prisoners about their experiences of prison life, from sentencing to release, and to understand some of the process, as well as hearing first-hand about their day-to day experiences. If you think that Warren Hill, a Category C prison, is anContinue reading “Prison, playacting and performing!”
‘March’-ing on in March!
It’s been a while since I wrote a blog here, on my website. There are a number of reasons for this: firstly I wrote two other blogs/article on a monthly basis. You may be aware that I write a monthly post for the award-winning Felixstowe Magazine App in the form of a column called PENspiration.Continue reading “‘March’-ing on in March!”
In Constant Pursuit of Happiness
If you check out the title, you might think it can be taken in two ways: We are all constantly pursuing happiness, or happiness is ‘inconstant.’ And that’s the thing – maybe due to the pressures of social media, tv and magazines, we expect to be happy and entertained all the time and believe thatContinue reading “In Constant Pursuit of Happiness”
In defence of the young –
When I first heard the news that the Conservatives were planning to bring back National Service, I thought it was some kind of joke, or internet meme. But then I discovered that in fact they had just lost the plot. If I were an undecided voter, this policy would ensure that I did not voteContinue reading “In defence of the young – “
Attic AttacK
It’s surprising what memories you can discover when your parents clear out their loft, and amazingly, they kept EVRYTHING – every drawing I did; every scrap of paper; the first book I ever wrote aged 3. All my toys! They are now museum pieces! This little doll was won by my mum for naming itContinue reading “Attic AttacK”
2024 is exciting far!
I have somewhat neglected to write here, as I have now got a regular spot writing a blog article each month for the Felixstowe magazine App https://thefelixstowemagazine.com This is a wonderful local app, which showcases local talent, event, venues – always an interesting read. I write PENspiration! (click to reveal my January article and clickContinue reading “2024 is exciting far!”
New Year 2024, ‘ Glamping’ and new projects on the go!
The year came to an end on a creative high. Not only had I been published in the Suffolk Writer’s group anthology, A Tapestry of poetry, and been to a beautiful book launch to perform some work, I’d also finished my second full collection of poetry, That Little Voice, and received all the beautiful illustrationsContinue reading “New Year 2024, ‘ Glamping’ and new projects on the go!”
The past few weeks!
A quick update: here’s what I have been up to for the past few weeks. As you know, I played Mary Boleyn and Elizabeth Barton In The Rise and Fall of Thomas Wolsey. Here are a couple more shots from that showing me as Mary Boleyn and a similar painting of her: After the showContinue reading “The past few weeks!”
Gifted
If you watch carefully, you will notice something about this child. Blink, and you’ll miss it. Only the very observant among you will see it. All right, are you ready? See that little girl there, the one in the long blue party dress? Yes, that one with the big trusting eyes and the short darkContinue reading “Gifted”
Virginia Betts 