I’m back – greatly enlightened but much poorer! I can’t say that I found standing on the glass panel on the observation deck of the CN Tower in Toronto and looking down 147 floors half as intimidating as the statistics they give to reassure you. Apparently, it can take the weight of 14 hippopotamuses (or should we be purists and go for hippopotami) – but I think the overcrowding and smell would be pretty unbearable.

And Niagara Falls? Unforgettable! But – and this is a bit but – get in there, see them, get up close on the Maid of the Mist, view the fantastic lighting effects at night and then get out. Otherwise, the ‘tackiness’ could smother you.

So, back to reality our Twitter Flash Fiction Competition Results are now available I was really impressed and thoroughly enjoyed judging it. You’d be surprised how much violence some people managed to fit into 140 characters – but I won’t spoil it for you by saying anything more. Go and read them for yourself.

Coming up soon is our annual tutors’ meeting when we get everyone together here in Manchester to discuss students…courses…students…assignments…students…you get the idea? We work terrifically hard (honest!) and then have an evening of good food and a few drinks. Just as it can be lonely being a writer, tutors can feel very isolated working from home and our annual meeting gives people the chance to get to know each other and compare notes.

So, I’m off to prepare the agenda and I’ll let you know how it goes.