I have been on many trips now, but this was the first one (as far as I know) where I have made a British Council Director shriek in alarm. Along with my fellow authors, I coaxed a nervous Susie (Nicklin) onto the frozen lake behind the Academie Schmockvitz. It was our lunch break. The sun shone. The air was frosty. The ice around us crackled. ‘Look at you !' said Susie, as I twirled improbably, ‘You're beaming !'
I beamed for most of Walberberg 2006. I beamed as I tucked into mountains of potato and the local red wine at every meal. I beamed as I topped up on coffee and cake. I beamed as I chatted to the participants who as well as being clever, fluent, high-achieving professionals also seemed to be incredibly nice people interested in what I had to say. I beamed as I watched the cream of German intellect dancing to the theme tune to The Commitments in the bar on the last night. It's possible I beamed in my sleep.
Thank you to Marijke (Brouwer) and all who made Walberberg possible. Long may it continue.
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