In 2022, despair knocked my sense of self back through seven decades. I survived the failure of my novel, Michel-Michelle, launched in the Irish Writer’s Centre in Dublin, while Covid lurked quietly out of the limelight. I managed my way through cocooning and lockdown by pursuing the dream of a native woodland in Donegal. Ukrainian refugees in Donegal helped me through the worst patches in 2022. Sprengelhaus in Berlin kept going through it all inspiring me to continue my search for hope by journeying there. An alphabet exploring despair emerged as I searched for a stronger sense of self to face the future. I plan to share my alphabet on my blog in 2023 in the hope of dialogue with you thorugh the Wood Wide Web.
The Sense of Self Alphabet will explore:
Age and Androgyny
Bisexuality, Ego and Eco
Celibate and the void
Drag and the Agenda 21 Deadlne
Equality and Environment
Feisty Femininism with Jaya
Gay Liberation with GCN and Anthony Peppiatt
Heterosexual and Homosexual and the Holy Halls
Intersex, inequailities,HRH Princess Anne, Claire Nuer and Anisa
Joy and Jealousy
Kaleidescope with the Goddess at Greenham Common
Lesbians and honouring Luchia Fitzgerald
Men, Myths and Saint Brigid
Non-binary Ulster
Other and Stumbling Blocks
Padres of Patriarchy
Queer, Poly labels
Rationale and Religion
Sex and Sense of Berlin CityScape
Terms, Travellers and Anisa
Understanding, Us, and Unilever
Virgin and Victorina Press
Women Writer
X for the fear of polarisation is back
Y for male and female parts of trees
Zwitter and gender fluidity in trees and facing my seven disappointments
Margo Gorman 
Dear Margo, I’d be happy to participate to your blog next year. For now I wish you and Schorse all the best for the Christmas break and a good start in 2023, I guess we’ll see us in early January. All the Best Marcus
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That is a hefty alphabet to get through! It should lead to some interesting conversations, so please count me in. For now we wish you and Schorse a good Christmas and and a better 2023. May that woodland grow tall and straight and survive. We value your friendship and the time we spend together. With love Carol and Philippe
Dear Margot,
I subscribed to this after sitting next to you on a plane to Bremen years ago and having coffee at the train station after. Hope you‘re doing well after all. As a queer person myself I am very much looking forward to your alphabet.
Hope your holidays are quiet or exciting – whichever is needed. Alexander
Dear Alexander, good memories of a chance encounter. I really like Bremen. I hope you find something in the Alphabet to keep our connection.
Best wishes, Margo
Uff, Margo, that sounds tough to me! I hope there is also some laughing (at ourselves) included.
I am very curious and looking forward to the blogs
Schorse
A tad more that ‘A is for Apple’ then! I await the blogs with anticipation and curiosity. A toast to 2023 and surviving it.
Patricia x