Valerie Gillies

And beseeching people to find me a co-facilitator.

I think that's absolutely right because I can't really remember much facilitating alone after Survivor's poetry came on the scene.

Yes, I've stepped back from that with the arthritis.

Well, Ted asked me to read two cancer poems, which really...

It's a long time since I had the cancer experience.

Yes.

I think it would be

right to say that I hadn't thought of working at Maggie's.

Where I was working when I first got a cancer diagnosis, I was working in the Royal Edinburgh Psychiatric Hospital for Artlink.

And I think that when Maggie's realised that, they asked me, would I run, in the light of my experience, would I run groups in Maggie's Edinburgh?

So, yes, that was the answer.

I would see what could be done.

Like any of these things, it's only when you see time and time again people finding their own solution, their own description of what's happening, that you understand how valuable it is just to be invited to write.

That would be lovely, yes.

From this book, The Lightning Tree.

Gosh, that is a long time ago.

These were written at the time I was receiving cancer treatment.

The first is called Vision of Tinto Hill.

And they're prefaced with a phrase from the nursing staff.

You may experience some discomfort.