The Salisbury text is now formatted – as far as I can do it – in Word, and apart from some more checking is ready to go to the printers. There will always be more checking that could be done, but eventually one just has to “let go”.
With the exception of the modern colour photos and one more image that needs some creative input, all of the pictures have been chosen. They now need captions and to be paid for. Calls to the relevant press agencies will be made very soon. I know which chapters each picture will go in, but I need to specify where in each chapter I’d like them and work out whether they’re half page or full page and so on.
We have an abundance of modern pictures we can use, and it seems that many of them will make their way into the book. As a consequence of its 400+ year history, the wordcount is 59,000 – the same as my other wordiest book, Bath – and there is a faint chance we might depart from the normal A5 softback format. We can make a decision on that when we’re further into the printing process.
I spent slightly less time than I’d wished for at Ffos Las last weekend. I’d wanted to either walk the course, or the local footpaths around it, or both, but the incessant rain deterred me. Another time, I hope. What went very well was my second meeting with some of the people who were involved with its creation. The first was 18 months ago and by now I had some follow-up questions. They kindly came to the course and gave me lots more information. I was also given a disc containing 200 photos taken over the course of a year by a lady who’d walked the local paths with her dog each day. The variety of wildlife she’d snapped as the seasons changed was marvellous. Flicking through those photos is as good as a nice walk, but without leaving the comfort of one’s fireside.
I also had a nice chat with the former head groundsman, and then I was off to the local library. That also worked out well; I’d ordered 50 or 60 press cuttings in advance and they were all ready and waiting for me when I arrived. A few hours was sufficient to absorb their contents, and that filled in some more gaps in the story.
Once Salisbury is with the printers I can devote myself to completing Ffos Las.
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