Poem from the Skyros Centre by Mandy Rymill

We all came to Skyros to set ourselves free
To write and to swim and to just simply be
There’s the writers, the lifers, the tutors, the team
We’re all one big family, or so it must seem
To the villagers who look at us as if we are mad
With our yoga mats and musings and eyes that are sad
But this place has healed us and set us on the way
To a bright future for all, so we say ‘thanks’ for our stay.

To Julian with his clipboard, his Greek and his rules
And John with his calmness and life-coaching tools
There’s Crysse with her ‘lovely’ and her words of advice
And Yoga Suzy with her positions, massage hands so nice
And Sarah-Helena who sorts, does and smiles
And finally Hazel who has made it all so worthwhile.

And what about us?
There’s Helen, the wisest and Scottish of all participants
And Trish with her kindness, her hair and her ants
And Maggie so observant, who wanders afar
And Simon with his ladies and his trip in the car.
There’s Nicky with her dress, her piano and her songs
And Richard with his quirkiness, his jokes but no thong
And Jo with her snorkel, her lie-ins and ouzo
And Jeannie with her lilo and swimming and booze – oh,
And don’t forget Anna with her opera and her wine
And Annette with her skirts and her dresses so fine.
Then there’s Diana with her yoga, her hat and skirt
And Mike with his football club and very nice shirt.
Then there’s Kathy, a vegetarian who doesn’t eat fish
And Musetta with her history, her journal and dish – washing
And let’s not forget Steph with her poems and grace
And, finally, there’s me, with the bump on my face.

So Skyros we say ‘thank you’ for all that you are
And know that we’ll think of you whether near or whether far.

Mandy Rymill

Mandy attended the Writers' Lab holiday at the Skyros Centre in June. To find out more about the Skyros Centre, visit www.skyros.com/village_centre.htm or call 01983 865566 for a brochure.

Home from home by Simon Luscombe

You know, I have grown to appreciate this beautiful island of Skyros and particularly the Skyros Centre.

Even after spending time at the much imagined and, possibly, envied Asitsa Bay, where many new friends had chosen to spend their holiday/course.

When I went to Atsitsa this weekend I thought how wonderful it was; the rural setting, the peacefulness and the relaxed atmosphere. I enjoyed the company I had met on the transfer over to Skyros; the beautiful sunset and of course the incredible singing that we enjoyed with the Asitsa group.

I was fortunate to stay over the night, along with Chrissie, the creative writer facilitator, I must say in some very comfortable huts and not the dreaded dorms that I had expected!

The following day we enjoyed (not endured) the walk across the island, back to Skyros Town. This certainly put me, for one, more in touch with the landscape and nature of the island.

I wasn't prepared though for the feeling of being back home in Skyros Town. I was so happy to be back in civilisation, to be back amongst the white washed walls, the cafés and bars of the high street, busyness of the town and of course the friendly faces of the Greek people in Skyros Town.

Most of all though it was nice to be back at the Skyros Centre, which now feels like home. No small thanks to Julian, Hazel, Sarah-Helena, Susie, Suzie, Chrissie, John and not least the two wonderful cooks who provide us daily with such lovely food, all who have created a home from home atmosphere. This is a very special place and I, for one, am glad that I chose to spend my break here amongst such lovely company.

Simon Luscombe

Simon attended the Life Choices programme at the Skyros Centre, on Skyros island, Greece. See www.skyros.com or call 01983 865566 for a Skyros brochure. At the Skyros Centre, you can choose either the Life Choices or Writers' Lab programme. Holidays at the Skyros Centre also include yoga, massage and music and arts activities and the current season runs until Saturday 2 October.

Dancing with Diana on the Beach by Maggie Sackett

Well I’m dancing, Diana is gently swaying in the hammock. We are happy. We each have a cool glass of yellow wine in hand. There are red-flashed white fluffy clouds in the sky behind a dark Crete-shaped one.

We are on Skyros beach and it is indeed the magical place as billed in the brochure. Nothing disappoints. It is all perfect.

A soundtrack of soft jazz plays. There is no wind to blow out the flags. The mosquitos dance around me, the 50 per cent deet roll on keeping them at bay. There is sand in my fit flops.

A slice of rock juts out enclosing one side of the bay, a man made harbour with a couple of fishing boats on the other. Two arms embracing this semi circle of heaven. Two Greek boys are kicking a football around, the world cup match on the flat screen in the bar driving them here to play out their dreams.

The turquoise and cream umbrellas are tucked up for the night and the sound of the waves coming home fills the silences between the jazz notes. A drop of rain falls from Crete which has somehow joined up with a black cloud the size of Europe. The moment has gone but it was there and I’ll always remember it.

Maggie Sackett

Maggie attended the Writers' Lab at the Skyros Centre on Skyros island, Greece. See www.skyros.com. The Writers' Lab was named by The Guardian as No 1 of the World's 5 Best Writing Holidays. See Press. The current season of holidays at the Skyros Centre runs up to Saturday 2 October. Call 01983 865566 for your Skyros brochure.

Notes from a small island by Jennie Rooney

As a facilitator for the Writers' Lab, I had a wonderful fortnight at the Skyros Centre - great food, inspiring company and lovely afternoons at the beach.

I will miss being awoken by goats and church bells, but more than anything else I'll miss the company of the other writers and their stories, characters and fictional alter-egos!

Jennie Rooney

Jennie Rooney's first novel was published in 2008 and was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, as well as being featured on Richard and Judy's New Writers Book Club. She lives in London, where she also works for First Story (a school-based writing project) and runs creative writing courses. Her second novel is to be published in June 2010.

Jennie was facilitating the Writers' Lab programme at the Skyros Centre on Skyros island, Greece. See www.skyros.com. The Writers' Lab was named No 1 on the World's 5 Best Writing Holidays by The Guardian. See press.

Finally Started my Novel by Andrew Stevenson

A wonderfully creative atmosphere. I finally started my novel and finished the first chapter. I would have loved to stay longer to finish the second.

Andrew Stevenson



Andrew attended the Writers' Lab at the Skyros Centre on Skyros island, Greece. See www.skyros.com. The Guardian named Skyros as No 1 of the World's Five Best Writing Holidays. See press coverage here.

A Perfect Start to the Day by Maggie Sackett

Its 7am time for yoga with Suzie on the terrace. I’m halfway through my third week. I've been sound healed, painted mandalas, made hay with Hazel, sung a trio of songs with my Scottish and Irish inmates in an operatic belly dancing fashion and freed my spirit.

More dead dog than downward dog says Suzie, concentrate on your breathing. If only I hadn’t stopped off for that hot chocolate and brandy on the way home, may be too much after the half litre of red with dinner. It was delicious though.

Don’t let your mind wander like a drunken monkey. But I do. I’ve had such a fantastic time I just can't stop smiling. Where is that cynical jaded anxious woman that I brought to the island before Skyros worked its magic? I'm not taking her home that’s for sure.

Put your left hand behind you and imagine you are curling it round a hamster then stretch the other up as high as you can. Keep your feet strong not like floppy dead kippers. Suzie inspects our yoga poses.

Your hamster is crushed, she reports, moving me into a vicious twist. As the sun starts warming my body and I know the pain is nearly over, I can hear Julian crossly calling Mollie the collie who has made yet another break for freedom. Finally we lie down and Susie goes through opening our chakras as we reach the crown of our heads a white light suffuses my body and I am filled with energy. I sit up and open my eyes. The ground tumbles towards the blue green aegean sea. A perfect view, A perfect start to the day.

Maggie Sackett

Maggie attended the Writers' Lab at the Skyros Centre on Skyros island, Greece. See www.skyros.com. The Guardian named Skyros as No 1 of the World's Five Best Writing Holidays. See press coverage here.