Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

 What a day! I managed the whole 

I have spent the last five weeks aiming to complete my first novel (which has been on the back burner for the last ten years) by the end of August. There was a plan in place, including spending the last week on a personal writer's retreat in Crete. This was my office - for an hour or so before breakfast and more snatched moments before and after dinner - in the beautiful Aquila Rithymna Beach hotel on Crete's north coast. Now I have returned home with the first draft of A Satisfactory Conclusion completed. It needs editing before I submit it to agents, but we'll see how far it gets. My deadline for completing the editing process is just another 11 days, in the rather more prosaic setting of home. That is probably right - I need to focus on the polishing of this draft to achieve my best work.

There's so much history across Crete and it can get busy, with tourists taking a glimpse into the island's past. Knossos was great a couple of years ago, but visiting Phaistos this year was a real joy - fewer visitors, a great cafe on top of the hill and plenty of information as you walk around the ruins. A great day out - drive there and then take a trip to the nearby Matala beach to combine site seeing with sun worship.

It may have been pushing 30 degrees, but this walk was well worth it. A stunning tour of a fort built in the 16th century by Venetians and last occupied by the Germans during World War 2, since when it has been restored and preserved. Approaching Rethymno Fort Many people take the trouble to walk the steep approach to the Fort, but it never felt crowded Looking south Artillery Warehouse Looking towards the mosque St Lucas' bastion The view towards Chania Chania in the haze A gunpowder warehouse The view east across the harbour Taking a break from the sun A beautiful hour or two spent catching the sun and some history.

Looking south from the road to Adele There's something rewarding about leaving the hubbub of the hotel behind and hiking up into the hills outside Rethymnon. Seeing more of the Cretan countryside makes me love this island more. Within five minutes, the poolside babble had faded into silence, with just the wind through the ubiquitous olive trees to accompany me. Despite my walk taking me along a well made road, there were few cars and no passing pedestrians. I realised I'd failed to bring any water and stopped at a lonely petrol station. The owner joined me briefly between customers while I drank and he smoked. He had no English and I have little Greek, but it was a pleasant pause on my walk. In the lovely village of Adele, I found a traditional workshop that didn't seem to have many visitors. While I browsed, the owner stitched at an elderly sewing machine. Ancient crafts in Adele As I showed an interest in her ancient loom, she beamed and showed ...