Perth Writer's Festival

I had planned this weekend for several months.  Merv went into respite while I relaxed and later in the week would be attending the Writers Festival at UWA.  I never considered we would be packing and getting ready for the move of a life time.  I had planned to put our house on the market this weekend but it's been sold and it's now time to pack.
I wasn't sure if I should just scratch the writer's festival or whether I should take the time to go.  I figured next year I wont be able to attend so I decided to make up time packing and cleaning tomorrow and in the evenings.
Over two days at the festival I attended eight sessions.  Each session comprises of two to three authors and a speaker who oversees each session.  The authors always have something in common, whether its the setting or the plot or the genre of their books.  I am always inspired.
My first session was called, 'The Woman Who Changed her Brain.' Barbara Arrowsmith Young was born without spacial awareness deficiency of her left side and had various learning issues.  I was amazed how she learnt how to overcome her learning difficulties and has created programs which initially helped her but now has helped many others throughout the world.  I bought her book.  Hopefully I will find time to read it soon. Other sessions I attended focused on: crime, Australian towns, community grief, families and their secrets and the current plight of refugees throughout the world.
Throughout the following sessions the auditoriums were filled to capacity with many being turned away.  I soon learnt after each session you have thirty minutes to move to the next one.  A quick toilet break, a bite to each while walking across the university grounds and getting into line awaiting the next session on my list.  There were a good range of topics and authors for each time slot but it often meant walking across lawns, up steps while reading the festival map!
It was hot both days but I wouldn't have missed it.  I feel more inspired to read and to write. 
There was just one thing I found annoying.  Not the authors or the organisers but the audience.  Many times I found myself sitting next to women who pulled out their iPhone and checked their social media.  One woman who was almost as old as me, pulled out her iPad as well as her phone.  I grunted for all to hear!  I wanted to wack her but refrained from doing so.  I couldn't see the point of them attending if their attention was on their device and not the authors.   Maybe I'm becoming a grumpy old woman!