Shirley Percy retired from the Manchester Schools Ethnic Minority learning Support Service eight years ago. Since then she has pursued her interest in Buddhism and become a member of the Triratna community. She has enjoyed using the freedom of retirement to write poems and short stories and has been published by Blinking Eye, Norwich Writers’ Circle, Ragged Raven and Best of Manchester Poets. Recently Bridge House have accepted a Science Fiction story. Shirley lives in Bury with her husband and three (ex stray) cats.