Hmm, there's a title to conjure with. This morning, I have played golf with Marian for the first time in about six zillion years (I've been away, I've been ill, she's been away, she's been ill, etc etc ...) and we were total rubbish. Understandably. Though the day was lovely and the colours on the trees are surely as near to heaven as we're likely to get this side of the Grim Reaper. Mind you, I was pretty shit-hot with my tee shots, which went straighter and further than they ever go when I play regularly. But the rest of my game was pants. I'm sure the ruddy holes kept moving. Even while I was putting, dammit ...

Read Full Post

Had a fantastic time at Scottish country dancing last night - completely non-cool (whatever that means), I know, but it was great. Mind you, I was shattered after ten minutes, and the class was an hour and a half, so you can imagine what my muscles are like this morning. Not having a partner wasn't too bad either, and there were even numbers (more women than men, of course, but more men than I'd expected, and not all old!), so I could do most dances - one bloke sat out for a couple, but the tutor kept including me when I was least expecting it. While my mind (and everything else) remains something of a blur, I think we did four or five dances, all new to the class, but I can only remember the names for two of them: Dhoon, and the Devil amongst the Tailors. Which is a wonderful title so I just had to use it ...

(PS: Click through to the full post to see ex-WW member, Nell Grey's marvellous artwork for Thorn in the Flesh - due Spring 2008!)

Read Full Post

I can't quite believe this day has come. I've had trouble sleeping all week. Who would have thought November 1st would be so auspicious? First, Nanowrimo kicks off today, and all those of us around the world who signed up begin our 2000-words a day towards that 50,000-word target at the end of the month. I got up this morning and didn't do any of the things I usually do. No email, no switching cell phone on. I made tea, I turned the radio to the classical channel, I started up my laptop, and for an hour, I wrote. 2051 words. And NOT a short story. I think I might just be able to do this.

Then, and only then, did I allow myself to do the other Big Thing for today: I launched my new venture, The Short Review . .....

Read Full Post

I am happy to say that my flyers finally arrived for my promotional mailing yesterday. They came out better than I hoped—very cute! But then I also had an amazing designer, Jill Ronsley, create them. Now I have 10,000 flyers sitting in boxes in my living room which I need to ship out ASAP. I’ll post a picture of the flyer on my flickr page: (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14451336@N05/?saved=1) so you can see it. They will be going to librarians across the country. I’ve never tried a promotional library mailing before so we’ll see how successful it is. Wish me luck!

Amber
http://chrysalispress.com

The last of the student care services marketing events in the library today – thank goodness, we cry!... It hasn’t been a roaring success – to put it mildly – and I’ve been really glad to get it over with. Grand total of people who’ve popped into see us over the last three weeks at our display: six. Though to be fair, I did have one email query today as a result of my electronic flyer, which I’ve sent out over the last couple of weeks to try to drum up interest. Unfortunately that student couldn’t come, but at least I could give some virtual advice. The only other response was a lass asking about her library books. Hmm, I suspect I may not entirely have got the message across then, Carruthers … Somebody pass me my rifle and put us all out of our misery …

Read Full Post

Today its dark and drizzly. I've just posted my challenge off. Think I put it in the wrong place. Still, that's a habit I have, putting things in wrong places. Cinnamon Press is running a competition but the deadline is close. Hope I've time to do it. Oh, for sun, a small house on the island of Paxos and time. Not forgetting a case of red wine, 2 packs of Golden Virginia with filters and papers of course.

When I was researching my piece for the Guardian blog, I received an extraordinary letter from my friend the double axe-murderer Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov. I had hoped that the editor of the Guardian Online books section would publish it in its entirety, but she didn't. So I reproduce it, with permission, below:

"When the last page is read, the book closed and placed on the shelf, dust already descending on its cover mercifully shrouding the author's name and the work's title, is it really where the story ends? For those who care enough to wonder (and in my case to experience such question as a vital doubt) the answer will be 'No'...."


Read Full Post

A Day at Wembley

The only word that possibly suits Wembley Stadium is Immense. Sure, the old stadium was a unique place, but somehow I cannot remember it being so huge inside. Whatever the feelings about Old or New, the stadium was a fitting place for the NFl game between the Dolphins and Giants.

Unlike other American football games played at Wembley back in the 80's, this one was for real. So watching how teams play in regular season was a great scene. It's a pity we were not a little bit close to see some of the sideline acitivity in close detail.

Read Full Post

Phew! At last, I’ve got those dang Student Induction minutes done. And sent to the Chair to correct before I send out to the usual suspects. Which he usually takes a while over as he’s so busy elsewhere, but today he read them straight off and sent me a charming little note making only two small changes and commenting; “Excellent minutes from a rather unstructured meeting”. So that’s certainly made my day. Shame I’ve already had (and survived – another phew …) my review, eh.

This lunchtime, I finally made it to my Hormone Guru appointment at Surrey Park Clinic. And what an utterly charming, lovely and helpful woman she is – so different from my own (horrible) doctor. We had a fantastic in-depth chat, and she thinks I might be insulin resistant, which explains the messed-up hormones, the rollercoaster ride through a normal month and the bouts of depression. Apparently. And is also one of the joys one can expect if you come from a family riddled with diabetes and bowel cancer. Well, never say life isn’t exciting here in downtown Godalming!...

Read Full Post

Well, being as it's Hallowe'en tomorrow, here's a scary story. It originally appeared in Flashshot in February (I think) 2005.

SPADE

The damp cold from the cobbled street seemed to soak into his bones, causing them to throb almost as much as his head.

A hand to his mouth brought away more blood. Moist over caked hands.

He opened his mouth to speak, but found he could not. He wanted to ask why, and not being able to did to his soul what the spade had done to his body.

Something blocked out the light from the street lamp; the spade.

Finally he was able to speak, although the words would be his last.

“No. Dad. Stop.”

Read Full Post