I made myself go up town today and the sun came out. I’ve been crocheting blankets again; started at work the other night, in between calls. It’s time to build up a stock of stuff to sell, I mean I’m supposed to be finishing my website and that’s what’s holding me back, because I haven’t got anything, right here and now, to put up for sale. I’ve got all sorts lying God knows where but can’t get to it at the moment; some is in Spain and some, hopefully, wrapped up tight in the old flat. I saw wool at great prices in a big old department store last week so that was the first stop. Think I’ll get three blankets out of this, and the colours are stunning…have started already and am one ball down – 100gms in a couple of hours.


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... is launched today and is a big milestone for Goldenford (who, by the way, produce the best and most readable books in the south) as Sold to the Lady with the Lime-Green Laptop is our very first non-fiction production. And has one of the biggest-bosomed ladies you'll ever see on the front cover. At least with that expression. It's astonishing indeed what turns up on eBay! Well done indeed, Irene!

Anyway, the launch is where I'll be this evening. And here's hoping the upcoming Christmas browsers - especially those who use, or would like to use, eBay - pop a few copies in their shopping bags. It's a fun read and gives a whole new perspective on the profit to be made in the online shopping world, so be sure not to miss out! It's also an ideal way to support the absolutely vital independent publishing industry - God preserve us indeed from the tosh frequently given to us by the Big Boys ...!

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There's a kerfuffle in the book trade over the likely defection - or earlier defection, or certain defection, depending on what you read - of a variable number of high-powered agents from the agency PFD. I do feel sorry for writers whose agents are directly involved, but for the rest of us it's all good soap opera. For a moment I even allowed my decision not to talk book trade on this blog to wobble.

But only for a moment. Because I really do believe that allowing too much (any?) book-trade stuff into your writer's consciousness is absolutely inimical to creativity. And that's true whether you're writing at the sharp edge of literary experiment, or well within the boundaries of good stories comfortably told...


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Was seriously pissed off when I was flicking through this week's copy of the "Church Times" yesterday. And I strongly suspect that they were pretty pissed off too - or at least that's the impression I got from the tone of the reporting, the editorial and one or two of the columnists. Not that they can come out (sorry - in advance ...) with anything very open, but the feeling was certainly there. For those 99% of you not in the know, yes we're all very pissed off about the US bishops back-tracking over whether priests can be gay or not. Or gay and active or not. Or gay and over 5 foot 7 inches tall or not. Or whatever the current U-turn is focused on. God knows, but we've all actually forgotten the so-called "arguments" as we're all really bored with them by now ...

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Steady, people, steady ... Lord H took the day off today and we've spent it doing a "Day of Delights" at Pulborough Brooks. It was great. We did the tour of the part of the reserve where most of the birds are in the morning, and I managed to catch sight of a chiffchaff (which I only realised as the expert told me so - I wouldn't have recognised the darn thing otherwise, believe me ...), a kestrel, six zillion Canada geese and a swan in flight. Amongst other excitements ...

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I was thinking about making soup; can you make soup in a microwave? I imagine so, I’ll give it a try, but my lovely vegetable peeler is in the burnt-out flat, so is the blender. When Pete and Joan’s family asked me what I wanted from the house I said I’d like the peeler; I felt it was already mine, and it would always remind me of my time there. I spent eighteen months looking after them – that’s longer than a lot of marriages; mine only lasted three months! The first one that is; by the time I waited for a divorce I’d decided not to go through it again, so when I’d had enough of hubby no.2 it was just a case of saying, ‘Don’t be here when I get back from work!’


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I've discovered today that the cover for the UK mass market paperback is now up on Amazon. My name got bigger I notice! Though actually I think it's just that the book got smaller.


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One of the few benefits of having an overnight stay while on business is the occasional chance to spend the night in more luxurious surroundings than one would expect. This is one of those times.

Thanks to block bookings around Birmingham, we have found ourselves at Wroxall Abbey estate near Kenilworth. A sprawling 17th century mansion house, which was once the country home of Sir Christopher Wren. Nowadays transformed into a spa resort with highland cattle loitering in the pastures surrounding the manse. I wonder what Sir Christopher would have to say about that. Or would have revamped the place as if he was on Changing rooms?


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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7015289.stm
This link shows a fire in my building...on my landing! When I came home from work last night I couldn't believe the sight that met me as the lift door opened, and the smell. It was horrifying because of the recent scare we had with Amazon's flat going on fire. I immediately looked towards my son's door and it seemed as I left it.

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That Sudafed Vapour Plug was quite good last night, I thought – I certainly breathed more easily, though I didn’t sleep that much (too much Lucozade, I imagine …). I’m definitely using that again. An early rise this morning, as Lord H kindly gave me a lift to work as I’m up in London this evening and it’s easier to walk to the station, rather than have to worry about the car.

Still, it’s weird to be at work on a Thursday though – I’m such a creature of routine. I think it’s confused the rest of the office too. The fun news about today though is that the boss brought in chocolate to cheer us up post-post-Freshers’ Week. Hurrah! Apparently it’s the new process in dealing with negative feedback – anyone who gets anything bad said about them gets chocolate. Almost worthwhile being irritating to get that feedback then! ...

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