tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6419407941468249862024-03-13T10:16:36.731-07:00This Time Next YearLiz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-12323876530734764462020-09-24T05:46:00.003-07:002020-09-24T05:46:39.582-07:00Giving Helen Mirren a run for her money<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My agent tells me I must 'get my arse in gear' if the relaunch of <i>This Time Next Year</i> is to happen before the launch of <i>This year ... maybe</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">She has given me a list of things to do. When I asked what I was paying her for if I have to do all this stuff myself she said - and I quote - 'You are paying me to tell you to do it.'</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I can't help feeling her logic is flawed but when I mentioned this to David he said, 'Well, take it up with her. Don't moan to me,' which I think is quite an uncharitable thing for a supposedly-supportive partner to say.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Foolishly mentioned the book launch to my mother when we popped in to see them at the weekend. She is now planning what she should wear for it, 'As I play such a significant part in the story,' she said, nodding her head significantly. I pointed out that it will all be done online but David helpfully added, 'But you'll be doing a live video link as well, won't you? Eunice could appear in that.'</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I <strike>think</strike> know he does these things on purpose sometimes just to drive me mad.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I fear my mother sees herself as the local Helen Mirren.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhORl84ofUWwItZbN_Z9lAfGFlFwbKWYerFWKZ2TQl0Pr37zM7L9Gy_43avakArFX9gLzGbh9GtxAlExL7fL13Lat2SkAazHDpbSPsQbZ2waxVtCtARBd6rbLV2BJs4WH79Wu56y83azW5/s894/o-HELEN-MIRREN-570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="570" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhORl84ofUWwItZbN_Z9lAfGFlFwbKWYerFWKZ2TQl0Pr37zM7L9Gy_43avakArFX9gLzGbh9GtxAlExL7fL13Lat2SkAazHDpbSPsQbZ2waxVtCtARBd6rbLV2BJs4WH79Wu56y83azW5/s320/o-HELEN-MIRREN-570.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-33131886162819160272020-09-12T04:03:00.005-07:002020-09-12T04:03:39.776-07:00This year ... definitely<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Oh my, has it really been so long since I last wrote? I do apologise, dear readers - or fans as I like to call you in my dreams.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This virus and the lockdown has a lot to answer for. ( I can hear my old English teacher saying, 'for which to answer, Alison, for which to answer, but yah boo sucks, I'm a published author now and can say what I like.) (It's okay, she died a few years ago.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My agent, who is currently looking over my shoulder, would like to point out that being locked in with nothing to do should have meant that I had plenty of time to concentrate on blogging. I would like to point out to her that some of us do have a life, you know.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">That would have been slightly more effective if I hadn't just missed my mouth while drinking my tea.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Anyway, exciting news: there is to be a blog tour for part two of my memoir! <i>This year ... maybe</i> will be published at the end of November to tie in with the tour.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And before that, apparently, I am also relaunching <i>This Time Next Year.</i> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My agent has pointed out that this is a perfect time to do it with people looking for Christmas presents. I pointed out that that's what I should be doing too. She pooh-poohed that idea. I am seriously thinking of looking for a new agent. (I wish you could see the look on her face now: she is terrified at the prospect of losing me.)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3S1IECQ8s_CC-u4iBlrqwOCP5T7zDxVL3jD3HV8niP9pWkS7iuDE7ZsOvMGB8sxAGd5wXnkqBDVfbkhwEGD6pCPwHVHBkpH1XjH6GKChpdFiz5JkfHxDMcFcu3KwAGaeZjcsTiK-KNSyt/s474/seriously.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3S1IECQ8s_CC-u4iBlrqwOCP5T7zDxVL3jD3HV8niP9pWkS7iuDE7ZsOvMGB8sxAGd5wXnkqBDVfbkhwEGD6pCPwHVHBkpH1XjH6GKChpdFiz5JkfHxDMcFcu3KwAGaeZjcsTiK-KNSyt/s320/seriously.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">So expect to hear lots from me in the coming weeks. </span><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And don't forget, you can listen to the whole of <i>This Time Next Year</i>, in short episodes, for FREE, using the player at the top of this page.</span></p>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-21487936378798503862020-07-06T09:02:00.000-07:002020-07-06T09:02:47.030-07:00The donkey who saved me twice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just read my last post and realised I never came back to show you my amazing cover design.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdZtQRrvLBKM31eUebX_h40yYzd0B_R-gUFQuQFa9Jl7f24g4n4wxDmLNEwPh4zqBjlBhNVfLUC8hzM6-_rYep7bN8o1-eQ3dEtmmXht6wetZ4rICQiSpD2tpI9EOaVebZMoxcPkAXnqA/s1600/donkey+who+saved+me+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="257" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmdZtQRrvLBKM31eUebX_h40yYzd0B_R-gUFQuQFa9Jl7f24g4n4wxDmLNEwPh4zqBjlBhNVfLUC8hzM6-_rYep7bN8o1-eQ3dEtmmXht6wetZ4rICQiSpD2tpI9EOaVebZMoxcPkAXnqA/s320/donkey+who+saved+me+copy.jpg" width="211" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, okay, looking at it with fresh eyes I can see that it may not work as it is ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But what on earth am I going to call it? My working title, suggested by David, is <i>What Aliss Did Next</i>, but I'm not convinced. Oh dear, I have taken to sighing again. David says he can always tell when I need chocolate, a cup of tea, a glass of wine, or a hug, by my sighing. I asked him how he knew which one was applicable. He said, 'The size and depth of it usually gives me a clue.' </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shame he's at work now: I could do with chocolate.</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-81301336863249892252020-06-12T02:13:00.000-07:002020-06-12T02:13:56.674-07:00The donkey who saved me<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yay! I did it! No, not MyNoWriMo, although I did start it and it gave me the impetus I needed to go ahead and <b>finish my memoir part 2</b>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">101,070 words in total. That's a lot of words - although I still have to come up with the hardest few: the title. How do other writers think of such excellent titles for their books? Perhaps I should use one of these random generator games you sometimes see on FaceBook. You know the ones, where you are allocated phrases depending on the initials of your name. The most recent gave me <i>Chickens Preaching on Rooftops</i>, which although a fun title doesn't bear any resemblance to my book.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Unless I could somehow work chickens into the plot ... but we did encounter a donkey. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I asked David, 'What do you think of <i>The Donkey Who Saved Me</i> as a title for my book?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The look he gave me answered my question better than a thousand words. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I like it. I've even designed a cover. I say 'designed'; what I mean is that I took a photo of a James Bond cover and adapted it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Photo of cover here - when Blogger stops messing about and let's me insert it.</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-26826213278607363752020-05-31T07:48:00.003-07:002020-05-31T07:48:59.342-07:00Must get a grip<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I really must get a grip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Well, I'm right here!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I jumped. I hadn't realised David had come in the room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'What?' I said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'I'm here. You can grip me any time you want.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I frowned at him. 'Did I say that about getting a grip out loud?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David nodded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do I say all my thoughts out loud? Is this why I get funny looks in the supermarket and people avoid me?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'And at home.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I scowled at him but he carried on, 'Like I said, I'm right here if you want to get a good grip.' He advanced on me with what I think was meant to be a sultry smile. I pushed him away. 'I didn't mean that. I meant I need to get a grip on my writing life.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Oh,' David looked disappointed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'I'm a successful author now - don't raise your eyebrows at me like that: I am! And I can't keep my fans writing for the sequel.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Any longer than they've already had to wait you mean?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Look, if you're just going to be unhelpful I'm not going to tell you my brilliant idea.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David's face dropped and he started to back away quickly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Where are you going? Don't you want to hear my brilliant idea?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Your brilliant ideas usually involve me in painting a room or chopping down a tree.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'I've never asked you to ... well, only one tree and it was a dud. it didn't give us any plums. And I warned it, told it was on last chance.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'I'm not taking any chances.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'No, I promise this doesn't involve you at all.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He looked doubtful but I smiled and nodded my head encouragingly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Okay, go on,' he said, 'but the first time you say "and you can ..." I'm off.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Fine. So ...' I wanted to build up the tension I felt my original announcement had lost. 'I'm doing MyNoWriMo again.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David studied me for a moment then said, 'Well, I recognised most of the words even if they didn't make sense.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Don't be silly, you remember I did it in February. You know there's a national novel writing month but it's called NaNoWriMo not because it's done in November as I first thought but it is, and that's far too busy a time, so if you remember I put it off until February.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David was looking a little bemused so I tried again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'I have to write every day for a month. You must remember! I did really well in February and now we're in lockdown so I should do even better.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although the strange thing about lockdown is that time seems to be warped. Some days it disappears; other days it's hours and hours until dinner time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So watch this space for news of my successes!</span><br />
<br />
<br />Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-54906764535062824412020-05-28T09:04:00.002-07:002020-05-28T09:04:56.668-07:00Writing to the PM<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The trouble with the podcast is that once my excitement with that had faded, I lost enthusiasm. I haven't done a scrap of writing for months. It was fine in the beginning because I had the podcast to blame but now I have no excuses.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In fact, having finished the podcast, which was, after all, intended to be a little tempter to buy the next book, I should have been in all sorts of a hurry to get said book finished.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ho hum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The good news is that I <i>have </i>opened my manuscript today. That's all. I haven't written anything but it's a start.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And a reminder to me of where it finished. I'd completely forgotten that part of the story. So there's hope for me tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I say I haven't written anything but this very afternoon I wrote several emails. Can you guess to whom I wrote? No, you'll never be able to guess so I'll tell you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I wrote to the Prime Minister, my MP, and the leader of the Labour Party. Are you impressed? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David was so fed up of me grumbling about the way certain members of the government seem to think it's fine to lie he told me to do something about it. In fact, he was quite snappy with me. It wasn't my fault. I thought he was, like me, lying awake turning things over in his head; I had no idea he'd just dropped off to sleep when I started complaining.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I think he thinks I wouldn't do anything so I have. So there. And if more members of the public had my strong sense of morals it might be possible to effect a change. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I said something similar in my letter but possibly wishing Carrie and Wilf all the best, and asking for a photograph, might have diminished the impact. </span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-52108629390870014982020-05-18T08:47:00.003-07:002020-05-18T08:47:56.511-07:00Grazing is the new norm<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before lockdown began, Chloe, with unexpected foresight, taught Mum and Dad how to skype so we have regular catch-up chats, or rather, we have monologues from Mum telling us how she is convinced their next door neighbour is breaking curfew. In fact she only phones when she has new 'evidence'. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Chloe also gave Great-aunt Millie lessons so she too calls us at random hours, asking when we're going to take her sausages, and have I let my husband have a shed yet. Auntie Millie hasn't quite got the hang of it though and holds the phone to her mouth every time she speaks resulting in some very unwelcome close-ups of her teeth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Still technology is wonderful - I think if I keep telling myself that I'll believe it eventually - and a wonderful way to keep in touch with the children. When they answer their phones that is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Did I mention that I finished recording my podcast? Since then I seem to have to been in a bit of a slump, lacking the impetus to do anything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Except eat. I am eating from morning till night. David calls me his little grazer. I try to tell him it's natural; have you ever seen a gorilla without something to eat in his hand? But even I don't really believe that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Still these are extraordinary times and extraordinary measures are called for. Now where did I hide the chocolate bar?</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-23165511563333360452020-05-10T05:51:00.004-07:002020-05-10T05:51:33.953-07:00A glowing review!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Debra, who's been listening to my podcast, wrote this:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>"I laughed SO hard at Page One Girl, Benito the Giraffe and Leonard Cohen, and Charlie and the Sock!"</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's so good to know I'm entertaining people even if inadvertently. I think I mentioned that I had been considering a career move into stand-up comedian. It is a wonderful feeling when people laugh at you. With you I mean!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But most of my humour comes from me just living. It's not clever or witty or political satire. It's me burning bacon or jumping to conclusions, inevitably the wrong ones. You'd think I'd learn. 'Probably too late now.' David was reading this over my shoulder and he said that. If he hadn't been bringing me a cup of tea at the time I might have thumped him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a lovely walk this morning with Lady by the river. Our favourite routes have been getting a bit popular of late, with people having to stay close to home, and I thought the river would be popular today but once we got away from the main starting point it was fine. Idyllic in fact. I might just have flung my arms out and started singing, 'Oh what a beautiful morning,' which has become my habit. To everyone's regret. Even Lady gives me a 'Must you?' look. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But really? How could I resist?</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-67928056190911393322020-05-05T05:49:00.004-07:002020-05-05T05:49:50.827-07:00Chattering teeth<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't have much more recording to do for my podcast. Another two or three will episodes will probably see me through to the end with a postscript.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have had to build myself up to record the next chapter. It covers a difficult time in our lives and - SPOILER ALERT - though I know the ending it's still unpleasant remembering it. Still it must be done. And I will. As soon as I've put on an extra jumper: it seems to have turned very cold today. In fact it was warmer outside this morning for our daily walk with Lady than it is in the house. Would it be very bad to turn on the heating?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Done. On the grounds that I can't make a recording if my teeth are chattering.</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-21169511083078956322020-05-01T03:21:00.003-07:002020-05-01T03:21:30.950-07:00Still crazy after all these years<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not ignoring you, honest! It's just that I've been very busy lately recording my podcast. Remember? The serialisation of what I like to call my memoir.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKCcOX86zGCRwT0opXRRMW6hSpQY5W6jzqSKZDzFaXCDoI66GlGwXTBzmK1ey-Xk3xppEltATL0t_FNToeITMfCmMMHQ09hnPhgGssd-6CbTC7vOFXGEI3qbckVGOS6pw9CSC117Oxu1u/s1600/victoria+wood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="202" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKCcOX86zGCRwT0opXRRMW6hSpQY5W6jzqSKZDzFaXCDoI66GlGwXTBzmK1ey-Xk3xppEltATL0t_FNToeITMfCmMMHQ09hnPhgGssd-6CbTC7vOFXGEI3qbckVGOS6pw9CSC117Oxu1u/s1600/victoria+wood.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bits I've been recording recently have been very funny. Well, I think so anyway. At one point in my diary I wonder if I missed my vocation in life; if I could have been a stand-up comic like Victoria Wood. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course since I wrote my diary Ms Wood has died. Much too young. So much more she could have brought us. As it is her legacy will live long. I have a CD of hers and I can't listen to it without almost wetting my pants, it's so funny.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway, I hope you're listening to my podcast and I hope even more that you're enjoying it. (Although if you're not listening then that hope is irrelevant.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am coming quite close to the end of the book now. When it's finished I'll be able to get back to writing the sequel, which has taken second place to the recording and editing process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In many ways this lockdown has been useful. In other ways not so: I have moments when I go crazy but as David says, 'I've been putting up with your craziness for years; it's about time you experienced it yourself.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm still wondering how to take that.</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-68371602018434746602020-04-19T08:13:00.003-07:002020-04-19T08:13:35.451-07:00There are treats and treats<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Making the most of the unseasonably warm weather and sitting out in the garden. I'm reading while David treats the garden furniture ready for the summer - unless this is it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I said I could do with a treat and he offered to rub me down with some sandpaper.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'd been hoping for something a little more chocolatey.</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-49484847398039055892020-04-16T03:29:00.002-07:002020-04-16T03:29:34.812-07:00My birthday day<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a picnic! (In the garden in case you're worried about breaking the social distancing rules.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those of you who've read my memoir or who've listened to it on podcast will know that we went on a picnic for one of our first dates. Then we were in a wonderful little spot overlooking the sea, and David didn't know I didn't like mustard.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7EJlnNAYs73Zn0di1hnDn8E2x_WFYRycJCGIBFEPnOr_VHOWceKUAxbYmo1ahai9nkg4ZjTZvi2Goe8WLalpg-hcBf0iWJyrvs1C_UbfnZNNrW1TBK7nQDa8-JIKS1A8z76MH4bHoMAt/s1600/bacon-brie-cranberry-9181-640x480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7EJlnNAYs73Zn0di1hnDn8E2x_WFYRycJCGIBFEPnOr_VHOWceKUAxbYmo1ahai9nkg4ZjTZvi2Goe8WLalpg-hcBf0iWJyrvs1C_UbfnZNNrW1TBK7nQDa8-JIKS1A8z76MH4bHoMAt/s200/bacon-brie-cranberry-9181-640x480.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We used the picnic blanket and sat on the grass, and David served up delicious warm baguettes stuffed with cheese and bacon. Hm, I fear my bad eating habits may have rubbed off on him. But you really can't go wrong with cheese and bacon. Then we lay back in the sun until a cloud came over and David suggested we remove ourselves to the bedroom ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Much later my wonderful man cooked dinner for me: smoked salmon with crab mousse (from M&S), shepherd's pie (his speciality - you've never tasted shepherd's pie until you've tasted David's), and sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream (from M&S).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's a good job we, um, had our little rest in the afternoon as I certainly wouldn't have been up to any bedroom activity after dinner. In fact just getting upstairs was a challenge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Incidentally he does now know why I cross my legs when sneezing ...</span><br />
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<br />Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-52776280227186565672020-04-15T06:20:00.000-07:002020-04-15T06:20:59.284-07:00Happy birthday to me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHzll-z8equtxykUmOTVoHxeU63F3zyVTnwnwHTLM_2FvHNR_cYoxZUkYpfNmWGpfWeKN2KoYZUjwXodbQoni6o43entmrW-QZ9Ynoo2qDIbynT3baRckB3K7DriGL0IkjtRg9bsrPp1x/s1600/Best-Birthday-Cake-with-milk-chocolate-buttercream-SQUARE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHzll-z8equtxykUmOTVoHxeU63F3zyVTnwnwHTLM_2FvHNR_cYoxZUkYpfNmWGpfWeKN2KoYZUjwXodbQoni6o43entmrW-QZ9Ynoo2qDIbynT3baRckB3K7DriGL0IkjtRg9bsrPp1x/s320/Best-Birthday-Cake-with-milk-chocolate-buttercream-SQUARE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, it's my birthday today. Not being able to go out is a bit of a downer but then again with my tendency to set restaurants on fire it could be considered a good thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'll tell you more later about what delights David has in store for me (I hope) but for now I just want to tell you about the best birthday present a girl could have! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The wonderful Debra has done a review of my podcast over on her blog and it's glowing. Don't be misled by the fact that she refers to Liz in her review. Some people know me as that. Like my cousin June, who is now Olive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway here is the link to Debra's <a href="https://shewhoseeks.blogspot.com/2020/04/free-fun-to-brighten-your-day.html" target="_blank">blog</a>.</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-50183143447717275312020-04-08T09:18:00.002-07:002020-04-08T09:21:29.338-07:00Ta-da!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It has taken me some time but it's here now! I know you've all been on tenterhooks since, um, last May but I've finally done it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've started podcasting!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My plan is to embed a player on this website. Let's see how that works, shall we?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In case you're curious it was really easy to create a podcast. The difficult bit was getting it listed on the iTunes directory. To be honest, it's still not listed but it is being reviewed. they have to make sure it is up to standard and not breaking any of their rules.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am going to try and embed the player without asking for help from David ...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Postscript</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I did it!</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-85503340337271167362019-05-06T08:33:00.004-07:002019-05-06T08:37:35.159-07:00My other brilliant idea again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnRH0rRMNVXJtLpU5SKJFByUMZIRkxII4uwWtOwWxwJ2yfR5NXuQLHUWsm3KcW7CHHUU40TAFI8rOUA4k2Mrpad-PDjTmSC4LHVaCta3erNj9UFgScUGz1tCbumplw9g9HZoCsJ-P1Fav/s1600/thinkstock-podcast-100712554-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnRH0rRMNVXJtLpU5SKJFByUMZIRkxII4uwWtOwWxwJ2yfR5NXuQLHUWsm3KcW7CHHUU40TAFI8rOUA4k2Mrpad-PDjTmSC4LHVaCta3erNj9UFgScUGz1tCbumplw9g9HZoCsJ-P1Fav/s200/thinkstock-podcast-100712554-large.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forgive me! I suddenly realised I'd left you hanging in mid-air, desperate to know what my other brilliant idea was. Well, it's this; I'm going to make a podcast!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(Does one 'make' a podcast? Whatever one does I'm going to be doing it.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know you're thinking, 'What on earth can Alison be planning to podcast about?' Then again perhaps you're like me and not entirely sure what a podcast is. That should read 'like I was': I know all about them now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They're like a radio show but different. I won't go into technicalities here - I don't want to bore you and anyway I've forgotten a lot of what I found out - so let me just explain what my podcast is going to involve.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I mentioned in a previous post I am currently writing a sequel to my best-selling memoir, <i>This Time Next Year</i>. In order to prepare the ground, so to speak, and to start building a potential customer base, I am going to serialise <i>This Time Next Year</i> and podcast it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do you like the way I talk about 'building a potential customer base'? Can you tell I'm trying to learn about marketing and promotion? I'm supposed to be building my online presence but I'm not being awfully successful at that. Trouble is I keep getting distracted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But to get back to my podcast. I think I will break it down into fifteen minute episodes and broadcast them once a week, maybe?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The recording itself seems simple enough. I just have to borrow Adam's microphone and read. Broadcasting is said to be simple. But then most things on the internet are said to be simple yet I struggle with them. Maybe I should wait until Adam is home from uni so he can help me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In the meantime I can start breaking my diary down into episodes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am an intelligent woman. How hard can this be?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">P.S. In case anyone should accuse me of false pretences the definition of best-selling is subjective. What counts as best-selling to me may not be what counts as best-selling in a more traditional view.</span></i><br />
<br />Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-17416774007674602822019-03-18T05:28:00.001-07:002019-03-18T05:28:30.353-07:00I have an even better idea!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It occurred to me when I was in the shower this morning. I leapt out and bumped into David on the landing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'I've had a marvellous idea!' I said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He has an unfortunate tendency to groan when I say things like that but this time he just grunted and hurried on down the stairs. I followed him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Don't you want to know what it is?' I asked as he opened the front door. 'What are you doing? Are you leaving me?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'I wouldn't,' said the postman, looking me up and down and grinning as he handed a parcel to David.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Oh. Um, thank you.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was quite a compliment actually considering I was dripping wet, in a skimpy towel, and rather fetching flowery shower cap. Come to think of it it was probably the skimpiness of said towel rather than my innate gorgeousness that did it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How many towels can children use at any one time? Have they not heard of leaving towels to dry in between use? And why do they use my best towels? Not to mention global warming and the environment crisis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David had closed the door, and taken his parcel into the kitchen while I pondered these things. I shook myself and followed myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Why did you let me do that?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Do what?' he asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Expose myself to the postman.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Oh that,' he said as if it were an everyday occurrence. 'I assumed you'd heard the knock on the door. Do you want coffee?' He glanced at me. 'Or do you want to get dressed first?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I stomped back up the stairs. He can wait to hear about my brilliant idea if that's his attitude.</span><br />
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<br />Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-71752067792355446342019-01-06T06:58:00.000-08:002019-01-06T06:58:24.699-08:00My slightly exciting but not really for you news<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Many many apologies for the huge gap in writing this blog only because I keep a proper diary as well - although Chloe says a blog is a proper diary - it means I'd be spending most of my time writing and I still have to work, yes, even though ... oh wait, let's stop and start again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Deep breath, Aliss. There, that's better. I have some exciting news!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've decided to publish the next volume of my diary! As a book I mean. Like <i>This Time Next Year</i>. How exciting is that?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bev nearly wet herself when I told her. (A problem we all have these days truth be told.) And good old Dad said, 'I'm delighted, Alison. I can't wait to find out what happens to me next.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mum gave him a strange look and then said, 'You shouldn't encourage her, Bill. You know I couldn't look Monica from the golf club in the eye after the last one.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dad and I exchanged looks. I could tell we were both thinking the same thing i.e. with her nose stuck up in the air it was almost impossible to look Monica in the eye at any time. But we kept quiet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David thinks it's a wonderful idea. His exact words were: oh good, it'll keep you out of trouble for a bit. When he saw my face he quickly changed it to, 'I mean it'll keep you busy though, won't it?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Yes,' I agreed. 'But I can't let my fans down.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Your fans?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'All the people who've asked me, nay, begged me, to write more.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Oh,' David said, 'I didn't realise, I'm sorry.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hoped he'd leave it at that but he had to go on. 'Exactly how many?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I shrugged. 'Oh you know, lots.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'More than one hundred?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Now you're just being silly,' I said. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Well, how many is it then?' he persisted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'At least ... three. If you include Dad and Bev.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David tried very hard to keep a straight face as he pulled me towards him and hugged me. 'You can't let them down then.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'No, quite, and I've a story to tell. Not just our love story but the universal story of ageing women and the difficulties they encounter as they weave their way through the modern world.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Have you been in the Self Help section in the library again?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'No, it was something I heard someone on Woman's Hour say.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We both laughed and then I said, 'But seriously, you're okay with me doing this?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Of course. I want to know where our story goes too.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And that dear reader is what you will find out. Eventually. This is very early notice of publication as I haven't actually written the book yet. My diaries will take quite a bit of editing. But I'll try to keep you up-dated here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So laters, folks. As the young people say these days.</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-86760915842463546782016-04-17T12:46:00.001-07:002016-04-17T12:46:50.022-07:00You'll want to see the ring!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mum phoned me at 11 this morning. She said, 'Wonderful news, Alison! The vicar has agreed to marry you.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'That's kind of him, Mum, but I don't think we've met and anyway, I'm an engaged woman.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mum sighed deeply. 'I've told you before, Alison, about being facetious. It's not becoming. You know quite well what I mean.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Yes, Mum, I'm sorry,' I smiled into the phone. Not even my mother could upset me today. 'But we haven't discu...'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before I could finish my mother interrupted, 'He doesn't really approve of marrying divorcees but I explained that it wasn't entirely your fault and he said that, as I was such a faithful member of the Ladies' Guild, he was sure he could make an exception.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'First of all, Mother, it wasn't my fault at all that Brian left me for a bimbo,' I could hear my mother sniff on the other end of the phone, 'and, secondly, as I was trying to say before you interrupted me, David and I haven't discussed what sort of wedding we want yet.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'What do you mean what sort of wedding? You're not going to go all hippy on us, are you? Your father's too old to go off to some beach at sunset. And the mosquitoes always bite him.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'No, but it'll probably be a quiet affair in a registry office with just close family and friends.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'You're not pregnant, are you?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'I'm fifty-five, Mother!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">'Well, these days they can do anything with a test tube and a turkey baster. So I'll tell the vicar you'll pop in to see him, shall I?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will not let her upset me! Instead I'll show you my ring! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David found it in an antique shop. He said he saw it and instantly thought of me! How romantic is that! It's a purple sapphire between two little diamonds. So dainty and elegant! Why it reminded David of me I can't imagine.</span><br />
<br />Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-72292634060216889622016-04-16T13:35:00.000-07:002016-04-17T12:06:08.534-07:00Some very exciting news!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well, dear readers, I have some exciting news!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh dear, first I suppose I should apologise for the huge time lapse since my last post but life has been most awfully busy. So, anyway, yesterday was my 55th birthday and, guess what? David asked me to marry him!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He'd taken me to La Brasseria for my birthday meal: it's become a sort of tradition to go there and, apart from last year, when I tripped and bumped into a waiter who then poured the contents of a bottle of red wine over customer, it's been uneventful. Until last night. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We'd had our main courses and I was just wondering whether I should have ordered panna cotta like the woman at the next table instead of the tiramisu when David reached across the table and took my hand. It startled me making me knock over my glass of wine but it was white so didn't show much. Unlike David's red wine that spilled when I bumped the table as I tried to catch my falling glass. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David burst out laughing. He shoo-ed away the waiter who'd appeared with a cloth to mop up the mess. 'It's okay, just leave it.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Oh dear,' I said. 'I thought I'd broken the jinx on this place.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David shook his head. He was still laughing. 'What <i>am </i>I going to do with you, Aliss?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I bit my lip. 'I don't know.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He shook his head again. 'I think there's only one thing I can do.' He reached into his inside jacket pocket and brought out a small box. Opening it he said, 'Alison, will you do me the great honour of marrying me?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Oh lumme!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Is that a yes?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Oh, yes, yes, yes, a million times yes!' I stood up and leaned across the candle-lit table to kiss him. Our lips had barely met when I was soaked to the skin as a jug of water was thrown over me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Whaaattt?!!!' </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Sorry, madam,' said the waiter as he mopped me with his already wine-stained cloth. 'You were on fire!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Oh dear,' I sat down again amidst the ruins of our table. 'Are you sure you want to marry me?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David took my hand again. 'I'm absolutely positive. Anyway you're not safe out on your own. I'll be doing community care a favour.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was late when we finally got home so I waited until this morning to phone everyone to tell them the good news. I began with Chloe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Hello darling, Mum here.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Urgh, what time is it?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'About, oh, half past seven.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Oh Mum! I've only just got to sleep. You know I've been on night shifts.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'I'm sorry, darling, but I do have some exciting news.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'What? Has David finally proposed?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Oh. Yes.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Great, Mum,' she yawned loudly. 'I'll call you back later, okay.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Er, yes, darling. Love you.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Love you too. Bye.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thought she might have been a little bit more excited. But she's never been good in the mornings. With that in mind I decided not to phone Adam until later. After all he's still student, albeit a post-graduate one. So I moved onto Mum. Unlike my children she would be up early.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Morning, Mum,' I said cheerfully.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Good heavens, is that you, Alison?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'I would think so unless you've suddenly discovered a long-lost daughter?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Don't be facetious, Alison. It's not becoming.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I bit my tongue and tried again. 'I'm calling early because I have some news.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Oh no! What's happened? Is it Chloe? Has she been attacked by one of those wife beaters?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'No, Mum, it's not Chloe.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Adam then? He's been arrested hasn't he?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Why would he be arrested, Mum?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Well, I don't know, drugs, dogging.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I spluttered into the phone. 'Dogging?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Isn't that what they call it when you're caught smoking mariejuanna?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'No, Mum. And, anyway, Adam doesn't use drugs. And why do you assume it's bad news?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Why else would you be calling this time in the morning?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'I'm calling to tell you that David and I are getting married.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Oh. Wouldn't have thought you'd bother at your age. Seems a bit of a fuss for nothing.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Mother, when David first began spending the night here you were apoplectic in case the ladies at the golf club found out. I thought you'd be pleased we were making it legal.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Yes, well, times change. One has to keep up with the times.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I shook my head. 'Is Dad there? I'd like to tell him myself.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'No, he's popped out to the newsagent.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'At half past seven in the morning.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Well, if he doesn't get there early they sell out of the Telegraph. I'll tell him to phone you when he gets back.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Okay, and you won't tell him first?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'No, no, you can do that.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Half an hour later Dad phoned. 'Wonderful news, sweetheart! I'm so pleased for you.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Mum told you then?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Yes, soon as I walked through the door. We're both delighted for you and David.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Thanks, Dad.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Hang on, your mother's saying something ... yes, yes, she says we must all go out for a meal to celebrate. She'll phone you later to arrange it.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Couldn't wait any longer to phone Adam so called and let it ring until he finally picked up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Urgh?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hello, darling, it's Mum.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Urggh.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Adam, I'm phoning because I have some news for you.' I waited for a response. When none came I carried on. 'Last night David asked me to marry him!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Urgh.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Did you hear what I said, Adam? David asked me to marry him!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Yeargh, what did you say?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'I said yes of course!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">'Cool. Bye, Mum.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bev was next to know. 'Yay! And I'm just the woman to organise the Hen party!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And Pippa was genuinely delighted. 'I am so pleased for you, Alison. You deserve this. Love you loads.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do I deserve it? Don't think I'll think too much about that. Might come to the wrong answer. Instead I'll just allow myself to wallow in being a newly engaged woman.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-69713112647150634152012-04-17T09:02:00.001-07:002012-04-17T09:02:27.879-07:00Paperback Writer<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's a couple of days late but it feels like another birthday present: my agent brought the first paperback copy of my novel around to my house today. Here she is sitting on the patio reading it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOzpPs069wP80Jj8DY1MoHwL0iFHU6nmQmQ5HSkoU7Q4I7uLGDE7tO_5GjW3_A5sEV74OTGoxw6QKB0TFTov-sXLJVrMIGYbElgN_7V14jTA8H1WDKjzdw_xguVDgzCmiRam2YolIDhJC/s1600/liz+and+paperback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOzpPs069wP80Jj8DY1MoHwL0iFHU6nmQmQ5HSkoU7Q4I7uLGDE7tO_5GjW3_A5sEV74OTGoxw6QKB0TFTov-sXLJVrMIGYbElgN_7V14jTA8H1WDKjzdw_xguVDgzCmiRam2YolIDhJC/s320/liz+and+paperback.jpg" width="246" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She is very pleased with it and I have to say that I'm delighted. I wasn't sure what it would look like when printed but it's better than I could have expected. Bless those lovely Lulu publishing people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My agent tells me that the really hard work begins now. I think she means the promoting and selling and stuff but I'm not going to worry about that today. I phoned David and told him it's arrived and he said we'd have to go out for dinner to celebrate. I did protest - a little - that I'm supposed to be dieting but he pointed out that there's no food in the house and that he thought the chances of me going shopping in my euphoric state were low. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He's right of course. I have so many people to phone ...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>A little later</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I called Adam and greeted him by singing <i>Paperback Writer</i> down the phone. There was a long silence at the other end and then he said, 'You all right, Mum?' in a very concerned tone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I said, 'It's the Beatles.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'The Beatles?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Their song.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Adam said, 'Do you </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">want</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> to put the phone down and start again, Mum?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-37109171731019052572012-04-15T12:04:00.002-07:002012-04-15T12:04:38.110-07:00The best birthday ever!<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have had the best birthday ever! Probably in the history of birthdays!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It began with breakfast in bed. (No, actually it began a bit before that but I'm not telling you about that!) Let's just say that it wasn't an early breakfast in bed. Warm croissants, butter and jam, with a steaming hot mug of tea. Last year David tried to make it special by using a cup and saucer. I soon put him right on that: I need a large mug full of tea to get me going in the morning. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I tried to protest and only eat one croissant because 'I'm supposed to be on diet,' but David told me I was perfect just as I am. Ahhhh.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Adam stuck his head around the door briefly to say happy birthday and that his dad had just arrived to take him back to university. I started to panic. 'Oh but I haven't checked if you've got everything! Did you remember to pack the clothes still in the airing cupboard? Oh and what about the ones I haven't ironed yet? Can your dad wait a minute while I ...' David put his hands on my shoulders, which by now were halfway out of bed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'You're not going anywhere. Adam is quite capable of doing his own packing and even his own ironing if he is that bothered.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'That's right, Mum,' Adam came across and gave me a big hug. 'I've taken all the clothes I can find and if I've forgotten anything, well, you can always send it to me.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David frowned at him, and he hurriedly rephrased his sentence, 'Or I can do without. You have a great day, Mum. Relax and enjoy yourself.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Which is what I've been doing ever since. We took Leidy, David's dog who seems to be spending more time in my house than her own, for a walk by the river and stopped off at the pub for a drink and a packet of crisps. (And a muffin in my case.) (Well, it is my birthday and I am 'perfect as I am'!) We picked up the Observer in the newsagents' and then lolled around for the rest of the afternoon, David reading the paper and me alternately flicking through it for any bits that sounded vaguely celebrity-focussed or gossipy, and napping. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And now David is in the kitchen cooking my birthday dinner. He won't let me go through the door so I've no idea what he's making but there are some lovely smells wafting out. Every now and again he pops out and checks that I'm okay for drinks and if I'm warm enough or if I'd like the television on. It's like being a goddess.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I could get used to this.</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-49009273410232168312012-04-14T10:24:00.003-07:002012-04-14T10:24:29.679-07:00Pre-birthday nerves<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have been neglecting my blog again! Adam just told me off. 'Honestly, mother,' he said - I could tell I was in trouble when he called me mother - 'books don't just sell themselves you know.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'No, I know that.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'So how many have you sold?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Um, I don't know.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'You don't know? Haven't you asked?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'No. I thought I'd be disappointed if the number wasn't in the thousands or even hundreds.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Adam sighed. 'It's never going to be in the hundr ...' he corrected himself, 'thousands if you don't publicise it and push it more. And one way of doing that is to blog and network. And use Facebook, and tweet, of course.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Of course.' I didn't like to tell him the only tweeting I did was in response to the blackbird that sings from our apple tree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'So will you?' He looked at me expectantly and it reminded me of when he was eight and convinced we were getting him a snake for his birthday. The way his face dropped when he opened the box containing a Lego jungle set still haunts him whenever I have to choose a present for him. It was my turn to sigh. 'Will I what?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Write in your blog?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I assured him I would. So I am. I'm rather excited as it happens: it's my birthday tomorrow! Adam has to travel back to uni so David's taking us all - Chloe and Greg will be here soon - out for a meal tonight. We're going to La Brasserie. I haven't been there since I went last summer with Pippa and Bev and accidentally stabbed a waiter's hand with my knife and then nearly fainted at the sight of the blood oozing out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I hadn't seen any reason to tell David about it so when he suggested La Brasserie I couldn't think of an excuse quickly enough. But it's dark in there so they probably won't recognise me, and, anyway, it was because it was dark that I stuck my knife in his hand rather than in my steak. So it wasn't really my fault. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So I'm sure it'll be fine.</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-66232981810750391652012-03-12T09:25:00.000-07:002012-03-12T09:25:40.606-07:00My launch<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My life has been a positive whirl since I last blogged!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Friday David turned up and said, 'Okay, pack a weekend bag; I'm taking you away.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I stared at him. 'What do you mean?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'You're getting stressed over this book launch so I thought a couple of days away would do you good.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Oh.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'What's the matter? Don't you want to come?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Oh, yes, yes, yes! I'm I I'm I ...' I stuttered to a halt. 'I don't know. It's just no-one's ever whisked me away before.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Well, it's time they did.' David kissed me on the nose and said, 'Go and get your bag then.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Okay.' I started up the stairs and then went back down. 'What do I need?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">David sighed. 'Toothpaste, clean knickers, I don't know. Whatever women need for a couple of nights away.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Do I need a swimming costume?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'In March in Wales?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'No, okay.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I started up the stairs again before returning. 'What about a posh frock?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'I'm taking you to a nice hotel in Snowdonia. You'll need walking clothes and something a little more respectable to eat in the hotel in the evening. Okay?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Oh, yes, that sounds wonderful. I've never been to North Wales. Will we be able to go on the little train? And perhaps see the grave of that dog who died and ...'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'We'll be able to do whatever you want to do,' David interrupted me. 'But we need to get there tonight.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We had such a fabulous time, walking and eating cake and walking some more and sleeping - well, not too much of that actually! - and eating and just being together. North Wales is a wonderfully romantic place, although I think any place with David would be. Oh, dear, I can hear Adam and Chloe groaning as they read this. Well, Adam anyway. He doesn't have a romantic bone in his body. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I felt so relaxed when I came back that when my publisher called and said she'd set the book launch for last Thursday I didn't even blink. And I didn't panic when she told me she'd also fixed up an interview for me on local radio. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had to have time off work for the interview but Muriel and Young Mr Davies were more excited about it than I was I think. (No, that's probably not true.) Young Mr Davies even postponed one of his appointments so he could listen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Later when I got back to the office Mr Davies Senior said, 'Oh you should have been here a few minutes ago, Angela. We were just listening to a fascinating interview on the radio with a young woman talking about ...' he paused. 'What was she talking about?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I forgave him because he called me a young woman.</span><br />
<br />Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-43411320102062474672012-03-01T09:36:00.001-08:002012-03-01T09:36:16.799-08:00Public speaking<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I've just been volunteered to read at a literary festival!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My publisher thinks it would be a good way to promote my book. I think it's a good way to court disaster. She didn't actually give me the option of saying no. She just said, 'I've emailed them and asked if you can go and read.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For goodness sake! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It is a festival for all things creative and electronic, hence the interest in eBook authors. The link is <a href="http://www.kidwellyefestival.com/1.html" target="_blank">here</a>. See the punning way they've used the town's name, Kidwelly, to give the festival its name Kidwell-e. Clever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If I am accepted, I'll have to get Bev and Pippa to come along for support. Or maybe even David.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But I won't worry about that just yet.</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-641940794146824986.post-12897157869914233462012-02-28T07:22:00.002-08:002012-02-28T07:22:29.506-08:00Anti-sceptic?<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My publisher called and asked me what day I would like my book to be published on. 'Saturday!' I said for no reason other than she'd caught me unawares.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Oh no, no, no,' she said. 'Saturday's not a good day. I was thinking about a Wednesday or Thursday; do you have a preference?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Um, Wednesday?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'I was thinking Thursday.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Okay, Thursday's fine.' I don't know why she bothered asking me if she'd already decided. Then I had an idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'I'll ask Jane tomorrow at dance class.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My publisher asked, 'Why? Who's Jane?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Honestly, you'd think my publisher would have read my book. I said, 'I mention her in my book. She's very ...' I paused, looking for the right word, 'you know, into signs and omens and stuff.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Oh,' my publisher didn't sound impressed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">'Well, it's dance class tomorrow so it won't hurt to ask her, will it?'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After I'd put the phone I began to doubt the wisdom of my decision. The only person from dance class who knows I've written a book is Nic. He 'lurrrves' it but then he would. But everyone else is bound to find out one day - when I'm on the Richard & Judy show promoting my runaway best-seller. (Do Richard & Judy still have a show? I should send a copy of my book to Judy; she's the sort of woman who would appreciate it, I'm sure, being of that age herself.) So I might as well get it over with and tell them. I don't think I've said anything nasty about Jane. She must be used to people being sceptical.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Oh dear, I had to look sceptical up in the dictionary because when I said it aloud to myself it didn't sound like a real word. How can I be a published writer when I don't even know if words exist or not?)</span>Liz Hindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04646532093872561703noreply@blogger.com0