Almost there …

I’m really looking forward to coming back home. We have a lot of things to do, and, whilst I complain about the British weather, I do love the winter. We are already talking about spending New Year in Doris somewhere and, covid willing, heading to Chatel for some skiing and then onto the continent in late Spring in Doris.; C is talking about doing a stint at a dog’s charity in Spain. We are very lucky to be able to even consider that. We know. I’ve said to C on more than one occasion that in 2021 we are going to go crazy. We have a limited time on this planet and we must get the most out of it. Crazy … we’re going to go crazy. I hope you hold us to it.

[image error] we said cheerio to Jen and James last night

My team building day went as well as I could have hoped for. I planned a combination event with some icebreakers, a participatory presentation, some individual work and a team exercise. I got an email straight back from the boss saying, ‘it was a really great session, with good discussion’. I don’t think I can ask for more than that. I have to say I was absolutely exhausted at the end – and we had pals Kenn and Mikki around for supper (in the garden under a gazebo) afterwards. I can’t imaging I was great company. But it’s another thing I now know I can offer. Which is great. I’ve also had three calls with staff at the school in Hampshire. So that was fun.

[image error] socially distant supper

In among all that I’ve been writing and C’s been packing. Two-thirds of our load is baby stuff (I’m not kidding). At least we’ll have empty cases on the way back.

The writing’s going well. I’m over 50k/120k words in and the story seems to be holding together ok. I’ve had a couple of nice reviews through in the last few days, which always helps with motivation. But nothing back from the people I sent Of Black Bulls and White Horses to. I’m not surprised. I have my proofreader on standby from 20 November to give it a run through … and then publication by Christmas. I’m really hoping that with two week’s enforced isolation in a hotel in Seoul I get most of it done. Or … I’ll watch a lot of Netflix and scroll through Twitter.

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Off to Mary’s tomorrow to dump the car … and then a late afternoon flight on Monday. Next time I write something we will be incarcerated. Hurrah?

[image error] we are the world’s best packers

Stay safe.