Faceache and Free Flatcap

Interesting day on a number of fronts yesterday.

Flatcap is now spreading his curious and often and barmpot opinions all over the globe. Flatcap – Grumpy Old Blogger is now being read as far afield as Germany, Canada and the USA. Quite what they will make of him, I don’t know. If they assume he is a bog-standard Brit, then it will simply reinforce the notion that the British are strange creatures. Where else in the world would you find politicians whose answer to floods on a biblical scale is to form a committee?

I’m known primarily for my cosy crime series, The STAC Mysteries. Writing them is fun and we’re releasing #11, Death in Distribution in a fortnight, so that tells you something. I do produce darker work, and I’m currently working on a comic thriller, but Flatcap gives me a break from the drudge of write, write, write, and allows me to vent my irritation on the iniquities and oddities of life. And there are lots of them. From the woman who dialled 999 for a stolen snowman to the council who refused to let a school crossing patrolman help kids cross the road, the country is awash with idiots, and Flatcap takes great delight in lampooning them.

Better than that, Flatcap – Grumpy Old Blogger is FREE for the rest of today.

If you want to keep abreast of Flatcap’s more up-to-date observations, he now has a blog at http://flatcapsays.blogspot.co.uk/

If Flatcap is striding forward, life in other areas could be better. It’s early in the year and sales are stilted somewhat, but with Death in Distribution on the horizon, I’m confident matters will pick up.

Healthwise, things are not so good. Regular readers will know that I was in hospital for a day last week, where they cut a polyp from my soft palate. Uncomfortable, but hardly life threatening and afterwards matters seemed to heal quickly.

By yesterday, however, I was in shocking pain over most of the left side of my face. Suspecting an infection, I went along to the out-of-hours service at the health centre. The doc had a good look round, did the usual stuff, blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse, temp, and he took a look at the site of the cut.

No infection, but he did say that it looks angry and inflamed.

I’m not surprised. I’m pretty pissed off, too.

Advice: painkillers and soft foods until it’s settled down. I know what Flatcap would make of that. How is he supposed to survive without pork pies?