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[M.T.]

Glarb... eurgh... knackered. Visit the parents day. Things are very grim in that direction at the moment. Not on for it. Sleeping badly because I keep worrying about it. Going to try and write 100 words before I go so I’ve done something. It’s dark, I’m tired, perimenopausal and I just wish Real Life would piss off for a while.

I must go and look at the bulbs, when I see them peeping through the grass already I’ll cheer up.

Sorry about the crappy meeting Patti, the weird flu bug, Kath, hope the package arrives Desley and I hope the meeting went OK Will.

If anyone can think of a way to magic a few hundred grand out of thin air, do let me know won’t you.

Cheers

MTM

[G J (Gaff to my friends)]

Morning all.

[Benjamin]

Morning, all. Damp and dark out there.

Hope you feel better Kath, and sorry about the situation with your parents MT.

[Kath]

Morning - it got worse again in the night. Had to come down and get some ibuprofen. I ache all over! Cancelled the ladies lunch and book group today - two of my favourite village activities.

At least it's not as bad as what Mary's going through. Been there - and there is life on the other side but it's not a nice process.

Yes, Alicia, but it was the little one's daddy who seems to have been the source of the infection. Our son!

[Anna]

What an exciting life I lead - just been for vaccinations before a holiday.

I hope all who are suffering in one way or another get through the difficult times.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Traffic was really bad again today, made worse by being dark and wet! Think I’m going to have to set my alarm earlier to get to work at 8 and see what that traffic is like. New liner gloves arrived today, appears I made a slight mistake in going for medium, they are quite loose, so not sure I’d get them under another pair. Zooplus has arrived, only they have sent it in two parcels, not sure when the other one is coming. Left my book at home, and lunch wasn’t great, at least someone brought cake in today.

Hope you feel a bit more like yourself today Kelly. Sorry that you got worse Kath. Hope the parents situation is better than expected MT - is it today social services are there? Hope real life eases a bit for you.

[M.T.]

Thanks peps. It was a bit of a gift with Dad today. He was switched on enough to be himself which was wonderful. He even told me some stories about when he was young. It was like two years ago ... New medication which is clearly the di dog's bollocks. The M11 was closed on the way down though which was less than helpful. To my delight mum is now seriously considering putting Dad in a home for respite and possibly full time if we can find a decent one and funding is available.

Cheers

MTM

[Chris]

Promoting and marketing like damnation. Having little to no effect.

[Jim]

Just back from London, it remains a free range lunatic asylum :-)

[Anna]

First laugh of today. Thanks Jim.

[Benjamin]

Morning, everyone. Snow has just started falling outside.

[Kath]

Morning. That's my contribution to the festivities today.

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

My neighbour is doing intermittent drilling. I have to keep playing stuff to drown them out. Grrrrrr...

[Patti (baconater)]

I feel your pain, GL.

Sorry you're poorly, Kath.

Sports Day tomorrow and my back is a misery. Yay.

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

I feel your pain too. Darn all backs to heck.

[M.T.]

Ouch, sorry to hear that Patti, I get sciatca so I can sympathise.

If this too cheeky please delete it but I have a facebook advert out and apparently it helps if people interact with it by liking it or commenting. Is there any chance those of you who do facebook would be prepared to like it? I can post the link here if anyone thinks they might.

Cheers

MTM

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Managed to get in early today, did wake up with a headache though, traffic wasn’t much better, but the sky looked really pretty against the hill! We actually have completely blue sky today, although was 0 when I left home and -1 when I got here. Knee is twinging a bit today, hope it doesn’t’ get as bad as last week. Opened my zooplus parcel when I got home, and it was package 2, I had been told package 1 was being sent first. Had an e-mail saying the other one is being delivered today, but neighbour has missed it, despite texting her, so need to rearrange that too. She got a new phone yesterday so I got the job of setting it up for her, luckily I manged to do a phone to phone transfer, so didn’t take long.

Glad that your dad was on good form MT, fingers crossed finding a home. Where do you live Benjamin?? Hope your back is better soon Patti, I also sympathise. Hope the neighbours stop soon GL.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

Been a bit stressed this week. Daughter’s op wasn’t good and little lad came down with raging tonsillitis. He’s got antibiotics and she’s got to rest and possibly go back. Love to all the poorlies, and fellow strugglers.

[Jim]

given them our best wishes, they don't need it :-(

[M.T.]

Sorry Lynne, hope things look up for them both soon.

[Kath]

Rousing myself from my torpor to wish them the very best, Lynne. Xx

[Alicia]

Kath wrote: "Morning - it got worse again in the night. Had to come down and get some ibuprofen. I ache all over! Cancelled the ladies lunch and book group today - two of my favourite village activities.

At l..."

Your son? Tsk.

Just took ibuprofen myself - been fighting off pain all day. No writing done that way. Did the exercises - tomorrow may be better.

[Alicia]

M.T. wrote: "Thanks peps. It was a bit of a gift with Dad today. He was switched on enough to be himself which was wonderful. He even told me some stories about when he was young. It was like two years ago ... ..."

Respite is a good idea; you mum can use regular breaks. Hoping you figure it out soon. It's so different for each family.

[M.T.]

Very true. We are all arse about face this morning because the car managed to turn the alarm off on my phone. The only way we go to school on time is of it goes off every 10 mins from 7-8.30.

Hoping we are back on track now.

Cheers

MTM

[Benjamin]

Morning, everyone. Cold and icy up here, althogh everything at least seems to be working.

[Anna]

So sorry to hear of the various ills and difficulties and wishing you all speedy recoveries/improvements.

We had a few flakes of snow in my part of Kent yesterday. Pretty and fortunately just the few.

Writing day and my brain is comatose; all attempts to wake it up only result in it grasshoppering (know what I mean?).

[Kath]

Morning. Getting there...

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Was very cold this morning, today is my late start, although was still nearly late as there were Virgin Media men wandering round the street, so I asked what was going on, as I live on an unadopted road so was concerned. Apparently half the street have shown an interest (very much doubt knowing my neighbours, and I know at least 2 of us haven’t agreed), but they are going to dig a trench down each side which will be tarmacked over this weekend, unfortunately being an unadopted road it is more of a stoned surface at the moment! Traffic was the best it’s been though fortunately. The day then got weirder, there was what I thought was a visitor in the meeting room, and we were called in individually to meet him, some of the questions were a tad odd, and then towards the end, I got told he is joining the company next month! Supposed to snow this afternoon, fortunately I don’t have any errands, so I’m going straight home. When I went to my neighbours last night, I found the pair of gloves I’ve been looking for all week, so tried putting them over the new ones, it kind of works, although did have marks on my thumbs this morning and they are very bulky.

Sorry that your daughter has some complications Lynne, hope the rest works and she doesn’t need to go back in. Fingers crossed ab’s work on grandson. Read one of the posts in the book I'm reading of yours Jim, was very surprised to find you are a flavoured cappuccino drinker!

[Jim]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: " Read one of the posts in the book I'm reading of yours Jim, was very surprised to find you are a flavoured cappuccino drinker! .."

Funnily enough Princess Anne said exactly the same thing to me when we were chatting. (I've been told her Mum is a big Tallis Steelyard fan)
But back to reality, I think it might have been a side effect of my gall bladder operation, but I did really like sweet stuff for a while. But now I'm back to drinking straight unsweetened coffee again :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Jim wrote: "Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: " Read one of the posts in the book I'm reading of yours Jim, was very surprised to find you are a flavoured cappuccino drinker! .."

Funnily enough Princess Anne said ..."

Ah, I expected you to drink more traditional coffee!

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Hi all, gosh it's cold out! Sending best wishes to all the poorly folk

[Lisa]

It is cold. Brass monkeys in fact. I had some bad news yesterday. One of my dad's oldest friends has just died and much as I would like to have attended the funeral it is between 4-5 hours on the train. Anyway I sat down and wrote a letter to the family this afternoon. It's not fun, but as you get older these things become more and more commonplace. Otherwise all is well except I have been feeling pretty washed out for a week or so. Hopefully it's just lack of sunshine. I hope all you poorly folks feel better very soon.

[Alicia]

Anna Faversham wrote: "So sorry to hear of the various ills and difficulties and wishing you all speedy recoveries/improvements.

We had a few flakes of snow in my part of Kent yesterday. Pretty and fortunately just the ..."

Grasshoppering takes most of my mornings, as I try to capture the mind long enough to block the internet, and then at least attempt to scythe my way through some coherent fiction.

If it didn't occasionally work, this process - and nothing else even remotely does - I would give up in tears. But I tell myself all this jumping about is making some of the connections I need.

It is really helpful to have published the first volume of a trilogy - it means I can. I don't know how I got through the first one, and hope not to take fifteen years on the second, but I did it once, and that means there is a real possibility of doing it again.

[Kelly]

Absolutely, Alicia. You did it once, you can do it again.

Just caught up on all the posts.

Looks like it's getting a wee bit chilly in certain parts. I have lived in Jersey for over thirty years but I still miss a Scottish winter. Go figure!

Happy Friday night - whatever you're up to.

[Lynne (Tigger's Mum)]

I’ve caught their cold so I’m bunged up and streaming at the same time. I was going to do a birthday dinner for our daughter but neither of us is up to it so perhaps next week. Not icy here just the usual sideways heavy rain.

[Alicia]

Lynne (Tigger's Mum) wrote: "I’ve caught their cold so I’m bunged up and streaming at the same time. I was going to do a birthday dinner for our daughter but neither of us is up to it so perhaps next week. Not icy here just th..."

Hope you're both better soon. The celebration will be more fun.

[Patti (baconater)]

Good morning

Unexpectedly, Sports Day went quite well. The kids had a good time and h parents seemed amused.
We were meant to go out last night but we got home and had a nap. Neither of us felt like going out when we woke up.

Gonna make some pita bread today, I think.

[Kelly]

Morning. Dry, dull and cold by the Channel. That's the weather report over.

I have, perhaps stupidly, agreed to move a deadline forward by 4 weeks. Now, I was the one who wanted an earlier slot in the first place, but only by a week or so!

Mind you, one of my favourite quotes is "Whether you think you can, or think you can't - you're right." Better get my groove on.

Also, have any of you learned how to touch-type using online courses? Any recommendations. My two-finger jab is causing me all sorts of aches and pains.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Woke up at 6.30, despite not needing to as it's a Saturday! Have tried to get back to sleep but Lucy has been really fussy this morning. Doing our 3 monthly trip for litter today, then just some housework. We did have snow last night, but fortunately it had been raining first, so only laid on cars/bins, and waking up this morning, looks like it never happened! Unfortunately the Virgin Media people didn't finish what they promised, so got home last night to loads of barriers round holes. Will see what they do today

Sorry you are now unwell too Lynne. Glad sports day went better than expected Patti. Good luck hitting your deadline Kelly. I did a touch typing course back when things were done on disc! Do you type on a laptop or keyboard?

[Kelly]

Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Woke up at 6.30, despite not needing to as it's a Saturday! Have tried to get back to sleep but Lucy has been really fussy this morning. Doing our 3 monthly trip for litter today, then just some ho..."

I type on a proper laptop, (but also use a keyboard at work and write some pretty long emails), so one with a fixed keyboard and not a tablet with the detachable keyboard. I use my two index fingers and the one on the right hand is in agony most of the time. I def think typing properly would help.

[Patti (baconater)]

We use an online typing thing with the kids. I'll find out what it's called and let you know.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Kelly wrote: "Desley (Cat fosterer) wrote: "Woke up at 6.30, despite not needing to as it's a Saturday! Have tried to get back to sleep but Lucy has been really fussy this morning. Doing our 3 monthly trip for l..."

You are probably right, I have to have an ergonomic keyboard, but not possible if you use a laptop

[Kath]

Morning! I did a touch typing course fifty years back at night classes. Dead useful. I still sneak a look, though, because if you take a swig from your brew then go back to typing but don't quite get your fingers back where you thought they were, you can write half a page of total bolleaux before you notice!

[Anna]

So long as you enjoy writing, Alicia, it's good to keep on keeping on, I would think. Just writing one book is more than most people can manage.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Afternoon all, pretty dreich here the morn. My news today is that my train was cancelled this morning so I had to take the bus - an hour and ten minutes as opposed to 35 min on the train (couldn’t drive as there is literally nowhere to park in the centre of Edinburgh); there was someone wearing a beret (call me Tony Hancock?) at my life drawing class; turned out The model was someone I know but hadn’t ever seen her in the nuddy before (!); and lastly I have won a wedge of queso payoyo through my pre-eminent cheese recognition skills :D

I type with six fingers. That seems to be plenty

[Kelly]

Rosemary, typing with six fingers sounds really whizzy.

Patti, thank you. Appreciate that.

I have used Speech to Text software before, and it ended up okay, but I tried it earlier today and it doesn't remember my weird part-Scottish, part goodness-knows-what accent.

Good point. I'll remember that, Kath, if I get past stabbing at the keyboard with two fingers.

[Patti (baconater)]

On a keyboard, I use eight fingers. I've never managed to get my pinkies to cooperate.

I type faster on my iPads with one finger. The automatic capitalisation is brilliant. Especially as my pinkies don't reach the shift keys.

[Patti (baconater)]

Do look at the new 'most read authors' thread.

It's very cool.

[Alicia]

Anna Faversham wrote: "So long as you enjoy writing, Alicia, it's good to keep on keeping on, I would think. Just writing one book is more than most people can manage."

Thanks - and you're right. That first novel is the place where many turn off the path.

This is what I always wanted to do, and I'll keep on doing it as long as I can put a coherent bunch of words on a page.

It's also, after a life interrupted, the only thing I have left that's really me. Not to put any pressure on myself.

There are two more books in the trilogy, and the story won't be complete until they're finished. I hope I'm not a one-story author! I don't think so: I took time to write a full-length play in the middle of writing the first volume (does wonders for facility in handling dialogue), and I have a few other things in very beginning stages, but I want to at least finish the one.

[M.T.]

You will, I started something that became Few Are Chosen when I was 20. I finished it aged 40 in 2008. Published it finally in 2010, didn't finish the series until 2014, and that was basically just one really long book! I managed the next book in a year because I'd half written it already and it just needed tidying up. That was 2015 ... The current long novel is 99,9050 and rising. I suspect what I will basically have there is three books when I'm done ... like the original K'Barthan series. It seems to ebb and flow.

Keep on keeping on!

Cheers

MTM