Magic Monday

Where to start?

• This time last week I came down with a flu-type virus and I was almost paralysed by fear thinking that I'd be unable to go to the RNA conference.

• By the grace of God I was shaky but loads better by Thursday.

• By Friday morning I was consumed with relief to be leaving for the three hour car journey to Penrith.

• Had a lovely appointment with a Mills & Boon editor.

• The rest of the weekend passed by in a whirl of busy-ness.

Which brings me to today:

MAGIC MONDAY

Why magic? Because:

• I'm absolutely shattered in addition t0 'normal' chronic fatigue, yet (and this is the magic bit) I couldn't stay in bed.
• My brain is still busy unravelling the weekend's experience.
• Any minute I'll wake-up to discover it's all been a magical dream!

When I get round to putting away the unpacking - probably during the next few days, I'll endeavour to assimilate the notes for future blog posts.

I just want to end this by saying a HUGE THANK YOU to my real-life hero for enabling yet another of my dreams to magically come true.

Exciting week ahead preparing for the RNA Conference.

I wasn't planning to blog today but I'm sure that some of you know by now what happens when I try *not* to do something...

This is THE week:

• to finish current book - and as often seems to happen at this stage, my head is already in the zone for the next. I really need to find the self-discipline to keep Arianne & Kal out of my head. There'll be plenty of time for them soon.
  

• to conserve as much energy as possible - this week is MEGA for both Gray and I. We're both excited and nervous in equal measure, but Gray more so. He's not only doing the driving, but needs to be mentally prepared to sit his first year's exam for his journalist course next Monday!
  

• not to get too excited too soon. I know that this forthcoming weekend (including the editor's appointment) will be gone in a flash, so I can't tire myself out before we arrive. But it's sooo hard because I can't wait to meet everybody!

Incidentally, if anyone's interested in the comings and goings at the conference, there are a few peeps who're planning to tweet it (#RNA).

I'll catch up again next week (when I've recovered from the excitement).

Have a fab week!

Bathtime for the Boys

Earlier last week we decided it was bath time for Rocky and Rambo.

This isn't something that happens very often (as you can probably tell by the look of rapture on their faces) but it was a case of needs must and all that. Who would've thought that it'd take three of us to bath two little chihuahas!


















First up was Rocky. Now, they're both loving pooches but Rocky is the master of the sloppy kisses and hugs. In fact, he's a bit of a trollop because he'll be affectionate to anyone. Not good if the front gate's ever left open I can tell you. Rocky's also the adventurous one and always on the look-out for whatever mischief he can get up to next.

Thankfully, for this bathtime we were prepared! All went swimmingly and even Rambo found his brother an intriguing spectacle. Until, that is, it was his turn. What can I tell you about Rambo?


















We-ell, he's the baby! He cries at everything and has always been very timid and fearful of everything. Yet perversely he's always been the 'grown-up' pooch.

Whenever Rocky has his mad five minutes (which is at least once every day) Rambo is rarely impressed. Especially when Rocky tries to get him to join in and resorts to nipping Rambo's hind legs whenever he passes him on the circuit!

We know Rocky's mad dash is over when he runs out of steam and spends the next five minutes making things up to Rambo by licking his ear.

All in all bathtime was successful. Yes, we all ended up wet but that's half the fun, isn't it? Rambo didn't even try to jump out once he'd been plonked in. He did however grumble and mutter the whole time, although that's no different to his usual everyday grumpy old mad impression.

Both our chi's have such distinctive personalities and it's always such a joy to watch them interact together.

Friday Fun!

Oh boy, oh boy! Somebody please remind me that I'm a woman-of-a-certain-age! I'd planned a harmless day starting with a duvet morning (without the duvet) and enjoying the fresh coolness. Well, that'd been my plan anyway.

We knew we'd be without power at some point today when there'd be somebody from the electricity company coming to change our meter. Nothing very exciting so I was even happier to stay cool upstairs reading Katie Fforde's, Paradise Fields. Like I say, harmless and out of the way. Nothing exciting there, right?

Wrong! The said somebody arrives but has to return to his van (I think that's the bit that changes everything). I take a little peek just to be sure it is the electricity guy, and can't believe what I see.

Jon Bon Jovi?

Downstairs? In my house? Getting tools out of his van? No way! But then comes the clincher - that little voice coming right back at me. Yes way!

Okay, I need to state here that it obviously wasn't the real JBJ, but as good a lookalike as I've ever seen and, most importantly, future hero inspiration...

Brain in writer's whirl (you've got to be flexible in this profession you know) I realise my duvet morning has flown right out of the window. I scurry around looking for something decent to throw on. Definitely not the miniscule shorts I wore yesterday, that's for sure. Jeans and strappy top later, I head for the stairs.

Only, I'm too late! Much too late. JBJ looks up from the bottom of the stairs where he's already busy working on the meter (which is on the wall above the downstairs window). What to do?

Before I can get my brain into gear I dart back out of sight, but not before I confirm that yes indeedy, JBJ really is potential hero material. Oh, boy! Now what? I don't want to disturb JBJ's tool kit that's sitting in the middle of the stairs. Nor do I want him to spot my 'professional' interest.

So, there I am for the next 20 mins. In a dark, hot and miniscule upstairs hallway, holding my breath and stuck. How many opportunities does a writer get for potential hero material turning up, albeit briefly, in her house? Plus, how many writers have a hubby who's also a writer with an eye for potential research material? He'll understand, it's a no-brainer.

I do come out of hiding long enough to thank JBJ for the fast (too fast!) job he's done with the electric meter, before following him into the lounge where hubby very kindly prolongs the visit by helping explain directions to JBJ's next job and the one after that.

Finally, the morning's research over, I'm left wondering whether I should have perhaps made myself more useful by offering to go with JBJ as his personal sat nav...