Unusually chatty post from me ...
I had the loveliest anniversary weekend...
I know it's only of interest to me and Hubby *lol*, but I must tell you about the lovely lunch we had in the Oxo Tower brasserie. A table on the terrace, overlooking the Thames, and the sun shone *awww*. Great menu, wonderful service, and they even brought us a pre-coffee sorbet on a white china plate with "Happy Anniversary" piped in chocolate! Drank several cocktails which managed to make up 50% of the total bill (smirk), then in the evening we went to see South Pacific at the Barbican. Big sacrifice by Hubby who isn't a fan of musicals like me - he never understands why people in drama suddenly start singing into each other's face :) - but he liked it regardless. Then a late night Japanese/fusion snack in a bar and yet *more* cocktails, and home again on Sunday.
*sigh*
I may keep him on for another 28 years ^____^.
It all makes me very thoughtful about 2011, which is racing on at a cracking pace. Anyone else think it's moving faster than last year, or am I getting old??? (on second thoughts, don't answer that ...)
It's been a hectic year, with work, family and writing. And I'm not always sure what - or whether enough - gets achieved to justify all the stress :).
Work-wise, I'm in a good job which is an achievement in itself nowadays, I know. I've been working very long days on special projects, and now we're moving towards the final - and busiest - quarter, so any relaxation is only temporary. I like to be busy, believe me, but the trick is getting the right balance.
Son#1 dropped out of University and is trying to find a different way in life. He was unhappy there on all levels, so it was for the best he left. Now his girlfriend has a place at another University starting this month, so he's going to move in with her and look for a job to help support them both. Good news this month was that they found a flat - not an easy thing, what with the new term approaching, plus many landlords won't let to students - and we'll help them settle in.
And Son#2 just had good results on his GCSE exams (at 16, for those who have different education names for it) so that's a big relief for us too. He's staying on at school and looking forward to a more relaxed atmosphere there as he finally becomes that Big Fish in the little pond :).
Had a few health problems too, but basically I'm ok. Trimming off some weight, trying to do some occasional exercise (ugh). It's not my favourite thing :).
In writing... Well, where to start? Do visitors to my LJ really want to hear what's going on in my tortured, flaky, tumultuous author's brain?! LOL
I haven't shared a lot of WIP on LJ over the last couple of years. Partly because I'm never happy with it until the last damn minute! but also because I'm paranoid-ish about my ideas appearing somewhere else from another author who writes faster than I do. There you are, honest enough for you?! LOL I'm not talking plagiarism, just being overtaken *sigh*. But I do enjoy posting fiction here for fun, so I may share some more soon.
And Lord knows, I need some support and backside-kicking! I don't know where writing time went this year, but it didn't come calling at my door very often. Excuses, I know. I've been very pleased with my shorter work this year - Just-You Eyes at Dreamspinner Press, and my shorts in both Tea and Crumpet and British Flash.
And exciting news ... one of my stories is joining Jordan Castillo Price's latest Petit Morts series, due out later this year, hopefully Oct.
In LONDON EYE, the mystical chocolatier Chance comes to London with his own special blend of spice, sweetness and sharp shock :). More news on that SOON. I'm an excited mix of proud anticipation and JCP fangirl hysteria :):).
Other publishing news? Some of my shorts are coming up for renewal at various publishers and I'm drawing them back in to re-publish myself. It's only a modest venture, I'm not planing to run my own publisher, even for my own books :). But it's an adventure I'd like to try!
Enough of me for today? Thanks for listening (or skimming over, whatever, it's fine)
♥
I know it's only of interest to me and Hubby *lol*, but I must tell you about the lovely lunch we had in the Oxo Tower brasserie. A table on the terrace, overlooking the Thames, and the sun shone *awww*. Great menu, wonderful service, and they even brought us a pre-coffee sorbet on a white china plate with "Happy Anniversary" piped in chocolate! Drank several cocktails which managed to make up 50% of the total bill (smirk), then in the evening we went to see South Pacific at the Barbican. Big sacrifice by Hubby who isn't a fan of musicals like me - he never understands why people in drama suddenly start singing into each other's face :) - but he liked it regardless. Then a late night Japanese/fusion snack in a bar and yet *more* cocktails, and home again on Sunday.
*sigh*
I may keep him on for another 28 years ^____^.
It all makes me very thoughtful about 2011, which is racing on at a cracking pace. Anyone else think it's moving faster than last year, or am I getting old??? (on second thoughts, don't answer that ...)
It's been a hectic year, with work, family and writing. And I'm not always sure what - or whether enough - gets achieved to justify all the stress :).
Work-wise, I'm in a good job which is an achievement in itself nowadays, I know. I've been working very long days on special projects, and now we're moving towards the final - and busiest - quarter, so any relaxation is only temporary. I like to be busy, believe me, but the trick is getting the right balance.
Son#1 dropped out of University and is trying to find a different way in life. He was unhappy there on all levels, so it was for the best he left. Now his girlfriend has a place at another University starting this month, so he's going to move in with her and look for a job to help support them both. Good news this month was that they found a flat - not an easy thing, what with the new term approaching, plus many landlords won't let to students - and we'll help them settle in.
And Son#2 just had good results on his GCSE exams (at 16, for those who have different education names for it) so that's a big relief for us too. He's staying on at school and looking forward to a more relaxed atmosphere there as he finally becomes that Big Fish in the little pond :).
Had a few health problems too, but basically I'm ok. Trimming off some weight, trying to do some occasional exercise (ugh). It's not my favourite thing :).
In writing... Well, where to start? Do visitors to my LJ really want to hear what's going on in my tortured, flaky, tumultuous author's brain?! LOL
I haven't shared a lot of WIP on LJ over the last couple of years. Partly because I'm never happy with it until the last damn minute! but also because I'm paranoid-ish about my ideas appearing somewhere else from another author who writes faster than I do. There you are, honest enough for you?! LOL I'm not talking plagiarism, just being overtaken *sigh*. But I do enjoy posting fiction here for fun, so I may share some more soon.
And Lord knows, I need some support and backside-kicking! I don't know where writing time went this year, but it didn't come calling at my door very often. Excuses, I know. I've been very pleased with my shorter work this year - Just-You Eyes at Dreamspinner Press, and my shorts in both Tea and Crumpet and British Flash.
And exciting news ... one of my stories is joining Jordan Castillo Price's latest Petit Morts series, due out later this year, hopefully Oct.
In LONDON EYE, the mystical chocolatier Chance comes to London with his own special blend of spice, sweetness and sharp shock :). More news on that SOON. I'm an excited mix of proud anticipation and JCP fangirl hysteria :):).
Other publishing news? Some of my shorts are coming up for renewal at various publishers and I'm drawing them back in to re-publish myself. It's only a modest venture, I'm not planing to run my own publisher, even for my own books :). But it's an adventure I'd like to try!
Enough of me for today? Thanks for listening (or skimming over, whatever, it's fine)
♥