b's amusing account of her confusion when she first moved up to Newcastle set me thinking about this:

When I first lived in Sheffield I would regularly see buses with "Intake - city centre" on the front.

I surmised that thiswas some sort of 'shopping shuttle', and that for the purposes of speedy service you could get on this bus to the city centre but you couldn't get off (i.e. 'intake' only) . This is not at all logical, because while the bus is stopped to let peopel on it takes no extra time for people to get off, but whatever.....

It was YEARS before it was brought to my attention that there is an area of Sheffield called "Intake", from whence said bus originated......

And didn't the bride look lovely....

.....Oooh, she really really did. I promptly burst into tears as soon as I saw her, then had to recompose myself super-quickly as I was up first with my reading, which (phew!) I managed to do very very well (if I do say so myself!) and received many a compliment for it. I'm thinking of it as useful experience for when I am a famous author and have to do loads and loads of public appearances....

Also saw loads of friends that I haven't seen for YONKS! (ten years, in some cases), made some lovely new friends, and made a tit of myself on the dancefloor: I'd been drinking since early afternoon, and was convinced that I had some foxy moves. I, in fact, had no moves. Or balance. Or co-ordination......

Aw, ain't weddings brill?


In other news, I managed precisely nil writing over the weekend, as pre-wedding jitters put paid to that on saturday morning, and the DAY LONG hangover made Sunday a total write-off.

I will be good this week, though, promise!

Here comes the bride!

Shoes that look pretty but inflict blisters the like of which (wo)man has never known before? Check!

Paul Durcan poem for my ceremony reading (five copies thereof, in case four get lost en route)? Check!

‘Bird of paradise meets Danny La Rue’ style fascinator that I had specially made but am now having serious doubts about as it may be a bit too “Vegas showgirl”? Check!

Tummy holdy-in pants for when I make my fourth trip to the buffet table? Check!

My best friend in the whole wide world gets married on Saturday, and I’m already an over-emotional nervous wreck. I’m excited, yet a little sad that by Sunday it will all be over and I won’t have it all to look forward to. And I’m terrified ~ I’m up first for the ceremony readings and I’m so scared that I’ll get it wrong or trip over my dress on the way to the lectern or suddenly start speaking in tongues….

The bride-to-be is marvel of tranquillity, which, come to think of it, I was at this stage before my wedding last year. Maybe the bride is always the calm eye of the storm, and it’s everyone else who absorbs the anxiety on her behalf?

I’ll report back after the weekend (i.e. how many times I cried, how long before I whipped my blistery shoes off and chucked them in the Tyne, etc!)

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Novel is on a bit of a standby at the moment as I’ve been struck, out of the blue, by an extremely powerful short story that descended and has taken me over completely. I’ve been working on it everyday, and it’s more like taking down dictation than anything else ~ for the first time ever I understand what writers mean when they say that a story choose a writer and not the other way around. The voice, the plot, everything is all ‘there’. It’s a very exhilarating experience, and all going to plan there’s a few comps I’ve got in mind for it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Acupuncture tomorrow, and frick do I need it?! I’ve been a bitch on wheels today and have bitten off the heads of anyone who crossed my path, and then spent all evening feeling bad about it and getting weepy. I think a giant glass of vino might be needed…..

Culture overload!

Oh my word, how has another week flown past??

Am buzzing with excitement as I've booked my ticket to see Kate Atkinson at the Durham Book Festival, and so I've pre-ordered this. Can't wait to read it.

As well as that I've booked for the ''Writing a Synopsis' workshop with Debbie Taylor (former Mslexia editor), which is apparently for "novelists preferably with a novel close to completion" which is a massive incentive to keep steaming ahead with the WIP so that I'm not sat at the back like the naughty girl who didn't do her homework.

But wait, there's more!
I've also booked for Iain Banks at my local library in September, as well as an evening with Tracy Chevalier in November (a veritable bargain at £3 a pop!)

So many writers flocking northwards ~ long may it continue!

PS: Go Rafa!!!!

Now here's a problem I wish I had!

Some writers, it seems, are too prolific......

The Perils of Productivity

A post with no title as I am totally lacking in inspiration......

Ascot ~ I've never really 'got' it. And this has done little to convince me that it isn't a just a bunch of sozzled toffs and wannabes trying too hard to have 'fun' . There's a woman wearing a bathroom for a hat. (Now there's a sentence you don't get to type every single day). And a pork pie hat that is, you know, an actual pork pie. Oh, the wit.........


yeah, ok, I'm bitchy today ~ it's that very special lady' time for me, and whilst I tend not to suffer much from PMT (disclaimer: to verify the accuracy of this statement please consult my husband. His response may differ a jot) I am suffering a great deal from Lack of Being Pregnant. I'm less than 2 months away from what would have been my due date, and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to face the fact that I'm unlikely to be pregnant again by the time August rolls around. Last night I threw myself the mother of all pity parties: a good cry, a giant glass of wine, a Mars chocolate muffin and 'The best of Echo & the Bunnymen'. Do I know how to rock it, or what?

Anyhoo, I'm getting on with typing up the longhand drafts of the WIP during my lunch-hour at work, as the chappy who sits next to me is off on holiday and therefore no-one can see my screen (why is it that what's on someone elses screen always seems so fascinating? I HATE people looking at what I'm typing ~ it's like the evil little critic who perches on my shoulder made flesh!). And it's Friday which means its the weekend (oh joy), & I have acupuncture tonight, which is bound to make me feel better (thought I doubt listening to me wail "WHY?? WHY?? WHY?? Why am i not pregnant yet??????" for half an hour is going to be the finest possible start to acupuncture lady's weekend).

Buy this book!

Not least cos I'm in it.

What a lovely surprise ~ I'd pretty much forgotten all about it, got back from my counselling session this morning feeling a little bit drained and fragile, so this was a fantastic boost!

You can buy the book here. £6 from each copy (£10 from each download version) goes to Warchild, a network of independent organisations, working across the world to help children affected by war.

I've ordered my copy, and i can't wait to read the other contributions.

Congrats also to fellow racers Debs, Helen, Jen, Leigh and Zinnia, who are all in there too.