Healing the sick and raising the dead

Must say how utterly wonderful last night's reading at the North Camp deli turned out to be. The owners, Claire and Matt, were fabulous and very welcoming people, the shop was superb and the audience very supportive indeed. We sold a healthy number of Goldenford books, including Thorn in the Flesh and Pink Champagne and Apple Juice and the readings and discussion were hugely enjoyable. I came away with free gifts of cheeses and anchovies, and bought a basket of stuff I just couldn't resist. And I even got back in time for "Torchwood". What could be nicer?

Anyway, this morning, I have had my careers consultancy session - very interesting indeed, and I think the consultant was pleased to meet a real-life portfolio worker. And there was I thinking I was Jill of all trades and mistress of none ... Had lots of useful discussions about how to plan my dovetailing careers over the next five or six years and we talked about the concept of creating your own role - which I probably do more easily in my writing life, but it's more muddled in the university one. Came away with issues to think about and a book or two to read. So very worthwhile indeed.

After that I have been healing the sick and raising the dead. Visited my original sick friend in hospital and had a good hour solving the problems of the world. Also took in a fresh supply of bananas and grapes - as you do, and because that was what she asked for. Nipped home to do some editing on Irene's Darshan for Goldenford and to grab some lunch. Which included anchovies, hurrah! Which I know I shouldn't have as they're so salty, but hell they're lovely and you need to keep your strength up when distributing largesse to the needy, ho ho.

I then spent the rest of the afternoon visiting a new sick friend and providing essential gifts of bananas, grapes (well, I thought that as I was buying for one, I may as well buy for two ...) and cheese. We had a great natter, which I enjoyed hugely, and managed to solve the remaining problems of the world left over from my morning sick visit. So everything is now perfect - in case you hadn't realised. Lord H suggested that my mission might be easy to carry out if I wore a long robe and sandals but, frankly, it's not the weather for it, m'dears, so I stuck to my usual jumper and fleece.

Tonight, I need to ring another entirely different sick friend who, thankfully, is now in recovery so I don't need to perform further miracles - which is probably a relief to us all really. And I'm planning further editing and a slump in front of "Ashes to Ashes". I might do a bit more swearing too - just to counteract the effect of so many good works stuffed unaccountably into one day. Indeed, tomorrow I might have to beat up a few old ladies or steal sweets from passing children just to redress the balance. Ah, it's always good to have an aim, don't you know ...

Today's nice things:

1. Careers chat
2. Editing
3. Dispensing good cheer Jane Austen style, but with fewer bonnets.

Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers

Odd knockings and book readings

Very stormy in the night again, Carruthers. Apparently. Though I have to admit I slept right through it. However, Lord H was woken up by odd knockings from the downstairs flat and, in the morning, we discovered that the neighbour’s outside continental blind had been swept up by the winds and was nestling nicely in our gutter. We’ve managed to unattach it from the gutter using only a skewer and some sticky-back plastic and reattach it to where it should be, but I think it might need further medical attention at some stage. Don’t we all? Mind you, I do feel that Lord H should have woken me up when it was actually happening, and we could have then gone and investigated in the middle of the night, armed only with our special Torchwood torches and some rather unusual fluffy slippers. After all, it could have been aliens, you know … Hmm, now there’s an image you don’t want to mess with.

At work, Sue from the Health Centre has suggested that her book group look at Thorn in the Flesh later in the year and invite me along to discuss it. Gosh, thanks, Sue – a very kind thought indeed! It’s not often I get taken out for an airing – I have to abide by my police curfew of course – and I’m always delighted to be asked. And naturally Goldenford provide discounts for multiple purchases, so hopefully it’ll work out for everyone. And something to look forward to for later, hurrah!

Talking of books, I see some equally kind person has bought a copy of A Dangerous Man from Amazon as it’s now no longer on stock there. Here’s hoping they restock it soon as goodness knows it’s the only one they seem able to! In the meantime, thank you, Kind Person, and I do hope you enjoy the read. I’m also continuing – slowly, oh so slowly – to write my short story about fruit. I like the way it’s going, but it certainly ain’t quick. Always good to discover a different working method though.

I’m supposed to be going to my last Pilates class at lunchtime today, but I’m not really in the mood, so I’m going to skip it and walk round the campus and pop into the gallery instead. Ooh what a rebel I am indeed, ho ho. And tonight, Jennifer from Goldenford and I are doing a book reading at the North Camp deli, so that’ll be (a) fun; (b) scary; or (c) both. Probably (c), I think. I’ve brought half a ton of books in, as we’re going straight there from work, and will no doubt be carrying half a ton of books back too. Haven’t had much time to practise my readings –I’ve prepared one from Thorn and one from Pink Champagne and Apple Juice just in case, but I suspect I’ll only do the Thorn one.

And I’ve even remembered to set the video for “Torchwood” in case Jennifer and I are mobbed by our adoring fans and can’t get home in time. Not only that, but I’ve added in the programme on Frinton-on-Sea that follows afterwards. So near my home town! And Frinton has always had class and quirkiness. In spades. I love it.

Today’s nice things:

1. Being invited to a book group with Thorn
2. My campus lunchtime walk
3. The deli book reading.

Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers

Tea, Pinter and my first reading group invite

Oh, the .... Pinter last .... night was so .... full of .... pauses that at times I think I may have lost the will to live. I have no real idea what it might have been trying to say either and I even may have got to the point where I didn't much care. Which is odd as I've seen some quite sharp Pinters. This ("Old Times") is not one. It even managed to make the glorious Neil Pearson appear dull, which is quite a feat. Only an hour and a half (including a 20 minute interval), but I've never been so glad to see the lights come up and the applause begin. Though I think we might have been applauding the return of the lights rather than acknowledging the actors. Mind you, I did get the giggles when Lord H leaned over to me while we were nibbling our ice creams in the interval and said (in classic stage whisper) that, all in all, he thought there was less to it than met the eye. Well said, sir, indeed. In fact if we'd got rid of ... the ... pauses, we could probably have rattled through it in 10 mins and been home in time for "Ugly Betty". Which I'm sorry I missed.

However, fear not, as Lord H has once again come up with the correct dramatic solution. (It never ceases to amaze me how dramatically sensitive my husband actually is - he really should have been a playwright or a drama critic, at the very least, as he does this all the time). Anyway, his solution would be to take the script, add in the old school friend's husband, thus making it a four-hander, rather than a three-hander. Then he'd split the set so we could see the living room and the bedroom at the same time, and watch people go in and out of same - thus adding action and a sense of movement where there was none. He'd then give the whole thing to Alan Ayckbourn who knows a thing or two about drama, and end up with a respectable, and no doubt more popular, comedy of manners. Result! Remember: you heard it here first ...

And there's exciting news! "A Dangerous Man" (http://www.flamebooks.com) will be discussed at the university's reading group at the end of April, and I've been invited to go along and introduce it, etc etc. Hurrah! Michael actually gets to go out. For once. I'd best make sure he nobbles some of Jack's aftershave and buys himself a decent tee-shirt and at least tries to look respectable. Both of us are very excited! - but nervous too, as we're Reading Group Virgins. Much to our shame ... So if anyone out there has any useful tips, please let us know! I did ask Lord H if he could come along and be "Author's Husband", and he suggested that, bearing in mind the psychotic subject matter, perhaps Kunu could also come along, so I could be flanked by "Author's Husband" on one side and "Author's Therapist" on the other. I suspect that may be slightly too weird for the university though ... And he wasn't that keen on the idea of me dressing up as Michael and him dressing up as Jack either - though the idea of having sex in the office did perk him up. As it were. Ho hum.

Oh, and the lovely Devon on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com - sorry, Devon, but I can't find your page URL, darn it!) has very kindly added me to his profile as an author he likes. Hey, thanks, Devon - that's a first for me, I think. Much appreciated.

This afternoon, Lord H and I have been to Kent and back to celebrate a friend's 60th birthday and to eat lots of very naughty food. Bliss. And we were very good, as it was held in a vineyard and we didn't buy any of the local wine. How noble we are indeed. This probably means we can be extra naughty at the next available wine shop. Hurrah. Tonight, I'll be glued to "Primeval" on TV, getting more ironing done and probably not doing the cleaning. Hell, it's a plan.

Today's nice things:

1. Being invited to a reading group
2. Tea in Kent
3. Being a favourite author of Devon's!

Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com
http://www.goldenford.co.uk