Editing, and writers galore

A double entry today due to an editing frenzy yesterday (Monday 25 September). I was too busy doing the final editing to "A Dangerous Man" for Flame (http://www.flamebooks.com) to spare a moment for blogging. It was a strange experience too - I wrote the book about four years ago - yes, folks, it's taken that long to perfect and sell - and coming back to it now makes me realise I don't think I could write so intensely and with such darkness about art, sex and death again. It's an exhausting - almost carthartic - experience. But my main character's (Michael's) voice has such a strong grip on me that it's been like coming back into the clutches of an obsession or drug. Strange stuff but oddly enjoyable..

So, today (Tuesday 26 September), I've felt absolutely shattered all day and I've kept returning to Michael's voice and the things he says and feels. I definitely need some sleep.

Over the last couple of days, work hasn't been so bad either. I'm almost up to date with my minutes and the meetings I've been to have been all right. Which is good, as I'm not sure I could take anything complicated at the moment. God forbid! Also, today I've had UniSWriters, which was great, and I popped into Guildford Writers (http://www.guildfordwriters.net) for the first hour, which was also very good - before leaving to pursue my dream of an early night. There's still time, hurrah!

And my reprints of "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" for Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) have arrived in time for our October events - thank goodness! Here's hoping I manage to sell some ...

I've just finished Clare Morrall's latest novel, "Natural Flights of the Human Mind". Stunning, gripping and the woman is a genius. I couldn't put it down - she does relationships so well. It was a pleasure to read and I'm looking forward to her next.

Today's nice things (yesterday counts too!):

1. Editing "A Dangerous Man"
2. UniSWriters
3. Guildford Writers' meeting.

Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com

Coming down with a cold

Decided to skip church today - they're resurrecting some old bishop to take the service who is probably a saint but should no doubt have been put out to pasture some time ago, and to cap it all they've got a confirmation as well. Frankly I can't be arsed. Besides, I'm coming down with a cold and not feeling so good, so a morning off is well overdue. So, instead, I chatted to the neighbour and sorted the cars out, and then Lord H and I had lunch at The Stag at Eashing. Good pub and great food, though the service is a little on the slow side of slow. That's the country for you ...

Some good news on the booksales front - Gary from Independent Authors (http://www.independentauthors.co.uk) has sold a copy of "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" for me, so I've broken my duck for September. Huge thanks, Gary - you're a star!

This afternoon, I lazed around watching "Star Trek" and last week's video of "Ancient Rome". Looks like Nero was all fine and dandy until he went insane. Though no doubt the same could be said of any of us. Still, he carried a certain pizzazz with it all, which I warmed to. Tonight, I'll watch "Midsomer Murders" and video the first part of "Jane Eyre". I take style over substance any day.

This week's haiku:

A Reader's Life:
Poems for breakfast,
novels in the lunchtime lull,
short stories at night.

Today's nice things:

1. Not going to church
2. Lunch out
3. Selling a copy of "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice".

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

Golfing

A lazy morning, followed by a mad rush round trying to get essential lunch shopping done (Lord H) and tidying the house (me). Then golf with Marian and Siegi, followed by lunch at ours (which explains the previous sentence). It was fun, but we didn't do hugely well - still, such is golf. At least the weather was good.

On the writing front, I was cheered by a comment on the Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) site saying how much they loved my extract of "The Gifting", but brought down to earth by a strong (and probably justified) comment on the poem I currently have on the same site. Up one moment and down the next - welcome to the writing life, eh?

Post-golf, I'm absolutely shattered, so am hoping for a evening of TV and flopping. Right now, that sounds like bliss.

Today's nice things:

1. Golf (at least the good holes ...)
2. The Writewords novel comment.

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

The Gifting continues ....

... but slowly. Still, managed a thousand words today, so am now up to 62,000. Over halfway through then. I think. Phew. It's an interesting journey - scenes are buzzing round my head, but at the moment I can't write them till I actually get to them in the text, as lots of other strange things are happening on the way. Such is the writing process, I suppose!

Last night's theatre - a Shared Experience version of "Orestes" - was superb. Gripping, dark, sexy and politically relevant. Honestly, SE can do no wrong. If they ever bring a production to your part of the country, for God's sake, go and see it. Top class theatre every time.

Was thrilled to receive a postcard this morning from Trish from church saying how much she enjoyed "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" whilst she was on holiday and couldn't put it down. Thanks, Trish! It's this sort of response that makes it all worthwhile and keeps me slogging away. I'm more than grateful.

Popped into Godalming to stock up on lavender oil and herb teas. Goodness, how new age-y I'm becoming. I think they do some good though. Also managed to buy four very decent shirts from the Edinburgh Woollen Mill for only £11.00 the lot. Re-sult. Ah the joy of the sales. And I have to say that Godalming's EWM is the classiest one I've ever known and always well worth a visit. The stock is completely different and much better quality than other of the brand's outlets.

Managed to fit in a nap this afternoon while the rain hammered down. It's been like a monsoon out there today, though now (late afternoon), the sun has at last shown its face.

Have just finished Patricia Duncker's "Miss Webster and Cherif." Hell, what a disappointment from a writer I usually admire. This time, it's clunky, dull, the story doesn't start until Page 80 (when - at last! - Cherif turns up), and all the plot twists are squeezed into the last 20 pages. To my mind, it would have been better as a novella or long short story. Not one I recommend. Let's hope Duncker's next is back to form.

Today's nice things:

1. Trish's postcard
2. The Edinburgh Woollen Mill sale purchases
3. The Gifting.

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

Competition entry day

A late start to the morning, but eventually got down to doing my monthly competition entries. Have given up on short stories entirely now, but am still keeping up with the poetry round. I seem to do better there, in general. It took me ages to get together a haiku collection for the Snapshot Press competition, but the rest of it was fairly straightforward.

So a late lunch and then I squeezed in some more of "The Gifting" and popped in to see Gladys. This week she's happy but frail. Apparently she'd been thinking of me and then, scarily, I turned up. Good talent - I told her she ought to be thinking of nubile young men and see if it has the same effect. If she could bottle that skill, she'd make a fortune!

Tonight, Lord H and I are out at the theatre in Guildford to see "Orestes". Not many jokes there then. And terrible news about Richard Hammond of "Top Gear" - he's had a dreadful accident and is now seriously ill in hospital. I was really upset when I heard this morning - he's seems a genuinely nice guy. I hope and pray he'll be all right. Life's so bloody fragile.

Today's nice things:

1. The theatre trip
2. Getting my first haiku collection together, funnily enough.

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

Freshers' Week Day Three

And the last day of my working week, thank goodness. Though, having said that, it hasn't been so bad today. Library duties at the registration in the morning weren't great, but only an hour so not as bad as it could have been. And the students seemed brighter and chattier than yesterday (probably less exhausted ...), so that was okay. Later in the morning, we had two upset freshers in the office - I actually prefer this as I'm dealing with people in small, do-able numbers, rather than great and frightening swathes of them. Between us, Ruth and I managed to sort them out, with the help of tissues, fluffy pens and the use of my phone, so I think they were much calmer when they left. And, ye gods, I even felt humanly useful for once - so that was nice.

Lunchtime counselling with Zoe was great. I talked about how depressed I was last week, and the lowness I feel this week, which was helpful - and had a long discussion about how I think I ought to live more "organically", from the inside, rather than trying to follow structures which other people use or impose on me. Talking about this really got my energy levels fizzing, so I seriously think it's something I ought to move towards doing, or doing more often. I'm going to try to do things I enjoy, rather than what everyone anticipate or expects. Hell, sometimes I just want to be free to be myself - and I think it's a journey worth taking.

This afternoon was the first of this academic year's meetings to minute. And today it was the Nursery Management Group with scary Charmian. Actually she was quite smiley, so maybe she's warming towards me at last. Still haven't got an effing clue what they're going on about and I've zilch interest in children, but I got most of it down and hope it makes sense when I get the first draft done.

Things in the office between the boss and me seem to be better as well, which is something of a relief. I'm still looking around to see what's out there, but the edge of desperation has eased. Thank God. And tonight, it's TV and flopping. Bliss.

Today's nice things:

1. Counselling
2. Helping the upset students in the office
3. Getting Freshers' Week over with.

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

Freshers' Week Day Two

Ah, the hell of the Library registration. I did two sessions today of covering our small Student Care Services stall - one in the morning and one in the afternoon - and I really don't like doing it. I'm not a people person. So I put on my plastic smile (which is rather worn out really) and tried not to make too much eye contact. Doing this sort of stuff only confirms that I'm a back-room girl, through and through. Damn shame I have another session of this tomorrow. Curses. Still, the one good thing is that I've found out how to make the wretched DVD and a PowerPoint presentation work on the plasma screen. I am now technologically empowered. Hurrah.

Thank the Lord for my lunchtime reflexology session. Bliss as usual and I drifted off to sleep a couple of times. Afterwards I felt quite balanced. For a while ...

And the DVD story continues ... this morning, we had one session where the bloody thing wouldn't work in a room and one session where the students forgot to turn up. Apparently they might turn up on Friday, but who knows?

The one good thing about today was coming home to Lord H - such a relief. It's the best part of my day. Ooh, and my publishers (http://www.flamebooks.com) have contacted me again - so hope springs up once more. It was only to do with holidays and publicity though, damn it - when what I really want to know about is publication dates and finishing the editing. Maybe one day they'll let me know - in the meantime, we plod on ...

Today's nice things:

1. Getting the working day over with
2. Coming home to Lord H
3. Flame contacting me.

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

Freshers' Week Day One

The beginning of the Week from Hell. But actually it hasn't been too bad - yet. Both our talks today went well, and the damn DVD worked. Hurrah. The campus is stuffed with bright young people holding maps and looking puzzled. 'Twas ever thus. It'll take them six months to get used to the layout. It's not intuitive. Welcome to the adult world, people ...

Gave blood this afternoon - and for once I didn't have to take the extra test as I wasn't borderline anaemic. Phew. Must be all those dried apricots I'm eating. Better keep it up then.

At home, Lord H has bought me "Psychologies" magazine - as it has an article to help me find out if I'm depressed or just low. Actually, reading it made me feel worse, as I couldn't tell which I was. Do I have flashes of contentment or joy, or not? Haven't a bloody clue, Mr Smug Article Writer. You tell me. I think I'll put the whole mag to one side for a while - though I usually think it's okay, I simply don't have the energy at the moment.

Have just finished Lucy Ellman's "Doctors and Nurses" - bizarre in the extreme, but I got used to it in the end, though I was skipping through it rather than reading in depth. She's probably a genius, or a rather good scam artist, but I wouldn't want to read another one.

Today's nice things:

1. The chocolate biscuits and chat at the blood doner van
2. Being at home and being able to flop
3. Getting Day One over.

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

Church and a lazy day

Church not too bad this morning - only felt like escaping two or three times, which wasn't as many as I'd been expecting. I even liked a couple of the hymns, though I phased out when it came to saying (and actually meaning) any of the non-sung words. The nice stand-in vicar came (Robin Roe), who's really sweet and asks questions about non-religious stuff (thank the Lord), but my goodness his sermons are long. Lord H was sure there were at least three sermons in there. Today was heaven and hell, so I tried not to listen - too depressing by far. But I'm sorry he's not turning up till Christmas Eve now - I'll miss him. Had a couple of nice conversations after church too, which was a boost.

Was terribly noble and washed the car. How wonderfully suburban I'm getting. Sod it, who cares anyway? Spent the afternoon catching up on my video mountain, including "Far From Heaven" (classy film about the 50s) and "Afterlife" (great stuff with a good twist). Tonight, it's "Midsomer Murder", so my TV day will be complete. Thank God for television - it stops you thinking.

This week's haiku:

As a special treat
today we drown in chocolate:
truffles; candy; fudge.

Today's nice things:

1. The nice vicar
2. The nice post-church conversation
3. TV.

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

Haslemere Chocolate Day

A morning spent cleaning - not Lord H's or my favourite task but, hell, it's got to be done. Then an early lunch and a visit to the Chocolate Day of Haslemere's food festival (http://www.haslemere.com/foodfestival) - bliss. Stocked up on chocolate buttons, chocolate swizzle sticks (for melting into hot milk), chocolate ginger, and chocolate dried pineapples. Also sampled chocolate hazelnut tart and chocolate flapjacks. I think we've done our bit for the local food trade this week ... And a trip round the town took us to a sausage tasting (also part of the foof festival), so never say that Surrey doesn't know how to enjoy itself.

Late afternoon, I caught up with Star Trek, and then tonight it's the last episode of "How do You Solve a Problem like Maria?" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/maria) - I really hope Connie wins, but I'll take Helena as second choice if I have to. But please, please don't let it be Siobhan - I can't stand her! What am I going to do Saturday nights now it's over? Oooh nooo!

Today's nice things:

1. Chocolate
2. Star Trek
3. Maria School

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

Clarins day

Clarins massage and facial today - bliss. Hell, I deserve it. Bought some De-Stress herbal remedy from Holland & Barrett to see if I can knock this feeling low all the time phase into touch - the concoction is stronger than my usual Quiet Life pills, so I can only hope ... But if it doesn't work, I might try some St John's Wort, even though there's such mixed opinions about it. To be honest, I'll try anything (well, almost anything) at this stage which doesn't involve having to ask the doctor for anti-depressants. Here's hoping ...

This afternoon, I had a long nap, which was also bliss. And much-needed. Am planning to get some writing on "The Gifting" done this evening, while Lord H is out at the village hall gardening presentation. Goodness, how very "Midsomer" we're getting around here. Though in a less murderous sense, one hopes!

Today's nice things (I've decided to list any I find up to three, rather than always having to do three):

1. Clarins treatments
2. Sleeping.

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

A slightly better day - but only slightly

More problems with our pre-induction week at work - but Monique and I rushed around to get things sorted and we just about managed it. I'm hoping the students didn't notice the join. Still felt sore about all the rubbish stuff earlier in the week, but I had a good talk with the boss later on, and I think we both feel better about it now. Phew.

Didn't get anywhere in the placings for the Harry Bowling Award, damn it, so am really disappointed about that. I'm fed up with getting shortlisted and nothing more. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Right now, I really hate the publishing world, and I'm not sure why I'm bothering with it. Not only that, but no sign of that £100 cheque for being on the shortlist either, which they promised. Hmm. Even that would have been something to show for the trip to London.

As you can see, I'm feeling low. In general. I might finish off "The Gifting" and then not write anything for a while. Unless someone shows any real interest in any of my writing. At all. It's just bringing me down, and I really can't hack the pressure or the expectations. When, in the end, the result is nothing. Doesn't seem much point in it really, if what I produce isn't going to get read.

Could do with a night in tonight, to be honest. But it's the works do out and I said I'd go. Hope I can sneak away early though. That would be nice.

The one nice thing about today is that Colin complemented me on my reading aloud skills - he said the piece from "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" was very enjoyable. That made me feel better for a short while - thanks, Colin.

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

Harry Bowling Novel Prize

Day in lieu today, as this afternoon I have to go up to London to (a) meet my agent (http://www.sff.net/people/john-jarrold/about.html) - phew, at last! - and (b) attend the Harry Bowling Novel Prize (http://www.harrybowlingprize.net) to see if "Maloney's Law" can do more than its usual "shortlist only" showing. To be honest, I'm not holding out much hope, if past experience is anything to go by. And, needless to say, I'm shitting bricks although I know I should be saying what a fun evening it will be and how useful it will be to my career in that people will get to know my name and what I look like. And might therefore remember me when they come to look at their precious future publications lists. Hmm. Some hope. Still shitting bricks though ... And I'm wired up about meeting John Jarrold too - as I hate going to meet people when I don't know what they look like. And I hate having to walk into strange pubs to meet them. Hey ho. Will have to take a calming pill or two fairly soon.

This morning was nice though - Jane Hide came for tea and chat, and we did a good old catch-up. Lovely to see her again. Now the children are both either at or nearly at school, she's going to be doing some product selling for a beauty firm (http://www.nutrimetics.co.uk). Looks like good stuff, Jane - so go for it!

Managed to get about 500 words of "The Gifting" done before I started to worry about which train to catch. So have stopped now, as I can't concentrate. Am also dreading having to do an extra day at work tomorrow, when I've been having such a crap week. Groan. How I hate it when my routine is messed up.

Have just finished Sue Miller's "The World Below". Not one of her best offerings, I think, but still worthwhile reading. Rather too meandering for me, and I lost the point very early on. An interesting writer though, and I've enjoyed some of her others.

Today's three nice things:

1. Jane's visit
2. Meeting my agent
3. Going to a post London literary do - that'll show 'em!

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

Double entry today

Which is somehow fitting, bearing in mind Lord H's profession (accountancy). Yesterday - 11 September 2006 - was our 13th wedding anniversary. Work was hell (of which more later - grrrr...), but anniversary was lovely. Presents of books, a CD and flowers, including roses (my favourite), topped off nicely with a bottle of pink champagne, and "Dalziel and Pascoe" on TV. Perfect. And we're a teenager now. Hurrah!

Today was further hell at work. I've been working my socks off and my heart out to get these bloody induction presentation talks sorted out. Two things went wrong yesterday (neither of which it turns out were our fault), which in my opinion I dealt admirably with - fire-fighting, supporting and encouraging the troops, apologising to and soft-soaping those who needed it - and generally getting the show back on the road, with sterling support from our team of crack presenters. All this when the boss was out. The moment he comes back, he sends out an email saying exactly the same things as in my earlier email (which he'd already seen ...) as if he and only he was capable of coping with the disasters. Well wipe my bottom and call me a monkey then. Bloody hell - words fail me!! Not only that, but he takes the time to question, criticise and stare at me blankly, but is there even one word of thanks? Is there hell. Now, I may not be the world's greatest manager, but when I had staff, when the shit hit the fan I at least knew how to say thank you and make them feel (a) supported and (b) better. Which I think makes me a million times better than him right now. Thanks a lot - for nothing.

So today, I'm feeling very close to throwing the whole thing up in the air and (a) seeing if he can hack it, (b) telling him there's no way in hell I'm doing this again next year if that's the level of support I get, and (c) looking for another job. Perhaps the time to move on is beckoning - a fact only made clearer by today's thorough mis-management of me. Shame, but there it is. As and when I get something else, it will be a huge relief not to have to pretend I care (Fact: I don't - hell, it's just a job, after all. I do it to the best of my ability, but I don't see it as important. It's not writing ...).

But nice things that happened today include the Tesco's till-lady recognising me and knowing how much money I was likely to ask for - goodness, I'm so predictable, but hey that's service! And lunchtime reflexology with the new lady, Emily, was wonderful - so relaxing I drifted off twice. It provided a much-needed respite from the shit of the rest of the day.

I should have been going to Guildford Writers this evening, but the day's been too hellish and I don't have the emotional energy for it. So a night in in front of the TV calls me. Thank God.

Today's three nice things:

1. Tesco lady's banter
2. Reflexology
3. Coming home to Lord H.

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

Antiques shopping

No church today, as Sue promised to cover the 8am service - hurrah! - and it looks like she'll be covering sacristan duties until Christmas when it's apparently hoped to get a part-time verger to do the setting-up etc. It's good not to have the responsibility any more, although I've said I can do the stuff if there's a gap. I'm sure Sue and I can play it by ear and as it comes (double cliche moment - hurrah again!).

So, this morning, Lord H and I did some antiques browsing in the Farnham shops - some lovely bedside cabinets, but the ones we really liked were about £800, so rather out of our price range. Still, as we've been searching for bedside cabinets for 13 years, we can look a little longer ... maybe it will be a retirement present for ourselves.

A late lunch, and I slobbed in front of "Crocodile Dundee" this afternoon - great stuff, with a fantastically satisfying ending. Love it. This evening is more TV heaven - thank the Lord for crime dramas, but it's annoying that "Dalziel and Pascoe" is on opposite "Midsomer Murders". Looks like "MM" will be for the video again. And talking of TV, I am now seriously hooked on "How do You Solve a Problem like Maria?". Go, Connie, go! - I soooo hope you get it, gal, though I do have a soft spot for back-from-the-bottom-again Helena. Surely all this must count as research? Hmm ... Though, hell, why not? I work like a trooper normally. It's good to relax.

Lord H and I were talking about politics recently (strangely!) and he commented that the more the weeks go by, the more Blair is becoming something like Miss Haversham. I can just see him in 10 years' time, still hanging onto his dreams and surrounded by the trappings of power from years gone by. Now there's an idea for a story ...

This week's haiku:

Your sliced tomatoes
a row of Tiller Girls.
I know where your mind is.

Today's three nice things:

1. A lazy morning
2. "Crocodile Dundee"
3. A lazy evening.

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

Articles - publication and commission

Some good news today - the lovely people at Independent Authors (http://www.independentauthors.co.uk) have asked me for an article for their October magazine. Have decided to focus on what it's like to be both a writer and a publisher, and they seem happy with that. Have managed to get a first draft (c1,500 words) done this morning, but have some facts to check and also the read-throughs, so I'll see how it feels tomorrow.

And there's a piece about me in this month's Writers' News Magazine (http://www.writersnews.co.uk), so that felt really good. Hell, it's always nice to be in print, and it was a good article - phew!

Everything stopped at lunchtime when Star Trek came on - the real world, don't you know. All that we see around us now is simply a holodeck illusion. My real life is up there in space. Surely. Later on this afternoon, I'll do a Sainsbury's shop - to save shopping on Monday (which will be our 13th anniversary - Lord H & I are a teenager at last!). And tonight, it's "How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?" on TV, and I'm completely hooked. Connie! It has to be Connie - please!

A perfect Saturday.

Today's three nice things:

1. The article commission
2. The Writers' News article - high five!
3. Star Trek.

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

Traffic jam Friday

A morning of traffic jams today. Got stuck on the road from Farnham into Godalming for half an hour. Everything just stopped. When I finally got to the point where the jam was, I realised it was a 3 car accident (though it didn't look too bad) and the police were doing their best to clear it off the road. A few minutes after that, I got stuck again on the Charterhouse Road - this time because two large lorries were attempting to pass in opposite directions on a road not originally made with the demands of big business in mind. It's going to be hell, should they ever give the go-ahead to the bloody quarry. We'll have lorries as big as Manhattan battling for supremacy every five minutes. Anyway, cue (or queue?) ten minutes of panting and puffing, edging and squeezing before the man in the smaller lorry gave in and had to get out to give direct instructions. At least that's what I think he was doing. Shades of Mr Bean ... Still, at last they sorted it out and I finally made it home. Phew!

At home, I got stuck into The Gifting again. Another 1000 words done and, this time, there was a lot of ideas for other scenes and maybe even a big near-finale set piece buzzing round my head. It's getting exciting again - hurrah! After that, I popped into Godalming (roads clear, thank the Lord) to stock up on lavender oil. Peace, man. But not for long, as gloom and severe pissed-offness reared its head - as I went into the dreaded Surrey Bookshop and spoke to Mrs Unhelpful to get three of our Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) books back, as she hasn't been arsed to pay for them (though she has paid for Pink Champagne). Apparently she can't be arsed to try to sell them either, as when I asked for them back, she delved around behind the counter and brought them all out, including Champers - which I forced her to hang onto. Honestly, I ask you!! If she could possibly stir herself from her sluggish literary daze to put books on the shelves, she might be having more success than she is. My loyalties are now entirely with Ottakar's opposite - something I thought I'd never say! - but, really, up yours, madam.

Ooh, and Irene is doing a fantastic display of posters for Goldenford books in preparation for our October event in Barclays, Guildford. They look superb - well done, Irene! I've also written a comic occasional poem today - for the friend of a friend's hen night (are you keeping up?) - I rather enjoyed flexing the poetic muscles again. Hell, sometimes I can still do it.

By the way, last night's play in Guildford - The French Lieutenant's Woman - was utterly, utterly fantastic. Best thing I've seen for ages in the theatre. Classy and deep, with comic touches. Superb scenery and even better acting. It's made me want to rush out and buy the book - to see if it's as good as the play! Hmm, something wrong with the order there, I fear - but, hell, at least it's made me want to buy it.

Tonight, it's wine, pizza, garlic bread, ice cream & TV heaven. Bliss.

Today's three nice things:

1. The writing
2. Pizza & ice cream
3. Irene's posters.

Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com

The Gifting continues

Aha! At last I'm able to get down to doing some of The Gifting again. Simon is now in the Kingdom of the Air, so I feel the two of us are moving along a little more. Something of a relief really. So another 1000 words done. Also did the minutes from Tuesday's Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) meeting and sent them out. Jane Hide rang and we caught up with each other's news, which was good - she's coming round for coffee next Wednesday morning. Which is the same day that I'm off up to London in the afternoon to attend the Harry Bowling Prize (http://www.harrybowlingprize.net) ceremony. Would be lovely to win with the apparently unsellable Maloney's Law, but I'm too much of a hardened cynic by now to expect such blessings. But the good news is that next Wednesday I finally get to meet my agent (http://www.sff.net/people/john-jarrold/about.html) as he's taking me for drink before the knees-up. Hurrah!

Popped into see Gladys this afternoon - very vague again today, and we had the same conversations two or three times. Maybe she's more fragile in the heat? Then again, aren't we all? And she doesn't do badly for 90.

This evening, Lord H and I are off to see "The French Lieutenant's Woman" in Guildford Theatre. Not many laughs there, I fear, but it will save reading the book ...!

Today's three nice things:

1. Getting some writing done
2. Speaking to Jane
3. The theatre.

Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com

Counselling session

A busy, and sometimes frantic, day - full of sound and fury. I have an urgent new leaflet crisis, which is supposed to be resolved by next Friday (ha!), but I doubt it will be. Still, at least it gave me a focus to the day, which was a pleasant change. Nothing like a good crisis, eh ...

And I had my first counselling session for 3 weeks with Zoe. Goodness, how I've missed being able to talk things through. I feel as if August has been a complete blank, and I've found it hard to feel anything at all, even when supposedly nice things were happening. Almost as if there's an enormous blockage between where I am and where the feeling is. It was good to hack my way through it all - or at least some of it - and whilst I was rather upset at the end of my hour, hell at least it was a bloody feeling, so I'm not complaining. At some stage, I need to be able to find a space in life where I can express this sort of thing outside the actual counselling sessions, and I'm not used to doing that - or admitting I might even need to do that - so I suspect it's going to be a long, hard process. Ho hum, but I should be used to those by now.

At home, Lord H and I watched a video of "Midsomer Murders", which was great, and provided much-needed slob-out time. I also managed to have a good chat with him, which made us both feel better, I think. Lord H also thought having a holiday in August was entirely strange - as if it wasn't happening at all - so it feels good not to be alone in that opinion.

Have just finished reading Sue Miller's "While I was Gone." Slow, but somehow electrically gripping. An in-depth portrait of a marriage in crisis. And she writes like a dream. I shall work my way through her backlist as soon as I can and wait in anticipation for the next offering.

Today's three nice things:

1. Counselling
2. Midsomer Murders
3. Chatting with Lord H.

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

Goldenford meeting

A long day at work. God, how long it seemed. I did get quite a lot done, but it just dragged. Another walk round the lake at lunchtime, but all the benches were taken, so I couldn't sit down this time. Admired the new exhibition in the Lewis Elton gallery instead. Shame the pictures I liked were all Not For Sale. Mind you, all the others were way into the thousands, so goodness knows who might buy them on campus!

The Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) site is having a discussion on agents and publishers. That dreadful and completely meaningless word, "publishable", came up again. Ye gods. They should strike "publishable" from the dictionary - half the stuff published by the mainstream guys these days is unadulterated crap, so it's certainly no guide to quality. Let's get rid of the word entirely, chaps, and also let's ditch the idea that agents and publishers know f*** all about quality writing. They're only in it to sell what is deemed currently fashionable. It's got nothing to do with quality, believe me.

Tonight, I'm minuting the monthly Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) meeting. Hell, now there's a publisher who knows what good stuff is! And that, of course, is because we're a small independent, and not a mainstream f***er. In my opinion.

Today's three nice things:

1. The art exhibition
2. The smoked salmon starter we had for dinner
3. The fact that - somehow - the working day finally came to a close ...

Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com

A present of crystals

The usual agony of Monday morning arrived too soon - as ever. It was a real struggle getting to lunch time (after noon, somehow it's as if a weight is lifted from my shoulders), but then I suppose it is my first Monday back at work since being on holiday. The payback from bank holidays indeed ...

Had a lovely walk round campus at lunch, and sat for a while near the lake admiring the ducks and moorhens. It's nice to stop and do something without purpose once in a while. During the afternoon, Julia popped in and kindly gave me a present of three crystals - one green, one red and green, and the third a shiny slate grey. They're really lovely - so thank you, Julia! All together, they're supposed to help me be centred, balanced, in tune with the real me and calm. Which sounds great! As per instructions, I washed them when I got in and am keeping them in my handbag, to see how things go. I should be a new woman the next time a Monday turns up - here's hoping ...!

Not much happened this evening - except I tackled the recycling and put it out for collection tomorrow. I am now the recycling queen of the house. And, later, it'll be the second part of "Dalziel and Pascoe" - I was gripped by Part One last night, so am hoping for a rip-roaring conclusion.

Today's three nice things:

1. Getting to the end of Monday
2. The three lovely crystals
3. Dalziel and Pascoe.

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

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, but who cares?

Struggled through church today wishing I was still in bed. The high point was when one of the light bulbs exploded just after the Nicene Creed and woke everyone up. Nobody was hurt but it did provide the only excitement of the morning. Even the hymns were long and dreary. Afterwards, I did my chores and slipped away as soon as possible to get a much-needed nap (I was up during the night feeling totally wired - way too much coffee yesterday. Ye gods, I won't do that again ...) while Lord H went off to practise on the range with his new golf club.

This afternoon, I've caught up with yesterday's Star Trek, and plan to ring Mother and then have an evening doing as little as possible. I might do some writing of "The Gifting" but only if the mood takes me - we'll see. I should have cleaned the car too but, frankly, I can't be arsed. I'm fed up with doing everything I'm supposed to do. Maybe it's time to kick ass on the bloody routine. Here's hoping, eh?

And I'm dreading tomorrow and already getting the Sunday night depression - God, I hate Mondays. They're crap.

This week's haiku:

At your funeral
a butterfly danced; not you
but something close.

Today's three nice things:

1. The lightbulb explosion
2. Star Trek
3. My glass of lunchtime sherry.

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

Day in Oxford

Lord H and I had a day in Oxford today - just to treat ourselves. The city of dreaming spires lived up to its name - or maybe that should be dreaming towers? A couple of the colleges were open so we could have a nose around quadrangles and stuff. It's certainly another world away from the hustle and bustle of normal city life. We ended up doing our own walking tour, and feel we've only really skated the surface. There's a lot to unpack, and we'll definitely be making a return visit or two. The highlight of the day was the touring choir singing and giving us a history of the songs they chose in the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. Glorious and completely unexpected - we stayed for a while.

Have just finished Patrick Gale's "The Facts of Life". Goodness me, but it's a novel of two halves. The first half has real people in it, whom I really cared about. But the second half was crass and completely unbelievable. Oh no, not someone dying of AIDS again - per-lease. Surely in the 90s (when the book was published), this was still old-fashioned. It felt as if Gale was just using characters as ciphers to showcase his beliefs and they were as shallow as shit (is that a phrase? Hell, I think it should be) - and, honestly, his understanding of family dynamics in terms of siblings and sex is once again non-existent. I think he should (a) simply have stuck to the first part of the novel, which would have stood perfectly well on its own, and (b) not write about brother/sister stuff again - you just can't cut it, matey! Trust me on this one!

Today's three nice things:

1. Oxford colleges
2. The unexpected choir
3. Putting down the disappointing Gale.

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

Eileen's funeral

Attended the funeral of Eileen White (Brian's mother) in Kent today. The first funeral of one of the parents of my Durham friends since I came to know them. She was strongly Catholic, so we had the "full monty", which was very well done indeed. Interesting too - I learnt a lot more about her than I'd known before! Such is the world of the funeral, I think ... During the service, a red admiral butterfly got into the church and fluttered around - rather fitting, somehow, and Eileen would have liked it.

At home, had a much-needed nap, and also sent out the first few chapters of "Maloney's Law" to new press, Five Lines in the Sand. We live in hope, eh? No energy for actual novel writing today, but I didn't really expect there would be. One of my UniSWriters friends, Julia, tells me she's found a green crystal with a streak of red in it, which might have my name on it - will look forward to viewing said beast once I return to work next week! I think I might call it George ...

Oh, and I sent my first fresh (ie not one I'm answering) text today - thanks, Julia! - apparently it worked. A new era begins.

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

A Dangerous Man edits

Looked at "The Gifting" this morning for the first time in what seems to be - and probably is - ages. I felt very creaky starting to write it again, but in the end I managed to get some kind of flow and interest going, and did about 1,000 words. And I've a few ideas as to the next section as well, which is a relief. In the future, I think I'm going to try to do it more "as it comes" rather than forcing the stuff out - it's certainly more enjoyable that way.

Stocked up in Godalming with goodies from the health shop, and bought a cactus for home and for work. They're supposed to get rid of negative energy, so that will be useful. I'll take the long one into work, but the one shaped into four round plants I'll keep next to the computer. It's really rather sweet. And green too - so maybe that will help! Hey, I've bonded with it - result!

Popped into see Gladys this afternoon - she seems in fine fettle, and was hearing better, which is good news all round. Less painful on my voice and less confusing for her. Then I played golf with Marian - nice to be back into girlie golf again, and I didn't do badly. A par at the water hole - completely undeserved, I admit, as my ball bounced unexpectedly over the pond but, hell, who's complaining (apart from Marian)?

This evening, Sean at Flame Books (http://www.flamebooks.com) emailed me over the edits to the first chapter of "A Dangerous Man". It's wonderful to have them at last - almost as if I might actually get it published rather than just dreaming about it! It's becoming a little more "real" every day. So I've got stuck into those - and have enjoyed the process more than I was fearing. The end product is, I think, much sharper at the beginning and better all round, so I've sent it back to him now and will have to see what he says.

Today's three nice things:

1. Doing more of "The Gifting"
2. Golf
3. Getting the edits for "A Dangerous Man".

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

Lunch with Julia, and a good review

A much better day today - due, I'm sure, to me carrying around a dark green dental floss holder in my pocket all day - apparently green is soothing for nervous tension and the liver - and in the absence of the traditional crystal, well, what could I do??... Also lunch with Julia was great - had a real laugh and went back to the office aching with it and on a real high. Thanks, Julia! Consequently, my afternoon marketing/leaflets meeting was (almost) enjoyable and luckily short - and I am even enthused to update stuff next week. Possibly. Goodness me, the drugs must be working. Or maybe I should just floss more?

Got home to some good news - Gold Dust Magazine (http://www.golddustmagazine.co.uk) have reviewed "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" very positively and the review will appear in Issue 7 of their magazine (once it's published - as I've had an early courtesy copy. For which huge thanks, David Gardiner of GD. I owe you one. No, several) in the near future. It's under "Top Summer Reads" - fantastic, thank you, God. I needed a boost. I treated myself to a celebratory sherry in honour of the occasion. I'm becoming more like my Great-Aunt every day. Though, no doubt, my lemon meringue pie (should I ever make one) will never be a patch on hers.

Today's three nice things:

1. Lunch with Julia
2. A surprisingly okay marketing meeting
3. A good review of Champers.

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

First day back, plus Kinesiology

Groan. First day back at work - a fact which always knocks me back into quasi-suicidal gloom. Worse than ever today - as, instead of the gently sailing day I hoped to have, I was rocketed merrily into various marketing projects, one a very large one I appear to have to lead. I hate - absolutely hate - being in charge of anything. I'd rather provide support any day. People - if I'd wanted a managerial post, don't you think I'd have got one by now? Double groan. And how I hate marketing - it's so itsy-bitsy and never makes any sense to me. Do I look as if I'm bothered by leaflets and what colour and text they should have? Does my face look bothered? No, it does not. Sigh. Still, I'll have to get my work face on properly by tomorrow or the boss will start to worry. Sometimes, m'dears, it's nothing more than one big act.

Still, thank God for lunchtime reflexology, which raised the mood levels considerably - even though I was so jazzed up by then it was almost impossible to relax. After work, I had another session with my kinesiologist (http://www.kinesiology4health.com) - I'm onto another Bach flower remedy, which will - we hope - help to bring back my sense of joy in life and enable me to be less harsh on myself. God, I need to know how to do both of those - real-time! I'm also going to try to listen to my own inner voice and not be so regimented about stuff. Ye gods, if I succeed at even 10% at that, it will be a blessed relief to us all. Roll on a new chilled-out me. One day, eh?

Today's three nice things:

1. Reflexology
2. Kinesiology
3. Getting the first day back over with!

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

Bank Holiday

Thank goodness for another day off. Which meant that neither Lord H nor I got that horrible "Oh God it's Sunday night and tomorrow is work" feeling last night. No doubt we'll get it tonight instead, but we're hoping that the bottle of pink champagne (appropriate, eh?!) in the fridge will ease the pain.

Another lazy lie-in this morning, followed by a quick food shop in Waitrose. It was nice to do this with Lord H, as normally we take it in weekly turns to do the dreaded domestic shop - goodness, we were almost couply (coupley?) there! Shock, horror indeed. This afternoon, we've been watching the celebrity golf - which is great, as it's golf by normal people like us, so not many fantastic shots in there - warms the heart and makes our own golf feel rather less ropey. I followed this with a quick nap, and am planning a lazy evening ahead. TV has let us down with bank holiday evening viewing though - where's the nice film or cosy detective, I ask? Conspicuous by their absence, both. Shame on you, TV producers ... Still, I might watch the Dan Cruickshank programme on Betjeman. Can't stand Betjeman, but Cruickshank is cute ... And at least it will be about the buildings he loved, not the poetry.

Have just finished reading Philippa Gregory's "Earthly Joys". Marvellous, marvellous, marvellous. Though maybe rather too much on gardens for me. Loved the main character, John, and his relationship with Buckingham - great stuff. Might have liked more from Buckingham's point of view though - now there was a character and a half! The book also had the perfect ending for itself (rare, these days ...) - poignant and also hopeful. Loved it.

Today's three nice things:

1. Not being at work
2. Celebrity golf
3. Reading a good book - at last!

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

TV catch-up day

Got up early to prepare for the 8am service, got myself there well on time and found somebody else had already prepared it, so there was no need for me to go at all - damn it! Could have had a much-needed lie-in. Still, it was great not to have to be at the service (though, equally, it might have been nice to find out beforehand ...), so I left the linen and scarpered. Caught up with the napping once I'd got home.

Spent the afternoon catching up on Star Trek x2 (bliss!), Prehistoric Park (the last episode - I'll miss it - hope they make more) and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria - phew, Connie is through once again! That's a relief. I think she's the best for sure.

Lord H and I were supposed to be popping in to Pete & Sue's for tea, but couldn't get in touch with them (no phone number and they're not answering email) so haven't gone as they probably don't think we're coming now. Never mind. It leaves us with a free evening, which is also good! I might do some poetry competition entries while Lord H is watching Songs of Praise - it gets it out of the way for this month. Am still worried about getting extra copies of Pink Champagne from Antony Rowe (http://www.antonyrowe.co.uk), and also about how they want the cover of The Gawain Quest (Goldenford's next book), as the requirements have changed. I hope Rowe's people get back to me next week to clear up the muddle.

This week's haiku:

St Peter's Tiverton:
A sea of kneelers,
heady scent of incense. Still
my heart lies empty.

Today's three nice things:

1. My mid-morning nap
2. TV city afternoon
3. Not having to socialise.

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

Glyndebourne

A lazy start to the day. Should have popped into Godalming for shopping and then to church to set up for the 8am service tomorrow. But, hell, I just couldn't be arsed. So instead, I lolled around at home and read Phillipa Gregory's "Earthly Joys" - a marvellous and gripping book. Just my sort of thing.

Had a rejection of "Maloney's Law" in the post from Graywolf Press in the US. Bastards. Shan't bother with them again. They obviously don't know quality and style when they see it. Still, that's America for you ...

This afternoon, Lord H and I are off to Glyndebourne to see Guilio Cesare (Handel). I love Handel - could listen to him all day, and it's a great production. We saw it also last year, but it's well worth a rerun.

Today's three nice things:

1. A lazy morning
2. Reading my book
3. The opera to come.

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

Return from Devon

Back from our holiday in Devon today. Managed to get some relaxation & reading in, and do less of Lord H's let's-do-everything-today-and-not-stop-for-lunch approach to holidays. Slightly less anyway. During our five days away, I managed one aromatherapy massage (okay), one Indian head massage (great - will do again), two golf rounds (one superb, one so-so) and finished one book - Anita Shreve's "A Wedding in December" - good stuff indeed. You can't go wrong with a Shreve (usually) - a powerful and unsettling ending, but perfectly right in context.

I'm not sure the hotel is as good as it once was though (http://www.highbullen.co.uk) - we may well go somewhere else next time.

And I have written nothing, and don't plan to till next week. I needed the break - and am trying hard not to pick up all of my old self and life now I'm back. God knows, some things need to go. But it's tricky - with the familiar come the familiar routines also.

This week's three nice things:

1. Indian head massage
2. My one good golf round (especially getting on the green from the tee on the 16th which included over the pond ...)
3. Reading a(nother) good book.

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

Avoiding church

A nice lie-in this morning. Lord H nobly took on my sacristan duties for me - partly because he was also acting as server today. A week off from church is always much appreciated. I don't really feel very guilty either, which is great. I feel at the moment as if I'm between deciding (a) not to go anywhere at all, at least for a while, and (b) considering going somewhere else in the future, or maybe even just dropping into my home church every now and then. Monthly seems good to me right now. We'll see. I so wish there could be another way of connecting with God. I want to be there so much sometimes, but it seems an impossible place to get to. How I wish the people at Spirited Exchanges (http://www.spiritedexchanges.co.uk) would make good on their promise to email me with a list of local groups. I'm beginning to feel somewhere near desperate.

Spent the morning and some of the afternoon catching up on my Star Trek recordings of yesterday (a double bill - bliss!) and the unmissable "How do You Solve a Problem like Maria?" To my mind, Connie is far and away the one to do it. Top-notch singing and acting. What more can you want? She get my vote!

A lazy evening beckons, though I'll probably have to ring Mum at some point. Best put on my Normal Daughter Hat again then. Goodness, how much that doesn't suit me these days ...

This week's haiku is:

At the village fete
the sculptor carves a heron.
Stepfather stands rapt.

And today's three nice things are:

1. Not going to church
2. Watching Star Trek & Maria
3. Finishing off yesterday's wine.

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

Hascombe village fete, and mother

A social day today, so bright smiles all round. Mum and Jim came for lunch and tea (cue good and normal daughter attempts - hmm, not much success there then ...), and we all went to Hascombe village fete in the afternoon. Billie Piper opened it and did a wonderful job of smiling and being kind (she obviously makes a better job of being a daughter than me), and also judged the children's Dr Who fancy dress competition without causing too many tears - so good on you, gal. Her ex made a good job of running the "get the golf ball into the umbrella" competition all afternoon too. My, what fun we have at the fete. Just like Midsomer Murders, as Lord H said - we had two high-profile guest stars; now all we needed was the body. Mother?....

Managed also to ransack Jane's high quality bookstall (she works for a publisher - can't remember which one though, but that doesn't stop the writerly jealousy flowing through the heart: hey, why can't they bloody well publish me? And stop being so damn snobby about my novels ...) - so am well stocked up with books now. Some of which look as if I might actually enjoy.

And - joy! - I won a bottle of very good quality champagne and a bottle of beer in the tombola - and with Lord H's money too, so a double whammy of good luck. Hell, I deserve it!

Post-tea, the family have gone home now - it's always a bit of a relief when people leave the flat. The older I get, the less I actually like having guests. It's rather like being invaded, no matter who they are - our home's not our own till there are only us two in it. Still, everything is back to how it should be now, thank goodness.

Tonight, it's a concert at the church, but I hope I don't have to speak to anyone. I've had my fill of society for today, I think.

And I've just finished an utterly marvellous book, which completely ravished me - at last! Must be the best thing I've read this year! - Sue Miller's "Lost in the Forest". Fantastic insight into relationships between people, and between people and objects. Like Anne Tyler, but with more passion and intensity. She did have two very strange men in there though - John was simply weird and unsettling (if dead) even though he was supposed to be nice, I think, and Duncan was just a self-obsessed loser. But, hey, that's life. I shall definitely be buying Miller books again. Soon.

Today's three nice things:

1. The feeling of bliss when visitors go
2. Winning the champagne
3. Seeing Billie Piper in real life - goodness, how like Rose Tyler she looks ...!

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

A sludgy day

Felt a bit down today - and not that great either - so no golfing, as originally planned. And I didn't feel up to visiting Gladys either - so some Christian I am, eh ... Still, I may well see her at tomorrow's (rather dreaded) church fete, so I might be able to shift some of the inevitable guilt factor then. One hopes. Instead of all that, I struggled my way through another 1000 words of "The Gifting" (now up to 55,000 - hurrah! Am I word-count obsessed? Um, yes ...) and spent most of the afternoon asleep.

Received a lovely review of "The Hit List", which is now included on my website. Thanks, Taff - and do feel free to read "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" too - especially if you're going to be as nice as that!

Also did my regular reviews of work on the Bewrite (http://www.bewrite.net) and Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) sites, as well as downloading a short story from the You Write On (http://www.youwriteon.com) site for critiquing later.

Apart from that, not much has happened. I'll need to do some cleaning for tomorrow (which is going to be a hell of a busy day - with Mother coming too. Help!!) later on, followed by what I hope will be a slumped evening in front of the TV. Don't much mind what's on.

Today's three nice things:

1. The review of "The Hit List"
2. Not having to talk to or see many people
3. Getting to my promised 55,000 words on "The Gifting".

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

Some sad news ...

Brian's mother died today - I felt quite sad; although I didn't know her that well, Brian's a friend of mine, and his mother, in the few times I saw her, was always kind and welcoming to me. She had an aura of calm, which I appreciated very much - not to mention a rather mischievous sense of humour sometimes. A woman of faith whose family meant everything to her. Not many of that ilk around these days. She'd been ill for some time - cancer's a terrible thing - but even so. However, apparently, she woke up on Tuesday and asked for a glass of champagne - which is something nice to remember, and a perfectly valid request, in my opinion. I hope she's bloody well having a huge glass right now. Ah well.

Apart from that, and a flurry of bad news phonecalls, I've spent the rest of the day sending out my poetry collection to Pighog Press (http://www.pighog.co.uk) who've asked to see it, and getting another 1000 words of "The Gifting" out. It felt good to be doing something definite, but an unpleasant day still.

Have just finished reading Henry Shukman's "Darien Dogs" - which is a novella, plus 4 short stories. The actual novella is rather slow and derivative, in my opinion (Conrad did it better ...), but the short stories are top class stuff. Breathtaking and terribly sad. Stick to what you know, Mr Shukman - and give us more short stories, please.

Tonight, we have Robin & Gavin coming for dinner - it will be great to see them, but right now I wish it might have been a different day.

No three nice things today - it doesn't seem right.

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

Poetry collection queries and The Gifting

Spent the morning typing up the Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) minutes and also sending out query emails to a few poetry publishers about my latest collection, "A Stranger's Table". I've decided that if nobody wants it, then I'm going to self-publish via Michael Holroyd's Poetry Monthly (http://www.poetrymonthly.com) programme, as that seems a decent price and he's a well-known and respected editor. And, that way, I manage to avoid the sting of rejection in at least one part of my writing life - which will be a welcome change.

Managed to squeeze out another 1000 words of "The Gifting", and I think I'm about to start another action scene, which I always find easier. Tighten the screws up on the tension factor is what I say!

Attempted to visit Gladys, but she was on her way to the doctor's with the neighbour, so my attempt was thwarted. May try again tomorrow, but it depends on how the afternoon goes, to be honest.

Ooh, and the lovely Maggie Hamand from Maia Press (http://www.maiapress.com) is sending "Maloney's Law" to Gary Pulsifer at Arcadia Books (http://www.arcadiabooks.co.uk) as she thinks he'll love it. She's even said that if he says no, I should come back to her and she'll try somewhere else. Goodness, huge thanks, Maggie - I'm genuinely overwhelmed by your kindness.

A brief but much-needed nap this afternoon before Lord H rang to shatter my slumbers! An evening of tidying the flat up and doing the cleaning beckons, as we have Robin & Gavin for dinner tomorrow. So we'd best try and look normal, at least ...

Today's three nice things:

1. Doing more of "The Gifting"
2. Maggie Hamand's continued kindness
3. Making a decision on the way forward for "A Stranger's Table".

Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com

Unusual rejection & Goldenford

A nice smooth work day. Am now so up-to-date I'm probably arriving in my own bottom. Which is good (if bizarre!) as I'm not back at work till 29 August now - and goodness I need the break. Did Pilates at lunchtime - my last summer drop-in session. Am beginning to enjoy it, so I'll try to book a Beginners' class once the new semester starts in September.

Two important and very nice emails awaited me at home - firstly, John Jarrold (http://www.sff.net/people/john-jarrold/about.html) has sent "Thorn in the Flesh" off to nine mainstream publishers today. Here's hoping one of them bites ... If not, then we'll have to look at the small/independent publishers route. Not, I hasten to add, that that's a bad thing! Especially bearing in mind the utterly lovely rejection I've received (my second email) for "Maloney's Law" from Maggie Hamand at Maia Press (http://www.maiapress.com) - she says she absolutely loved the first three chapters and is desperate to know what happens, so - even though it's not a Maia Press book - she's going to suggest it to other independent publishers, such as Arcadia Books and the possible new Chroma Press, both gay publishers. I was bowled over by such kindness - rare in the publishing world, I think - or certainly not something I've come across before. So huge, huge thanks, Maggie - and I hope your efforts on my behalf are worthwhile for you!

A Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) meeting this evening - so took the minutes as usual. We've got three events coming up in October locally, one a Guildford Writers (http://www.guildfordwriters.net) linked event, so it looks as if autumn will be busy ...

Today's three nice things:

1. John sending out "Thorn in the Flesh"
2. Maggie Hamand's much-appreciated enthusiasm for "Maloney's Law"
3. Pilates.

Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com

Review and poetry collection longlisting

Review day today - not too bad. I think they'll keep me for another year. Felt pleased with the outcome, as I'd been honest in my form about the counselling, and the difficulties I've experienced over the last year on a personal level. The boss and I had a helpful chat about it, and have agreed I'm going to focus on personal development issues over the coming year - which is what I've wanted to do in any case. Onward and upward - one hopes.

Reflexology at lunchtime, which was bliss. Am already looking forward to my next session, post holiday.

In the afternoon, had an email from my agent (http://www.sff.net/people/john-jarrold/about.html) who's happy with the revisions to "Thorn in the Flesh" and is going to send it out to publishers tomorrow. Wish me luck - I need all the help I can get. Please God, let someone out there like it this time. It's becoming more disheartening with each rejection of the novels. Still, on the plus side, it appears that The Surrey Advertiser have "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" on their bookclub site (http://www.surreyad.co.uk/bookclub/index.html?article16375), along with Zadie Smith, of all people. I appear to be a "much loved and respected author". Ho hum, they must be mixing me up with the Welsh poet, Anne Brooke - Gawd bless 'er. Heck, I can do a Welsh accent if I have to! They also have the online version of The Guildford Times Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) article (http://www.surreyad.co.uk/news/surrey/index.html?article17908). And, strangely, I find that the Nantwich Writers' Circle has links to my website and blog - Gawd bless you too, Nantwich!...

At home, had an email from Cinnamon Press (http://www.cinnamonpress.com) telling me that my poetry collection, "A Stranger's Table", has been longlisted in the collection awards. Hurrah! Not bad for the CV. And they're going to publish one of my poems from the collection, "Things I fold away", in their upcoming anthology, "Wherever". It's nice that more of my pieces are being anthologised, but I still long for that mythic single collection. Suspect I'm going to have to self-publish it next year, in the usual way ...

Today's three nice things (amongst so many - thank you, God!):

1. Poetry collection longlisting
2. "Thorn" about to be on its way to publishers
3. My review.

Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com

Stormy day and vestry move

Another lazy lie-in. Hell, I could get used to these. And no church services today - double hurrah! Change in the weather though - it's so cold that we had to put the heating on this morning for a while. And it's been on and off stormy all day, so we've only turned the computer on intermittently. Do storms really affect computers? No idea - but I still worry about it. Much like my grandmother hiding the silver in a drawer, I suppose.

This afternoon, Lord H and I went to church to help move the contents of the temporary vestry over to the new room. I really disliked being there - it felt unnatural and false, and got away as quickly as possible. I just don't get the point of church at the moment. Even after escaping, it's still messed up my Sunday though - as I've spent most of the day feeling down. However, was cheered up by someone from the Independent Authors site (http://www.independentauthors.co.uk) saying how much they're enjoying "The Hit List". Goodness, I haven't heard that sentence for a while. And, as a double cheering up moment, I've just had a good rewiew of "Maloney's Law" from the You Write On (http://www.youwriteon.com) site. Phew!

At home, watched "Prehistoric Park" on TV - great series with some exciting/scary moments. I love it. Then Lord H and I looked at the second part (of three) of "The Miracles of Jesus". I'm really enjoying that programme too - it makes Jesus very human and also makes psychological sense, as well as putting an interesting and very real slant on the divine elements. It's making me think about God in a way church hasn't done for ages, so that's got to be good.

This week's haiku is:

On the long drive home
dark clouds cast bars on the moon,
rain beats a rhythm.

Today's three nice things:

1. "The Miracles of Jesus"
2. Someone enjoying "The Hit List"
3. The review of "Maloney's Law".

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

Betrothal in a Monastery

Lazy lie-in this morning, which I am paying for in the mad amount which has to be done before Lord H and I set off to Glyndebourne to see "Betrothal in a Monastery" this afternoon. We've decided on the afternoon tea option, so I'm planning a fairly substantial lunch. Actually feel rather edgy and down today, as well as exhausted - must be something to do with having to pop into church today to prepare for tomorrow's service and sort candles and altar cloths out. God, how I hate doing this stuff right now. It will be lovely not to have to do church for a while - I really hope they sort this sacristan replacement scheme out soon.

Still, the good news is that Lord H has got himself onto the Diocesan theology (diploma to degree level) course, and is the first student to go through on the non-vocational route - pioneering a path for those people who like the theology but not the commitment. Seems fair enough to me - the whole priest/lay leadership system is rubbish anyway, and they get paid peanuts - so why bother? I sometimes wonder what happened to the "labourer is worthy of his hire" approach ... Anyway, Lord H is pleased - as am I - and has rushed off to the Cathedral to look at books he might need.

And, this afternoon, Glyndebourne and tea - lovely.

Today's three nice things:

1. Lord H getting on the theology course
2. Glyndebourne
3. A decent tea.

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

Clarins morning and the business of writing

A morning having a glorious Clarins facial and massage. Bliss. Have booked another double session - definitely worth it. Also managed to get a few items for Lord H - our 13th anniversary is coming up soon. An early anniversary present will be the set of shirt studs I bought him at the House of Fraser - as he'll need to wear them tomorrow and his old set is broken. Thank goodness HoF had a set left!

At home, there was an email from Robin saying how much she'd enjoyed "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice", especially the German chef and his mushroom fetish. So that's cheered me up no end - thanks, Robin!

This afternoon, I've been heavily involved in the business of writing - ie finding out about upcoming competitions and sending work out to publishers - so that's been a hard slog. But enjoyable. No time for "The Gifting" today, I'm afraid ...

Am thinking of having LaStone Therapy - as it looks so wonderfully relaxing and I really love stones. It gives me that Japanese zen feeling. There's a woman in Farnham who offers the treatment at reasonable prices, so I might give it a go after our holiday. We'll see how brave I'm feeling!

Today's three nice things:

1. Clarins massage
2. Robin enjoying "Champers"
3. The nap I'm about to have - probably!

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

Writing and an evening with Jane

A lazy and much-needed late start to the day. Managed to get about 1000 words of "The Gifting" done before lunch though, in spite of it being slow going. I think I really have finished off that mountain episode now, and am ready to start on the air scenes - I hope.

After lunch, popped into see Gladys. She was very confused, poor thing - she'd rung me yesterday twice, but had left no message, so I'd rung back to see how she was. She was fine, but didn't know who I was, and ended up thinking a nurse was due to visit her today - when in fact it was me. I think we got it sorted out in the end, and at least the afternoon's her own! No more peculiar visitors ...

Had a lovely comment on my poem, "Leaving church", on the Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) site, which has cheered me up. Thanks, Beanie Babe!

Tonight, I'm seeing Jane in London - hoping for G&Ts, food and wine, plus lots of good talk. She's really the only person (apart from Lord H) I can say any of the bad stuff to, and even then it's not all of it. And we have a good time too. But how I wish I didn't have to go up to London - I really hate that journey, and I'm not that keen on the city either. Still, seeing Jane will be worth it.

Today's three nice things:

1. The positive poem comment
2. Getting more of "The Gifting" done
3. Seeing Jane tonight.

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

Counselling and golf

Managed to cope with the day work-wise fairly well and am probably so up-to-date that I'm glowing with smugness. Counselling was hard though - seemed to take a huge journey I hadn't expected to take in that hour with Zoe, and I shall miss the sessions like hell through August now as we're not able to meet again till September. Anyway, I got to the point where I'm not enjoying the place I'm in right now (counselling-speak, I know, but it's the best way to express the stuff I have ...) - I'm feeling raw, vulnerable and frightened. And it came to me also that while I tend to look on other people (whoever they are) as the enemy and something to be placated at all costs, my real worst enemy is probably myself. Not only that, but it dawned on me that, all my life, my strong internal message has been: my personality has to be quelled in order to exist - eg don't rock the boat, don't overdramatise, don't be difficult are all messages I hear inside most of the time. All that isn't helping me learn how to be me, in spite of being able to acknowledge it. And another thing I've been finding is if I try to be honest about how things are, even in small ways, it doesn't actually make it any easier; it's as if whenever I lob a teaspoon of "me" over to another person, it just makes me even more aware of the huge pot of "me" that's bubbling away inside, and I seize up if anyone asks me anything more personal at that point as it's beyond me to explain it. Any of it. God, it's a mess. We struggle on ...

Immediately after my counselling session, we had a team coffee in Sorrento's, so I suddenly had to pull back everything from where it had been and try and act normally - it felt exhausting, and I still feel tired now.

And on top of that - golf. It was quite fun, though neither Marian and I did well - at all. But, to be honest, after the day I've had I could have done without it. And we played later than usual too, which has really cut into my evening - when I could have spent more time with Lord H and had a few good hugs. God, how I need those hugs sometimes. Lord H probably has an NVQ in hugging - or at least deserves one. Level 5.

Have just finished Maurice Caldera's "The Double Life of Daniel Glick." Hmm. A work of genius (probably), but oh how wearisome. Am so glad I've finally got through it.

Today's three nice things:

1. Counselling - not nice, but startling and necessary
2. Finishing that wretched book
3. Being at home - at last, thank the Lord.

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

Pilates and informal Guildford Writers

Worked on the website in the morning and worked through the Association of University Administrators' (AUA) magazine, "Perspectives", in the afternoon. Hmm. I'm probably none the wiser.

Took my second lunchtime Pilates class - felt far more relaxed than last week and I think I enjoyed it more - though it still takes a lot of concentration and is not easy, by any standards. Am I really so unfit? No, don't answer that ... Felt very tired afterwards - but in a good way. Shame an afternoon nap was out of the question.

Tonight, we're having an informal meeting of Guildford Writers (http://www.guildfordwriters.net). Have decided to take a selection of haiku, rather than anything too serious, as it's summer.

Today's three nice things:

1. Pilates
2. David brought out a box of maltesers in the afternoon - bliss!
3. Tonight's GWs session - I hope!

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

Agent's response to "Thorn in the Flesh"

A muggy day at work - and felt very unenergetic. Forced myself to have a walk round campus to find some energy, but had to sit down on a bench halfway through as I was so exhausted. Still, had fun watching the ducks, one of which had a white feather stuck to its beak and didn't have the first idea what to do with it. Stupid duck.

At home, my agent (http://www.sff.net/people/john-jarrold/about.html) has responsed to "Thorn in the Flesh" - he loves it, apparently, and has already contacted some publishers to let them know it's on its way. Ah, but will they like it and want to make contact in return is the big and cynical question - or perhaps my hide is becoming too tough to understand good news when I see it? ... In the meantime, John has asked me to make some fairly minor changes which, in a fit of writerly enthusiasm, I have done this evening and sent back to him. We wait for response number two!

And I've had a more positive comment on "Maloney's Law" from the You Write On (http://www.youwriteon.com) site, so that's a relief. At the same time, I uploaded my review on a piece of work up there, which I'd rather enjoyed - in spite of it being children's literature - and we all know how much I hate children ...

Today's three nice things:

1. The ducks
2. John Jarrold's response to "Thorn in the Flesh"
3. The kind "Maloney's Law" review.

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

Facing church

Well, my first duty appearance since resigning as Sacristan - I've been dreading it, but it passed much better than expected, I have to say. Managed to have quite an honest chat with some of our main church ladies, and they and Lord H came up with the stonking idea that the sacristan role could be shared out on a rota system, perhaps being something the crucifer (cross carrier) could do when it's their turn. Sounds ace to me, people, and means the long horrific months stretching out to Christmas - during which I'm sure nobody will want to take on the damn task full-time - might be less fraught. Which would be good. Sandy has promised to raise it at the next PCC meeting on 4 September, so here's hoping there's a definite end in sight ...

I also discussed how difficult and unsettling church is becoming lately, and Hilary seemed to think that was normal and it would be fine to take a break from it and see what happens. Also sounds great to me! - it would be lovely to have Sundays off, at least for a while, and not to have the "church monster" looming over me waiting to be placated like a wild dog.

Other upsides of church - the visiting vicar recognised me in the "Guildford Times" last week, in our Goldenford (http://www.goldenford.co.uk) authors article so, hey, someone reads it - hurrah indeed! Also, Clare said how much she'd enjoyed "Pink Champagne and Apple Juice" and asked when the next one's out - which gave me a lift. And Hilary bought a copy of "Champers", which I shall post to her tomorrow.

Back at home, I did my community duties by (a) washing the car and (b) putting out the recycling bins. Lunch was filled with annoying flies (oh the hell that is summer!), and then I chilled out in front of the TV to watch a triple bill (triple, mind you! - what bliss) of Star Trek. Oh, and my Star Trek magazine arrived yesterday, and I took the "Could you be a ship's captain?" test, in which I gained 95%. I could indeed rule the world and conquer the universe - you heard it here first, folks! Lord H of course can only agree.

And this week's haiku is:

I'm detoxed out now.
Surely it must be time
for a chocolate bar.

Today's three nice things:

1. The possible new solution to my sacristan crisis
2. Star Trek triple bill
3. Being spotted from the Guildford Times.

Anne Brooke
http://www.annebrooke.com

Day at Hampton Court Palace

Spent the day with Lord H in Hampton Court Palace - a great day out. Beautiful gardens - very English and neat, and magnificent house facades (though the interiors seemed rather empty to me). Also enjoyed the regular costumed tours/mini dramas played out around the grounds - particular the Henry VIII and Thomas Wyatt wrestling match (shame they weren't naked though ...), the bowls and the archery sessions. Loved the way the actors kept up the story of the King/Wyatt/Anne Boleyn crisis in each section - great stuff.

Managed to whip through the maze with incredible skill due to my traditional policy of always turning left - stick with me, people, and I'll get you out of anything. Also enjoyed the real cooking going on in the Tudor kitchens - and what a huge number of those they had. A kitchen for each type of food you can imagine - meat, pies, puddings, pottage (soup), the lot. Ah those were the days. One of the chefs told us that whenever the court descended, the whole of the surrounding area had been planning for their visit for ages and any available food and livestock was requisitioned for the palace. Which caused a real problem if they decided to stay longer than usual. And apparently all the foodstuffs and provisions were counted in and counted out of the kitchens - so no room for siphoning perks off there then ...

And, talking of food, we had a much needed cream tea lunch in one of the cafes - bliss!

Back home, had another email objecting to the ranting review of "Maloney's Law" on the You Write On (http://www.youwriteon.com) site - so have asked the site administrators to look at it and see what they think. So thank you, Charles, for the suggestion! We'll see what comes of it.

Today's three nice things:

1. The wresting match
2. The cream tea lunch
3. The supportive email.

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

Back massage and writing

Started my day with a wonderful back massage. Only half an hour but it really relaxed me - for a few hours afterwards at least. I think I'm going to look into La Stone therapy - as that's supposed to be really good too. Goodness me, I'm becoming Ms Wellbeing 2006.

Spent the rest of the day struggling with "The Gifting" and eventually - towards the very end of my afternoon! - managed to get my 2000 words out. Stopped in the middle of a crisis scene too so I'll know where it's going when I pick it up again. Which means, folks, that I'm finally at the 50,000 words mark - hurrah! And still three more major sections of the novel to go. Reckon I might - if the wind's in the right direction - be able to get over 100,000 words on this one. Maybe more! Here's hoping anyway ...

Had a lovely email from someone on the Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) and You Write On (http://www.youwriteon.com) sites saying how shocked they were at the nasty review of "Maloney's Law" I received yesterday, describing it as "unfair" and "rabid". They also said more people enjoyed "M's L" than didn't, and queried whether the reviewer had even read the chapters. Huge thanks, Julie - you have no idea how much your email means to me! Thank you again.

And good news on the community front! The Watts Gallery in Compton has won the regional round of "Restoration Village" (BBC), which can be seen on BBC2 at 9pm tonight - so we're through to the finals in September. Double hurrah! WG is a very worthy cause and it would be a tragedy if the roof couldn't be mended due to lack of funds - it's a priceless jewel in the area's crown. To my mind anyway.

Treated myself to a shopping session in Godalming - mainly wellbeing stuff - but also bought a lovely pair of mother-of-pearl pink and white earrings at Sans Frontieres jewellers. It's the best shop in Godalming, alongside Ottakar's of course. And so reasonably priced! Heck, a girl has to splash out sometimes.

Ooh, and there's a front-page spread about Goldenford and us three Goldenford authors in the "Guildford Times" today, which Irene has kindly scanned and emailed to me. Fame and glory indeed! With a bit of luck, it might even be in the Surrey Advertiser next week. You never can tell ...

Today's three nice things:

1. Julie's email about "Maloney's Law"
2. The back massage
3. The news about Watts Gallery.

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

Golf and recycling

Rang the Council today to order more recycling boxes - what a good environmentalist I am! Apparently there's a 4/6 week wait as everyone wants them, but in the meantime we can shove the stuff in plastic bags. Hurrah - at least it will mean the flat might resemble a recycling station a little less.

Spent the rest of the morning struggling - and I mean struggling - with squeezing the next couple of thousand words of "The Gifting" out. It took such an age to get anywhere - how I hate it when the writing's like that. I only finally managed it just after Lord H came home post-work. Phew. Hope tomorrow is better. Also popped in to see Gladys - her hearing aid is playing up today, so I spent an hour shouting the same few segments of conversation, and am now hoarse. And I imagine her neighbours are much wiser too. Then golf with Marian - she had a rather unfortunate round (the universe is sometimes against us golfers ...) and I was okay, but felt I could have done better. Still, it made a welcome break from the writing struggle.

Back home, I've had a very enthusiastic review of the latest section of "The Gifting" up on the Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) site - apparently, my style reminded the viewer of Philip Pullman, whom I'm afraid to say I've never read, so there's a much-needed thumbs-up! And a couple of people have enjoyed my poem (also on the Writewords site), which is greatly appreciated. On the negative side, I felt extremely riled by a to my mind vicious review (and a rather personal one, I think) of "Maloney's Law" on the You Write On (http://www.youwriteon.com) site - I don't mind too much if people don't like it, as I know other people do, but this reviewer seemed too cutting and also too unhelpful, giving me no useful clues as to what they might have preferred. They really didn't like it! And they weren't prepared to offer worthwhile suggestions either - so actually my answer, sir/madam, is shove it up your bottom and turn it. Maybe I'll pay you more attention when your novel extract has been shortlisted for three national novel prizes and longlisted in one! Hmm, suspect I'll be waiting some time then ...

Have just finished Peter Lovesey's crime cosy novel, "The Circle". Load of old tripe - old-fashioned, cardboard characters and ridiculous plot. Apart from that, it was fine of course! Hey, I can give cutting reviews too - but at least mine is more honest!

Today's three nice things:

1. The Writewords review of "The Gifting"
2. Golf
3. Finishing "The Circle" - at last!

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

AA success and massage bars

No, it's not what you think! But, goodness, I had some weird dreams last night. Must have been the Pilates. First of all, I was taking a French exam, but I was the only one in the exam room who couldn't do it, and everyone else was fine. Classic stress dream, no doubt. And, secondly, I was driving across countryside with Lord H in a small sports car which had one of our green French breakfast cups balanced on the boot. And my mother was in some kind of a castle on the way. Hmm. When's my next counselling session? Not soon enough, obviously.

Finished off my care leavers research - again, very moving. I think the university really has to have a policy (and effective practice!) about this. We need to support the students wherever the need is, to my mind.

Good news on the AA front - they've finally agreed to award us a reasonable amount of money for the mess-up they've made of our call & complaint. At last, Lord H and I got to speak to a real manager, who could make decisions (hurrah!). Fair dos, though, he was a nice man and told Lord H (who sorted it out - for which he has huge numbers of husband points ...) that mistakes had been made and he thought we'd been very badly treated. So much so that apparently he's going to use our story (with names removed) as a training exercise for his customer service team. Good to know we have our uses somewhere! And also good if no-one else has to go through that, to be honest. Meanwhile, we await the cheque ...

Walked into town at lunchtime and bought more massage bars from Lush (http://www.lush.co.uk) - one Therapy bar, as I love them (thank you, Julia, for buying me my first!) and one Black Magic bar (for those ... hmm ... wild moments!) - both smell like heaven. Also stocked up on the marvellous Pied de Pepper ginger foot lotion. Lovely!

Uploaded a review on one of the pieces on the You Write On (http://www.youwriteon.com) site - a great short story which, I think, would make a fantastic start to a novel, by Roisin Moriarty. A fine writer. And, hurrah, "Maloney's Law" is currently Number Three in the You Write On charts - though this high placing owes much, I have to admit, to the fact that the first five were removed and put into the Bestsellers Charts yesterday ... We struggle on.

Today's three nice things:

1. Visit to Lush
2. The AA offer
3. "Maloney's Law" being Number Three.

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

Pilates and another rejection

Trucked through today quite nicely, all in all, at least on the UniS front. Attended my first (drop-in) Pilates class - was expecting it to be relaxing, but in fact I had to do an awful lot of concentration, presumably as I'm new. And, my goodness, I ached everywhere afterwards! Which no doubt means it's good for me - I'll definitely go again. And maybe even start a class in the autumn if the timings are right. I felt better about my inadequacy after the class when some of the more experienced attenders were saying the tutor (she was new for the summer, apparently) did fewer exercises than usual, but made them hold positions for longer - and so everyone found it hard. Phew! I'm not a complete couch-potato then ...

Spent the afternoon researching into the problems experienced by young people who come to university from a care situation - it certainly opened my eyes to how lucky I've been. Some of them have had to overcome horrendous backgrounds just in order to be able to get to Higher Education, let alone hanging on in there for three years. It's something we'll have to think about in Student Care Services in the future, in terms of what kind of extra support we might be able to provide.

Back home, there's been another rejection of "Maloney's Law" - this time from the Bantam/Corgi/Transworld conglomeration. Damn it. Still, it's a lovely rejection, calling it an "intelligent thriller" and "really well written". But they thought there was too much emphasis on the sex. Sigh. And John (http://www.sff.net/people/john-jarrold/about.html) says he should be able to provide his opinion on "Thorn in the Flesh" by next week. I'm dreading it - it's like handing work in for school! - but hope there won't be too many drastic changes to make, especially as I've got the edit of "A Dangerous Man" to look at over the summer too.

Still, was cheered by the positive comment received about my poem, "Sundays", on the Writewords (http://www.writewords.org.uk) site. A much-needed happy moment.

Tonight, I'm going to chill. Hell, I deserve it.

Today's three nice things:

1. Pilates
2. The poem comment from Writewords
3. The nun at the University bus-stop today! - what was she fleeing from, I ask, and to where?...

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