Friday 16 April
a.m. Up at crack of doom to go to hairdressers for Big Night Out in Cardiff. On return, have quick sitting with Stepson Two and Gorgeous Girlf, for a round of possible PR photos. Stepson Two takes photographs while Gorgeous Girlf smiles encouragingly just behind him. Ask Stepson Two if he can take out all bags, wrinkles and blemishes. ‘Yes,’ he says, ‘but what would be the point?’.
Midday. Drive Stepson Two and Gorgeous Girlf to Carmarthen to catch their train. A series of diversions mean we make the station with two minutes to spare. The best part of is it that they have booked this train so they can drive to Heathrow to collect GG’s parents... except that GG’s parents are now stuck in Egypt due to Volcanogate.
a.m. Up at crack of doom to go to hairdressers for Big Night Out in Cardiff. On return, have quick sitting with Stepson Two and Gorgeous Girlf, for a round of possible PR photos. Stepson Two takes photographs while Gorgeous Girlf smiles encouragingly just behind him. Ask Stepson Two if he can take out all bags, wrinkles and blemishes. ‘Yes,’ he says, ‘but what would be the point?’.
Midday. Drive Stepson Two and Gorgeous Girlf to Carmarthen to catch their train. A series of diversions mean we make the station with two minutes to spare. The best part of is it that they have booked this train so they can drive to Heathrow to collect GG’s parents... except that GG’s parents are now stuck in Egypt due to Volcanogate.
p.m. It’s too early for us to meet Lily in Cardiff so we head for Penarth which is fabbity-fab-fab. We sit in glorious sunshine on the lovely old pier enjoying two cups of tea and three Welsh cakes for a truly bargainous £2.50. Perfick! Ring Lily at work to make her jealous.
Off to Cardiff Bay. Lovely Lily and Russ are taking us out for a meal to celebrate Lily’s promotion (yay!) and as an entirely undeserved thank you for the very little we have done for them. A very good time had by all. Thank you so much, Lily and Russ.
Saturday 17 April
Up and out for bracing walk along Cardiff Bay to the Barrage and back. Have lovely time spotting dogs and babies. Yummy sushi for lunch. Tom and I walk into town where Tom has an OU lecture. I decide to walk round the shops. By the time I meet Tom and we walk back to the bay my feet are almost on fire.
Sunday 18 April
Give house a thorough tidy for house buyers viewing at 3pm. They do not show up. Total berludy waste of a day... but at least the house is tidy.
Monday 19 April
Kate Harrison, super-talented author of six novels, has been reading Turning the Tide for me. Receive really lovely email from her saying all kinds of nice things about it. Happiness levels soar.
Tuesday 20 April
Workworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkworkwork.
Wednesday 21 April
More visitors, the last for a little while, but this is for a very special occasion. Ma, MiL and DiL are coming down for Tom’s graduation on Saturday. Prepare for much bursting with pride in Cardiff that day!
And over at Choc Lit we’re blogging about the joys of publishing today with each of us writing about what stage we’re at.
Painting is one I’ve posted before. ‘Silence Katyn’ by Tom Tomos
Comments
And whaddyamean 'bags, wrinkles and blemishes'? Darned if I can see any.
xx
You know how to pack a week with activity. Now I must go and google Welsh cakes........
Like Flowerpot, I'm tired on your behalf.
Wanna tidy my house??
And, don't get this "event" business to do with your novel on f/b - is it like a p/c party or something or what??
It's grand to see Tom's painting again. It is a beauty. Congrats on the graduation!
I am sure that your photographs will be fine. As I type this, there is a slight book to my side, Talking About Detective Fiction, with a color photo of its author, P.D. James on the back dust cover. I have seen this lady close us ... maybe 15 or 20 years ago, and can attest that this recent photo does capture the same lady. I don't think it's a glamorous photo, but rather a true one. It's interesting to see her hands close up.
And I, like Pondside, must go research Welsh cakes.
xo
Have a great time on Saturday!
Jeanne
x
I know what you mean about photos and wish I could not only have airbrushed photos, but walk around airbrushed all the time.
Have fun at the graduation on Saturday.
Leigh - I can only see a warm-looking attractive woman in your photo! Just goes to show how uncomfortable most of us feel about how we're portrayed.
LBD - Penarth is totallly brilliant - if I could afford it I'd move there like a shot and sit on the pier every sunny day... except I think it gets really busy which would cheese me off. Sigh.
Elizabethd - this one's even more hectic. Looking forwards to a quieter time!
Pondside - I think you know the feeling.
Milla - don't ask me. Gorgeous Girlf - a Young Person who knows about these things - did it for me!
Frances, I'm a P D James fan - saw her at a book event some time ago and she was funny and razor-sharp.
Jeanne, lots of family time at the moment. Good to catch up with them but, gosh, I enjoyed my trip to Penarth!
Mags, thanks very much. Looking forward to a less hectic pace though!
Elizabethm - yes, was over the moon with lovely feedback. Very nervewracking handing your work over to a Famous Author!
Debs, yes you certainly know how to pack it in!
Bradan, thanks for the good wishes - feel vair proud of Tom. (And they were excellent Welsh cakes!)
Sally - thanks - still a bit worried that if it does we'll have nowhere to go!
PPC Advertising India