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Success!

Hurray! With a lot of help from the bride-to-be, I’ve managed to find the makings of an outfit for my daughter’s wedding. 

 Basically the secret seems to be to try everything on, something I’m not very keen to do by myself but which was much more fun with Lily to help. 

 Along the way we rejected The Intestine Dress (a dusky pink shade which I love but which drains me of all colour, in a tube design which was probably meant for someone seven foot tall) several Frumps R Us numbers (just because you are the mother of the bride doesn’t mean that you’re ready to look as, only Milla could put it, like a sofa cover) and a couple of Trying Too Hard dresses (just because you can, doesn’t mean you should). In the end I bought a shift dress and jacket in a sea-green colour (which, by amazing coincidence, MiL tells me is just the colour she’s been looking at) that seems to hit the right note between mumsy at one end and mutton-dressed-as-lamb at the other. Now all I’ve got to do is find all the bits and bobs to go with it…

In other news, despite the bug still washing me out, (see picture below!) I had a very enjoyable trip to London for the Romantic Novelists’ Summer Party. 



 I have to say that in the past I’ve been worried about feeling like Billy No-Mates on these occasions, but this year I had a wonderful time catching up with old and new friends (Hi Debbie! ). But what a night it turned out to be for Choc Lit! We’re so proud and pleased for Evonne Wareham, who won the Joan Hessayon New Writers’ Award for her novel Never Coming Home ...



and Jane Lovering who triumphed in the Romantic Novel of the Year Award for her romantic comedy, Please Don’t Stop the Music. 


And as you can imagine the celebrations when the Choc Liteers met up for lunch the next day just kept going!

Today I’m also blogging at the Choc Lit Author's Corner, where I’m waving goodbye – with some relief – to the controversial ‘Wednesday Hottie’ slot and introducing our new Wednesday feature.

Thanks to Tom Tomos for the epainting, Sea Mist (which is what we're looking at this morning!) and to photographer Marte L Rekaa for kindly allowing me to use her wonderful photos of the RNA Summer Party.
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Comments

Flowerpot said…
Glad you're over the bug Chris - I'm laughing over the Intestine Dress!!! Sounds like a good RNA do and congrats to all the Choc Litters.
23 May 2012 at 02:42
Jenny Beattie said…
I love your descriptions of the different dresses. I think you're right about trying everything on; it's amazing how different things look on the hanger and on a body. Still, I loathe trying it all on though...
23 May 2012 at 02:51
Deborah Carr (Debs) said…
Another fab painting!

Thanks for the great pictures. I was so thrilled to see Evonne and Jane doing so well. What an evening for you Chocolateers!
23 May 2012 at 03:36
Lins' lleisio said…
Oooh I hate trying on too, but the end result really does sound divine. Looking forward to the pictures when the time comes.

Congratulations to all the Choc Liteers
23 May 2012 at 03:54
Fennie said…
Best of luck, Chris, I am sure you will look gorgeous whatever. Do hope the bug clears up. Maybe you are just working too hard. It does happen!

I must say I will miss the wry amusement of watching the various Chotliteers work themselves into a frolic and lather over the latest 'hottie,' but congratulations to all concerned on their success and I am so looking forward to reading MOD when it comes out.
23 May 2012 at 04:06
Maggie Christie said…
I'm still laughing at the idea of an intestine dress. I love your other outfits descriptions. Oh the minefield that is mother of the bride - I remember looking at some horrors with my mum before my wedding. And the price tags too. Eek.

I hope the bug finally departs very soon (and the eye thing gets better too.)

Well done to all the Choc-Liteers!
23 May 2012 at 04:17
Sarah Tranter said…
Lovely post Chris - your outfit sounds perfect - need to see a photo here! Yes the RNA party and lunch the next day were wonderful. It's rather cool to be part of Choc Lit isn't it? :) XX
23 May 2012 at 07:54
Frances said…
Well Chris, you've made me smile, even laugh a bit, reading your dress selection report. (From the viewpoint of someone who's tried to find a wonderful dress for special occasions in the shop over the years, it is such a shame when we truly know what the lady is looking for and know that we don't have it. And...jubilation when somehow we really do have it...and the fit is good, too. We can sometimes get a bit emotional when we know we have just the right outfit.)

I do love Tom'e e-picture. One of these days I guess I'll head over to that technology. This century...I promise.

Best wishes to you and all the other Choc Lit authors!

Thank you for your comment over at my place.

Glad you do seem to be feeling so much better. xo
23 May 2012 at 19:15
Pondside said…
Now that you've found THE outfit you can sit back and relax a little. I felt better just knowing mine was in the closet!
I still have a houseful, but the wedding day has come and gone - went by in a flash!
29 May 2012 at 06:43
Chris Stovell said…
Thanks Sue, I hope I'm just about there with the bug! Good luck with your Novelicious Undiscovered entry.

Jenny - it's taught me (rather belatedly!) that it's very hard to judge a dress on the hanger so I suppose I'll have to try things on in future. I live in jeans most of the time, but still!

Thanks Debs, it's lovely isn't it? It really captured the morning mood. It was a great night - none of us could quite believe (despite Evonne and Jane's talent) how well such a small publisher had done. Amazing!

Thanks Lins - I can quietly forget about it until then... well, once I've got shoes, bag etc...

That's very kind of you, Fennie. It's all been a bit mad since we moved here so maybe the bug is a sign to just stop for a while - or at least take it easier. Tell you what though - I won't miss the Hotties! Always had mixed feelings about that one!

Mags, thanks - yes, those price tags, sheeeeesh! The dress I wore to the RNA Summer Party cost £7 from Tesco which is more my usual budget.

That's us, Sarah, hip and happening... ahem. It did feel good though, didn't it, to be on the winning team! I had a lovely couple of days and was so pleased to meet you.

Frances, I loved your comment - so fascinating to hear it from the other side. The customers who visit your store are very lucky to be in your hands - I have to say customer service in the big department stores here was non-existent. I have to thank my daughter for having such an excellent eye and steering me to the right choice by letting me try on all the mistakes!

Pondside, I've been thinking about you and keep flicking over to your blog for news. I do hope you all had a lovely day and I'm really looking forwards to hearing how it went (in good time, when you've had a rest, of course!).
30 May 2012 at 00:33
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