Books and Movies

Lots of stuff going on round our way at the moment. We've repainted the living room and had wood flooring put down in that room and also in the hallway, since our carpet (which was only three years old) had been beaten into submission by baby food splats and smears. Bizarrely, banana stains were the worst culprits -- even super carpet cleaner wouldn't get them out! We've also got a new sofa suite coming and I am starting to make lists ready for our cottage holiday in a couple of weeks' time. Hurrah!

Little Frog is still not walking (boo), but learning a new word pretty much every few days (yay). New additions to his repertoire include CAR, BEAR, POO-EEE (during nappy change), and GO! GO! GO! He resumed his Water Babies swimming lessons yesterday following the summer break and did really well, considering we only got round to taking him to the pool twice during the hiatus... At the end of the month he has an underwater photoshoot and I am nervous about it but very excited to see the results.

He's also got more interested in books now that he is a bit older. I'd heard it was never too early to start reading to your baby so I began when he was just a few weeks old, but he didn't really care and when he got to the grabby stage he just closed the book and threw it on the floor. Now, however, he will actually sit with me and look at the book, and sometimes we manage to read a short one through to the end. His current favourite is Little Monkey Says Goodnight, which involves me making lots of funny noises and movements. Here is a picture of him unpacking an Amazon delivery and preparing to read Run Among Thorns by Anna Louise Lucia and Honey Trap by Julie Cohen.



So, on to the movies part of my post. I've decided it's been WAY too long since I've done a contest of some sort, and I have a neat little prize to give away: a two-month guest pass to LoveFilm. This entitles you to sixty days free membership, whereupon you can have the movies, games and TV series of your choice delivered to your door absolutely free to enjoy at your leisure! (I use this service myself and we have saved sooo much money in late fees because with LoveFilm there are NONE!)

All you have to do is tell me your favourite childhood book (inspired by Little Frog) in the comment section. I'll draw a winner just before we leave for our holiday. Due to LoveFilm mailing restrictions, this prize is only available to residents of the UK and Channel Islands, but if you live outside these areas please do comment: I may bring a little something back from Cornwall for an international winner :)


Just finished reading: My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

Limbo

Don't worry, it's not the dancing sort. Haven't attempted the limbo since a youth-club disco many moons ago, and nor would I like to! Little Frog, on the other hand, will probably be very good at it, since it has transpired that he is double-jointed. Honestly, he sits (and sleeps) in the strangest, most painful-looking positions and doesn't seem to care a bit.

The limbo of which I speak is the indecisive kind. Yep, it's me again, wondering what to do with my life and trying to work out how I should prioritise everything I want/need/would like to do. Subjects include (a) making improvements to our house; (b) getting a part-time job; (c) fitting in writing; and (d) possibly starting a business; along with other mundane things like (e) dieting; and (f) the colour of my hair. (Some of these things are obviously more important than others.)

Probably the easiest solution would be to write a To Do list, but then if I write one of those I'm going to have to start making Pro & Con lists, which'll be no help whatsoever with my decision-making and will only make me spend money on fancy stationery and pretty pens.

Sigh...

Maybe I should see a fortune teller or an astrologist or something. Or get a life coach. Does anyone want to volunteer?

Jean Genie

It's been a good week. Reasons:

1. I've applied for a handful of part-time jobs that would really interest me and which have nice little benefits.

2. I've written some more notes on the book idea that's been prodding me for attention every now and then, as well as deciding on names for my hero and heroine.

3. I FINALLY got hold of a copy of the lovely Nell Dixon's brand-new release, Blue Remembered Heels ... My local WHSmith and Waterstones? Sold out!

4. I tracked down two pairs of jeans that actually fit me, and for me this is a momentous event -- it's extremely difficult to find a good pair when you are only 5 foot 1.

5. I lost two pounds on the SlimFast plan, thanks in no small part to the lovely lady on eBay who sells American SlimFast bars (which are way better than the paltry three flavours we have here in the UK).

6. We found a fab new childminder for Little Frog.

7. We booked our summer mini-break and will be staying in a lovely little cottage in Cornwall.

But the week is set to finish on a not-so-happy note. The afore-mentioned Frog has been very unhappy all weekend, mainly due to the fact that he is cutting three big fat pointy molar teeth all at once. When I check inside his mouth to see how they are doing I just have to clasp him to myself in sorrow because it looks SO PAINFUL.


Just finished reading: The Hollow by Nora Roberts

Which Path?

Had a lovely day today. Little Frog and I went to see his grandma and auntie, and the four of us spent the day browsing the high-street sales and chatting. I even got to amble around the book shop for twenty minutes on my own, picking up random books and reading bits of them before putting them back (sadly, I couldn't afford to buy any -- boo). I haven't book-browsed like that for ages, and it was really nice. Especially nice when I found a book I proofread; I always remember the consistent problems that appeared in each book I've worked on and it's a thrill to look at the published product and see all the things I pointed out that have been put right.

The only slight damper on my day was in the Marks & Spencer coffee shop, when Little Frog decided to throw up all down himself and, accordingly, all over my jeans. I beat a hasty retreat to the baby changing room with the small sodden one tucked under my arm and thanked God that I always have a fresh set of clothes for him in the change bag. Not so much luck for me -- I had to do the best I could on my jeans with a baby wipe and then... sigh... had to buy a new skirt to change into. Ah well.

Lately I've been floundering again as to what path I should be taking, career-wise. Proofreading is still going well but is extremely sporadic, and in the current state of the country's finances I need to have a regular and guaranteed income. Basically, I need to find a job. But I also need to find a new childminder, since Frog will stop going to his current one in mid-August. It is likely that his care days are going to change and I can't commit to anything until I know when those days will be. In the meantime, I'm spending a few hours a week fruitlessly searching local job websites and keeping my fingers crossed for a National Lottery/Premium Bond win.

On the plus side, I've been having thoughts about my book idea almost every day at the moment and have made quite a few notes on it this week. Perhaps once my new childcare arrangements are settled and I've managed to figure out some way of having a regular flow of money then I can start to structure in some writing. I mean, please... how long has it been?!


Just finished reading: The Rise and Fall of a Yummy Mummy by Polly Williams

Family Trip

Firstly, I interrupt this blog post (even though I've barely started it) to remind you all that my critique partner and good friend Nell Dixon's brand new book Blue Remembered Heels, published by Little Black Dress, is OUT NOW and AVAILABLE TO BUY in all good bookshops, both physical and online.

Buy it! Read it! Love it! Then I can say I told you so :)

Today The Bloke, Little Frog and I went to the little Cotswolds town of Bourton-on-the-Water.


Now, I'm English born and bred, and I grew up in the kind of village that was too small for a shop or bus service and barely qualified for a post box, so I know what our villages are like. But Bourton-on-the-Water is almost unreal in its lovely little postcard prettiness. It's the sort of rural English village you see in movies.

After our pub lunch, we spent the afternoon strolling up and down the river paths and ambling into gift shops. Then we took Little Frog to Birdland, a nearby tourist attraction filled with, well... birds... from all over the world. We paid good money for him to see lots of exotic and strange-looking winged things, and what did he do? Gaze around with a bored/haughty expression on his face, then eventually show some interest and laugh... at a bog-standard pigeon that happened to be waddling past.

Just finished reading: Her Parenthood Assignment by Fiona Harper

One

We recently celebrated Little Frog's birthday -- can you believe it? I know I can't! He had a wonderful little party where he played with his baby friends in the garden and was fed cake by Granny.


Here is a cutie picture of the little man all dressed up ready for his party. His auntie commented that he looks like Tommy from Rugrats here, which I think is true! What do you think?



Just finished reading: The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella (LOVED it)

Pies, Pies, and More Pies

Unfortunately, it's not the sort of pie that one would eat. Although on second thought, that's probably a good thing -- I could do without the extra calories. No, the pies my title refers to are those that feature in the "fingers in many..." saying, since I currently have numerous things in process on the career/work front.

I am still proofreading as well as trying to write when the opportunity arises, although I admit that this is not happening as often as I would like. I'm also looking for a part-time job to bring in some extra cash, due to plans we've made for some home improvements and, basically, the soaring cost of pretty much everything in the current economic climate... The third thing that is ticking along in my little mind is an idea for a business that I would very much like to start up. I think it would fulfil a popular need in my local area and it is something I would enjoy doing, plus the financial outlay would not be too monstrous. I've started doing some market research and planning and am feeling quite excited about it all. Will have to see if it pans out.

In home news, Little Frog has now started to crawl, is saying "Mummy" on a regular basis (and something that sounds like "doggy" but could be "Daddy"), and turns one year old in less than TWO WEEKS!

Good news from the Diabetes Auction -- my gift box eventually sold for USD $62! I was very pleased and privileged to be able to help with this year's fundraising effort, not just from my own donation but also from the couple of auctions that I won myself (but not the trip to Las Vegas, alas!).


Just finished reading: Body Work by Fiona Brand

Bids Away!

Brenda Novak's Diabetes Auction is now in full swing. The first week is over and it looks like it's going to be a very successful year again in terms of fundraising. My gift box is already bid up to $56 -- last year it sold for an eventual $96. I'm bidding on a number of things myself (yeah, I know I won't win the trip to Vegas, but I'll have a go at it). Check out my gift box here, and go here for the auction main page, from which you can search through the many, many lots up for the taking.

Our trip to Spain went very well. Little Frog, in particular, made us very proud with his "what's all the fuss about?" attitude to flying! The weather was great and we had some lovely relaxation time. Oh, and here's a pic of The Bloke and Little Frog by the sea. Can you see what he's doing? The weirdest thing was that after we stopped him and emptied his hand, he tried to do it again -- and again. Did it really taste that nice?




Just finished reading: An Eligible Bachelor by Veronica Henry

My gift box for the Diabetes Auction

Here are the details on the gift box I am donating to Brenda Novak's Diabetes Auction:

A Taste of England -- a gift box from author Jessica Raymond

• A Lily of the Valley gift set from Woods of Windsor
• English Lavender bath herbs
• Twinings English Breakfast tea bags
• A box of slow-baked all-butter shortbread fingers
• A signed copy of A Taste of Summer, a duet beach romance by Jessica Raymond and Nell Dixon
• Jessica Raymond notepad, pens, bookmarks, and fridge magnets

The auction begins on May 1st and runs until May 31st. Bids on my box will start at USD $2 and you can pay by Paypal, credit card, cheque (US-drawn) or money order. There are LOADS of other fabulous things up for grabs and Brenda will be giving an amazing prize away to the person who places the most bids, even if they don't win anything.

Once the auction starts I'll post up a permanent link to my gift box on the sidebar.

I'll be away from the blog for a little while now, as tomorrow we fly to Spain to visit my mother. This is Little Frog's first ever trip on an aeroplane and I'm really hoping he behaves. (It doesn't help when both Mummy and Daddy hate flying.) But I'm just going to think about the nice sunshine and the good food and seeing the look on his face when he squelches his toes into some soggy sand on the beach :)

Full Plate

Hmm, so I was away from the blog for a little bit longer than I'd expected...

It's been very busy around here lately. Little Frog didn't get any better any faster and ended up going into hospital and staying overnight for dehydration. Fortunately we were allowed home the next day and he made a very steady recovery. Now he is eating more than ever and he is about to produce his third tooth!

I've also been mega-busy with proofreading. Every time I've finished one job I've had another sitting on the table ready to go, so there hasn't been much R&R for me. Still, it's nice to be tackling work again -- and it doesn't hurt the bank balance, of course!

Thank you so much for all your suggestions on things I could include in my English-themed gift box for Brenda Novak's annual diabetes auction. I have drawn a winner from all those who posted and it is... DEBS! Congratulations! If you could head over to the "Get in Touch" page of my website and let me know your details then I'll get your signed copy of Haunted Hearts and some chocolate in the post to you ASAP :)

Food items were the most popular suggestions for the gift box (who knew?), and so I have decided on the theme of British Cooking. I'm thinking a classic cookery book along with various typically British ingredients and condiments. Keep an eye out for pics of the gift box and a link to the auction page when it all goes live.


Just finished reading: Blood Brothers by Nora Roberts

Cake Helps You Write

Question: How can we already be a week into February?!

It's been a time of great milestones for Little Frog lately. In the last fortnight he sprouted his first tooth, finally worked out how to sit up unaided, spent a trial day with his childminder (during which he went to a birthday party and was helped to play pass-the-parcel: be still my sniffy motherly heart), and then promptly sprouted his second tooth. How can this be when he was only recently a little pink wrinkly person who just knew how to sleep, poop, and cry??

And so to writerly things... I meant to post my February "To Do" list on the 1st, but got distracted by baby teeth and suchlike. So here it is:

1. Continue subbing my motherhood article. (Am still waiting to hear from the first magazine.)
2. Write chapters two and three of Truck of Luck.
3. Write another short story.
4. Update my website.

I finish my maternity leave next week and will be back to proofreading, but I am going to try my best to continue to meet my writing goals. I may need a couple of slices of Marks & Spencer's chocolate fudge cake to help me, but if that's what it takes then that's what I gotta do!


Just finished reading: One Night Stand by Julie Cohen

Ch-Ch-Changes

My maternity leave comes to an end in just a couple of weeks now, and Little Frog is booked in to have a trial day next week with the lady who will hopefully be his childminder. My feelings are mixed about the whole thing (as I imagine most mothers' are). It will be the first time he has been looked after by somebody who is not family, which makes me feel weird and nervous, but equally I am really looking forward to working again. Ah, the guilt...

Oh, and did I mention that he finally has his first tooth? It broke through quite suddenly last week and he's been enjoying testing it out on his baby board books.

So, back to my January To Do list. Did I complete it? Almost.

Tax return? Done. Article about motherhood finished and submitted? Done (but yet to hear back from magazine). Short story? Done (just needs a final check-over before it is sent out).

And on to the final item on the list... Completion of plot and first chapter for Truck of Luck? Not done. Sigh. Although I am much further along with my plotting. I got distracted by another story idea halfway through the month, on which I spent quite a bit of time, so if that hadn't happened I imagine I would have achieved my target. This one will have to be moved on to my February To Do list (look out for it tomorrow) and I think I should expand my goal to include the completion of chapters one, two, and three.


Just finished reading: English Lord, Ordinary Lady by Fiona Harper -- which is a finalist for the RNA's Romance Prize 2008, so best of luck to Fiona (and the other nominees)!