LONG TIME NO SPEAK!

How are we all? I feel incredibly well-rested after our two weeks in the Channel Islands. Got back last Saturday evening around 8pm. Was shattered Sunday and, after first-dayitis at Day Job, shattered Monday night. Having a quiet five minutes right now, so thought I'd steal a bit of office time and at least make a start on a new blog. I don't want to lose touch with my Blog-spot Buddies.


Gosh - so much has happened since last I wrote that I don't really have a clue where to start. I won't give you a blow-by-blow account of our holiday except to say that I have positively lost my heart to Alderney. Hubby did too. I think it is because it is like a little bit of Olde England! There are no traffic lights, no roundabouts, no regular bus route and there's only one town - St Annes, which largely consists of one street - Victoria Street. Hubby and I got there late afternoon on the Friday before last and left there late afternoon on the following Monday. But - and it is a big But - such is the quality of pure unadulterated Time over there, it actually felt as if we'd been there for weeks and weeks. Doctor Who would understand. Alderney is the Olde Worlde answer to the T>A>R>D>I>S. It is less than four miles by two and only around two and a half thousand people live there! What's more, by the end of Saturday we were on first name terms with virtually everyone we met. It is so idyllic and laid back and unbelievably unspoilt that we just didn't want to leave the place! If you are stuck for a vacation next year and don't know where to go, and you like the quiet lifestyle (half-day closing Wednesday, two hours lunch break every day and a cinema that is only open twice a week), then for goodness sake pay them a visit. Stay at the Victoria Hotel on Victoria Street and give Jenny our love! It is quite ironic that Alderney was the island where we spent the least time (Jersey six days before, Guernsey five days after and one of those was given over to that other little gem Herm) yet it is the one place we cannot stop talking or thinking about. For such a tiny place it surely made a truly huge impression


Good news where the Lollypop contract for the second and third Yuck books are concerned. After much wrangling, wrist-wringing and tearing of hair, Writer, Sarah the Publisher and Ashley the Illustrator are in agreement. What a relief! It has taken us weeks to get there and both sequels have been written. What a culture shock it has been to become a fully-fledged author! But it has been worth every irritating, infuriating and truly wonderful second. My plan now is to try and get some kind of funding that can take me out of work for at least six months to really promote the series and make a good start on research for the new book - not to mention the long-lamented Historical novel.


By far the best news of all and the most magical way to sign off for now is to tell you about the arrival of New Baby Grand-daughter. She was born the day after my last blog and weighed just under 6lb. That was on the Thursday. On Sunday 17th, we hot-tailed it up to Peterborough to meet her. It was a real family get-together, with Youngest Step-daughter, Clever-Son-In-Law and their two little ones also making the pilgrimage. Hubby's parents were unable to make it as they had an appointment with Buckingham Palace (they truly did - will explain another time) - but it was still quite a house-ful for Eldest Step-daughter, Laid-back Son-in-Law and Eldest Grandson to contend with. New Baby Grand-daughter behaved perfectly and received her stream of guests with enormous good grace considering she was only four days old! Oh but she is a little beauty! And I am not at all biased.......