Cat Heaven

I've returned from Cornwall having left the big fat white cat in his heaven - beware all small rodents.

So with six hundred or so miles under my belt I am looking at so much to do before the packers arrive Monday. Normally this wouldn't be a problem but come mid-day tomorrow I am bound for the Romantic Novelist Association Conference and I can't wait. However I don't return until Monday morning and by then the packers will have begun deconstructing my life as I know it. Although I hate the moving process I have to confess to loving the challenge of another new 'house' to make into a home. This time it will be for a longer period. In the past I have done this for as little as three months and the longest being three years.

Now this week there are some wonderful things out on the Internet for writers. Michelle Styles is hosting a workshop on eharlequin on Goal, Motivation and Conflict. Well worth a look even if you aren't writing romance.

Also thanks to Zinnia for the link on the Novel Racers' Blog to Troubled Diva which talks about Bloggers and book deals. Well worth a read. Of course our own Caroline Smailes is one of these speacial people!

Right now off to pack for the weekend and summer!

Spinning

Life is on full spin at the moment. On Friday night we heard to we are to be moved to Houston, but of course nothing is in writing. So once woken at 2:30 am I couldn't find sleep again for by four I was on the computer researching schools and houses. Trying to find schools that have vacancies that you want your child to go to at this stage is beyond difficult. One likes to make a decision able education with care and thought not just shove her into any old school that will have her. However I have found myself in this position more times than I would like to count. This is one of the reasons why the boys board. However my little chick is far too young to flee the nest and by 10 am on Saturday morning I was standing in the kitchen in floods of tears. I felt I just couldn't do it. We were do at ds2's sports day and I felt I couldn't leave him. Melt down had hit. DD didn't know what to do with mum sobbing in the kitchen over the picnic lunch. DH had enough sense to stay clear and pack the car. Finally I stemmed the flow and we set off for sports day which was lovely.

However in the middle of this ds1 announces he is on the early train back from school and will hit London as we are returning. Lovely? No, as dd has rehearsal for her First Communion on Sunday and DH has appointment. Advise him to take black taxi as he is still unsure of taking the tube on his own..........

Finally my parents arrive and we must return Dad's hire car. Arrive to at 2:30 Hertz to discover they closed at 1:00.

Sunday brings sunshine and the big day but DH and Dad need to return rental car to Victoria before the day can truly get underway. It was a lovely service and DD was thrilled. We had a fabulous lunch back at the house with friends. Exhausted.

Monday return boys to school. Send parents back to Cornwall. Want to collapse but the search for school begins. So far three strike outs..........

Absolutely no writing. In fact I thinks I may have to give up my plan to submit August Rock for the Daily Mail Novel of the Year :-(

News Flash - Comedy Romance Master Class

I'm going to a Comedy Romance Master Class at Borders Oxford Street tonight. It's the inaugural Melissa Nathan Award Comedy Romance Masterclass today at 7pm at Borders, Oxford Street. Sophie Kinsella, Matt Dunn, Gemma Fox, Kate Elton and Maggie Philips will be in conversation and I'm so excited. For more details check it out here http://www.melissanathan.com/Award/NewsArticle.asp?fdNewsArticleId=6.

Why not come and join if you are in the London area! With a little luck I'll give a full report tomorrow:-)

Didn't do anything on August Rock yesterday. In fact I don't know where yesterday went except in panic. The whole move thing is closing and I felt everything tense up. Must regain my focus as there is too much to do!