All That Mullarkey, Awards & Moving On

I was thrilled when my copy of Sue Moorcroft's book arrived in the post this week and ended up reading All That Mullarkey in one sitting. So good. She writes so well and her hero (as with the one in her previous book, Starting Over, is still in my head. Well worth a read.






Thanks to DJ Kirkby for this fun award she gave me last week. Sorry I'm a little late posting it. Her Wordless Wednesday photos are brilliant and the comments hilarious. I love her blog.

After a few lurgy-filled days, I'm now feeling much better and working on my manuscript for the RNA's NWS. I have until the end of August to send this in, but want to submit it soon as the summer is always busy with visits from family and friends, so intend sending it off in about three/four weeks.

It's my last day at work on Thursday. It's going to feel strange moving on after nine years with the same people, but our company has made many acquisitions and in the years I've been there, we've moved offices twice and the number of employees has risen from about 25 to 180. So, having got used to different managers, directors, teams and systems, I don't think this change will be too difficult - she says hopefully. In fact, dare I say it, I'm quite excited, a little nervous too, and looking forward to getting the first week over with, but will be glad to get on with it.

Publication Day: Moonlighting & Like Bees To Honey

It's publication day today for these two books.

One I've read and loved - Moonlighting by Kate Lace and you can see my review today at Novelicious - & the other I'm looking forward to reading, hopefully over the weekend.







I've just received my copy of Like Bees To Honey by the lovely Caroline Smailes and can't wait to start reading it. Don't you just love that cover?

I've succumbed to the lurgy and as well as a gravelly throat (voice akin to that of the husky Ms Mariella Frostrup) and feeling dizzier than I usually do, which I'm sure my husband would find a little hard to believe, I seem to ache all over. Poor me.

My son phoned at 11.15 last night to tell me that he is coming down with the same thing. He has his last exam today (1st year at uni) and so I hope he feels okay. His exam is something about the cold war and european political history.

Me, on hearing the subject of the exam: *Groan* How horrible. That must be so boring.
Him: No, mum. I love it.

!

I can only think that he gets this interest in politics from my father or grandfather (who was a Senator in the States over here many moons ago) because he certainly wouldn't get this from me or his father. Good luck to him though.

Tropical Connections, Getting Wet & Sheds

I've just started reading Susie Vereker's book, Tropical Connections and as I suspected I'm loving it.

I love Susie's books. Having travelled the world first as an army officer's daugher and then as the wife of a diplomat, she's experienced many different cultures and fascinating places, which we can enjoy through her wonderful novels. I don't care how busy I am this weekend, I'll definitely be making time for this book.

I've just spent an hour watering my parched garden, as well as the dog who seems to think that the hose pipe is there solely to entertain him. So he's soaking wet and a little muddy now too and only two days after being bathed. So typical.

It's time to vote for your favourite Shed of the Year 2010. I had such fun entering my shed into the 2009 competition and couldn't believe it when I ended up being a category winner. (I'm not in it this year so please don't worry about voting for me). I was even a guest blogger for the International Shed Women's Week in March this year, and to think that until a couple of years ago, I though sheds were simply cobweb-filled places where you store old bicycles and garden tools.

Have a great weekend.

Like Bees to Honey Blog Tour - Chapter 16

Open publication - Free publishing

It's one week before the publication day (27th May) of Like Bees To Honey by the lovely (and very talented) Caroline Smailes.

I was delighted to be asked to take part in this excellent blog tour today and can't wait to read this book. Having read Caroline's other books, I know what a superb writer she is and even if I wasn't aware of her writing, I'd still be unable to pass by a book with such a gorgeous cover.

You can order your copy of this book at Amazon and if you haven't come here through the blog tour you can start reading from Chapter One by going to Caroline's Blog.

To continue on with the tour, please go to Matthew Hills website as he is hosting the next chapter.

Enjoy.

Enjoying The Moment

It's been a busy few weeks and this week I have:

My nephew's 18th birthday - he was born the day my adorable and much missed grandmother died - which was also the day I held a party for my sister's 17th birthday. That was definitely a day filled with mixed emotions.

My ex brother-in-law's 40th birthday - Great chap. I shan't be going to his party, but my daughter will be. He's been in hospital for the past 7 weeks after an horrific motorbike accident and it's a relief that he's able to celebrate this birthday.

My sister's birthday: Happy Birthday Rach.x

My father's 40th anniversary of his plane crash - I'm always so grateful things didn't turn out differently and that I've had all these wonderful years with him.

There are many other things going on this week too, but for now, I'm going to sit back and relax. Time to catch up with some reading and enjoy the weekend before it's over.

Regeneration & Wasted

I hope you all had a relaxing weekend. Mine was mainly spent typing up my edits and reading and I finally closed my eyes at 1.15am this morning. Not a good idea when I have to be at work for 8am ready to look at a computer screen all day. However it was a good book - I'll be reviewing it on Novelicious for Little Black Dress Thursday - so I couldn't help myself.

Another great book I've read recently was Regeneration by Pat Barker. My aunt recommended this book to me. It's part of a trilogy and I've now bought the other two books and will read them as soon as I possibly can. You can read my review of this over at Bookersatz. Where you'll also find Helen Hunt's excellent review of Wasted by Nicola Morgan, which is another book I've added to my wish list.

Now that I've accepted this new job, I've been able to cancel my exam, as it would have had no relevance to the work I'll be doing. So, rather than having to fit everything around studying for the next twelve weeks, I can spend more time reading/writing and hopefully getting a little sleep. What a relief.

Novelicious, New Job & Strikeback

It's Little Black Dress Thursday over at Novelicious and today you'll find my reviews on these two books, The Revenge of Lady Muck by Anne Dunlop and You Kill Me by Alison Gaylin

Last week I mentioned that I had some exciting news. It's not at all writerly, but it will mean a big change for me. Last Thursday I was offered an amazing new job by a well-known company, and today I gave in my notice at the company where I've been working for the past nine years. I've made so many friends where I am now, but as I already see quite a few of them out of the office, I'll no doubt keep in contact with them. I'm looking forward to it, but I'll be glad to get passed the first week and start settling down into it.

Last night I watched the divine, heavenly (I have many more adjectives to describe him) Richard Armitage in Strikeback and loved it, and I promise it wasn't only because he took his top off a few times. Even Rob admitted that he enjoyed the second episode (he was out for the first one) which makes a change because usually when I'm sighing in front of the tv whilst watching Mr Armitage is doing his thing, the rest of the family usually roll their eyes and go and find something else to do in a different part of the house. I also have to admit to having a soft spot for Colin Salmon; he's rather gorgeous to look at too.

Right, better go. I've changed out of my work clothes and into my chill out trackie bottoms and resemble a rather badly dressed bag lady, and daughter has just announced, with her usual brilliant timing, that she needs more damn cooking ingredients from the shop. If only we lived closer to the shops, she could walk there.