I've needed to check my desk diary to find out what I've done or not done since I last wrote within this blog. Time seems to move ever faster and without my diary I wouldn't be able to keep up. Many people I know use their mobile phones to record or remind them of appointments etc, but I feel safer with a pen or pencil and a diary where I can turn a page.
Towards the end of August I recorded a Podcast with the lovely James Nash which will be available soon. That same week I visited the Ferens Art Gallery in Hull to view Hockney's 'Bigger Trees near Warter,' which was absolutely beautiful and I'm so pleased that I made the effort to see it. It's gone now from Hull but I think still continuing the tour of the UK. If you haven't seen it yet then do try to catch it somewhere.
On the first of September with other local authors we attended the Northern Branch meeting of the Romantic Novelists' Association at the Smiths Arms in Beckwithshaw near Harrogate (we call ourselves The Flying Ducks -- but that's another story). Our speaker was Lincolnshire based Margaret Dickinson who is also a member of the RNA and a friend of mine. She told us of how she began as a novelist and of the books she has written. A very interesting afternoon and before driving home, some of sat outside revelling in the sunshine which has been in such short supply this August.
The final proofs for The Harbour Girl came in the following week and because it was imperative that they were checked before I left for holidays the week after, I missed the events which were being held in Hull for the Heritage Open Days. A great success, however from what I heard. I checked the proofs within a week and fortunately they contained only one error -- mine -- which I spotted immediately and was able to rectify. My daughter Ruth and grandson Alex came to spend that weekend with me, and two days later I was on my way to Portugal with my other daughter Catherine and her partner.
Hot hot hot! I had expected it to be warm but as usual if I go abroad I never expect it to be as hot as it is and despite lathering myself with Factor 50 I still managed to burn. We stayed in Cascais, a coastal resort near Lisbon, which is a wonderful city, and had a very enjoyable and relaxing time, well set up now for the busy weeks ahead.
My first day home I was interviewed by Debbie Hall of the Hull Daily Mail Journal. Debbie was very warm and friendly and we sat and talked about many things over cups of tea at my kitchen table. The profile will probably be included in the November issue. The Journal photographer came and took dozens of photographs. There has to be one which is flattering!
My last appointment of September was with the ladies of Time For You at the Freedom Centre in Hull. A more friendly group of ladies you couldn't hope to meet.
