A Cauldron of Soup and a bash on the leg

Last night I read at Word Soup. I read my fairy tale 'Sweet Home' because it fit with the Halloween theme. Reading is always fun. Some of the performances from last night's event can be seen here (there's some adult content - you have been warned!). It's always lovely to listen to other people's work; writing can be a lonely pastime and sometimes you just need to get out, let your hair down and find out what everyone else is up to.

When we got home it was pretty late. We're sleeping on the floor of our boys' room at the moment because of our redecorating project. I tiptoed into their room in the pitch dark, feeling my way to the roll-out bed thingy. I ended up tripping over a toy box that had mysteriously appeared in the middle of the floor while we were out. I hopped around for a bit in my pyjamas, holding my leg, trying not to shout or say any rude words. The toys in the box tumbled into each other and suddenly, a talking mirror that someone bought for my daughter a long time ago, shrieked 'YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL' - a fairy tale ending to a fun night.

For short story writers...

On the Way Home

     
My story On the Way Home has just been published at The Front View which is part of The View From Here magazine. It's been published next to a rather fine image of blood cells (see above) which makes me feel happy, as blood and bruises are important to the story. The magazine also showcases short fiction by Jonathan Pinnock and A.J Ashworth, winners of the 2011 Scott Prize. This calls for a comment about being in good company, or being delighted to have sneaked or snuck (I really want to write snuck, but I know I shouldn't) into the magazine. I have wasted twenty minutes trying to write such a comment without sounding like a twit, when a smiley face would have done the job nicely. There :)

ARTWORK CREATED BY FOSSFOR SITE DESIGN.

Word Soup ~ A Cauldron of Soup

                  

Dear Lynn and Ian...

Although it is slightly weird to think that we've spent the past eight years sleeping next to your message, it was rather fun to discover it underneath the wallpaper this morning.
















Still, it would have been more exciting to discover something like this:

(No, the kids weren't scared and they didn't laugh, either.)

The smell of old books

I love the smell of old books and papers. If there was a perfume called Old Books, I think I'd wear it. I'm in the process of emptying my bedroom because finally, after 8 years of living with its pink and orange 1980s wallpaper, we're going to rewire, plaster, decorate, and *trumpet fanfare* I'm getting a desk.

A desk of my own.

It's not quite a room of my own, but I'll take it (grab it, even).

Anyway, in the course of my emptying, I keep finding lovely stuff that used to belong to my grandmother. She was a fabulous woman who was ahead of her time in so many ways. Much to the dismay of her family, she went to university and studied to be a teacher. Below are some of the things I've rediscovered as I've emptied my bedroom.

School certificate from 1933.

What's not to love about a book called 'The Courage of Jean?' (And it smells so good, too)

Here is Jean (being courageous, no doubt).

Sunday School Prize 1926.