Have been running around this morning trying to sort out our approach to our Steering Group lunchtime meeting now that none of my key people seem to be coming, sigh. Is it something I said? Ah well, we’ll struggle on regardless, and hey at least we’ll have lots of university sandwiches to eat up. Hmm, maybe that’s not such a good thing after all. Time will tell. At least it’ll take my mind off the fact that I actually have to say something during the meeting – groan, moan. How I hate doing that! Frankly, m’dears, I have no opinions and certainly none worth saying. So, this afternoon, I struggled to put the pages of notes I took during the meeting into order and tried to drum up enthusiasm for the task. Ye gods, I think I am experiencing my mid-month lull already, double sigh – so am constitutionally unable to get to grips with anything. Same old, then ...


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I am no longer a Site Host on the marvellous writers' site WriteWords. Stepping down from the role is something I've been thinking about, off and on, for a while, and this latest illness kind of made my mind up for me. The truth is that although I loved the job, loved helping people and all that it entailed, what I really needed (and need) to do was concentrate on my writing and workshops and on getting better.

So, I want to say a big Thank You to David, Anna, Richard and the rest of the team - I really appreciated the opportunity and loved doing what I did as a Host. Of course there were frustrating times, times when I think I got more flak than I deserved etc, but that's par for the course. On the whole, I am thoroughly glad I did what I did.

Which brings me onto writing websites in general (in part because there's been a discussion on their worth earlier today).

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Lord H and I have spent a lovely day today at Hayling Island, wandering around and attempting to look at birds. Not many about, Carruthers, though we did manage to spot a kestrel, a collared dove, some black-headed gulls and (hurrah!) some black-tailed godwits in summer plumage. Very pleasant indeed and the rain held off. On the journey down, however, I was dozing away to the background lull of Classic FM when Lord H suddenly gave a triumphant snort and said: Ha! I beat that then. On enquiring what on earth he was on about, I was told that we'd passed a big sign telling us that Hindhead was 8 minutes drive away, but Lord H had put a spurt on and done it in 6 minutes. Hmm, I fear that these "helpful hint" road-signs might not be having quite the effect they're supposed to have on the male boy-racer population ...


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I just received my copy of SouthWord, in which I have two short short stories (alongside wonderful fellow writers including Vanessa Gebbie, Chelsey Flood and Joel Willans), and together with it was a cheque for 61 pounds (80 euros). This, for two flash stories. Seems like a lot.

But why not? ...

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Up as early as possible today so that Lord H and I could go into town and stare in adoration at the eternity ring I fell in love with at Cry for the Moon. Result - he loves it too! So he's bought it and I am now the proud owner of an utterly gorgeous piece of jewellery, hurrah! Or I would be if my actual anniversary wasn't until September, so I suspect I may have to wait to get the thing on my finger. But I'm hoping I'll be allowed to gaze at it occasionally between now and then, mmmm ....

I've then spent some time updating my website with the Maloney's Law (see full post for links) details. Each time I look at the cover, I like it more, so that's a good thing for sure. And I've also edited another chapter of The Bones of Summer - slowly, slowly - so am now on Chapter 18. We're getting there, captain ...


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I think Americans call it Dumpster Diving, this habit we've developed lately of helping ourselves to unwanted items left outside houses.

The block of flats where we live stands on the corner of two roads of expensive houses leading up to Blackheath. They're always changing hands, so subject to constant renovation or restoration, and the skips are a good source of furniture.



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Hurrah! Maloney's Law on Amazon.com (see full post for links) now has its cover art up and you can even buy it - from a choice of sellers, no less. Well, gosh! That's really made my day. Here's a blurb to whet your appetite:

"Paul Maloney, a small-time private investigator from London, reluctantly accepts a case from his married ex-lover, Dominic Allen. Before he knows it, Paul finds himself embroiled in the dark dealings of big business and the sordid world of international crime. The deeper he pushes, the closer he comes to losing everything he holds dear. Can he solve the mystery and protect those he loves before it's too late?

Maloney's Law was shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Novel Awards (for novels set in London) and the Royal Literary Fund Awards, and longlisted for the Yeovil Novel Prize."

You can read an extract on my website here (see full post for links) and I'm also pleased that Sarah Bengry at Writewords has described the extract as "beautiful, clean, evocative prose". Thanks also for that, Sarah! Though I'm not really sure my stuff has ever been clean ... Only accidentally anyway ...

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I have just been listening to the first four of the five shortlisted stories in the BBC National Short Story Award, which are being broadcast this week on Afternoon Reading on Radio 4. I have to say how much I enjoyed Clare Wigfall's The Numbers, which left me feeling deeply moved, and Jane Gardam's The People on Privilege Hill, which had me giggling. However, I have no idea if this was because of the stories or because of the actors who read them so excellently (Tracy Wiles and Goeffrey Palmer respectively)........

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Life appears to have speeded up, and really at a time when I should be concentrating hard on the finale of my novel. It’s fat, challenging, and sits in the corner demanding attention, much like a baby ogre. Not a flattering simile, but writing this book does sometimes resemble a love/hate relationship, in that I’ve never written a work of such length before and let me tell you, it can be quite daunting – especially when work, flat hunting and maintaining a social life doesn't leave room for much else!

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First off, I just wanted to thank everyone who took the time to send me good wishes and get better messages. Do you know, they really work.

I am officially starting to feel better. Well, more like myself at least. Today I didn't need to sleep, or even nap. I've even been brave enough to lay off the codeine, and I can actually put my foot on the floor without wanting to scream. I can even touch my foot now - I can even remove my sock without fearing I'll go straight into shock from the pain. These are all tremendous things.

(Other tremendous things include: 1. It doesn't seem the bacteria's got into my bloodstream and spread, and 2. it's not turned into the gangrene thingumy it could have. 3. It's deep enough into my skin that it hasn't scarred.)

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