Almost Working

In my rounds of visiting blogs I've found that quite a few people have changed to "deny access" or limited access to their blogs.  Some are my favourites........ so if you have made your blog private in the last few weeks or months, drop me an email and let me know the new address (if you want me to read it, that is).

I've been wondering what Mamma has spoken about lately, and how Rose is in Oz... and several more!

I've been thinking about working lately, and also doing some work!  I haven't been able to work much lately, for all kinds of good reasons. It feels weird, and isn't that good for the bank balance.. Just as well that we have had money coming in from other things.  And as freelances, we are used to these periods. You have to be.

But the last few days I've been getting on top of the stuff that is still around the house - and catching up on weeding - although I always love weeds. How could I wish to destroy something as beautiful as this dandelion, above, if I really thought about it.

I've delivered a long delayed travel article to the editor, and I'm trying to reorganise a European article that had to be cancelled last year when my mother was so ill.   And I have just had to cancel a trip to France because T was too ill to go. He's been feeling really bad. This bug is no fun.

At this rate I am wondering if I will get anywhere or do anything else with travel at all!

I've had some talks and a meeting with a major TV channel, which is the kind of not-really-working that is quite hard on the nerves. As most professional writers know, when you eventually have proper discussions with TV companies, the usual outcome is ... nothing.

It really is.

 The first time, you're so hopeful.  You have had all the warnings and seen other writers have their high hopes dashed, often after months of work, but THIS time it will be different! This time, they really do like it, they're not just saying.   There'll be a major book deal / programme /film /series/ worldbreaking major international movie that gets into cinemas all over the world!  MacDonalds will take up the characters for its Happy Meals! We will go to Outer Mongolia and see the characters on peoples' tee shirts!  In fact, astronauts in outer space will call their little green children after the characters, having picked up the series on their strange alien receiving apparatus....

... and then someone in a position of power decides they didn't really like the idea after all -  or some bean counting accountant decides that the sums don't add up - and that's the end of it before it happened.

Still,  if anything comes of this, you will be the first to know, and who knows, THIS might be the one which corners the Happy Meal market!

I'm also gearing up for a really difficult project I'll be starting this autumn, in a school.  It's probably not really difficult at all, but I haven't ever worked in a school or worked with kids. I won't have to take a class by myself, but still, the idea is somewhat alarming to me, although all you teachers out there will laugh, I know.  It's not kids themselves - I love the way they see the world in such an unexpected way and enjoy everything so much....

And they can be so sweet....

and such fun.

I love their company but I'm not that good at keeping order, and I am sure I won't be able to remember their names. Still, it's good to do new things and face challenges, and being involved in these workshops will be the biggest challenge for me. .  

And apart from sitting and coughing and feeling ill (or sitting with T as he coughs and feels ill, or with V) I have also done some other things that are almost-but-not-quite work.

 Tagged along with K, F and T the other day to Oxfordshire, where K's boat needed some work doing (by her and them). My contribution was getting them all cakes in a nearby village... well they thought it was worth doing anyway!

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I chatted to other people at the marina. Some, who had older vintage boats, had been to a rally and looked incredibly splendid complete with bottles of champagne and flags

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and it's always fun to watch the wildlife on the Thames

There's no way that's work but it was a nice day.

Well, better stop writing this.   It's Father's Day and hopefully Father can manage to enjoy his day despite all his pills and piles of paper hankies. .

By the way I am going to take the advice of some of you who have left comments or emailed me, and I will send a link to my last post, about Legoland Windsor, to their PR office. I will report back on the response I get.