1. I worked on my latest picture book manuscript again today. I read it aloud to my neighbours and their four year old son. It was well received and I got some constructive feedback. I wish I could read it to you, too. I love reading it aloud. One of my goals is to write some picture books that are wonderful to read aloud. I enjoy reading other authors' picture books aloud and look forward to being able to do that with my own.
2. The children had their school swimming sports today which went well despite the dubious weather. One girl described it as "brain freezing cold". I've actually been in water like that before so I know what she means. However, all's well and they're safe and sound.
3. We went to my husband's primary school reunion this evening. We had a good time even though there was only one person there from his class. That person came from Australia to the reunion, as did several others. Not sure I'd travel that far for a similar event, but there you go. Anyway, my husband was glad to catch up with this friend who he hadn't seen for 20 years. It was interesting, too, to see where he'd spent his early years. I'm going to my high school reunion in June.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Story, double, unwell
1. I got some great picture book writing done in a cafe today. I went there for a change of scenery in the hope of inspiration and achieved my goal. The first draft is now complete.
2. There's a programme on tv tonight about us each having a double. I know I do. My sister met her in a lift. She even thought it was me at first.
3. I haven't been feeling so well but not unwell either. Just mediocre. Some sort of virus, no doubt. It'll pass.
2. There's a programme on tv tonight about us each having a double. I know I do. My sister met her in a lift. She even thought it was me at first.
3. I haven't been feeling so well but not unwell either. Just mediocre. Some sort of virus, no doubt. It'll pass.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Deja vu, hot foot, weather
1. I forgot to mention in my movie comments yesterday that I experienced a strong feeling of deja vu while watching the Miss Potter movie. During one scene just before the intermission I had a strong sense that I had seen the movie before, which I hadn't. This was followed soon after by the man next to me (who had played the piano for the opening since it was the NZ premiere) handing me his business card and suggesting that he would like to play for me when I had a grand gala launch for my next book! Nothing like positive thinking! Anyway, the interesting thing about that was that as the man turned to me, holding out his business card, I had another very strong feeling of deja vu that this man had handed me his business card before and I also felt sure I knew what the card looked like. Very weird. Even more oddly, when we came out of the movie my son said "I'm sure I've seen that movie before." Make of it what you will.
2. Still in the "strange" category... since yesterday I have been experiencing strange "hot flushes". Now... this might not be so unusual as I'm 47 years old. However, the hot flushes are located in the sole of my left foot! If anyone reading this can make any sense of why such a thing might be happening, I'm willing to be enlightened. I don't think there's a pattern to it, but I've started making a record in case there is.
3. Today's weather in New Zealand has been out of the ordinary - very strong gale force winds, snow in some parts of the South Island, trees down, heaps of rain etc. I was home alone when a gazebo went scuttling across the road towards the neighbour's house. I managed to get some neighbours to rescue it but it was already snapped into several pieces. I was apprehensive about getting in the van to drive out to school to collect the children but managed it easily enough. Then, just before I arrived at school, a huge tree in the school grounds fell over. Fortunately, it fell away from the classrooms and children. However, it clipped the roof of the hall. Not sure if we'll get any more summer swimming in our new pool!
2. Still in the "strange" category... since yesterday I have been experiencing strange "hot flushes". Now... this might not be so unusual as I'm 47 years old. However, the hot flushes are located in the sole of my left foot! If anyone reading this can make any sense of why such a thing might be happening, I'm willing to be enlightened. I don't think there's a pattern to it, but I've started making a record in case there is.
3. Today's weather in New Zealand has been out of the ordinary - very strong gale force winds, snow in some parts of the South Island, trees down, heaps of rain etc. I was home alone when a gazebo went scuttling across the road towards the neighbour's house. I managed to get some neighbours to rescue it but it was already snapped into several pieces. I was apprehensive about getting in the van to drive out to school to collect the children but managed it easily enough. Then, just before I arrived at school, a huge tree in the school grounds fell over. Fortunately, it fell away from the classrooms and children. However, it clipped the roof of the hall. Not sure if we'll get any more summer swimming in our new pool!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
No shame, movie, storm
1. I have no shame. But I'm proud of it. I'll explain. Today our small local cinema had the NZ premiere for the movie Miss Potter (about the life of Beatrix Potter and starring Rene Zellwegger). I knew about this vaguely and had planned to see the movie as I liked what I'd read about it. Then I read in our local newspaper that local identities and celebrities had received invitations to the four showings today. I felt peeved. Am I not a local celebrity? Is Miss Potter not about a children's author? Am I not a children's author? So, guess what I did? I marched right down there and stated my case at the box office. It worked. There was much apologising and our family was given four tickets for the 5.30pm session tonight. Yay.
2. The movie mentioned above is excellent. A must see. Beautifully shot. A wonderful story. Acted with great class as always by Rene. We were all very pleased we went. I can highly recommend it to you all.
3. We are having a storm tonight and the children are unsettled because of it. Last night, fortunately, they slept through the torrential downpours. But this time the thunder and lightning started while they were still reading in bed. Hopefully they'll tire soon.
2. The movie mentioned above is excellent. A must see. Beautifully shot. A wonderful story. Acted with great class as always by Rene. We were all very pleased we went. I can highly recommend it to you all.
3. We are having a storm tonight and the children are unsettled because of it. Last night, fortunately, they slept through the torrential downpours. But this time the thunder and lightning started while they were still reading in bed. Hopefully they'll tire soon.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Squash, phone, dragons
1. We played our second to last game of business house squash tonight and won all but our last game of the evening. I played a girl the same age as my son and we had a great game. I'll try to dedicate myself more to the game of squash as it's good for fitness and I really do enjoy it.
2. One of the players in our squash team asked me to look after his "phone" while he was playing. When I say "phone" it looked more like (and performed more like, I suspect), one of the world's most up to date mini laptop communication systems. I found it quite frightening to even think about. That's the technophobe in me, I guess.
3. I watched one of my fave programmes on tv tonight - Dragon's Den. The dragons are becoming much more ruthless and dragon-like. I often have ideas that I'm sure are great, but when I imagine being in the dragon's den explaining them, I lose my nerve.
2. One of the players in our squash team asked me to look after his "phone" while he was playing. When I say "phone" it looked more like (and performed more like, I suspect), one of the world's most up to date mini laptop communication systems. I found it quite frightening to even think about. That's the technophobe in me, I guess.
3. I watched one of my fave programmes on tv tonight - Dragon's Den. The dragons are becoming much more ruthless and dragon-like. I often have ideas that I'm sure are great, but when I imagine being in the dragon's den explaining them, I lose my nerve.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Rugby, Friends, Olly
1. I went to Auckland with my son for the weekend and enjoyed the change of scenery immensely. One of the highlights was the rugby match between the Blues and the Lions, both teams in the Super 14. Our favourite Blues team member, Doug Howlett, had a wonderful game and we were glad to be there to witness it in person.
2. We spent time catching up with several friends and family members in Auckland, which was very refreshing and entertaining. I look forward to our next catch up.
3. While we were at the rugby game, my friend's Bichon Frise dog, Olly, found a way to unzip a bag and retrieve his supper of a packed of chocolate chip biscuits! On our return, he looked very pleased with himself about the feat.
2. We spent time catching up with several friends and family members in Auckland, which was very refreshing and entertaining. I look forward to our next catch up.
3. While we were at the rugby game, my friend's Bichon Frise dog, Olly, found a way to unzip a bag and retrieve his supper of a packed of chocolate chip biscuits! On our return, he looked very pleased with himself about the feat.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Limericks, tv appearance, close call
1. My limerick was featured in Sonnjea B's Limerick Lounge blog. I've always enjoyed limerick writing and have written a few in my time. It's a good discipline and I'll be visiting her new limerick lounge frequently. See my link page on the wordimperfect blog if you want to go there too. I'm not sure how to link it as part of a sentence like other clever bloggers do.
2. I drove for an hour to a town called Matamata today so I could appear on a regional tv programme to talk about my joke book. It was great fun and my slot was short and sweet and seemed to go very well. The host was really welcoming and friendly and I didn't think about the camera at all once we got talking. It appears on Monday but we don't get it where I live so I'll have to find someone to tape it for me. Or I can buy a copy for $25 plus $5 postage!
3. Driving back from Matamata, I had a close call with a truck! My heart was in my throat afterwards. I actually thought I would hit the truck and the realisation of that was strangely bearable. It was when I managed to avoid it that I suddenly realised the extent of the danger I had been in. The truck turned in front of me and I had to brake hard on a road slick with light rain. But, hey, I'm still here. So all's well in the world!
2. I drove for an hour to a town called Matamata today so I could appear on a regional tv programme to talk about my joke book. It was great fun and my slot was short and sweet and seemed to go very well. The host was really welcoming and friendly and I didn't think about the camera at all once we got talking. It appears on Monday but we don't get it where I live so I'll have to find someone to tape it for me. Or I can buy a copy for $25 plus $5 postage!
3. Driving back from Matamata, I had a close call with a truck! My heart was in my throat afterwards. I actually thought I would hit the truck and the realisation of that was strangely bearable. It was when I managed to avoid it that I suddenly realised the extent of the danger I had been in. The truck turned in front of me and I had to brake hard on a road slick with light rain. But, hey, I'm still here. So all's well in the world!
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