Wednesday 11 September 2013

Where Have You Been?



I imagine this is the question some of you might be asking, or maybe you haven’t noticed that I’ve been gone :-(.

Sunset at Llandanawg Beach, North Wales
                                         
When my mother broke her hip in April, I didn’t realise the impact it would have on me. I don’t necessarily mean in time, but the impact it would have on me mentally. It added another layer of things to worry about and somehow meant that I had to stop doing some things to cope. Blogging was one of the casualties.

Many weeks on and Mom has had another fall, this time she wasn’t hospitalised, but broke some ribs. She is in dreadful pain and we still don’t know why she is blacking out. She lives alone and it is a constant niggle at the back of my mind whether she is safe.

However, this morning I woke up and wanted to blog!

Writing wise I have continued to write lots. I finished my 2013 RNA New Writers’ Scheme novel and sent it off. My critique raised a lot of valid points and a re-write will be necessary.

Perhaps the highlight of the summer was the RNA conference in Sheffield and the fact I came second in the Elizabeth Goudge competition for the first chapter of a novel with the subject of “ice”. This was even more pleasing as the winner was a many times published author, Kate Johnson. The RNA issued publicity about the competition and I ended up with a short radio slot on BBC Hereford and Worcester. The presenter, Tammy Gooding, even interviewed my ten year old son, who is to this day mortified that under the spotlight he said his favourite subject was history!

We have had a lovely summer and managed time away in County Durham and North Wales.

Let me know about the highlight of your summer by commenting below. I hope you will forgive me for being away so long.

11 comments:

  1. Oh dear - sorry to read about your worries over mum. Can you get any support for her, to make life a little easier?

    But how wonderful that you came second in such a high profile competition.

    The highlight of my summer... hmmm. Possibly just last Saturday, actually, on the most perfect late summer day in Derbyshire.

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  2. so sorry to hear about your mum - hope she soon feels better x

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  3. Joanne and Sarah - Thank you for commenting after I have been away so long. Mom finally has an alarm thingy, but so far refuses any other help. We shall take things one day at a time! Have a lovely weekend. Mx

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  4. I had noticed you hadn't blogged in ages, as you're on my blog roll... I hope you're mum gets better, but it's so much harder as they get older.

    Never give up the writing! Gosh, I'm working on my second book now, and looking at the NWS comments from where I sent it off to them last year and it made me cry! She did have some valid points, but now I have a book published, I also know I can do it too!

    The high light of my summer was Gromit Hunting in Bristol. :D

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    1. harder with the worrying I mean...

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    2. Teresa - you have done so well. I'm proud of you. The photos of the Gromit hunting were great. What is the new book about? Mx

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    3. Thank you! But you can do it too, so don't give up hope.

      We're going to miss the Gromits. I hope they have Wallaces to find next year lol! I never would have gone to Bristol city centre with the kids in the holidays otherwise. Brilliant idea.

      Second book is participially written... about a man who's just hit A-list celebrity status in the US, comes home to the UK wanting to find Miss Right, but not sure how, as all they see is the fame and fortune. He wants to find genuine love. His sister has this sort of Superman/Clark Kent plan, to strip away his fame, make him a bit dorky... no one will recognise him, and he can go in search of love. Ha ha!

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    4. I mean partially lol! That's me not checking spell checker!

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    5. Ah yes I remember now! Good luck with it. My Kindle will be waiting! Mx

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  5. Sorry to hear of your problems with your Mum, Morton. I know the feeling as my Mum lived to be 97 and only died 5 years ago (I still miss her). It was a constant worry and I never knew when I was going to get a call to go up and see to her. After she died, I had to disconnect the telephone in the bedroom before I could get any proper sleep.

    I, too, neglected my writing when she was ill but am glad you got an encouraging report. Keep up the good work.

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    1. Anne - Hugs. My Mom is 80. She said today that she was 5ft 2 and 8 stone 2 when she married my Dad in 1954. She's lost so much weight she's only 8st 1 now! I need to keep writing though the traumas, but as you know it is hard. Mx

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