Running the Edinburgh Marathon, May 22nd, 2011
Raising money for vital Breast Cancer Research
Please donate at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/globalroaming
Friday, 29 April 2011
Marathon Weddings
Today was the last of the long training runs ... three hours along the canal, down Edgeware Road, through Hyde Park, past Kensington Gardens, a quick hello to the newly weds, and then home again. I am stubbornly refusing to look at any media and am fleeing the country tonight in the vain hope that the French Republic at least will be shunning any talk of THE dress. I understand the need for continuity and tradition, but my wedding gift to Wills and Kate is the freedom to not be royals.
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Things Heard in Hawaii
1. 'Oh I see Elvis everywhere' (US tourist, Kalakaua Avenue, morning)
2. 'So if I want to spend the whole night with you ... how much?'
'$1500'
(Japanese tourist to a very tall young lady, Kalakaua Avenue, Saturday night)
3. 'Was it Jesus or Satan who said that' (US tourist, Diamond Head trail, early morning, while a local guide valiantly attempted to explain Hawaii's diverse flora and fauna in terms of natural selection)
2. 'So if I want to spend the whole night with you ... how much?'
'$1500'
(Japanese tourist to a very tall young lady, Kalakaua Avenue, Saturday night)
3. 'Was it Jesus or Satan who said that' (US tourist, Diamond Head trail, early morning, while a local guide valiantly attempted to explain Hawaii's diverse flora and fauna in terms of natural selection)
Saturday, 2 April 2011
And like magic ...
After reams of paper, ink, fingernails, cups of tea, mugs of coffee, biscuits, cake ...
After weeks of early mornings, late nights, days in coffee shops, in libraries, on the patio, and on the sofa ...
After buckets of angst, being caught talking to my pen, and wondering did I really eat that half a tube of choc chip cookie dough ... uncooked ....
After weeks of physical deterioration, forgetting to eat altogether, forgetting to shower, drowning in post-it notes, not getting out of the apartment for days ...
After hours of tears when my superb editor returned 1000s of suggested changes when I thought I was almost done ... (and after all this time how can I still be finding mistakes and having new thoughts) ...
Finally ... after all this ... rather suddenly ... just like that ... it's done. I hand over my precious to a publisher and emerge from my chrysalis to find the world is still here and is rather glad to see me again.
But I must say I'd rather run a marathon a week for a year than write another book!
After weeks of early mornings, late nights, days in coffee shops, in libraries, on the patio, and on the sofa ...
After buckets of angst, being caught talking to my pen, and wondering did I really eat that half a tube of choc chip cookie dough ... uncooked ....
After weeks of physical deterioration, forgetting to eat altogether, forgetting to shower, drowning in post-it notes, not getting out of the apartment for days ...
After hours of tears when my superb editor returned 1000s of suggested changes when I thought I was almost done ... (and after all this time how can I still be finding mistakes and having new thoughts) ...
Finally ... after all this ... rather suddenly ... just like that ... it's done. I hand over my precious to a publisher and emerge from my chrysalis to find the world is still here and is rather glad to see me again.
But I must say I'd rather run a marathon a week for a year than write another book!
Running the Edinburgh Marathon, May 22nd, 2011
Raising money for vital Breast Cancer Research
Please donate at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/globalroaming
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