Having had my wonderfully relaxing two weeks in Elounda in February/March with my friends it was back to work on ‘Theo’. All went well and I was able to send it off to my type setter just as he returned from his holiday. I then sat back and waited for a publication date.
I am always lulled into a sense of false security over this and suddenly have a panic to get all the background work done before the books actually arrive. Confident that all was going to plan and that this time I was really on top of everything I decided I must take advantage of our good weather and do some work out in my garden.
That was when my plans began to fall apart at the seams. Whilst I was moving plant pots a large piece of capping from the back wall fell down. Fortunately it missed me or I would not be here to tell the tale ! I moved to a different area and continued to remove weed and general rubbish prior to painting the walls.
One night I heard a lot of noise from the foxes that live in the churchyard behind me. As I looked out of my bedroom window the next morning I saw three fox cubs and they were followed by two more. I think it was their first venture out into the big wide world as they were very wobbly on their legs. They had decided I was the ideal place to live.
Although they were delightful to watch I did not really want them living in my garden. Foxes do smell ! Being wild animals I had no intention of trying to tame them and have them as pets. Of course, it was the weekend so I could not contact the Wildlife Rescue Centre until Monday. Unfortunately I have a ‘soak away’ area and one cub, more adventurous than the others, had managed to fall down into it on the Saturday evening. This meant climbing out of a window, popping him in a carrier bag and returning him to Mum. She did not appreciate my action as that night she decided to remove the family elsewhere. Problem solved.
My builder came and repaired my wall so it was back out to the garden and commence the painting of the walls. Not an easy job as they are cobbles, flint, odd bricks and patches of render. I was just on the last section when I was being surrounded by Bumble Bees. They did not want the entrance to their home painted. They were in and out of a crevice in the wall continually. Once I had moved away from their front door they troubled me no longer and they are still living happily out there.
Just as I was about to start painting my front garden walls I had a message to say my books were arriving a week earlier than expected. I stayed in the house throughout a glorious day and they did not arrive. Phone calls to my type setter who then contacted the printers and the delivery was rearranged for the Wednesday. I was just about to go out on Tuesday when the books arrived. I was so pleased I had everything arranged ready for their dispatch to customers. Garden work was halted once again.
Despite the various problems I have managed to make a good start on the next book ‘Phaedra’ which is due for publication in December.
Beryl
I am always lulled into a sense of false security over this and suddenly have a panic to get all the background work done before the books actually arrive. Confident that all was going to plan and that this time I was really on top of everything I decided I must take advantage of our good weather and do some work out in my garden.
That was when my plans began to fall apart at the seams. Whilst I was moving plant pots a large piece of capping from the back wall fell down. Fortunately it missed me or I would not be here to tell the tale ! I moved to a different area and continued to remove weed and general rubbish prior to painting the walls.
One night I heard a lot of noise from the foxes that live in the churchyard behind me. As I looked out of my bedroom window the next morning I saw three fox cubs and they were followed by two more. I think it was their first venture out into the big wide world as they were very wobbly on their legs. They had decided I was the ideal place to live.
Although they were delightful to watch I did not really want them living in my garden. Foxes do smell ! Being wild animals I had no intention of trying to tame them and have them as pets. Of course, it was the weekend so I could not contact the Wildlife Rescue Centre until Monday. Unfortunately I have a ‘soak away’ area and one cub, more adventurous than the others, had managed to fall down into it on the Saturday evening. This meant climbing out of a window, popping him in a carrier bag and returning him to Mum. She did not appreciate my action as that night she decided to remove the family elsewhere. Problem solved.
My builder came and repaired my wall so it was back out to the garden and commence the painting of the walls. Not an easy job as they are cobbles, flint, odd bricks and patches of render. I was just on the last section when I was being surrounded by Bumble Bees. They did not want the entrance to their home painted. They were in and out of a crevice in the wall continually. Once I had moved away from their front door they troubled me no longer and they are still living happily out there.
Just as I was about to start painting my front garden walls I had a message to say my books were arriving a week earlier than expected. I stayed in the house throughout a glorious day and they did not arrive. Phone calls to my type setter who then contacted the printers and the delivery was rearranged for the Wednesday. I was just about to go out on Tuesday when the books arrived. I was so pleased I had everything arranged ready for their dispatch to customers. Garden work was halted once again.
Despite the various problems I have managed to make a good start on the next book ‘Phaedra’ which is due for publication in December.
Beryl
Photo courtesy of Lynne McDonald
