Time does fly

It has been sometime since I updated my blog, and it took a gentle nudge from my friends at AngloInfo (my second blog) to remind me that I hadn’t posted anything since mid-January (apart from my ditty to the pig). I hadn’t realised it was so long. My excuse is reasonable…I have finished the manuscript for my book. Hurrah! A concerted effort has seen me complete it and polish the first three chapters; now it is time to send those crucial chapters and covering blurb to various agents and await the rejection letters!

The most trying bit has been writing the covering blurb – not so much about the book but about the author, me. It is a rather un-British-like trait (and I’ll use an Americanism here) to ‘big yourself up’, and whilst I want to say how fantastic Deborah Cater the author is, I may have under-sold myself. I sincerely hope not.

Whilst the final surge of writing was underway I did manage to leave the house for the daily dog walks and watch as winter moved into spring. For all my watchfulness I did not register the almond blossom fall from the trees, it probably just got blown off on one of the many windy nights that have occurred; in its place is the next season of almonds. Wrapped in their light green velvet jackets these little nuts are starting to take shape and on the ground around them orchids and varied mountain flowers are raising their colourful heads to the sun. It is truly a bountiful time of year and I have my eye on several areas where the wild fennel grows. As the dogs and I brush against it on our walks the faint smell of aniseed rises up to greet us. I am rather partial to fennel and I shall be harvesting a few bulbs (only sufficient for my needs I shall not be raping the land) for my salads when the time is right.

Hours sat at the table typing away has not helped with my posture and yesterday saw me at the osteopath for a little manipulation. Having come to the conclusion that I am a little off-kilter(!) I was bent, twisted and folded into all manner of positions like a piece of human origami. Despite the ignominy of having parts of your body uppermost that are normally not so, the relief as my kidney was put back in its rightful place and the sound of vertebrae clicking back into alignment was bliss. I am hoping that a few mental blockages will have been removed as well, we can but pray!

As part of my nod to religion (not a follower of organised religion per se, I adopt parts as I see fit) I have given up wine, bread and cheese for Lent. Following the words of the church leaders in the UK that you can have Sundays off from your chosen abstinence, I take the opportunity to indulge on those days. It does make it easier to stick to the whole period of Lent (bar the Sundays), but I am not entirely sure that that is the point! Either way, I would like to say I have felt/noticed a benefit, but not; instead all I do is wish the week away for Sunday to arrive again.

I shall make every effort not to be so tardy with my next post. As my next little writing project concerns a sheep I am going to be spending a few hours sheep-watching in order that I can observe and note accurately their traits and mannerisms (and yes that is a little anthropomorphic) The things I do for my trade!