That's better!

You see? I told you things would improve if we could simply grit our teeth and get through February.

March started well, with a trip to the Institute for Creative Leather Technologies at the University of Northampton. I made a cow (see pic)!

I've already had two comedy nights this month: Miles Jupp and Jack Whitehall (separate occasions; the two of them on one night would simply be too much posh-boy capering).

I've taught yoga to some lovely people, where this week we have done interesting things with our toes.

I've come third in a limerick-writing competition.

I've started a course on mindfulness (aka mindfluming - see earlier blog here).

The electrician is booked for tomorrow morning.

Plenty of material for Celebrate The Small Things this week. This is a bloghop instigated by VikLit on her blog 'Scribblings of an Aspiring Author'. Details are here.

 Have a lovely weekend.

Bookish matters

I went to hear Miles Jupp last night at our local arts centre. He has a book out at the moment: 'Fibber in the Heat', which is about how he blagged himself a job as a journalist following the England cricket team on tour in India.

I wasn't sure what to expect - perhaps a reading of a few extracts from the book with an anecdote or two and a bit of a comedy turn. What he actually did was brilliant. It was a one-man-show-style rendition of the book, just him and a microphone and a couple of hours of wonderful actorly performance. Witty, clever, thought-provoking.

It was also a bit of a masterclass in how to promote a book. The Waterstones team were on hand to ensure that there were plenty of copies and we were ushered through efficiently but with no sense of hurry. Miles J was charming - and he signed my ticket, as well as my book! The lovely thing was, though, that it didn't feel like it was just another stop on an author tour; it was like a proper night out - oh and by the way, do buy the book, if you'd be so kind.  If he's coming your way, go and see him.

On my own writing front, two near misses in short story competitions: an 'honourable mention' and a spot on a short list. Oh well, reread, rework and resubmit...