Proofreading and editing?

Thank you all so much for your kind words and encouragement about my novel. If you do happen to read it, could I ask you please, to write a review for me? I need lots of reviews, preferably good ones!

Ed and I went into Norwich today for hair cuts (when I read that it makes it sound as we both have hair down to our shoulders. We don't. Honestly. Well, not now, anyway) and I felt so sorry for the girl selling The Big Issue in the pouring rain, that I bought a copy. I quite often buy a copy when I go to Norwich, but seldom read it. Today, with nothing to do in the hairdresser's, I started to read it.

There was an advert for a proofreading and editing course. Considering how much it has cost me to have my novel edited ( 15p per word - and a lot of words, work it out) - and only about three words were changed since it was virtually oven-ready - this sounds like a good idea.

If I can professionally proofread and edit and charge less than 15p per word, I should soon make my fortune. Or something. At least it would make considerably more than writing a novel is likely to make. Anyway, even if I don't proofread other people's books, I shall definitely proofread and edit my next novel myself, now I know what is expected. It's a sequel to "Heaven Spent" and nearly finished.

Meanwhile, I've sent off for details of the course (which I can do online) just to see what transpires.

Ain't this fun?

Published!

It's happened at last - my novel is published!

What an age this publishing game takes. The publishing company guarantees to publish within a year, and they just about made it.

What is this amazing and fantastic novel about? I hear you ask.

Called "Heaven Spent", it's set in rural Norfolk parishes in the UK, and features a young, enthusiastic female curate who is sent to work with an elderly, traditional male incumbent. Added to this explosive mix is a stranger, a beautiful girl who appears from nowhere and is searching for her father.

Do have a look at the website (where you can order it, if you're so minded): www.eloquentbooks.com/HeavenSpent.html or if you live in America, I understand you can buy it from Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com.

Here is the cover, hopefully to whet your appetite:

Singing, and lunch out

On Sunday evening our choir sang "Olivet to Calvary" at a local church. It's a gorgeous piece, and I so enjoyed singing it. In fact, I decided I like it so much that I downloaded it from iTunes. Not that our production was quite up to that standard, but what the heck.

Today I drove back to the old patch to have lunch with my former rural dean. We always got on well together and since I left, have met two or three times for lunch. He took me to a little local pub/restaurant, tucked away where no one could find it, and had a fabulous meal. But the place is so hidden that there was only one other couple there. Such a pity when the food is excellent.

We had a long mardle (good old Norfolk word for chat) and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. He's coming up to me next time (in June) and I plan to take him to the pink place. It's not actually called that, but it is pink and they have a conservatory, where you can look over the animals in the next field as you eat. All very rural and typically Norfolk.

Meanwhile Ed and I are actually playing golf together tomorrow - this is a rarity - so I'm looking forward to that. Naturally rain is forecast...

Computer mended

The young man reappeared in the evening with Ed's computer all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (the computer, that is) and raring to go.

"Wow!" I said, impressed. "How did you do it?"

He smiled, modestly. "I just restored it to a previous time."

Well that's easy enough. I've done it tons of times myself. But how did he get past the black screen to be able to reach a restore button?

"You keep tapping on F8 as you boot up," he explained. "That brings up a menu where 'restore' is one of the options."

So now you know, boys and girls. When your computer dies and you're completely stuffed, keep pressing F8. Anyway, we were well pleased and considered it £19 well spent.

Today Ed and I had a really special treat. We went into Norwich for lunch, then went on to the Theatre Royal to see "Les Miserables". It was absolutely brilliant, from beginning to end. The music, the acting, the scenes - all fabulous. Today is the last day in Norwich, it tours elsewhere in the country now.

I'm so glad we saw it, for the memories will remain with us for a very long time. Aren't shows like that great?

Back in the swing

Back in the swing today with a game of golf. Although there are loads of lovely golf courses in Portugal we didn't play, as you need a new mortgage to be able to meet the green fees.

Lovely weather today, warm, sunny and spring-like. Pity the golf didn't match, but never mind, it's early days yet. I haven't played since Christmas, so it's good to start again.

Meanwhile, a young man came to sort out Ed's computer. His runs on Windows (mine is Linux), so when our daughter came over yesterday with a CD Rom to enable me to synchronise my mobile phone with my computer, I was thrilled. Problem was, the programme wouldn't run on Linux and I don't have the experience to make it work, so I borrowed Ed's computer. The programme loaded OK and I was able to download all the photos from my phone, although I didn't manage to synchronise my calendars, which what I really wanted to do.

Later in the evening, Ed booted up his computer - or tried to. Windows started to load, then went to a black screen. Whatever we tried - no results. So feeling somewhat guilty, I rang this guy to come and sort it out this morning.

When I got back from golf I fully expected to see Ed tapping away, but no. The guy couldn't do anything either, and has taken the laptop away with him to see if he can do anything at home with a diagnostics programme.

Computers - I love them and I hate them in roughly equal measure. At the moment it's hate...

nd finally...

We're home safely, now catching up on the washing and the mail and everything that's been happening in our absence, so today, a few pictures of the beautiful Algarve coast in Portugal.

Our holiday comes to an end

We've reached the final day of our holiday and it's been another glorious, sunny day with a cloudless blue sky and just a gentle breeze to keep us from totally baking. It looks like this week's good weather is now here to stay in Portugal, and apparently warmer weather is forecast in the UK so here's hoping.

We walked across the cliffs to the village for lunch, and an excellent lunch it was too. Ed had lamb casserole and I had grouper (some sort of fish, since fish is the local dish here in these small fishing villages) both freshly cooked, Portugese style, with delicious Mediterranean vegetables (yes, I know Portugal is on the Atlantic coast, but who's counting?) Since it's our last day, we also had half a litre of Sangria, only Ed had just half a glass so I was forced to finish the rest myself. My mother always taught me to finish up every last scrap on my plate, so true to form, I consumed the Sangria down to the last drop.

It may have accounted for the rubbery legs on the way home, and the fact that I then fell onto the bed and promptly nodded off.

Tomorrow we are picked up at 7.30am for the drive to the airport. We arrive in the UK around lunch time and we hope to be home by early evening.

It's been a great holiday. Ed is looking really well and we both feel good (or could it be the Sangria?) Unfortunately I haven't managed to cut the photos down to size, so although I was hoping to show you some nice scenes today, I'm afraid it means waiting until I'm home and have my proper computer with me. (Why is it that in Microsoft Paint you can stretch or skew, rotate either way, but not reduce in size? When I tried to reduce the size to something manageable, I ended up with a square of blue sky but nothing esle, which I didn't think would be interesting...)

Our second week

We've had a mixture of weather, with two days of rain which resulted in a torrential storm with howling winds and rain lashing against the windows and lasting all night. I got up at two o'clock (a.m. that is, not p.m.) to remove everything from the floor in case we were flooded, but all was OK and our reward was sparkling blue skies and hot sunshine next day.

The forecast then was five good days out of six, and so far it's living up to expectations. We're managing quite a bit of walking and even more eating out, which suits me fine.

One downside of this place is that the promised free wi-fi broadband is only available in a small corner of the complex, and the signal is really flaky. Having now managed to suss out my username and password for Photobucket, I'm going to try and show you a couple of pictures – if the signal holds up long enough. If no pictures appear, blame the signal, not me!

Another day

We've had a mixture of weather, with some rain most days but also quite a lot of sunshine. Yesterday was glorious, so we set off to find the gypsy market in Lagos, the next town. The gypsy market only takes place on the first Saturday morning of the month, so I was eager not to miss it.




We caught the bus from just outside the gates of the complex where we're staying, and it took us meandering through tiny villages until we reached the esplanade at Lagos. Since everyone else was alighting there, we thought we'd be best to follow suit. Then we just tagged along behind the nearest group of walkers and fetched up at the market.



It was like all markets worldwide, so we bought a few items to take home with us and spent the rest of our day wandering along the esplanade, looking at the marina, drinking coffee, and treating ourselves to the most fabulous doughnuts from a street vendor. When we'd eaten, drunk and looked our fill, we caught the bus back.



The bus cost just three euros each for the return journey and was very comfortable. Plenty of room for Ed's legs (he's tall) and air-conditioned. We had a great day, and sunshine throughout.



Today is very showery, so we'll probably go out for a walk later on. Meanwhile, I've had my swim (and jacuzzi, naturally) and Ed is busy reading.



I quite like this life.

A good holiday

Having a good holiday. On Tuesday – Ed's birthday – we walked into the next village, had lunch (fish and chips – how British can you get? We couldn't find any Portuguese food), walked back and rested for the remainder of the day.




Yesterday it rained on and off all day, so we slipped out between the showers for a fabulous, genuine Portuguese meal at a restaurant just down the road. Actually “slip” is an operative word, for Ed did precisely that on our return journey. There was a kind of slimy mud at the side of the road, he slipped on it and down he went. Since he's six foot three and big with it, I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to heave him up, but fortunately nothing was damaged and we reached home OK. Kept looking for signs of bruising, since the doctor put the fear of death into both of us by impressing upon us that we must return immediately at any signs of bleeding – because of the Warfarin – but happily, there was none. Not a bruise in sight.



Today has been gorgeous, warm and sunny with just enough breeze to keep us cool, so we walked the other way along the cliffs into that village, had a great lunch and walked back.



Would show you some photos, but have forgotten my Photobucket password or username or both, so you may have to wait until our return. Yet another senior moment....

Safe arrival

We arrived safely despite the threatened storms coming up from Portugal - they didn’t materialise.




Fabulous apartment, with its own private garden complete with sun loungers, swimming pool and picnic table and chairs, these latter thoughtfully placed on the verandah but under cover, which hints at the weather Portugal has been having.



But the weather might have changed with us. Yesterday it was sunny and so is today. Ed and In spent most of yesterday in the local hospital for his blood test and results, and the consultant frightened us to death by telling us that Ed’s blood pressure was far too high and we must come in again next day or monitor it ourselves. Since we have no transport and the hospital is in the next town, I bought him a blood pressure monitor for his birthday, which is today!



Happy birthday Ed - his blood pressure is down this morning (probably shot up due to the four hours we had to wait at the hospital), so I’ve had a quick swim in the indoor pool and we’re going to walk to the next village (only twenty minutes away) and have a slap-up birthday lunch.



We have to visit the hospital again next week, but hope it’s just the two visits (couldn’t get any insurance for Ed, so it’s eating up our holiday pennies).



Watch this space! I hope to be back.

Safe arrival

We arrived safely despite the threatened storms coming up from Portugal - they didn’t materialise.




Fabulous apartment, with its own private garden complete with sun loungers, swimming pool and picnic table and chairs, these latter thoughtfully placed on the verandah but under cover, which hints at the weather Portugal has been having.



But the weather might have changed with us. Yesterday it was sunny and so is today. Ed and In spent most of yesterday in the local hospital for his blood test and results, and the consultant frightened us to death by telling us that Ed’s blood pressure was far too high and we must come in again next day or monitor it ourselves. Since we have no transport and the hospital is in the next town, I bought him a blood pressure monitor for his birthday, which is today!



Happy birthday Ed - his blood pressure is down this morning (probably shot up due to the four hours we had to wait at the hospital), so I’ve had a quick swim in the indoor pool and we’re going to walk to the next village (only twenty minutes away) and have a slap-up birthday lunch.



We have to visit the hospital again next week, but hope it’s just the two visits (couldn’t get any insurance for Ed, so it’s eating up our holiday pennies).



Watch this space! I hope to be back.