Welcome to my perfumed garden

From a mostly inter-netless few days of DNS bitchery, followed by a weekend of birthday squee at alibongo 's place where we donned platforms and mascara and got down to the Glitter Band and Earth Wind and Fire, drank Cinzano and lemonade, ate trifle and devilled eggs and generally grooved to life's starry (such beautiful clear skies! Where were you last week when I needed you?) groove.

My ASJ homies Louise and suemc were there, of course but it was mostly a motley collection of non-fandom people mainly of the archaeological persuasion. I did meet one terrific fanboy in a curly wig and pink Lennon specs and had a most pleasant conversation about Doctor Who and The Prisoner over a slice of chocolate wacky-cake and some Blue Nun.

Anyway, all very pleasing but now I'm trying to get my head together for some serious work on the novel for the next two days before our return to Yorkshire. I hope you've all been good in my absence, or if you couldn't quite manage good, I hope you've all been terribly interesting.

151,390 words, mercifully shorter than I was anticipating.

Starting the third draft tomorrow, as soon as I know I have the first three chapters up to speed, I'll need to start the grind with the agencies. Hey ho the nonny, it has to be done, alas.

But, hey - second draft, finished! That's good, isn't it? :o)