Florence was fantastic. It was a wonderful holiday - even if I did need the next few days to relax afterwards. My own fault for trying to fit as much into the holiday as I could, art, food, shopping, everything ( Read more... )

Off to Florence tomorrow for a week - well, coming back on Sunday, so that's almost a week. My plane's conveniently late in the afternoon, which is great when it comes to having the morning and mid-afternoon to prepare (do the washing, empty the bins, etc) but less brilliant when it comes to getting into Florence at around 10.30pm (and that's ( Read more... )

That was quite a busy August. There was the Nine Worlds convention, and a holiday with my parents, and just yesterday it was the Great Northern Quilt Show at Harrogate - which to be honest isn't that big, but it's big enough to be very enjoyable ( Read more... )

Currently in Southampton with my parents. Nine Worlds was a lot of fun - and I actually had people turn up to my presentation on the Takarazuka Revue and ask afterwards where they could get hold of more, so victory ( Read more... )

In two words: too hot. (Yes, I realise that the north of England isn't as hit by the current temperatures as the south, and that other parts of the world have it even worse. It's still too hot ( Read more... )

Current politics in the UK is depressing. I am hoping for a horrendous explosion (political, not physical, much as the Guy Fawkes approach appeals) and severe problems with Brexit next week, given the upcoming votes in Parliament. In particular, the one where Theresa May just about managed to swing things this last week by making promises to the ( Read more... )

As usual, an excuse: I got my UK copy-edits for book five in a week and a half ago, and then my US copy-edits just last week, and as a result I have my head down in them trying to plough through them so that I can get back to book six.

At least the weather's being nice.

And here are my personal favourites.

Estonia - my definite favourite so far, and got through to the final - impressive voice and dress.

Belgium - an interesting minor tune. Didn't get through to the final, but was fun.

Finland - got through to the final. Perky and entertaining.

Denmark - got through to the final. Strong manly bearded Vikings ( Read more... )

The weather continues grey and cold, with promised miserable rain tomorrow. At least Monday is not attempting to conceal its hideous face in any way, but proudly displays its abhorrent nature to the world ( Read more... )

I've spent most of the weekend getting over a really annoying cold that pretty much wiped me out. It was fairly bad on Friday, but eased enough on Saturday that I thought I could make it to Follycon (Eastercon 2018, a science fiction convention, in Harrogate this year and therefore fairly local). I made it there and managed to attend panels and ( Read more... )