sunny, mild, lovely, temps 20
Anotehr gorgeous day...happily we had a chance to go out into it for lunch. Met a group of Quebec and East Coast Canadian crime writers for lunch along Sparks Street, at a pub called the Cock and Lion...it has an outdoor terrace. Beautiful to sit out there, chat, visit, have a burger.
Bit of a busy day. Like most of these writers and readers conventions, most of the 'stuff' actually happens in the hallways. Meeting a lot of old friends, but the most fun is meeting readers and getting a chance, albeit brief, to talk.
The event last night, in which I was interviewed in front of a live audience by Jerri Southcott - a radio and TV host in Ottawa - was fabulous. Not because I was so great but Jerri had done her home-work (interviewing is by far the harder of the jobs) and made it feel more like a thoughtful conversation. And the room was full, which is always wonderful and a bit of a surprise. By 9pm Michael and I were tucked up in bed and had ordered room service.
At 4am there was a commotion in the hallway. The hotel was host to a grad night prom. And the entire prom seems to have decided the 10th floor was the place to be. Not great for sleeping, but I remember doing similar things in my youth, so this seemed like delayed karma. We went back to sleep.
Today, after lunch, I did a half hour Mystery Cafe...which means sitting in a room and reading and talking for half an hour. Standing room only - which felt very good. And terrific questions. Vicki Delaney - a marvelous Canadian crime writer who sets her books in British Columbia - introduced me.
Am back in the room for a shower, then a panel between 5 and 6 - then the gala dinner in which i must speak starts at 7. need to practice, or at least read over, my speech. Blech. I love being interviewed - hate giving speeches.
Still, I need to remind myself I'm among friends, and really, as long as I don't throw up or wet myself, how bad can it be?
Must run - 15 minutes to the panel and I'm still in my bathrobe. this is how bad it can be!!
Showing posts with label lunch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lunch. Show all posts
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Are you sane?
cloudy, cold, temps 10
risk of frost tonight. I bought flats of annuals two weeks ago and Lise (smart woman - my external brain, if you remember) said I was WAY too early. According to Lise (our assistant/gardener/judgement) we shouldn't plant annuals until after the new moon - in early June. So now Michael and I spend a great deal of time moving our annual garden into the mud room, then outside, then back in. Quite fun, really, to come down in the morning and see rows and rows of annuals, as though the inside of our home had become a field.
Had our great Cowansville breakfast - lots of coffee in white mugs, french toast, real maple syrup and mountains of fresh fruit. With a side order of bacon.
Then we zipped off to the courthouse so I could get out of jury duty. Then to Canadian Tire for light bulbs and a gift certificate for Tony. Then off to the bank, then home to drop off Michael and get into Sutton in time to meet Michelle and Joan (Rose) for lunch at the Tintoretto. Such a riot. Michelle was one of the first people we met when we moved down here. I used her husband's name (Marc Brault) with his permission in book 3. He loves mysteries, though is suffering quite badly now from Alzheimers. Michelle is a wonderful potter.
Joan Rose is one of the funniest women I've ever met. She describes realizing she'd never be the actress she'd hope when she was in a play and as soon as she stepped on stage, before even opening her mouth, the audience started laughing. Both Michelle and Joan are in their 70's and were describing some of the trials - like having to renew drivers licences, in which one of the question is:
Are you sane?
I thought soup would come out of my nose when Joan described trying to answer that question. Is it just Canada? Do other government's politely ask that question? then believe the answer?
Had a small 'crisis' this afternoon when we got an email from the woman who was going to rent us her flat in London for 3 days in early June. I'm off to the Bristol CrimeFest convention June 5,6,and 7th - then we were going to London. It's the same flat we rented in April, and quite often in the past. We'd made all the arrangements, then she wrote to say she was double booked and we were out of luck.
Huh? Are you sane?
Those of you who've tried to find hotel rooms in London you know the difficulty. Not the hotel, but the expense! It's inconceivable how much hotels cost! So we put our heads together to come up with a plan - or a few plans.
Here were the options:
Not go at all
Find another private flat to rent for 3 days
Find a hotel
change flights and go to Toronto early (Sunday instead of Wednesday)
change flights and return to Montreal on Sunday then drive ourselves to Toronot for BookExpo Canada.
We called our travel agent about how much it would cost to change our British airways tickets. She looked it up, investigated then told us. 1,500 dollars. Each.
Are you sane?
When we regained consciousness we yelled, calmed down, and asked if there were alternatives. Yes, she said. Get this. The alternative is not to re-book, but to fly to London this coming Saturday night as planned. When we get in to Heathrow we go to a BA desk and change our return flight then. At that point it will cost us 200 dollars each. Funny how suddenly 400 dollars sounds like a bargain.
So that's our new plan. Plan is I think too hopeful. It's our new wild hope that that works. How can this be? I can understand a penalty for changing the return flight...by why 15-hundred before and 200 in the middle of the round trip?
I must be missing something - or perhaps I really am sane. Maybe this is the test. If the British Airways rules make sense, you're nuts.
Very cunning.
Off for breakfast tomorrow with the wonderful Cheryl - she who does the best children's books and illustrations in the world. So looking forward to it!
Then a day of laundry and packing. heading to Ottawa Thursday for an event in the evening - a panel discussion with other Crime Writers of Canada members to celebrate National Crimewriters week.
I'm not kidding.
risk of frost tonight. I bought flats of annuals two weeks ago and Lise (smart woman - my external brain, if you remember) said I was WAY too early. According to Lise (our assistant/gardener/judgement) we shouldn't plant annuals until after the new moon - in early June. So now Michael and I spend a great deal of time moving our annual garden into the mud room, then outside, then back in. Quite fun, really, to come down in the morning and see rows and rows of annuals, as though the inside of our home had become a field.
Had our great Cowansville breakfast - lots of coffee in white mugs, french toast, real maple syrup and mountains of fresh fruit. With a side order of bacon.
Then we zipped off to the courthouse so I could get out of jury duty. Then to Canadian Tire for light bulbs and a gift certificate for Tony. Then off to the bank, then home to drop off Michael and get into Sutton in time to meet Michelle and Joan (Rose) for lunch at the Tintoretto. Such a riot. Michelle was one of the first people we met when we moved down here. I used her husband's name (Marc Brault) with his permission in book 3. He loves mysteries, though is suffering quite badly now from Alzheimers. Michelle is a wonderful potter.
Joan Rose is one of the funniest women I've ever met. She describes realizing she'd never be the actress she'd hope when she was in a play and as soon as she stepped on stage, before even opening her mouth, the audience started laughing. Both Michelle and Joan are in their 70's and were describing some of the trials - like having to renew drivers licences, in which one of the question is:
Are you sane?
I thought soup would come out of my nose when Joan described trying to answer that question. Is it just Canada? Do other government's politely ask that question? then believe the answer?
Had a small 'crisis' this afternoon when we got an email from the woman who was going to rent us her flat in London for 3 days in early June. I'm off to the Bristol CrimeFest convention June 5,6,and 7th - then we were going to London. It's the same flat we rented in April, and quite often in the past. We'd made all the arrangements, then she wrote to say she was double booked and we were out of luck.
Huh? Are you sane?
Those of you who've tried to find hotel rooms in London you know the difficulty. Not the hotel, but the expense! It's inconceivable how much hotels cost! So we put our heads together to come up with a plan - or a few plans.
Here were the options:
Not go at all
Find another private flat to rent for 3 days
Find a hotel
change flights and go to Toronto early (Sunday instead of Wednesday)
change flights and return to Montreal on Sunday then drive ourselves to Toronot for BookExpo Canada.
We called our travel agent about how much it would cost to change our British airways tickets. She looked it up, investigated then told us. 1,500 dollars. Each.
Are you sane?
When we regained consciousness we yelled, calmed down, and asked if there were alternatives. Yes, she said. Get this. The alternative is not to re-book, but to fly to London this coming Saturday night as planned. When we get in to Heathrow we go to a BA desk and change our return flight then. At that point it will cost us 200 dollars each. Funny how suddenly 400 dollars sounds like a bargain.
So that's our new plan. Plan is I think too hopeful. It's our new wild hope that that works. How can this be? I can understand a penalty for changing the return flight...by why 15-hundred before and 200 in the middle of the round trip?
I must be missing something - or perhaps I really am sane. Maybe this is the test. If the British Airways rules make sense, you're nuts.
Very cunning.
Off for breakfast tomorrow with the wonderful Cheryl - she who does the best children's books and illustrations in the world. So looking forward to it!
Then a day of laundry and packing. heading to Ottawa Thursday for an event in the evening - a panel discussion with other Crime Writers of Canada members to celebrate National Crimewriters week.
I'm not kidding.
Wednesday, 23 April 2008
Our last day in London
cloudy, mild, temps 13
Seems an unsettled day here in London - go figure. Not at all sure what to wear. Probably way overdressed...perhaps I'll leave the tiara at home. Made out of flannel anyway.
We're off for breakfast at Tom's Kitchen, just off Chelsea Green. About a 15 minute walk. Then we might go to the Natural History Museum. We were there in our first week but it was school break and insane with kids. There's a show on about the Antarctic Michael's dying to see so we thought that would be fun.
Then Michael's having lunch with his sister Carol at a place called Papillion on Draycott Terrace/Place/Avenue/Court/Street/Mews/Road. I'll tell you, that's the most difficult thing about London - there are only about 10 'first' names for streets, but their 'last' names go on forever. You can't just say, 'It's on Draycott' - because it will take the person the rest of their lives to go through all the possibilities.
In Quebec we have something similar, but it's for restaurants. If you want to call for a reservation and need to look up the number, well, you'll starve to death. It might just be Papillion. Or it could be Le Papillion, or Restaurant Papillion, or Bistro Papillion or Resto-Bar Papillion or some other creative option.
All this to say Michael's chances of finding his sister for lunch are pretty small. I'll get him to pack a lunch.
I'm meeting my editor Sherise and agent Teresa for lunch. Teresa's choosing the place after my disasterous choice for dinner the other night.
Then this afternoon we pack up. God knows how we'll get the stuff in. Had a funny email from Susan asking us to find and bring home Marks and Spencer's Shrimp Crisps. Which we're happy to do but I think our socks will be crushed can't begin to image what shape the shrimp poptato chips will be in. Dust.
Must be off - Michael just appeared. Very handsome in his new spring outfit. But I'm in cashmere turtleneck and blazer. We're going to the same place but in different seasons. I think I might change.
Not sure if I'll have time to blog tomorrow either from here or Washington, but will try. If not I want to thank you for being such great traveling companions!
Seems an unsettled day here in London - go figure. Not at all sure what to wear. Probably way overdressed...perhaps I'll leave the tiara at home. Made out of flannel anyway.
We're off for breakfast at Tom's Kitchen, just off Chelsea Green. About a 15 minute walk. Then we might go to the Natural History Museum. We were there in our first week but it was school break and insane with kids. There's a show on about the Antarctic Michael's dying to see so we thought that would be fun.
Then Michael's having lunch with his sister Carol at a place called Papillion on Draycott Terrace/Place/Avenue/Court/Street/Mews/Road. I'll tell you, that's the most difficult thing about London - there are only about 10 'first' names for streets, but their 'last' names go on forever. You can't just say, 'It's on Draycott' - because it will take the person the rest of their lives to go through all the possibilities.
In Quebec we have something similar, but it's for restaurants. If you want to call for a reservation and need to look up the number, well, you'll starve to death. It might just be Papillion. Or it could be Le Papillion, or Restaurant Papillion, or Bistro Papillion or Resto-Bar Papillion or some other creative option.
All this to say Michael's chances of finding his sister for lunch are pretty small. I'll get him to pack a lunch.
I'm meeting my editor Sherise and agent Teresa for lunch. Teresa's choosing the place after my disasterous choice for dinner the other night.
Then this afternoon we pack up. God knows how we'll get the stuff in. Had a funny email from Susan asking us to find and bring home Marks and Spencer's Shrimp Crisps. Which we're happy to do but I think our socks will be crushed can't begin to image what shape the shrimp poptato chips will be in. Dust.
Must be off - Michael just appeared. Very handsome in his new spring outfit. But I'm in cashmere turtleneck and blazer. We're going to the same place but in different seasons. I think I might change.
Not sure if I'll have time to blog tomorrow either from here or Washington, but will try. If not I want to thank you for being such great traveling companions!
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Flying around London
Sunny, warm (ha ha), temps 16
Finally! An absolutely stunning day in London. We just came back from a walk. Past garden squares in blossom - all the young leaves on the trees. We worked this morning then about 1 we decided since our time was running out in London and I have wall-to-wall lunches next week we'd do our last lunch out for this trip. So we went around the corner to Walton Street, to an Italian restaurant called Scallini's.
Such fun.
Very few people when we arrived then within 20 minutes the place was hopping.
Michael had the proscuitto and melon followed by tortellini and gorgonzola. I had spaghetti with seafood. Yum. Michael's melon was juicy and so sweet. My spaghetti was piled with shrimp and scampi, clams and mussels - in tomato and garlic sauce.
Then Michael had strawberries and cream and I had strawberry cheesecake for dessert along with frothy cappuccinos.
Then we walked through the sunshine up to the Brompton Road and bought the Sunday Times, and I got Hello Magazine. It's fun to read about all these celebrities I've never heard of. Can't begin to imagine why I find that interesting. Perhaps best not to look too deeply at that.
And now we're home. We were so used to longjohns and layers of sweaters we wore them out and almost fainted from heat. Poor Michael was stripping off as we came through the door.
The manager of Heffer's asked me to contribute a 200 word descritpion of Gamache for their next catalogue, so I'll work on that this afternoon. And will be heading out to sign books all over London tomorrow.
It's interesting, and gratifying, to see the change in how the publishers treat me. Two years ago when Still Life came out they said I was welcome to knock on booksellers doors and offer to sign, if I wanted. But they wouldn't organize anything. So Michael and I got a bus pass and went all over London, explaining who I was. Some didn't care, most allowed me to sign a couple copies, if they had them. Some didn't have the book at all.
With Dead Cold (A Fatal Grace in the US) the publisher set up signings but said I had to get there myself.
Tomorrow they're sending a limo and I'll be meeting a rep from Headline who'll escort me.
Next year we're aiming for the Headline helicopter - but I suspect that, like the Minotaur Helicopter, Janet Evanovich has that one out too. She is a vitch.
Looking forward to Washington and Malice Domestic at the end of the week. Hope to see some of you there! I'll be the one without the helicopter.
Finally! An absolutely stunning day in London. We just came back from a walk. Past garden squares in blossom - all the young leaves on the trees. We worked this morning then about 1 we decided since our time was running out in London and I have wall-to-wall lunches next week we'd do our last lunch out for this trip. So we went around the corner to Walton Street, to an Italian restaurant called Scallini's.
Such fun.
Very few people when we arrived then within 20 minutes the place was hopping.
Michael had the proscuitto and melon followed by tortellini and gorgonzola. I had spaghetti with seafood. Yum. Michael's melon was juicy and so sweet. My spaghetti was piled with shrimp and scampi, clams and mussels - in tomato and garlic sauce.
Then Michael had strawberries and cream and I had strawberry cheesecake for dessert along with frothy cappuccinos.
Then we walked through the sunshine up to the Brompton Road and bought the Sunday Times, and I got Hello Magazine. It's fun to read about all these celebrities I've never heard of. Can't begin to imagine why I find that interesting. Perhaps best not to look too deeply at that.
And now we're home. We were so used to longjohns and layers of sweaters we wore them out and almost fainted from heat. Poor Michael was stripping off as we came through the door.
The manager of Heffer's asked me to contribute a 200 word descritpion of Gamache for their next catalogue, so I'll work on that this afternoon. And will be heading out to sign books all over London tomorrow.
It's interesting, and gratifying, to see the change in how the publishers treat me. Two years ago when Still Life came out they said I was welcome to knock on booksellers doors and offer to sign, if I wanted. But they wouldn't organize anything. So Michael and I got a bus pass and went all over London, explaining who I was. Some didn't care, most allowed me to sign a couple copies, if they had them. Some didn't have the book at all.
With Dead Cold (A Fatal Grace in the US) the publisher set up signings but said I had to get there myself.
Tomorrow they're sending a limo and I'll be meeting a rep from Headline who'll escort me.
Next year we're aiming for the Headline helicopter - but I suspect that, like the Minotaur Helicopter, Janet Evanovich has that one out too. She is a vitch.
Looking forward to Washington and Malice Domestic at the end of the week. Hope to see some of you there! I'll be the one without the helicopter.
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