Old fruit?

clearing, hot and humid, temps 29

We're home. How wonderful. Well, we're in the Montreal apartment, which is home too. Staying here for 2 days then driving to Ontario.

Flight on BA was happily uneventful...you might remember on our way over a week ago we were upgraded from World Traveler Plus to Business Class. Heaven. Well yesterday we were downgraded! Can you believe it? Went from World Traveler Plus (which is a small step above economy) down to economy - in the middle seat of the middle row. Poor Michael had a man in front (tiny man too) who not only put his seat all the way back, he managed to push it back even further. When I get to be Queen of the Woild airlines will change their seating...and everyone will follow my etiquette rules - or die. There was also a deeply disturbed infant three seats over who howled most of the way, while his father drank red wine, right from the bottle. Most sensible.

But we're home now. Rented a bunch of movies, got in our diet drinks and lunch with a view to getting into bed, eating gummy bears and watching movies. And then two brawny men appeared on our 8th floor balcony. A kind of horrible miracle.

Seems they're workers and it was time to work on our balcony. With a drill.

So much for our quiet, relaxing day.

Heard from Dolores Gordon-Smith today. She writes marvelous mystery novels set between the world wars. Seems she found my blog and had this to say about yesterday's post...

I mean, hang on a minute, old fruit. What d'you mean, your peringrinations at breakfast and your table-nicking was my fault!!!
It so was not. My manners are of the highest quality and I'm so squeaky-clean in this regard you could eat your dinner off me. (And all right, sometimes I look as if someone has!)

She's delightful.

Speak to you all tomorrow.

Hello, we must be going

sunny, mild, temps 21

lovely day - and we're leaving. a quick post just to say, in the words of Groucho Marx, 'Hello, I must be going - I'm here to say, I cannot stay, I must be going.'

Just had breakfast. Wonderful to walk in to the magnificent dining room and see all sorts of people we know. Wander from talbe to table just saying hello (I must be going). But we kept being seated at someone else's table. The hostess showed us to a table, we sat down and 1 minute later a befuddled man appeared with his plate from the buffet looking around. The waiter very quickly gave us coffee we hadn't yet ordered and orange juice, we hadn't yet ordered. We took it, then I caught the look which had gone from befuddled to a glare.

We'd not only taken his table, we were drinking his coffee and orange juice. Like the three bears. We apologised, offered to leave, but by then it was really too late.

20 minutes later we got up to go to the buffet ourselves and ran into Dolores who'd just arrived and we decided to put two tables together and sit together, which we did. Suspiciously soon after more coffee, orange juice and toast arrived, which we began to eat. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a sight that had become familiar. Someone hovering with a heaping plate of buffet food, staring at us.

I smiled and tried to imply in my sympathetic look that it wasn't my idea to sit there - Dolores was at fault.

They left and found another table.

We're wondering if the same technique might work on British Airways. If we wander into First Class, take a seat, start eating the pre-flight canapes, will someone just sneer but let us stay? Perhaps not.

One of the great benefits of our around the world flight last year with BA was that we earned enough points to get us their platinum card, which gets use into the first class lounge (from there we have to cover our heads and skulk into the economy seats). What a lounge! Food, drink, leather chairs and sofas - showers even. We now try to arrive almost a day ahead since it's so much nicer than home.

Must be off. Taxi ordered for 10:15 - train at 11am to London, then express train to Heathrow from Paddington (switch for Terminal 4) - then check in - and the lounge.

For those of you in Canada, our wonderful friend Susan McKenzie has a special report tomorrow (Monday) in the second half of Anna Maria Tremonti's CBC Radio programme, The Current. You might want to check it out. We're hoping to take Susan for lunch tomorrow in Mtl.

Take care, be well - speak to you tomorrow

A circle of friends

SUNNY, mild, temps 18

On hold with British Airways, hoping desperately the batteries on our cell phone don't give out before we confirm our new flight back to Montreal tomorrow evening...on hold...on hold...

OK - a couple of hours has now gone by. Not - thankfully - on hold the whole time. BA actually answered quite quickly and explained we can't check in on line because we'd switched flights. Were supposed to go to London tomorrow, but our housing arrangements fell through. So decided to return to Montreal tomorrow night...then on to Elora, Ont to visit Cousin Marjorie, then onto Book Expo Canada in toronto next weekend.

Clear as mud, as my Grandmother used to say.

Anyway - we had to switch flights and that didn't go down well with BA...so we need to do all that confirming at Heathrow tomorrow.

Once off the phone Michael and I went down for dinner. We've opted out of the CrimeFest Gala. Frankly I hate gala's. Not big on crowds to begin with, Michael doesn't hear well in loud places, and I find it exhausting...and we're already a little tired. So we just came back from a wonderful, peaceful dinner in the spectacular dining room of this hotel.

Apparently Cary Grant was from Bristol - though he was known by his birth name here (have just forgotten it) - and when he'd come back to visit he'd stay here. I can see why. It's lovely - and we have by now quite an aquaintence with hotels. And I have more than a nodding aquaintence with luxury. Michael could curl up in a sack and he'd be happy. I need (well, want anyway) Frette sheets and Molton Brown bath stuff.

For a conference hotel this is surprisingly luxurious. You'll be surprised to hear though I didn't pull my usual stunt and ask for an upgrade, or simply pay for an upgrade. I decided to just go with whatever the hotel gave us (convention blocked rooms)...and have been totally happy. Who'd have thought it.

Really, a marvelous hotel.

And have had a wonderful time at this convention. Have met the most fun people - starting with the 10 people we spent Wednesday with on tour, then a bunch of authors...Lesley Horton, Stephen Booth, Aline Templeton and Dolores Gordon-Smith. We all took Ayo out for dinner last night then spent much of today together in one form or another - panels together, had lunch with agent Teresa by the water together. Drinks after our last panel in the splendid bar.

Just a really comfortable, fun, warm group. And what a relief to be able to talk to them about first drafts, and word count, and titles and cover art and all the things I stress about. And find out they do too. And somehow we all muddle through.

The main theme of my fifth book (which emerged as I wrote) is belonging - and loneliness. And how devestating one is, and how blessed the other is. I can sometimes feel quite lonely at these conventions - even with Michael...and surrounded by other writers. I can get intimidated, and shy, and feel on the outside (placed there by myself, not deliberately excluded) so I know the difference between being 'in' and being 'out'. And how lovely and warm it feels to be in the circle. And one that happened so naturally - and wasn't formed out of desperation but we just felt right together.

I wonder if this is a kind of 'fox-hole' friendship...or the sort formed on cruise ships, then once at home port we never connect again. I don't think so, but we'll see, I guess. No matter the length, it was a great gift while here.

Had a very nice breakfast with Richard Reynolds, who is in charge of the mystery section at Heffers in Cambridge - and is very prominent in the British mystery/crime writing community. He's someone we met in april when I did an event at Heffers...so it was like meeting an old friend...and even more so after the breakfast.

On paper it made no sense coming here - the expense versus the book sales. But what an investment in so many other less tangible ways. But ways that are even more meaningful and real.

As you can tell, Michael and I have had a great time at CrimeFest in Bristol. Off to London by 11am train - then on to Heathrow. Fingers crossed the plane works out. I'll blog probably Monday from Montreal.

Thanks for coming to CrimeFest with us.

But will it melt the fuselage?

Partly cloudy, humid, warm - temps 25

We're in Baah-th. Phew. Just walked back through the gorgeous city after having Afternoon Tea at the Royal Crescent Hotel. Outside, in the walled garden. It was other-worldly. We were exhausted after the flight and train etc...but it was so peaceful back there. Sipping Darjeeling and eating cucumber and salmon and egg sandwiches, and scones with Devonshire cream and strawberry preserves. Beside the roses in full bloom and foxglove - all the lush early summer flowers.

One of those moments of complete contentment.

It's been a long day, of course. Woke up in Montreal - caught 9:40pm flight to London - got a 11am train from Paddington to Bath. Then taxi to our hotel (not the famous Royal Crescent but one called Dukes Hotel - very nice. Perhaps just a little tired - so it's a good fit with us). Then Michael and I debated whether we should have a nap - it was 2pm - or push through. We decided to unpack and go for a walk - heading across Bath to the high tea.

What a beautiful city. I've never been here before. I didn't realize it's so small. It is, in many ways, like Old Quebec City. Both are Unesco World Heritage sites - because of their rich history and stunning, unique beauty. The architecture is completely different, but the feel is oddly similar.

So happy to be here.

Though we had the BEST flight. Can you guess what happened? Yes - an upgrade! I almost fell on my knees blubbering. We've given up completely on Air Canada and switched to British Airways for flights to London. So far after 25 years flying AC and not a single upgrade we've been upgraded on BA twice in a year to Business Class. Dear Lord - they almost had to call security to get us off the plane when it arrived. It's fabulous. Lie-flat beds. Need I say more?

Actually, the man across the aisle from me farted the entire way across the Atlantic but that could have happened in economy as well, to even greater effect. But this was bad enough. So pungent was the smell I was slightly surprised the oxygen masks didn't descend.

It reminded me of a story I heard at Malice Domestic about Jeffrey Deaver, whose dog pooped in the middle of a party he was giving and the fumes were so noxious it set off his fire alarms.

This man had a bit of the mutt about him.

But still, for an upgrade I was willing to hold my breath for 6 hours.

We're actually in the UK to go to CrimeFest, which is an annual convention for mystery writers and readers. Never been to it but I'm on two panels so it should be fun. It's down the road in Bristol and starts Thursday.

On our way back to the hotel we picked up some diet cokes, a Sunday London Times, a magazine on the Cotswolds, a salad and a sandwich. We're going to nest. And emerge in time for breakfast tomorrow and lunch at the Pump Room with Teresa, my agent.

Hope all's well with you! I have a funny story to tell you about the Audie Awards in Los Angeles, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Take care.

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.

Bye London - hi Washington

Sunny, warm, temp 22

We're in Washington! Wanted to do a quick post just to let you know. I should really give the temperature in Fahrenheit but don't know it...22 celcius would be about 70 - 75? Anyway, it's gorgeous here. Rain in London when we left.

The flights was great - very easy check in. Since we've flown a gazillion (approx) miles on British Airways we qualify for the BA lounge. Wonderful. Had breakfast there - read the papers, watched the flights, and the rain. Then walked to the gate. The plane was a 747 - love them. Those are the ones with the two levels. Was hoping we were on the upper level, but nope. Actually, last time we flew one was a Qantas flight from Syndey to Los Angeles last fall. We were on the round the world tour - first class!!! and we requested row 1. The very best seats since no one is around you...and it's in the very nose of the plane. The pilots are up above. And since it was first class we all, in effect, had our own little cabins. Absolutely amazing experience. I joined Michael for dinner someplace over the Pacific...in his 'cabin'. They set up a table, with linen and silver and china, and I sat facing him, and we looked out the windows on the clouds below. Beyond magical. I'll never, ever forget it.

This flight wasn't magical. We were paying, so the best we could do was World Traveler Plus - which is slightly above economy and well below business...and not in the same galaxy as First. But - one trick I've learned...always ask for the emergency rows - especially in economy. Way more leg room, and the people in front can't put their seats back. Or, failing that and perhaps even better, always ask for the first row in your section. Again, lots of leg room. That's what we had. Extremely easy flight.

And now we're in Washington for the malice domestic convention. Wonderful. Unpacked, picked up soft drinks, had a Shirley Temple in the bar (Michael had a diet coke) - no one makes really good Shirley Temples anymore, do you find? Michael averted his eyes when I ordered one, as though my clothes had just fallen off - or I'd made what Gordon Ramsey called a 'bum burp'.

Had fun in London - but am exhausted. Not keen on returning anytime soon. Really feel quite drained by the whole experience. I think trying to promote one book, edit the next and write yet another - and try to have fun in one of the world's great cities, might have been at least one thing too many. Really kind of disenchanted by the whole thing - but I think I'm just pooped. Feels like forever since I actually had a holiday and I think I was going to London thinking this might be one - but of course it wasn't. happy to work - especially promoting - but trying to do it all felt like being yanked in all directions. And I can't honestly remember the last time I had two days 'off' in a row. Not writing, not promoting, or traveling, or editing, or giving speeches.

All these things I love - and am genuinely grateful for. But sometimes I just want to curl up and cry. Feel like that in the last couple of days.

But I adore Malice Domestic - so this will be a tonic.

Speak soon - will let you know what the conference is like tomorrow. Right now we're back in the hotel room and will nest. Bliss.