Rhianna

overcast, blustery, cool, sunny periods...temps 16

A sort of turbulent day weather-wise. Woke in the middle of the night overwhelmed by things that need to be done (not including writing and editing). Tossed and turned...finally fell asleep and awoke to the wonderful aroma of coffee...God bless Michael. But it was late. 8:15 - and he had a 9:30 barber appointment. And I was meeting Rhianna (a young neighbour writing a book). So up I sprang.

Back now from meeting her. She's 20, and getting well into her novel. Very exciting. i so enjoyed meeting her. A thoughtful, kind, respectful, funny and very smart young woman. So we're going to get together once a month or so and compare notes.

It now looks as though we're going to head to London in September - which is always fun...but one more thing to add to the mix.

We've cleaned up after the visit of the kids. A funny sort of visit when the best behaved turns out to be Buttercup, the hound from Hell. Though we did find a considerable dropping in our bedroom when we returned Monday afternoon. We think it might have been BC, but, honestly, it could have been anyone and doesn't bear close examination.

We're now home...and I've decided I just need to do one or two things each day to get everything done...not bad. At 3am it seems a howling monster, at 2pm it's quite manageable.

Michael's back is almost all better!!! He's so smart...he admits he has an ache, then does his exercises...and voila. Gone.

I am SO enjoying the discussion (on the comments section) on who might play Gamache. I am noting all the suggestions...and having such fun reading them.

Hope you're enjoying the day!

Gamache???

heavy rains, sunny breaks, torrential rains, clear blue - temps 15

Rreally a very cool (and not in a retro chic way) day. I, of course, am in shorts and sandals.

Doug and Mapy and Dennis (two of dougs friends) and every child in the world, left. But between the time we arrived home yesterday about noon and when they left this morning - the beetle broke down on the highway, young Gordie dove into the pool and hit his face on the bottom (diving into the slope where shallow becomes deep - but not quickly enough apparently). We were SO lucky _ though it took some doing to convince Gordie he was lucky - since all that happened was he broke a tooth. A front tooth. In half. And adult front tooth. In half. What luck.

But clearly it could have been worse. Tragic even.

A little later there was a kid meltdown involving fists and a drink.

Uncle Michael, while playing a role in Gordie's tooth, decided to sit out the slugging. And pretend it wasn 't happening.

But despite all this, it was fun. The worst day with doug and the kids is still better than the best day without them in our lives could ever be. It would be horrible if the kids, or their parents, decided they didn't want to come visit. We're really more like grandparents to the kids than Aunt and Uncle. Very fun. And we've learned over the course of many, many years, that upsets come and go. Such is life in a family.

By 7 this morning they'd all left and we were also on the road, to VW in Sherbrooke, to take the car in. We'd just returned home (a 1 hour drive) when they called to say come pick it up, it needs two parts they don't have...so we'll need to take it back next week.

So today we've taken the car there and back - twice - and done endless loads of laundry.

On the bright side, our wonderful friend Susan, on hearing the stresses suggested a rain check. She was going to come tomorrow and stay through the weekend. As she said, her gift to me was alone time. How perfect to have a friend who knows me so well...and would give up a vacation so I can stare at a wall.

Tomorrow morning I said I'd meet a good neighbour's granddaughter in Sutton. She's an aspiring novelist. And then hoping to come home and finally, finally, do nothing. But that was the plan for today. Oh well...

Absolutely ADORE your thoughts on who should play Gamache in a movie/TV series. I remember one producer explaining that leads in TV series are generally unknown...the series makes their careers. And I suspect that's true. I also know that John Thaw was not how Colin Dexter described Morse, but he was perfect for the role.

So many of you got it absolutely right...the physical appearance is far less important than the sense of the man on screen.

I'd also encourage you, though, to rent Miss Pettigrew lives for a Day. That's where I discovered Ciaran Hinds. since saw him in a few things, to see what I thought, and didn't see him as Gamache in anything else. But he made a perfect Gamache in his role in Miss Pettigrew. I guess that's why they call it acting.

And - to refresh your memories...Gamache is mid-fifties, solidly built, and speaks French, of course...but when he speaks English it's with a slight British accent, since that's where he learned the lnguage.

But again, not of that is as important as a commanding, kindly, warm, strong presence. Please keep the suggestions coming...

Greenwood

mainly sunny, warm, temps 27

A perfect day...just wonderful. We arrived in Montreal about 9:30 last night. Had breakfast this morning at Nick's, then hopped in the car (top down) and zipped off to Hudson. What a beautiful community. All sorts of gorgeous homes, stone and clapboard...not large (though there is one dreadful eyesore - a kind of trophy home that looks, as prince charles would say, like a carbunkle on the face of Hudson.) I arrived a little early and had a chance to drive around a bit...then called Michael and told him I'd arrived, and planned to buy a home, and he was welcome to join me.

There was a pause. Then he started to laugh.

If we didn't love our home and community in Sutton so much I could definitely see us in Hudson. simply beautiful, and peaceful.

The event was sponsored by the Quebec Writer's Federation, and co-hosted by the Greenwood Centre for living, which is in the Greenwood home...the oldest home in the community - 1700's....with later additions. The volunteers and organizers for the local literary festival called Storyfest hosted a lunch before the event on the verandah of the home, overlooking the lake. It was a warm, sunny day...and the setting was magical. Then we walked the five minutes over to St. Mary's Church hall for the event. A nice turnout - the place was filled. Then after I spoke and did a reading and answered questions we all went back to Greenwood, and had a garden party...where I signed books. Then drove back to Montreal...about 45 minutes.

Nice to get home to Michael.

Poor guy has a back ache. It's been a while since his back has gone out...so when I get back we both did exercises on the floor. A whole lot of groaning, I'll tell ya. Fingers crossed it gets all better.

Now - to follow up on some conversations happening on the comments sections - I'd be curious to hear which actor, if any, come to mind for Gamache - if there was a TV series or movie.

Back to Sutton tomorrow. We've ordered pizzas for dinner tomorrow, will take them down.

Never bored

Overcast, cool, rainy temps 15

Very cool - and not in a good way. Doug and the kids have just headed out to go to Sutton, do some shopping. I think the kids are bored. But when their friends arrive tonight I think that'll get better. Funny, but I feel somehow responsible and guilty when they're bored.

I think it also doesn't help that for some reason I'm just exhausted. Can barely keep my eyes open. No energy. I think it's the stress of finishing the edit and finally being able to exhale...except still have things to do. Do while I've exhaled and sort of collapsed I still have to get up and do things. Like tomorrow...an event in Hudson, Quebec. Driving in to Montreal tonight after dinner...stay the night...and driving 45 minutes or so out to Hudson. Lovely place...and fun event.

They're very kind to take me out to lunch first, then speaking and reading at 2pm. It's at the Greenwood Centre for Living History, at 254 Main Road, Hudson. Should be home by 5 or 6pm. We've decided to stay the night in Montreal, then drive out Monday.

Wish I wasn't so tired, but I know this is natural, and just life. And will pass. Right now I dream of having a hot bubble bath, crawling into bed with diet ginger ale and a package of Social Teas. And watching Flipping Out, or Location, Location, or House Hunters International. And do nothing. For a week.

But I suspect many of you feel like that.

We have friends who've retired and once they finish reading the newspaper every day they don't know what to do. Like the kids, they're bored. Bored is never a problem for us.

the long list

overcast, smattering of rain, cool - temps 19

Doug and the kids have arrived for anotehr visit! Including Buttercup, the hound from Hell. Very, very fun to have them. True to form they were here about three minutes and found a wasps nest. No one got stung, except the dogs, but they didn't seen disturbed. I tell ya, these kids are like dowsers, but what they find are wasp nests. It seems a limited gift.

Michael and I went to visit a friend this morning - had a lovely visit... by the time we got back the family was here. If you'd like to hear more about the chaos that ensued, just visit my blog today at The Lipstick Chronicles. They're so kind to have asked me to join, and I'll be blogging once a month.

On another topic, the wonderful George Easter, the editor of Deadly Pleasures magazine, published their Long List for the Barry for Crime/Mystery novel of the decade. As you might remember, Still Life made it onto the shortlist, much to my delight. I'm thrilled...and what company. And what an honour, especially when you consider the books and authors who were closely considered....here, as I say, is the long list. I pass this on knowing that it will, and should spark debate about who really does deserve to be nominated....


Reginald Hill, DIALOGUES OF THE DEAD

Lee Child, ONE SHOT

Jasper Fforde, THE EYRE AFFAIR

Arnaldur Indridason, JAR CITY

Joe Lansdale, THE BOTTOMS

Laura Lippman, EVERY SECRET THING

Thomas H. Cook, RED LEAVES

Alexander McCall Smith, THE NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY

Must be off...frankly I'm exhausted. Just want to lie in bed and read...or stare at a blank all. More guests arriving tomorrow...but I also have to admit, we love it! Clearly we wouldn't do it if we didn't. We just adore these kids...and Doug.

Speak to you tomorrow....

Saint-Jean Baptiste

overcast, showers, temps 21

This is June 24th, which here is a holiday - almost everything's closed! St. John the Baptist is the patron saint of Quebec. Nowhere else in Canada celebrates this day...no one else even knows what their patron saint is! Something else that makes Quebec a 'distinct society'.

Feels so amazing to be finished the draft...and as you've picked up on, being happy with it. Phewph.

Bit of a busy day. Visited a friend in hospital this morning, then off for breakfast in Cowansville. Then started on the pile of things that have been left undone while I wrote...emails, scheduling....spoke to my UK editor...wrote the first draft of the July newsletter. My first blog for The Lipstick Chronicles is tomorrow. I do it once a month. Such terrific women writers over there....you might check it out if you have time.
I wrote the blog today and saved it to be put up at 1am.

Had a lovely visit with our neighbours, Guy and Nicole next door. Sat in the beautiful back garden, and walked their paths.

Amazing to have time now to breathe...ahhh.

Thank you for all your lovely comments. Am now relaxing in front of the TV, watching BBC Canada...Escape to the Country. One of the British real estate shows...such fun.

Done!!!!

sunny, brilliant, wonderful day...well, actually, it's cloudy and rainy, but you'd never know it by the mood in here!!!

Yippee! Finally finished the second draft, and I'm pleased with it. Very pleased. A huge re-write, really, more than a draft...but worth it. And my first drafts are really often not all that good. More like sketches. But vital.

But wow, does this ever feel great!!! Yippeee... worked late yesterday after getting home. Sat on the screen porch. Beautiful sunny day - and watched quite a drama unfold in front of me as I wrote.

First the wonderful Wayne showed up. He'd heard rain was in the forecast so he decided to come and cut the grass while he could. Now, we have about 70 acres, though most is forested, of course, but about 3 acres needs cutting, including trails through said woods. So we have this huge great tractor/mower. Up Wayne gets on it and off he goes. At some point I decided to walk Trudy around the pond and I could hear him in there...for a long time.

But I walked on, not really thinking anythung of it, until I look up and Wayne's standing in front of me on the grass. Without the mower.

'It's stuck,' he said. 'In the woods. A soft spot.'

I resisted the temptation to asked, 'Are you sure?'

Instead I asked, 'What should we do?'

He gave me a list of people to call, while he took the hand mower and continued around the house. I called Carl, I called Dwayne. I called Gary. I called Tony. I called Lise. Of course. Who but My Assistant Lise can come to the rescue? I really should have a special ring which I can point to the sky and yell, "Lise! Lise!'

But I used the old fashoined method and telephoned. She, of everyone, was in! And her husband Del was just getting home. By now it was about 5pm. And Tony had arrived with his pick-up truck and chains.

As I spoke to Lise I saw Wayne walking back across the field, with Tony. Like two mud covered dough boys after a battle. A losing battle.

They stopped in front of the porch.

'We're stuck.'

'Both of you?'

'got my truck stuck too,' admitted Tony.

There was a regular traffic jam in our woods.

Del, bless him, said he'd come first thing in the morning with his big truck, two guys and more chains. But Tony had one more idea. Our neighbour Guy.

Ten minutes later I heard a motor...and I think distant trumpets, but perhaps not. There was Guy riding his tractor full speed with Tony hanging on the back. Into the field, past the fruit trees, around the pond they disappeard. Riding to the rescue.

Fifteen minutes later Guy drove by - triumphant. The battle won, the vehicles freed!

All very thrilling!

Almost as thrilling as finishing this draft!!! Yay. Worked all today and just finished....Now, taking 2 weeks off to get caught up on all the other stuff - and perhaps to play! going to cut some peony and delphiniums and make a little thank you arangement for Guy and Nicole.

Lucky us to have such neighbours. And to be free - of the mud, and the muddle!!!

speak to you tomorrow...

Oh - Pat just called...there's been an earthquake...felt not here but in Ottawa and Toronto. Must hurry and check...