Tuesday 25 August 2009

Summer Holidays

Let us not speak of dieting and weigh ins! Instead, let us speak of summer and sunshine and fun!

The summer is of course awash with excuses for eating ice cream and burgers and I am not immune to these tasty temptations, but be assured that I am fulfilling my "turning up for weigh in" obligations when I am not away, and will be a good girl again very soon!

So far this summer we have had 3 trips away, with a 4th happening later this week. We are jumping on a train to Bournemouth to stay with my best friend from junior school - we've not set eyes on each other for over 30 years, but we found each other again thanks to the wonder that is the internet and the grand reunion is on Thursday! I'm excited and scared in equal measure and I bet she is too! But she has lured us to Bournemouth with the promise of endless sunshine, and after a quick look at the grey sky here, well who am I to argue!

Speaking of meeting people, I have been in the presence of greatness! I went camping with some friends and had the very great pleasure of meeting Spence Kennedy who writes Siren Voices. I have to admit to feeling pretty much star struck. I love the way Spence writes, the way he paints the picture with his words, and that he never ever passes judgement on what he has seen. There is no political debate, no angst at the issues that rage within the NHS, just stories about people. So I was in the presence of a great author, and all my words deserted me. He probably thought I was quiet or standoffish or something because the best I could do was smile and say hello most of the time - how embarrasing! But he's one of the good guys so I doubt he'll hold it against me. And he did try to help me jumpstart my car, and left me with a pack of wet wipes so I could clean my hands once I'd managed to get going again.

I should have got him to autograph the wipes - one day this guy will have his writing in print, of that I am certain!

6 comments:

Amy said...

I recently met one of my favorite authors, at a book signing. He was super nice, and I was tongue tied. Or else blathering like an idiot. Sigh.....
Have a great time with the Thursday reunion! Can't wait to read about how it all went.

http://hecate-metamorphosis.blogspot.com

ADDY said...

Enjoy your break in Bournemouth. I'd be scared meeting someone after 30 years too, so I am sure you'll both be in the same boat. True friendships usually pick up where they left off.

Diane, Fit to the Finish said...

How fun! I one time met the Governor of Florida several years back and I just couldn't even seem to speak!

I hope your reunion goes fabulously!

Spence Kennedy said...

Hi Wendy!
It was lovely to meet you, too. I felt a bit tongue tied as well. I've been getting to know everyone on Parents Lounge (from over Kath's shoulder) for the past 8 years, so it was quite nerve-wracking actually meeting them. I certainly didn't think you were standoffish.

It makes me laugh to hear you describe me as a famous author, though. Maybe I should start wearing a neckerchief and brogues, gun boots, smoke fags and ... actually, does Anne Tyler dress like that?

It's very nice of you not to mention the fact that I had no idea which battery terminals to connect the leads to (Nicky came to the rescue). So all I could do was hand out the wet wipes. Technicians, hey?

:0) xx

Wendy said...

Don't worry Spence, I've asked literally *many* people since then how they would have connected the leads, and oly 1 has been able to offer an answer. And who can ever say if he was right?

For anyone curious about why the leads where a problem, Spence's battery didn't have black and red connections, merely the markings + and + in a circle. I wasn't going to risk us blowing anyone up by gambling with that!

*Wendy waits for 5000 replies offering the correct solution....*

Selina Kingston said...

Hi Wendy,

I have just come across your blog and I love it. And I'm in awe. 66lbs!! You've lost 66lbs? That is amazing. Well done you.

Hope you enjoy your reunion - there's something really special about meeting old friends. The ones that knew us when were still relatively innocent.

Have fun,

Selina