Running on empty, but running

Day 48

Well, so hormonal today that I had to wake up Steve to help me get up. Doesn't matter - still on the ball with the next stage of my book project. Ready to spend the day on the computer researching Agents who specialise in children's literature. Getting quite excited now.

Spent some time yesterday helping a friend of Joe's choose colour schemes for all the rooms in her new council house (well, new to her, anyway). Some people really like travel brochures, the Sunday papers, or Heat magazine to look at, but give me the latest batch of paint colour charts, and I'm a happy bunny.

I get a lot from helping people find their own style, rather than impose my own, so Donna is going to have a deep crimson and grey bedroom with a feature wall in black and white wallpaper, a purple and sand sitting room, and a green and orange kitchen complete with the Irish flag and shamrocks painted on the wall. May not be my taste - which hovers somewhere between New England cottage, Karl Larssen and retro kitsch - but it's hers and she's happy.

I suppose that living in rented accommodation (as we do now, since my husband's company went bust) is a little restrictive for me, as I can never paint a room the colour I really want - I always have to keep the landlord and future tenants in mind. My imagination can never really be allowed full reign, so it is quite a treat to be able to go and do it for somebody else. Even if their taste is miles away from my own, at least I get to play at decorating for a bit.

Still, maybe one day - if this book is a success - then I will finally have a place of my own to decorate as crazily or tastefully or outrageously or gorgeously as I want.

Better get on then, hadn't I.