Up and running and on a roll!

Day 79

Well today I got right back on the horse, so to speak. Undeterred by the rejection letters for my manuscript, I went through the list of agents in my 'Author's and Artist's Year Book' again and - putting aside anybody in Dublin or Edinburgh or other out-of-the-way places - I made a new list.

I have emailed introductory letters to two agents who don't accept unsolicited manuscripts, and posted a request to another. I also found another three agents to send my book to, and updated and revised my covering letter. Way to go, me.

We have just got back from the post office where I pissed off the usual queue of people behind me, especially as I had this sweet little trainee serving me instead of Mrs Grumpy, so it took even longer than last time. She couldn't seem to quite grasp the concept of being asked for stamps to stick onto self addressed envelopes, that were then put inside other envelopes to be sent off. Bless.

Now it is sit and wait time again, and I feel so much better than yesterday because I am doing something pro-active.

I did my Runes last night to help focus me for today. They pretty much all said that not a lot would be happening right now, but that it was all good. Persevere, they kept repeating, and carry on regardless. If you get exhausted from all the obstructions in your path, see the humour, stay centred and deal with any issues that come up. Fair enough. That's what I was going to do anyway, but it's nice to be told.

Also, posted two birthday and two Christmas presents while we were out. Am doing very well on the 'we have no money but I'm celebrating Xmas anyway' front. So far I have made or bought sixteen Xmas presents and four birthday presents and cards, for under fifty quid. Yeehar me!

I am the genius of crap presents. I'm sure all my relatives are thinking "oh God, what will she make us this year? The only thing we haven't had so far are knitted poodle loo roll covers - Help!" Can I just say that I would love a poodle loo roll cover, as I am a very kitsch person (but only if the wool was pink and glittery and that nasty nylon stuff), but sadly, my relatives are not - they have taste.

My most favourite present to receive would be one of those Hawaiian hula dancing dolls, who swing their hips so their grass skirts wobble. Or a whacking gr't cactus. Superfab! Mind you, I also secretly crave the silver glitter plastic Virgin Mary that I saw in Paperchase - she would go so well with the turquoise glitter Jesus that I got there last year.(sigh!)

Have instructed the guys to put up 'what I want for Xmas' lists, favouring very cheap or free things that could be made. On my own list I have put getting inside my oven cleaned, a job I detest and put off even more than the ironing, which - as you know - is the benchmark for these things. Will it happen? - doubt it.

We're also going to avoid sending any Xmas cards this year, but that's OK because we can pretend it's an eco, save-the-planet sort of thing. You see, if you try, there really is a positive way to see everything!