Another one of those weeks

Yes, I know, it sounds as if I never stop, but I do. Not much of the time, I'll admit, but it does happen. This last week has been another one of those weeks that I had the week before. Got that? Good, because I'm not sure I have. The point is that it seems - the week that is - to have been more than usually busy (I think I said that last time too, didn't I?).

However, I can readily confess to being a very non morning person, so don't imagine for one minute I'm up with the lark. I never am and I cram everything into the day that's left after crawling out of bed at the weekend at somewhere around 10:00, sometimes later if I'm especially tired. During the week, it's earlier of course as I have to work, but I'm definitely not one of these 6a.m. risers. I'm not at all nice to know until I've had at least two cups of coffee and time to haul my brain out of the sludge that was sleep. But it was ever thus, so I'm used to it now.

Anyway, I digress. On Monday morning, we had to shoot up to Rotterdam from Zeeland horribly early to meet the man from the energy company so he could check the geyser in Koos' little flat (that he rarely visits but keeps as security), at which time we discovered the upstairs neighbour's loo was leaking into the bathroom and had ruined three towels, which were black and rotten. Not nice. In fact, fairly yuk. I'm a bit squeamish about such things, I've discovered. This unexpected crisis entailed meetings with the neighbour, phone calls to the owners' association, and attempts to make appointments with the plumber to come and assess the situation - none of which were immediately successful, but that's another story. Meanwhile off I went to work on my bike. Yes.

The autumn had sneaked in over the weekend and the temperatures had plummeted. It was simply cold. And the wind was blowing a hooley. But it was all rather deceptive because the sun was shining and it was a beautiful day and I wasn't expecting to struggle so. I battled over the Erasmus bridge this time and to give myself some breathing space, I took a few photos.

Then the next day, I had to brave the big Brienenord bridge again. Once more, it was a struggle and all the pleasure I'd had the previous week in climbing it without too much effort was over. It's the wind, see. It's a demon in this city and like to put anyone in a foul mood. One of my friends admits to swearing at the wind as she cycles. Well, I almost do too. The only solution is to stop and take some more photos; lovely isn't it?

Whatever I have to say about the wind, though I just love this city and its fabulous river. On Thursday afternoon, I was free, so I lured Koos into helping me remove the last floorboards in the back cabin of the Vereeniging. It's all gone now, and I'm just praying the woodworm have not burrowed their way into the old, varnished cupboards. I'll have to keep a close eye on them. The bare steel floor needs some cleaning and oiling before I put a new floor in, so there's quite a bit of work to be done still.

Worm-eaten floor removed

Koos manfully chopped all the wormeaten boards into small pieces. They are destined for a fiery demise.

Chopped into small pieces

A manful task

I also managed to give a second coat of paint to the ceiling above and the panels next to my bed.  I had to fill in a number of holes created by moving and removing screws at various times during the games with musical beds the various family occupants of the Vereeniging have played over the years. It'll all need another coat of paint before everything is smooth and even, but I'm pretty pleased with the result so far. And at least woodworm don't like paint...Am I getting paranoid about woodworm do you think? I probably am.

So that has been the week that was. Tomorrow, I am off to The Hague to take part in the second of our English Writing Festivals. There are six speakers altogether, and I will be talking about my Skipper's Child as an example of a Young Adult book. Wish me luck allemaal!

Watery Ways is back on sale....

....In a new, improved and exciting edition.

I first published Watery Ways three years ago through Lulu.com. As a self published book that had very little marketing, it didn't do badly, but marketing really is necessary if you want to gain readers and I never had the time. Now with the support of Boathook Books from Sunpenny Publishing, I'm hoping it will get that extra push. My dream is that Watery Ways in particular will give me a little more freedom from the daily grind - a little more freedom to write more and take to the waters more. It has been my dream since coming to the Netherlands and now I'm hoping it will start to happen - just a bit.

What I am very chuffed about with this new edition is the inclusion of several photos of the Oude Haven and the historic barges that are moored there. These photos are mainly Koos's, so as my long standing blogging friends will know, they are going to be good, but I think it gives more life to the book and I am convinced this edition is just an improvement all round.

I shall now have to devote some time to promoting it again, and I would very much like to do some talks at schools and barge associations connected to Dutch Barges. I'm intending to start making contact with people in the next weeks.

It would be great if it becomes something people will think of for a holiday read at the end of the year. I just need to get some good reviews on Amazon to get things moving. Wish me luck!  Sadly, I don't have Pete Townshend's extra something, otherwise I'd be after some TV spots too. Promoting your book is a tad easier when you already have the gleam of fame around you...at least it looks that way!