Wednesday 21 December 2011

Lost and Found and Happy Christmas

My Poor Husband. I think what he needs for Christmas is a new missus. Just this past week I have accused him of throwing away my Fiction Feast and my rubber band. Not just any rubber band you understand, but a red rubber band that I use to hold my Special Christmas Notebook closed.

For some reason I always think the rubber band will stop anyone peeking to see what delights or otherwise I will be stuffing in their stockings this year. They wouldn’t be able to decipher my writing anyway. I know I can’t.

In my Special Christmas Notebook, I write down what I have bought and for whom. When things arrive (I do most of my Christmas shopping on t’internet – a blessing for a shopophobic like me) I tick them off the list and when I wrap them up, I strike through them in red. I also keep receipts in the book just in case something needs to be returned after the festivities.

I do tend to overdo things – I keep three separate records of the stories I submit so if I forget to note one in one place, I’ll usually have a record to refer to in another. This is not because I am uber organised, but the opposite – if I didn’t write things down I’d be right up that creek without a paddle.

So anyway, I was wrapping up downstairs a few days ago and when I’d packed away all my rolls of paper, tags etc etc I went to wrap my band round my book and it was gone. I went on about it so much that the poor man went and looked in the bin in case he really had accidentally thrown it away.

Luckily I had another red rubber band up to the job. So today I did a bit more wrapping and when I shook my gift tags out of the bag what should fall out with them but my red rubber band. Oops.

As for the Fiction Feast, I hunted high and low for it. “Have you thrown it out by mistake?” I asked darkly (this would involve use of scrunched up fierce looking eyebrows if I had any). He swore blind he hadn’t, but I later heard him rifling through the recycling just in case. There was a great deal of head scratching and “I’m sure I didn’t throw it out” every time I flung an accusing glare in his direction. I’d given up all hope of finding it when I went to scan some photos yesterday and there was the Fiction Feast in the scanner. Oops again. What makes it worse is that it isn’t the first time I’ve lost something only to find it there, nor even the second.

I’m hoping to get a sewing machine in my Christmas stocking (no comments please about it being entirely possible with the size of my stockings!).

In other news, my new Large Print book Cherish the Dream is out in January. The heroine runs an animal sanctuary and the hero is a vet and although you’re not supposed to have favourite children, this is one of mine.



And I kept meaning to post a link to a post my son did about Tilly. I go back and read it every so often as I find it comforting.

So all that is left to do is wish all my lovely friends out there in Blogland a wonderful Christmas. From the bottom of my heart I thank you for the support and kindness you have shown especially over these past few months and I wish you joy and happiness and lots of it! Love Teresa (and Indy) xx

33 comments:

  1. I hope you'll make it up to him over Christmas. I love the cover of your book. Blue is my favourite colour.

    happy Christmas to you and yours

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  2. Now when I accuse my husband of the same, it's usually true! He has a 'reputation' for throwing things out - not sure if it's by mistake or design.

    Your book looks great. Have a wonderful Christmas, Teresa.

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  3. My husband does throw things in the recycling which I still need-because he thinks it's 'finished with', so I have to rummage in the recycling just to check...:-)
    The book looks good and a great way to start 2012.
    Merry Christmas.

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  4. I thought it was a wife's job to accuse her husband of 'hiding' things! I'm excellent at it.

    Have a wonderful christmas, Teresa, and looking forward to more of your lovely stories next year.

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  5. Lovely to have you back with us Teresa. Spotted you in WF this month and so glad to hear that you now 'go with the flow' with your writing, rather than trying to place everything. You have to enjoy what you're doing. I've just started a blog so you are very welcome to come and take a look.

    A very happy Christmas to you and your family.

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  6. Do I detect a hint of OCD re the wrapping/present-buying, Teresa?

    Have a wonderful Christmas and a tragedy-free 2012!

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  7. THank you, Jarmara - I love the cover too :-)

    Mine too, Rosemary - and then there is the "I've put it in the attic" which means it's gone forever (it's where I'll end up if I'm not careful!)

    Thanks Carol - yes I get that too, "I thought you'd finished with it." Glad he's not the only one!

    Thank you, Bernadette - well if they didn't hide things we wouldn't accuse them of it would we ;-)

    Thanks, Maggie - have been over and joined your blog.

    Thanks, Frances. Yes a mere hint of OCD - or as I am affectionately (I think)known the control freak!

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  8. Oh, thank you Teresa! I'm always looking for an excuse - I mean a valid reason to buy a new notebook. A Christmas notebook - I can't think why I never thought of it before. Maybe I could get one for birthdays too. I hope your book does well. Happy Christmas.

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  9. Oh Teresa, I've just read your son's blog entry about Tilly's new life. What a lovely, lovely thing to think of doing. It made me laugh and also cry, but for all the right reasons. He must be a smashing chap!

    Merry Christmas to you and yours, good luck with the book, and I hope your hubby doesn't 'hide' anything else vital over the holiday. xx

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  10. Ooh Elizabeth, I've been using mine for birthdays as well, but perhaps I should get a new one for that :-) Thank you for the idea! Happy Christmas x

    He is, Jacula. When he told me he'd written about her I was afraid to read it but it did make me smile as well as cry x

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  11. Pat is not Anonymous but blogger won't let me post!

    What a gorgeous cover, Teresa.

    Hope you and yours have a lovely Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year.

    xxPat
    Tail wags from Tim 'n' Ted to Indy

    xxPat

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  12. Happy Christmas, Teresa, Indy and poor hubby.

    I'm quite good at blaming people for things I've lost too. Or even things I just haven't looked for properly and are actually where they were supposed to be.

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  13. LOL.. you make me laugh Teresa. Thank you. Merry Xmas sweet lady, and congrats on the book. Well done! x

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  14. Have a lovely Christmas, Teresa. All good wishes from me and mine, to you and yours.

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  15. Thank you, Pat and Tim 'n' Ted :-) Blogger is having one of its regular weird-behaviour things I think xx
    Indy sends tail wags to Tim 'n' Ted xx

    Ah Patsy, how is it that lost things often turn up where they're meant to be?

    Thank you, Diane :-) x

    Thank you, Martin - hope you and your lovely family have a great time!

    Happy Christmas :-)

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  16. That made me laugh, Teresa - and your son's post was brilliant - how lovely!

    X

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  17. You're never alone with a list. (Or you're never alist with a loan?) I keep one on my computer. I also try and write down who gave me what, so I can say thank you for the right present! Have a lovely Christmas, all of you.

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  18. I too keep cross-references of work I've sent out. As my store of stories grows I seem to spend more time doing administration rather than writing. It must be infinitely worse for you. You must have enough material to fill a decent-sized library!
    Much joy to you too, Teresa. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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  19. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas, Teresa! Perhaps DH will buy you a bag of red rubber bands for Christmas ;-)

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  20. Hi Teresa,
    Sorry, you lost me at stockings :)
    Hey, lots of success with your book. It does sound fascinating.
    I shall now go and check out your son's post about Tilly.
    All the best to you and your loved ones over this holiday season. And may 2012 bring you much happy writing.
    In kindness, Gary and yes of course, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star xx

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  21. Happy Christmas Teresa. I hope it brings you everything you wish for. Especially the sewing machine. xxx

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  22. Good luck with the book Teresa. We shall expect a photoshoot of all these wonderful things you make with your sewing machine. As one who is absolutely useless at sewing (couldn't even fathom how a sewing machine worked) I am lost in admiration. A brill writer AND a seamstress - one could start having not very Christmassy thoughts of goodwill to all men (or women even . . .!):-)
    Have a wonderful time and all the very best in every way for 2012
    Sue xx

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  23. Thank you, Amanda, I'll tell him you said that x

    Thanks hydra - I hope you have a good Christmas and aren't in too much pain with the tooth!

    Thanks Keith - the admin can be a pain can't it. Much joy to you too!

    He'd be in trouble if he did, Lacey!

    Thank you Gary - I hope you have a peaceful and happy Christmas with lots of festive hugs for lovely Penny x

    Thank you, Joanne - there's a sewing machine sized box with a picture of a sewing machine on the side in the bedroom so I'm quite hopeful - I suppose it could be full of red rubber bands x

    Thanks Sue - you do say the nicest things. Imogen has told me which dress she wants and chosen her fabric and Lachlan wants a red and white cookery apron with pockets on the front. I just hope I can remember how to do it! Hope you have a lovely time x

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  24. I wish you a wonderful Christmas Teresa - well it's only the second day and it is twelve days after all - a very happy new year and lots of writing success in the coming year. Thanks for your visit to my blog and for your wonderfully kind and encouraging comments!

    Maria x

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  25. And I wish the same to you, Maria. I do love your blog x

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  26. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and that you book does well. Cheers!

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  27. I sometimes lose lipstick and go round asking my husband and son if they've seen it!!!! They assume I'm crazy...I'm not of course. Happy New Year. Cherish the Dream looks good.

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  28. You're no more crazy than I am! Tuh men! What are they like - Happy New Year x

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  29. Happy New Year to you, Indy, the poor husband and the missing elastic band, god rest its soul.

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  30. I really like the idea of a Christmas Notebook.

    Hope you had a good Christmas, Teresa. All the very best for 2012.

    XX

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  31. Thank you Suz and Happy New Year to you xx

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