I know that you’ll be highly relieved to learn that I did eventually procure sufficient  cocoa confections to fuel me through a crazily busy couple of post-Easter weeks.

Okay, so there was a bit of sugar-dip spluttering and the occasional over-rev -can you tell I know all the dead  technical driving terminology?- but I have survived a weekend trip to Somerset (via  overnight stays at my long-suffering and highly hospitable sister’s in London) so as to read out my short story ‘Results Day’ at the Bridgwater Homestart Short Story Competition awards ceremony.  And if you haven’t already heard my ‘Eeeeeeeeeeeek!’ from your corner of the globe (which, frankly, I find hard to believe, because all sorts of involuntary loud noises have been emitting from me, recently), I can inform you that I won First Prize and, perhaps more impressively, managed to read it out to the esteemed, kind audience without forgetting how to speak English or even falling off the stage or anything.

As well as receiving very encouraging and fortifying feedback from the competition judge, Dame Margaret Drabble, about the story, I was able to talk to her about Blues, whilst the photographer tried to find my ‘best’ angle. This took some time, so I was able to outline the reasons behind my recent sense of ‘stalling’ . Did I not know how the story was going to end? Oh yes, I had a synopsis and a chapter-by-chapter outline, so that  wasn’t it ……it  was just………erm…. no time?…er, no- not that… just….no good reason at all (Fear of Failure is not officially a Good Reason, apparently).

So, I came back from Bridgwater and my chats with all the lovely people I met there with renewed resolve and energy, determined to adopt a sensible fuel-economical approach to my writing, rather than binging on 10 Creme Eggs in 10 minutes, then not being able to face food for 10 weeks. And I’m starting to make out the muscle under the flab, already. Just think of how fantabulous Blues will look by Summer.

Sorry – what’s that you say, large -tin- of -Cadbury’s- Heroes -on– the bottom -shelf- of- the- kitchen- cupboard -next -to -the- fridge? Nope, I can’t hear you. I don’t even know you are there.