Thursday 30 December 2010
When you speak too soon.
The not-flu became full flu the day before yesterday. I don't actually remember much of yesterday such was the fever. I feel a lot better today, but moving and breathing is still pretty hard. I really don't have much energy to type a lot so I'll end here.
Tuesday 28 December 2010
"I think this is what men call a 'terminal case of manflu'"
True to form, I have been very ill over Christmas. It isn't flu, because I'm able to type this. However, it has all the symptoms of being a mild version of it. So if you are wondering why I have been so quiet on the internet over the last week, than that is the reason.
Normal service will be resumed hopefully by next week when I can breathe, hear, not feel like my clothes are made of sandpaper, not be being dehydrated via my nose and have energy.
Normal service will be resumed hopefully by next week when I can breathe, hear, not feel like my clothes are made of sandpaper, not be being dehydrated via my nose and have energy.
Sunday 19 December 2010
Trafford Centre Waterstones signing date confirmed.
I have just been told that another signing date has been confirmed. This will be for Saturday the 22nd of January 2011 at the Waterstones branch in the Trafford centre, Manchester. I will be signing at the usual time (from 10:30am).
Preston Waterstones will still be on Saturday the 29th of January (the weekend afterwards) and hopefully there will also be repeat trips to Waterstones branches we have been to before including Bolton and Durham. There are also other unconfirmed venues still to announce.
Preston Waterstones will still be on Saturday the 29th of January (the weekend afterwards) and hopefully there will also be repeat trips to Waterstones branches we have been to before including Bolton and Durham. There are also other unconfirmed venues still to announce.
The Bolton signing debrief.
The book signing at Bolton went very well yesterday. There had been tons of snow overnight, that had started on Friday. I knew that there might be a few issues when I was driving home late on Friday with two inches already down and more falling, and my wiper blades froze leaving me driving like a tank commander.
Of course, Bolton Waterstones has the advantage that it is within walking distance from my house. It was a bit slippy due to the two inches having become closer to six overnight. Once we got to the store, it started snowing heavily again outside. However, as the last shopping weekend before Christmas, people were a determined bunch and the numbers coming through were all right. The staff at the shop were fantastic, and I have to give a shout out to one particular gentleman on staff who was very good at steering potential customers in my direction and helped it to be a very good signing.
I got a chance to speak to a few people who had been at the last Bolton signing as they passed through, and it was nice to get some feedback from those who had read it. All the reports were extremely good; the consensus is that this is a well-written book that is accessible and enjoyable to read. Phew! That's a relief! The journey home was very slippery, but I made it all right. It certainly got cold though.
I've been invited back sometime in the new year. This is likely to be in early February now due to other commitments for signings including the Preston Waterstones event on the 29th of January 2011. I only hope that January will continue to be as successful as November and December have been.
Of course, Bolton Waterstones has the advantage that it is within walking distance from my house. It was a bit slippy due to the two inches having become closer to six overnight. Once we got to the store, it started snowing heavily again outside. However, as the last shopping weekend before Christmas, people were a determined bunch and the numbers coming through were all right. The staff at the shop were fantastic, and I have to give a shout out to one particular gentleman on staff who was very good at steering potential customers in my direction and helped it to be a very good signing.
I got a chance to speak to a few people who had been at the last Bolton signing as they passed through, and it was nice to get some feedback from those who had read it. All the reports were extremely good; the consensus is that this is a well-written book that is accessible and enjoyable to read. Phew! That's a relief! The journey home was very slippery, but I made it all right. It certainly got cold though.
I've been invited back sometime in the new year. This is likely to be in early February now due to other commitments for signings including the Preston Waterstones event on the 29th of January 2011. I only hope that January will continue to be as successful as November and December have been.
Wednesday 15 December 2010
All over the house » Archive » The luckiest man
In some ways this reminds me of when I was at school.
All over the house » Archive » The luckiest man
All over the house » Archive » The luckiest man
Sunday 12 December 2010
Learning a few tips on the book signing trail.
The busy three signings in four days is done, and I'm back at home after driving nearly 300 miles. I thought I would share a few of the things that I have learnt over the last few weeks on the signings trail. When first starting out it is difficult to know what to expect. I have never been to another author's signing to get a book signed, so cannot claim to have seen what goes on first hand until now. Writing is a solitary business, and there is no 'manual' or little club where authors chat at length to be able to get an impression in advance.
1.) Take some books with you. Especially if your publisher is a small press who is not yet on a general stock with Waterstones. For some reason books can and do get lost somewhere in the system and fail to arrive at the bookshop you are supposed to be signing at. I have a box of 44 in the boot of the car whenever I'm off to a signing. My publisher said it was a good idea, and on several occasions it certainl;y was. Even if the actual stock has arrived, sometimes you can sell out and it's nice to sell a few extra whilst you are there. Any of your stock you use the bookshop will replenish once their actual stock comes through.
2.) You will be mistaken for shop staff frequently. Up until I started the signing tour I had completely missed the significance of the scene at the start of the film "1408" based on a Stephen King short story. There the author is asked about the whereabouts in the shop of another author's books. I reckon that for every one person who asks about my book, another three ask me where they can find the cookery section or a book about X. Just smile and point them on to the actual staff or be clever and point out what they want if you know where it happens to be. Even with a big stand with posters and your books on they will do this. Hell, I wasn't even wearing the same colour clothes as the bookshop staff's uniforms.
3.) Smile and be nice. Say hello to people who go past, and if they hesitate and look to the books, tell them the genre and that you are an author on a book signing. You will snare a great many people this way who will take a look and maybe even buy a copy. If you sit and say nothing I guarantee that almost all will pass you by (or ask where the newest Harry Potter tome can be found). As a start out author you will get most of your books purchased by this pro-active effort. Whatever you do, don't do the hard sell because it will annoy people and get you no extra sales. It will also even put off some people that were wavering and they will pass you by.
4.) Don't stereotype. Regardless of the genre you write in, its readers do not all look the same or how you imagine. I get a lot of books signed because some-one is buying a present for a niece or nephew. I also had a famous Sci-fi artist from 2000AD buy a book, and he looked like my Grandfather - or about as far removed from an avid sci-fi reader as I could imagine. He was a very nice bloke too. Say hello and smile to everyone, because you never know who the people are who would like a copy of your book.
5.) Nothing gets people interested more than other people at your table talking about your book or getting one signed. Feel free to chat; not even necessarily about your book. A lot of people are interested in the writing process or even books you like to read yourself. Just keep an eye out for other people hovering behind them who might be coming closer to see what's getting people's interest up.
6.) When you sign your book, don't sign it like you would sign a cheque or a delivery slip. People want a signature that looks like your name, and not like some-one used the first page of the book to test a biro was working. My author signature looks like my name written in a fast artsy style, but it is still readable as my name. My signature, on the other hand, looks like some-one testing a pen. It probably also pays not to hand out an example of the signature that gets access all areas on your bank account and life.
7.) Unless specifically asked to dedicate the book to X, don't. There is a small minority of people who will get a book signed then hide it elsewhere in the shop without any intention of buying it. If all the book says is "best wishes" then your name, the book is still saleable. There is also less chance of you misspelling a name, then having to do another one to correct it. It's also handy to have a pad to be able to confirm spellings with people. You would be amazed to how many names your brain suddenly decides "I can give you three different ways of spelling that". The pad also allows you to keep a discrete tally of how many books you have shifted.
8.) Don't read a book or get lost in writing your next one whilst you are there. If you look engrossed in something or disinterested in the signing, people won't disturb you and won't ask for a copy of your book.
9.) At the end of the gig, politely offer to sign any remaining stock copies of your book. There's a few reasons for this. A lot of shops sell books "signed by the author" and it gives them something marketable. People who didn't make it to your signing on the day can still get a signed copy of your book. On the day you will find a lot of people may look, ask questions and chat but not actually commit and buy. In the days after I do a signing a lot of shops report an increase in sales of my book as some of these people come back to buy. People often don't like to commit in the moment. Other people also don't like to make a decision whilst they feel you are watching them. I suppose it can be intimidating. That's one of the reasons I always slip a couple of copies into the appropriate book section so that people can look at the book at their own pace where I can't see them. The other reason to sign books is that (as was explained to me at a multi-author signing event by an older hand) ever copy signed is a sale - the shop can't actually return it for a credit. Don't just sign every copy willy-nilly. Ask first otherwise you will not be asked back and may get into trouble. But if they give permission, then go for it!
10.) Time of year and repeat visits can be critical, especially for a newer unknown author. Part of the process is actually about raising the profile of your book. If people see the cover of your book, the next time they will see it as familiar and are more likely to buy. People like familiarity. A repeat visit can generate a lot more sales simply because some of the same people are passing through and saw you before. Sending posters in advance of events for the bookshop to put up to advertise your book and the event can help in this area too. In the immediate weeks before Christmas, there will be hoards of people, but they will be busier buying "The Christmas bumper book of crud" than regular books. Sales of regular lines in bookshops suffer at Christmas losing out to the seasonal stuff.
11.) The media is your friend. Send information and features to local newspapers in the run up to signings. Often they will be only too glad of some material of local relevance to fill the pages. It also gives you a nice smug feeling to know that a few thousand people are seeing the front cover of your book in the local papers. Also trail the signing events online, but don't do it to the point of appearing to spam sites as this will put people off.
I think that covers the main points. I'm sure I've missed something, and there will almost certainly be other things that I learn in the coming weeks. So far I know that it is a steep learning curve, but it's a great deal of fun and it beats having a real job. I also get the satisfaction of seeing my books actually sell and knowing each of those is a book that won't get returned to the publisher through Sale or Return.
1.) Take some books with you. Especially if your publisher is a small press who is not yet on a general stock with Waterstones. For some reason books can and do get lost somewhere in the system and fail to arrive at the bookshop you are supposed to be signing at. I have a box of 44 in the boot of the car whenever I'm off to a signing. My publisher said it was a good idea, and on several occasions it certainl;y was. Even if the actual stock has arrived, sometimes you can sell out and it's nice to sell a few extra whilst you are there. Any of your stock you use the bookshop will replenish once their actual stock comes through.
2.) You will be mistaken for shop staff frequently. Up until I started the signing tour I had completely missed the significance of the scene at the start of the film "1408" based on a Stephen King short story. There the author is asked about the whereabouts in the shop of another author's books. I reckon that for every one person who asks about my book, another three ask me where they can find the cookery section or a book about X. Just smile and point them on to the actual staff or be clever and point out what they want if you know where it happens to be. Even with a big stand with posters and your books on they will do this. Hell, I wasn't even wearing the same colour clothes as the bookshop staff's uniforms.
3.) Smile and be nice. Say hello to people who go past, and if they hesitate and look to the books, tell them the genre and that you are an author on a book signing. You will snare a great many people this way who will take a look and maybe even buy a copy. If you sit and say nothing I guarantee that almost all will pass you by (or ask where the newest Harry Potter tome can be found). As a start out author you will get most of your books purchased by this pro-active effort. Whatever you do, don't do the hard sell because it will annoy people and get you no extra sales. It will also even put off some people that were wavering and they will pass you by.
4.) Don't stereotype. Regardless of the genre you write in, its readers do not all look the same or how you imagine. I get a lot of books signed because some-one is buying a present for a niece or nephew. I also had a famous Sci-fi artist from 2000AD buy a book, and he looked like my Grandfather - or about as far removed from an avid sci-fi reader as I could imagine. He was a very nice bloke too. Say hello and smile to everyone, because you never know who the people are who would like a copy of your book.
5.) Nothing gets people interested more than other people at your table talking about your book or getting one signed. Feel free to chat; not even necessarily about your book. A lot of people are interested in the writing process or even books you like to read yourself. Just keep an eye out for other people hovering behind them who might be coming closer to see what's getting people's interest up.
6.) When you sign your book, don't sign it like you would sign a cheque or a delivery slip. People want a signature that looks like your name, and not like some-one used the first page of the book to test a biro was working. My author signature looks like my name written in a fast artsy style, but it is still readable as my name. My signature, on the other hand, looks like some-one testing a pen. It probably also pays not to hand out an example of the signature that gets access all areas on your bank account and life.
7.) Unless specifically asked to dedicate the book to X, don't. There is a small minority of people who will get a book signed then hide it elsewhere in the shop without any intention of buying it. If all the book says is "best wishes" then your name, the book is still saleable. There is also less chance of you misspelling a name, then having to do another one to correct it. It's also handy to have a pad to be able to confirm spellings with people. You would be amazed to how many names your brain suddenly decides "I can give you three different ways of spelling that". The pad also allows you to keep a discrete tally of how many books you have shifted.
8.) Don't read a book or get lost in writing your next one whilst you are there. If you look engrossed in something or disinterested in the signing, people won't disturb you and won't ask for a copy of your book.
9.) At the end of the gig, politely offer to sign any remaining stock copies of your book. There's a few reasons for this. A lot of shops sell books "signed by the author" and it gives them something marketable. People who didn't make it to your signing on the day can still get a signed copy of your book. On the day you will find a lot of people may look, ask questions and chat but not actually commit and buy. In the days after I do a signing a lot of shops report an increase in sales of my book as some of these people come back to buy. People often don't like to commit in the moment. Other people also don't like to make a decision whilst they feel you are watching them. I suppose it can be intimidating. That's one of the reasons I always slip a couple of copies into the appropriate book section so that people can look at the book at their own pace where I can't see them. The other reason to sign books is that (as was explained to me at a multi-author signing event by an older hand) ever copy signed is a sale - the shop can't actually return it for a credit. Don't just sign every copy willy-nilly. Ask first otherwise you will not be asked back and may get into trouble. But if they give permission, then go for it!
10.) Time of year and repeat visits can be critical, especially for a newer unknown author. Part of the process is actually about raising the profile of your book. If people see the cover of your book, the next time they will see it as familiar and are more likely to buy. People like familiarity. A repeat visit can generate a lot more sales simply because some of the same people are passing through and saw you before. Sending posters in advance of events for the bookshop to put up to advertise your book and the event can help in this area too. In the immediate weeks before Christmas, there will be hoards of people, but they will be busier buying "The Christmas bumper book of crud" than regular books. Sales of regular lines in bookshops suffer at Christmas losing out to the seasonal stuff.
11.) The media is your friend. Send information and features to local newspapers in the run up to signings. Often they will be only too glad of some material of local relevance to fill the pages. It also gives you a nice smug feeling to know that a few thousand people are seeing the front cover of your book in the local papers. Also trail the signing events online, but don't do it to the point of appearing to spam sites as this will put people off.
I think that covers the main points. I'm sure I've missed something, and there will almost certainly be other things that I learn in the coming weeks. So far I know that it is a steep learning curve, but it's a great deal of fun and it beats having a real job. I also get the satisfaction of seeing my books actually sell and knowing each of those is a book that won't get returned to the publisher through Sale or Return.
Friday 10 December 2010
Manchester signing and a chat with a footballer
Last night was the Big Event at Waterstones in Manchester. It is a huge Waterstones branch, for anyone who has never been there. Spread over three floors, it is truly massive, so the fifteen authors were lost into its top two floors. Initially I was in the SF section (as you might expect), but passing trade proved to be quite thin on the ground so I was moved to next to Rich Holden, the footballer. It made for some interesting conversation and it is strange to be given accountancy and tax tips from a footballer. But alas the weather and the television (apparently 13 million people were at home watching a live anniversary episode of Coronation Street which has to leave a dent in anyone's passing trade) conspired against the event.
It was a strange result, in that few people actually got signed books from any of us, but we were all asked by staff to sign a large number of books each which were then stickered up as "signed by the author at Waterstones" for selling over the coming weeks. Including those sold on the night, that makes it another record number, even if it felt a little like cheating. So if you are in Manchester over the coming weeks and want a signed copy then Manchester Deansgate Waterstones has them in stock - get them while you can!
This weekend I shall be in the North East at Durham Waterstones on the Saturday and Darlington Waterstones on the Sunday. These are all day events and should be busy, so see me there!
It was a strange result, in that few people actually got signed books from any of us, but we were all asked by staff to sign a large number of books each which were then stickered up as "signed by the author at Waterstones" for selling over the coming weeks. Including those sold on the night, that makes it another record number, even if it felt a little like cheating. So if you are in Manchester over the coming weeks and want a signed copy then Manchester Deansgate Waterstones has them in stock - get them while you can!
This weekend I shall be in the North East at Durham Waterstones on the Saturday and Darlington Waterstones on the Sunday. These are all day events and should be busy, so see me there!
Tuesday 7 December 2010
Press release for Thursday's signing event.
Waterstone’s Press Release
Date of release: 23rd November 2010
Stars come out for The Deansgate Christmas Signings
Meet favourite authors, enjoy music, magic and cupcakes and get in the festive spirit at Waterstone’s Deansgate from 6pm on Thursday 9th December when the city centre bookshop hosts The Deansgate Christmas Signings.
15 authors will be attending this very special event, with shoppers getting the chance to meet the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, designer Nicky Haslam, DJ Dave Haslam, entertainer Mike Harding, footballer Rick Holden, garden expert Anna Pavord and historian Juliet Barker amongst others. Young bookworms will get the chance to meet children’s author Diana Shaw and bestselling kids book illustrator Jane Ray. Writers from Manchester’s thriving literary scene will also be in attendance including Jennifer Kirk and Steve Worthington, and all of the authors appearing will be signing copies of their books, which will make ideal Christmas presents for friends and family.
There’ll also be entertainment from Lime Tree Primary School Choir & the James Goodwin Stage School, music from cellist Li Lu and magic from Jez Mansfield.
Hey Little Cup Cakes will be offering samples of their yummy wares, and there will be festive refreshments on sale at 2nd View Restaurant and Bar including Warm Mulled Wine & Cider, Christmas Cocktails and mince pies.
Waterstone’s Manchester Deansgate events coordinator Vivien Hamilton says
“I love Christmas and so decided I wanted to organize a really festive extravaganza for all our customers to enjoy. We’ve had such a fantastic response from writers and illustrators that we hope to make The Deansgate Christmas Signings an annual event, and for it to become a major fixture on Manchester’s cultural calendar.”
For further information please contact Waterstone’s Deansgate on 0843 2908485
- ends –
Media enquiries
Please contact
Vivien Hamilton
Waterstone’s Manchester Deansgate Events Coordinator
Tel 0843 2908485
Email vivien.Hamilton@me.com
Mel Harris
Waterstone’s Press Office
Tel 0115 9419863
Email mel.harris@waterstones.com
Notes to Editors
The Deansgate Christmas Signings event will be held on Thursday 9th December from 6pm at Waterstone’s, 91 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BW Tel 0843 2908485
The authors who will be attending are:
Carol Ann Duffy
Author of Mrs Scrooge (Picador £4.99) and Another Night Before Christmas (Picador £4.99)
Nicky Haslam
author of Redeeming Features (Vintage £9.99)
Rick Holden
author of Football: It's a Minging Life (DB Publishing £16.99)
Andrew Bibby
author of The BackBone of England (Frances Lincoln £20)
Jane Ray
Author of Ahmed and the Feather Girl (Frances Lincoln £11.99)
Dave Haslam
Author of Manchester England (Fourth Estate £8.99)
Deborah Hudson & Tony Husband
Authors of Sing Your Heart Out (Schott Music £4.99)
Diana Shaw
Author of Septimus Smythe and the Spectre Detectors (Quick Brown Fox £4.99)
Anna Pavord
author of The Curious Gardener (Bloomsbury £20)
Steve Hollyman
Author of Keeping Britain Tidy (Transmission Print £8.99)
Steve Worthington
Author of Once In a Blue Moon (The History Press £8.99)
Juliet Barker
Author of The Brontes (Abacus £14.99)
Jennifer Kirk
Author of Bringing Home the Stars (DS Press £7.99
Mike Harding
Author of Strange Lights over Bexleyheath (Luath Press £9.99
Date of release: 23rd November 2010
Stars come out for The Deansgate Christmas Signings
Meet favourite authors, enjoy music, magic and cupcakes and get in the festive spirit at Waterstone’s Deansgate from 6pm on Thursday 9th December when the city centre bookshop hosts The Deansgate Christmas Signings.
15 authors will be attending this very special event, with shoppers getting the chance to meet the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, designer Nicky Haslam, DJ Dave Haslam, entertainer Mike Harding, footballer Rick Holden, garden expert Anna Pavord and historian Juliet Barker amongst others. Young bookworms will get the chance to meet children’s author Diana Shaw and bestselling kids book illustrator Jane Ray. Writers from Manchester’s thriving literary scene will also be in attendance including Jennifer Kirk and Steve Worthington, and all of the authors appearing will be signing copies of their books, which will make ideal Christmas presents for friends and family.
There’ll also be entertainment from Lime Tree Primary School Choir & the James Goodwin Stage School, music from cellist Li Lu and magic from Jez Mansfield.
Hey Little Cup Cakes will be offering samples of their yummy wares, and there will be festive refreshments on sale at 2nd View Restaurant and Bar including Warm Mulled Wine & Cider, Christmas Cocktails and mince pies.
Waterstone’s Manchester Deansgate events coordinator Vivien Hamilton says
“I love Christmas and so decided I wanted to organize a really festive extravaganza for all our customers to enjoy. We’ve had such a fantastic response from writers and illustrators that we hope to make The Deansgate Christmas Signings an annual event, and for it to become a major fixture on Manchester’s cultural calendar.”
For further information please contact Waterstone’s Deansgate on 0843 2908485
- ends –
Media enquiries
Please contact
Vivien Hamilton
Waterstone’s Manchester Deansgate Events Coordinator
Tel 0843 2908485
Email vivien.Hamilton@me.com
Mel Harris
Waterstone’s Press Office
Tel 0115 9419863
Email mel.harris@waterstones.com
Notes to Editors
The Deansgate Christmas Signings event will be held on Thursday 9th December from 6pm at Waterstone’s, 91 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2BW Tel 0843 2908485
The authors who will be attending are:
Carol Ann Duffy
Author of Mrs Scrooge (Picador £4.99) and Another Night Before Christmas (Picador £4.99)
Nicky Haslam
author of Redeeming Features (Vintage £9.99)
Rick Holden
author of Football: It's a Minging Life (DB Publishing £16.99)
Andrew Bibby
author of The BackBone of England (Frances Lincoln £20)
Jane Ray
Author of Ahmed and the Feather Girl (Frances Lincoln £11.99)
Dave Haslam
Author of Manchester England (Fourth Estate £8.99)
Deborah Hudson & Tony Husband
Authors of Sing Your Heart Out (Schott Music £4.99)
Diana Shaw
Author of Septimus Smythe and the Spectre Detectors (Quick Brown Fox £4.99)
Anna Pavord
author of The Curious Gardener (Bloomsbury £20)
Steve Hollyman
Author of Keeping Britain Tidy (Transmission Print £8.99)
Steve Worthington
Author of Once In a Blue Moon (The History Press £8.99)
Juliet Barker
Author of The Brontes (Abacus £14.99)
Jennifer Kirk
Author of Bringing Home the Stars (DS Press £7.99
Mike Harding
Author of Strange Lights over Bexleyheath (Luath Press £9.99
Localised flooding in the bathroom on the way to the (home) office.
All over the house this week on Monday comes out of its long-running and hard-hitting storyline with a comic that is maybe something like my daily 'commute' to the home office? I have to say I quite like this one and it has been sitting in the stack of strip ideas for a while.
Thursday 2 December 2010
Snow? What snow?
I am well aware that the rest of the country seems to have disappeared under a blanket of white, cold fluffy stuff. But here in Bolton - a place not normally noted for its temperate weather - we have had barely a dusting. There isn't even enough for making the customary snowman. Of course, everything looks prettified, but I wanted to go sledging and generally act like a child but with an excuse this time.
Why does the UK always grind to a halt in sub zero temperatures? Is it a perception thing? I wonder what people from other places that have hard winters think - I've seen enough videos on YouTube of cars slip-sliding their way around Moscow or New York to know that adverse weather is certainly not monopolised by Great Britain. Maybe people in these places always lambaste their fellow residents for being muppets in the snow and harbour the misunderstanding that somehow we are coping here in Britain quite well. Or maybe it is just that GB is run by a culture of incompetent managers who couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery?
I quite enjoy driving in the snow. I see it as a challenge to my skills. Before now I have taken a big rig with pride through a technically closed A19 in North Yorkshire without incident. On the way the biggest problem was getting around vehicles that muppets seem determined to just dump in the middle of the road. People, if you are going to abandon your car in a little snow, at least have the good grace to push it to the side of the road and not leave it straddling two lanes of a major highway so that others struggle to get past.
At the moment I'm happily working from home editing up a new edition of 'The Atlantic Connection' Whether it snows heavily around here yet, or not, work still goes on. One thing I will say is that those energy efficiency grants that we got in 2009 for insulating the cavities and the loft really were money well spent (they didn't cost us a penny) and you can certainly tell the difference. Given how they worked out free for most people and a token payment for everyone else, I am left wondering why those who did not take them up chose not to. If only we could have got all new windows and doors too we would be snuggling in the warmest house this side of the garden fence. The only thing we lack is a wood burning stove for that full on Christmas feel. You know, you really miss the fireplaces in these old houses the once-in-a-blue-moon that it is cold enough to get good use out of them. Still, there's always next yet. Santa would only burn his tootsies on the way down anyway.
Why does the UK always grind to a halt in sub zero temperatures? Is it a perception thing? I wonder what people from other places that have hard winters think - I've seen enough videos on YouTube of cars slip-sliding their way around Moscow or New York to know that adverse weather is certainly not monopolised by Great Britain. Maybe people in these places always lambaste their fellow residents for being muppets in the snow and harbour the misunderstanding that somehow we are coping here in Britain quite well. Or maybe it is just that GB is run by a culture of incompetent managers who couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery?
I quite enjoy driving in the snow. I see it as a challenge to my skills. Before now I have taken a big rig with pride through a technically closed A19 in North Yorkshire without incident. On the way the biggest problem was getting around vehicles that muppets seem determined to just dump in the middle of the road. People, if you are going to abandon your car in a little snow, at least have the good grace to push it to the side of the road and not leave it straddling two lanes of a major highway so that others struggle to get past.
At the moment I'm happily working from home editing up a new edition of 'The Atlantic Connection' Whether it snows heavily around here yet, or not, work still goes on. One thing I will say is that those energy efficiency grants that we got in 2009 for insulating the cavities and the loft really were money well spent (they didn't cost us a penny) and you can certainly tell the difference. Given how they worked out free for most people and a token payment for everyone else, I am left wondering why those who did not take them up chose not to. If only we could have got all new windows and doors too we would be snuggling in the warmest house this side of the garden fence. The only thing we lack is a wood burning stove for that full on Christmas feel. You know, you really miss the fireplaces in these old houses the once-in-a-blue-moon that it is cold enough to get good use out of them. Still, there's always next yet. Santa would only burn his tootsies on the way down anyway.
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