I'll be back ...

Sorry, I should explain, I've not gone anywhere.  Nor have I stopped writing; quite the opposite.  I'm finishing my first novel and as all my Raven chums will tell you, I've been in that same state of flux for the last two years.  But now events have reached the point most author's dread; editing the first draft.  Honestly, I feel like I'm climbing the north face of K2 without ropes and the more I edge towards the final chapter, the bigger hole I dig for myself.

And try as I might to crack on, I have been distracted by sport.  The Tour de France mainly and World Cup football.  Surely the best 'Coleman Balls' moment belongs to the commentator of Greece vs Ivory Coast match who asked us to have some sympathy for the lads on the pitch because of the extreme heat and humidity.  The last time I went to Athens it was 50 degrees centigrade in mid-summer, and I understand that in equatorial Ivory Coast it's regularly hotter than that and doesn't rain, ever, and in comparison, Fortaleza was quite chilly. Oh and he asked if we could sympathize with one of the lads who was playing with a dose had malaria - now that deserves a bit of compassion. I also loved the Japan vs Colombia game where we all saw Honda pass the ball to Toyota, who flicked it on to Suzuki who scored on the rebound.  I've asked Alphonse for an Aygo ... the new one, in Orange.  Maybe next year.

Tip of the Beak:  Yes, there's been birthdays and weddings, reunions and fallings out, tears and tantrums [mainly mine], retirements and several new frocks. So I hope your Summer's been hot and happy despite yesterday's torrential rain, and I will keep you posted on progress.  Should be finished around mid-September but I can't promise which year.

Raven