Mike and Roses

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Happy belated Celebrate The Small Things day.  Yes, again I'm a few days late.  Over the summer my weeks seem to have become busier and busier.  But here I am.

This week has been great.  The sun has been shining which is always a bonus in England.

On Monday I was able to go back to Pilates after having missed a few weeks because of work, and because I fell down a rabbit hole.  I felt great afterwards!

On Tuesday, the boy and I went to London for the day.  The weather was just right, not too hot, not too cold, and it wasn't too busy either.  We went to Trafalgar Square, and saw this very interesting statue ...

We then went on a Rock 'n' Roll walking tour, which took us to various places where The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and many others played back in the olden days.

This is the art gallery where Yoko Ono and John Lennon met for the first time ...

And this record shop used to be The Bricklayers Arms; a pub where The Rolling Stones used to practise ...

Just walking through London you could miss some little gems.  After the tour we went to the O2 to go to the British Music Experience.  It's a museum containing original pieces of music memorabilia from the past century or so of British music.  It's well worth a visit.

As most of you know, I've only been working at my job (at the town library) for a few months and it's great.  I still get excited going into work, as the people are so lovely.  The other day I was helping a customer and he thanked me and went away.  About 10-15 minutes later he came back with some flowers for me to thank me for helping him!  I hadn't expected that at all.  I was just doing my job, but he must have really appreciated it.

And the boy bought me a young Mike Wazowski (from Monsters University).  He's so cute; he's got little braces on his teeth and everything!

These are the things I'm celebrating this week.  How about you?

Festive Festivities

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Oh my goodness, I'm late again this week.  I do apologise, but it's better late than never to Celebrate The Small Things.

Firstly I would like to apologise to all the lovely bloggers participating in this bloghop.  I have been so busy over the past week with work and work related things that I've not had the chance to visit as many people as I would have wanted to, or replied to all the lovely comments left by you guys.  I will get around to it; I just need to find a few minutes to do so!

So, on to the big news.  This week I am mainly celebrating Lowestoft Library Literary Festival.  I belong to The Friends of Lowestoft Library, and we put on events and help raise money in order to buy things that the library needs.  A few months ago I suggested holding a literary festival, and everyone was extremely supportive.  The festival will take place on Saturday 28th September, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm, in the Meeting Room at Lowestoft Library.

We have 8 local authors who will be reading from their work as well as signing their books.  You can click on the authors' names below to find out more about them and their work.

Jayne-Marie Barker

Terry Tarbox

Suzan Collins

Ruth Dugdall

Patricia van Stratum

Rebeccah Giltrow

Ian Robb

Nicola Upson

There will also be free children's activities taking place throughout the day; drama games, story telling, colouring, poetry writing.  Plus, the Bookstart Bear will be making an appearance!

What more could you ask for?!

I am so super excited about this festival, as we have all worked really hard, and it looks to be a great day.

Apart from this, I am celebrating the weather - we still have sun sun sun and it's glorious.  Work is still really good, and we went out for a staff meal the other night which was loads of fun. And things with 'the boy' are still going well after a month, so I'm a happy bunny.

What are you celebrating this week?

Literary Festivals Galore

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Wow, what a busy week it's been.  But now I can sit back and Celebrate The Small Things.

Firstly I am celebrating the sun.  Oh my goodness, we have some summer!!  The sun really does put me in a good mood.  And of course my job is still brilliant.  I still can't believe that I love my job!

On Saturday I went down to London with an author friend, to a children's literary festival in Trafalgar Square called 'Get Reading'.  It was set up to raise awareness that 1 in 4 school leavers still don't know how to read properly.  That's quite a shocking statistic.  It was such a hot day, I think I drank twice my body weight in water, but it was worth it.  The festival wasn't as busy as I thought it would be, but I think that made it better as there was room to stand without getting crushed.  We weren't there for the whole festival, so we didn't see all the authors, but we did manage to see Anthony Horowitz, Dick and Dom (bogies!), Horrible Histories, Warwick Davis, Samuel West, and Hugh Grant.  

On Sunday I went out on my first date in a helluva long time.  And then on Wednesday I went out on my second date in a helluva long time!  We went to see Monsters University.  It was very funny, and young Mike Wazowski is so cute with his little braces!

http://www.skwigly.co.uk/monsters-university-review/

On Thursday I had my committee meeting for the Lowestoft Library Literary Festival.  We just have to make a few amendments to the poster and programme and then we'll be ready to start properly advertising and selling tickets.  I'm getting so excited!!

What are you celebrating this week?

Some Shine Sun Shine

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It's the end of the week and it's time to Celebrate The Small Things.

This week I have to celebrate the sun above everything else.  It has been beautiful - not that rain and snow and wind and hail and mist and fog aren't beautiful.  In fact I really like all weather types, but I like them all at the appropriate time of year.  And the weather that we should have at this time of year is sunniness, and that's just what we've been having.  Lily and I have spent some lovely hours down the beach, playing with stones and staring out to sea.  And because it's not summer holidays yet, the beach has been very quiet.

This week I had my teen writing group and my 'adult' writing group (when I say 'adult', I'm just making a distinction between that and my teens - we write everything, not just 'adult' themed pieces!!).  They both went really well; I always feel inspired after writing group, and I think it's so important for writers to meet up with other writers, as writing can be a lonely pursuit.  We're putting together a display of our best work to go up in the library, to run alongside the Literary Festival.

I'm also celebrating that I'm going to London tomorrow to an open air children's book festival in Trafalgar Square.  I've never been to anything like that before so it should be interesting.  I'll let you know how it went next Friday.

What are you celebrating this week?

It's Summer - finally!

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What a lovely Friday to sit back and Celebrate The Small Things that happened over the last week.

This week I'm celebrating the summer.  Yesterday was such a beautiful, sunny day, and today has followed in yesterday's footsteps.  I've got my legs out, and am wearing a pair of shorts for the first time this year.  Yes, I look like Casper, but I don't care!  I'm going to enjoy this sun as I don't know when it'll be back!

Lily and I have just come back from a lovely walk down the beach.  There were a few people out today, but we found a quiet spot down by the sea, where we sat and watched the birds playing on the water, and Lily had fun chasing stones and burying her face in the sand.  I wish I'd taken  my camera.

I'm also celebrating a loss of weight.  I won't say how much I weigh or how much I lost, but I'm pleased with it.  And I can still touch my toes!!  So yay for the gym and for healthy eating!

My job is still great.  I feel like I've really learnt a lot there, and I'm settling in quite nicely.  I can't believe I've been there for two months.  Only four more months to go before I complete my probation and I find out whether or not it's a permanent job.

What are you celebrating this week?

Website

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We've survived another week and now it's time to Celebrate The Small Things.

I have quite a big thing to celebrate this week, and that is ... I have a website!  I've been umm-ing and aah-ing about it for ages, and I've been 'building' websites on those free providers, but I finally got around to finishing one off and paying for it.  The free options are good, but they give you an awful web address, like www.rebeccahgiltrow.flurb.com/blurghdiblurgh.rebeccah (ha!  I made that up, but you get the idea).  So now I am the proud owner of da-da-da

www.rebeccahgiltrow.com

It's quite exciting to have one of those website thingies.  I know I have a blog, but a website properly advertises me as an author, and my books.

I'm also celebrating Book Group this week.  Last month we read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows.  I read this book a few years ago, so was glad to read it again.  I really enjoyed it both times.  It's a fairly easy read, and the story drags you in pretty much straight away.  It's about recovering from the Nazi occupation of Guernsey, which is obviously a horrible subject, but it's really worth reading.

I can still touch my toes, which has really made me happy.  My Pilates teacher has put together a little instruction booklet for stretching the legs, and is going to sell that along with a stretchy band, so next time I see her I'm going to buy one, just to keep myself fit and flexible.

I've found another blog hop to get involved in.  I've joined up to What's Up Wednesday, which encourages readers and writers to note down their progress.  I think three blog hops per week is enough to keep me busy - Express Yourself on Monday, What's Up Wednesday on Wednesday, and Celebrate The Small Things on Friday.  Other bloggers are very friendly and supportive, which is great, and I also really enjoy reading about what other people are getting up to.  This blogosphere is an interesting place.

Work is still good.  I love my job; some of the people aren't particularly agreeable, but the job is enjoyable.  I took it upon myself to organise a very messy book display this week, and it looks so much better after a bit of time and care.  It's kind of hidden away at the back of the library, but it frustrated me every time I tried to find a book and couldn't because all the books were shelved in a random order.  It now looks very pretty, and it's so much easier to find things.  

And of course I'm celebrating my Lily and my parents.  They brought her to meet me from my book group, and Lily was so excited to see me.  Whatever has upset me (if anything) during the day, seeing her smiling face always makes me smile.  I don't know what I'd do without her.

What are you celebrating this week?

I Can Touch My Toes

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Why, hello Friday, we meet again.  Would you like to hear about the good things that happened to me over the past week?  Oh you would?  Well it's a good thing that I'm Celebrating The Small Things.

• The first thing that I'm celebrating is a pretty big thing.  I've been going to Pilates classes for just under a year.  I wanted to start going as I was extremely inflexible.  My body didn't like moving normally, let alone any sort of extension.  And then today, after a grueling hour of stretching I folded myself in half and I touched my toes for the very first time!!  My legs were straight.  My knees weren't bent.  My fingers were on my toes.  I couldn't believe it.  I just screamed out in front of the whole class; I was so excited!!  In fact, I'm still excited.   I can't contort myself, but it's a start.
• I've not got myself back into a writing routine, so my second novel (currently untitled) is taking a while to write.  However, on Sunday I sat down at my computer and decided to get my word count to 40,000.  I started off having previously written just over 38,000 words, and when I finished at the end of the day I had just over 42,000 words.  
• I finished reading my Book Group book well before our meeting.  We meet on the last Tuesday of the month (which will be next Tuesday), and I normally finish the book the day of the meeting.  It's not that I don't enjoy reading the books.  I'm just a slow reader.  This month we had to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  I read it a few years ago and I'm glad I read it again.  It's a really good read. 
• On Wednesday I went down to London to see Charlie And The Chocolate Factory musical at the theatre.  It was so good.  I can't find any of the songs on YouTube yet, but my favourite was Mike Teevee's "exit" song.  I had wanted to share it with you but I guess that will just have to wait.  
  
  
  
  
  
• We had another meeting for the Lowestoft Library Literary Festival.  It will be on Saturday 28th September, and we have 8 local authors who are coming to speak about their books.  It's very exciting.  So if you're interested in seeing Jayne-Marie Barker, Terry Tarbox, Suzan Collins, Ruth Dugdall, Patricia van Stratum, Rebeccah Giltrow, Ian Robb, and Elly Griffiths then keep your eyes peeled and I'll let you know when and where you can get tickets.
• And of course, work, dog, parents, but that's a given now!

What are you celebrating this week?

Happy Friday

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Happy Friday, and Happy Celebrate The Small Things Day!  Here's what has been floating my boat this past week.

• After being ill last week, I thought I would treat myself to something at the supermarket.  I was browsing the cereal aisle and saw Poptarts.  I used to eat these when I was little, but not so much as an adult.  But as a treat, I picked up a box.  And for some reason a box of 12 was cheaper than a box of 8!  I checked and double checked, but a box of 12 was £2.50, and a box of 8 was £2.64.  Cheap treats are the best!
• Over this last fortnight, my shifts fall so that I have 7 days off in a row.  Last week I worked Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and this week I'm working Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
• This week I had my writing group and my teen writing group.  Whenever my creative juices start to dry up, writing groups always give me a bit of inspiration.
• I had lunch with a friend who I hadn't seen in months.  It was nice to have a catch up and find out what she'd been getting up to.  We've arranged to go to London in a month to an open air book festival in Trafalgar Square which should be exciting.
• The sun has been shining.  Not all the time and not every day.  But it's lovely to drive home from work with the car window open.
• And of course work is good, my dog is still lovely and gets super excited when I get home (which always cheers me up), and my parents are still being great by taking care of Lily while I'm at work.

What are you celebrating this week?

Cough Sneeze Splutter

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Hello Friday.  So good to make your acquaintance again.  Let's look back over the past week and Celebrate The Small Things.

This week hasn't been particularly great.  I've been nursing a cold since Sunday.  I know it's not a life threatening illness, but I've not been poorly in a long time, so it came as quite a shock to the system.  But it doesn't stop be celebrating a few little things.

• Work.  Yes, I know I've said it a hundred times before, but I still can't believe that I have a job that I enjoy.  This week has been a bit tough because of the cold, as I nearly lost my voice on Wednesday which isn't particularly helpful when trying to talk to customers.  But apart from that, I am still looking forward to going to work, and I do have a good time when I'm there.  Plus, my shift pattern is great.  This week I worked Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and I don't go back to work until next Thursday.
• My parents.  They take care of Lily when I'm at work, and especially this week when I've been too ill to do much apart from hide under the duvet and watch films.
• Lily.  I love coming home from work to be greeted by an excited little dog.  No matter how crappy I feel from being ill, she always makes everything better.
• The weather.  We have been inundated with sunshine over the past week.  I've not been able to enjoy it *cough sneeze splutter* but it's lovely to look at the window and see the blue sky and fluffy white clouds.
• The olden days.  My parents have been clearing out the loft, and they have found loads of my old books from when I was little, so I've been reminiscing and reading stories that take me back to my childhood.  I love that "I'd completely forgotten about that" feeling you get when you pull another book out of the box.
• Blog hop.  I really look forward to writing this post for this blog hop, and reading about what other people are celebrating.  And I've found another weekly blog hop to get my writerly juices flowing.  Express Yourself is the brainchild of Jackie @ Bouquet of Books and Dani @ Entertaining Interests.  Each month they come up with 4 different writing topics.  If you like blogging and making connections with other bloggers, it's worth checking out.

The Sun Is Shining

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It's Friday and it's a great time to look over the past week and Celebrate The Small Things.

This week has gone pretty quickly, but there are still a lot of things to celebrate.

• I'm still enjoying my job.  I know I keep harping on about it, but it has been such a long time since I've actually liked going to work!  I'm still tired, but that doesn't bother me.  And today is my first payday in a very long time, so that's certainly something to shout about!!
• Being at work means that I don't get to spend as much time with my dog as I would like, but she is so pleased to see me when I get home, I can't help but look forward to opening my front door at the end of the day and be greeted by an excited ball of energy.
• My parents are so great for looking after my dog while I'm at work.  They've been taking her on long walks around the fields and along the beach (which she loves), so I have to continually thank them for being there and helping me out.
• Our book group met on Tuesday evening.  I really like going to that group as we've read books that I wouldn't normally pick up, and I've enjoyed quite a lot of them.  Of course there have been some books that I've wished I hadn't read, but you can't please everyone.  This past month we read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  I have to say that I didn't read it all.  In fact, I only read 144 pages.  I just couldn't get into it.  Nothing gripped me, and I ended up just reading the words and not taking in any of the story.  At our next meeting we will be discussing The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer.  I read this book a few years ago and enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to reading it again.
• Working in the library is also a great opportunity to have first peek at the 'removed from stock' books for sale.  I managed to pick up 6 books for a mere 90p this week, and some of the books look like they haven't even been opened.
• The weather today is absolutely beautiful.  It seemed like we weren't going to have any sunshine, but it's out in full force today.  It's still a bit breezy down at the beach, but the sun is out so that can only be a good thing.

What are you celebrating this week?

Satisfied Tired

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It's F-F-F-Friiiidaaaaay, and it's the time where we look back over the past week and Celebrate The Small Things that have taken place.

Again, this week I am shattered, so it's just bullet points.  But, even though I'm tired, it's a good tired!

• I'm still loving my job.  I can't believe it.  It's been so long since I've had a job that I've looked forward to.  My body is still getting used to it, and that's why I'm so tired.  But I'm not grumpy tired.  I'm satisfied tired.
• I was on the radio earlier this week.  I know a local author (Terry Tarbox) and he reads his stories on Blyth Valley Radio.  A few weeks ago he asked me if I wanted to read my stories on the radio too.  Well, I couldn't say no, could I!?  I was very nervous, but I knew it would be a great way of promoting myself and introducing my work to a different audience.  They've asked me to go back, which is a huge boost to my confidence!
• A little while ago I made the suggestion to hold a literary festival at the library, and we had our first meeting about it on Thursday.  Everyone came along with so many ideas, and they were all so excited and willing to do what they could to get the ball rolling with organising everything.  We're hoping to hold it in September, so we've got a lot to do and not long to do it in.  But we can do it!!
• And again, I have to celebrate my parents for taking care of Lily while I've been at work, and at meetings, and on the radio.  I don't like leaving her, but I know she's in good hands with my parents, and they're a great help.

What are you celebrating this week?

A Week Full Of Writing

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Here we are, on Friday yet again.  And it is on a day like today where we look back over the past week and Celebrate the Small Things that have occurred over the past seven days.

I'm extremely tired today, so I'm afraid my celebrations will be bullet points, without my normal pictorial offerings.  I hope I'm back to my normal, perky self next week.

• I wrote 2,000 words on my current novel.  It may not seem like much, but I haven't done any writing in a long time, and I managed to write that in 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon.
• I'm loving my new job.  There's still so much to learn, but I'm picking it up fairly quickly, and if I don't know how to do something, there are always people around to offer a hand.  Sometimes it doesn't even feel like work - today I helped out at a 'family play' session where we sang songs and played with drums and tambourines!
• On Saturday, the committee for the Friends of Lowestoft Library met.  We were talking about fundraising ideas and I suggested a literary festival, which everyone thought was a good idea.  So I will be organising that, with the help of the Friends and library staff members.  It's an exciting prospect.
• I had my writing group (which I attend) and my teen writing group (which I run) this week.  They both force me to get on with writing something, even when I'm not in the mood.
• My parents have been great, taking care of Lily (my dog) while I've been at work.
• I've received a couple of Postcrossing postcards this week.  It's always great to get mail, especially beautiful postcards from the other side of the world!

What are you celebrating this week?

I'm A Survivor

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Here we are, in the middle of another Friday, where we Celebrate The Small Things, thanks to VikLit.  If you want too join in, go and have a looksee at her blog to sign up.

This week has been a pretty big week for me, as it was my first week at work in a veeeeeeery long time!  I started my job at the library on Tuesday, and I've managed to get through my first week without any hiccups.  And I'm really enjoying it.  I got to go down into the County Reserve library in the basement of the building, where all the old/obscure books are kept.  I love me a good second hand bookshop, full of dusty books, and the County Reserve is just like that.  Shelf after shelf, full of delicious smelling books (yes, I'm odd, I smell books).  I'm obviously still learning, and there is a lot to learn, but I'm in my element being surrounded by books.  Looksee at my name badge *grins*

Plus, the weather has been lovely.  We still have a bit of a breeze, but the sun is out.  And that makes everything look so much better.  I love taking my dog, Lily, for a walk in all weathers, but it is more enjoyable to be out in the sun, taking a leisurely walk, rather than hurrying through the rain.

And I bought myself a new pair of pyjamas!  I love clothes with butterflies on and as soon as I saw these I knew I had to have them!  Plus, now that I'm working I can appreciate pyjama days a lot more!!

What are you celebrating this week?

Chewsday

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It's Friday, again, and whenever it's Friday we Celebrate The Small Things, thanks to VikLit.

Firstly, I'd like to celebrate the weather.  Even though it is still a bit chilly, the sun is shining which is always a good thing.  I don't know what it is about the sun, but it always puts me in a good mood, and it makes everything look so bright and vibrant.  Plus, it means that summer is on the way, and I love summer!

So, on to the events of the past 7 days.  A few good things have happened this week.

I have my official start date for work, which is exciting.  I will be starting next Tuesday.  Tuesday.  Tuuuuesdaaay.  Chewsday, innit.

I'm quite an impatient person, and I definitely don't like waiting around for things, especially to start work, especially when my new job is in a library, and as we all know, a library is pretty much the best place in the world.  Free books!!!  But at least I know when I'll be starting so I have that to look forward to.

My book group met earlier this week - well, it's not *my* book group; it's the book group I attend.  Anyway, I do love going to book group.  We have a month to read a book and then we meet up to discuss it.  Generally we spend half an hour talking about the book and an hour and a half putting the world to rights. I don't mind, I just enjoy talking.  This past month we read The Crimson Rooms by Katharine McMahon.  Normally we all dislike a book, or we have a split with some liking it and some disliking it.  But this month we all liked it.  At the next meeting we will be discussing Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  I know it's a classic, but I haven't read it, so I'm curious as to what all the fuss is about!

At the March meeting of the book group, a woman told me that she'd bought a copy of my book, 12 Days of Krista May Rose (sorry for the shameless self-promotion there!).  She asked if she brought it along to our next meeting, would I sign it for her.  I said that I would.  So when we met she handed me three books.  I was surprised.  She'd brought along her book, and two others that she'd bought as gifts for her friends.  It's a great feeling knowing that one person had bought my book, but I couldn't believe that she liked it enough to buy two more copies and give them to her friends.  It certainly put a smile on my face.

I received my first Postcrossing postcard this week.  I knew I'd be excited to get one, but I didn't realise just how exciting it would be.  I think we've become so taken over by e-mail and getting messages instantly that we've forgotten what it's like to anticipate getting mail.  I now want to get more and more!

Aaaand, finally, I'm in the local paper, The Lowestoft Journal.  A photographer came and took our picture at the library's World Book Night event last week.  Di (the woman in the centre of the picture) wrote a report of the night and sent it to the paper.  Someone decided to "edit" it by adding a bunch of mistakes, and then someone decided to publish it without proofreading it.  So that's a bit frustrating.  Apart from that, it's quite exciting to be in the paper!!

What are you celebrating this week?

Birthday and Book Night

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I do believe that today is Friday, and what does that mean?  It's time to Celebrate the Small Things, along with VikLit and a big old bunch of other people.  Head on over to Vik's blog to have a looksee.

So this week I'm celebrating a couple of things.  On Saturday it was my dad's birthday.  We don't really do the whole birthday presents/cards/special dinner thing, but we do do the birthday cake thing!  Every year I bake my parents a birthday cake each, and I endeavour to make the most chocolatey cake possible, because birthday cakes contain 0 calories (that's a fact; I heard it on the television once).  So this year, for dad's birthday, I made a chocolate fudge cake (the recipe can be found on the BBC Goodfood wesbsite).  And if I do say so myself, it was yummolicious!

On Monday, my first Postcrossing card arrived in Germany, which was quite exciting.  I love the thought that a little piece of my home town has settled itself abroad!

On Tuesday, Lowestoft Library held a World Book Night event.  World Book Night takes place each year, on the 23rd April (Shakespeare's birth and death day).  It's designed to encourage people to read and fall in love with books.  So each year they put together a list of books which are given away for free at World Book Night events across the country.  I chose to give away The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fford.  I read that book a few years ago and fell in love with it, so thought it would be a great book to give away.

We also had a quiz and a raffle, with signed books from local authors as prizes.  And it also gave us an excuse to dress up as authors or literary characters.

Author Delia Smith, and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz

Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee

Bill Sikes and Nancy from Oliver Twist

Author Barbara Cartland, and Miss Havisham from Great Expectations

Christopher Robin (me!) from Winnie the Pooh, and Robin Hood

Everyone had a really good night; we gave away so many books, and we also raised a lot of money for the Friends of Lowestoft Library.  Plus, a photographer from a local paper came along, so we might be famous soon!

And finally, we nearly had a whole day of sunshine and heat yesterday which was lovely.  And then at about 6pm it decided to rain.  But it was great to see the sun for a while!

What are you celebrating this week?

Haircuts and Hailstorms

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Check the calendar and you'll notice that it's Friday, and on Fridays we Celebrate The Small Things, thanks to VikLit.  Have a looksee back over the past week and think about all the good things that have happened, big or small.

This week, I'm celebrating a few things.  On Saturday, the Friends of Lowestoft Library had an open meeting followed by a committee meeting.  Here we put the finishing touches to our World Book Night event that is taking place on Tuesday.  I'm getting all excited about it, as we will be giving away free World Book Night books, having a quiz, and having a raffle where the prizes will signed books from local authors.  It also gives me an excuse to dress up!

We've also had some weird weather this week.  I think we've gone through most weather types.  We've not had snow, but last night we has a hail storm, and throughout the week we've had sun, wind, rain, fog, and mist (not all at the same time though).  I would just like to celebrate nature and all of its different facets.

Now that we're moving into spring, some beautiful flowers have been popping up, and we have some lovely daffodils that greet us as we walk through the gate.  I think they're the cheeriest of flowers!

And finally, I'd like to celebrate my dog, Lily.  She's a Jack Russell cross Lhasa Apso, which means that her hair doesn't grow as long as a pure breed Lhasa, but she does get fluffy.  She gets her hair cut every few months, and yesterday she went to the hairdressers like a little fur-ball, and she came home looking all skinny and adorable!

She was so pleased to see me, after a few hours apart.  So along with the actual sunshine, the daffodils, and a happy dog, I've had a week worth smiling about.

PS. I almost forgot ... the writing group I attend (Lowestoft Library Writers' Group) has spent the last few months putting together an anthology of poems, short stories, and photographs, called 'Colours of the Coast'.  Everything is related to somewhere in the local area, and it's a lovely little book, so we're all pleased with that.  It's available to buy from Amazon (USA and Europe).

Oh, and PPS. I've decided to start Postcrossing.  I came across a blog (Marcie's Postbox), through the A-Z Blog Challenge, and her theme was the various aspects of postcrossing.  Basically, you register on the site, and then you request an address.  You send a postcard to that address, and when they receive it, they register the card on the site, and then your address gets sent out, and you start receiving postcards.  I went out this morning and bought some Lowestoft postcards, so I'm going to spend this afternoon requesting addresses and writing these postcards.  It's quite exciting to be able to contact with so many different people around the world.