Categories: uncategorized
Date: 06 May 2008 15:54:53
Apologies for long radio silence. I do have the perfect excuse, which is that I have spent the last four days or so mainly flat on my back in bed (alone, in case you were worried).
You won't believe this, but last Friday I managed to put my back out severely while having reflexology at a carers' relaxation day. Yes, I know. Basically I was on a reclined sun lounger rather than a proper massage table, and the reflexologist lifted up my legs onto a precarious arrangement of cushions, which kept slipping, so that he could gain better access to my feet. The result was that I spent at least ten minutes, possibly more, in an uncomfortable position which put huge strain on my lower back, and when the session was over and I attempted to get up, I couldn't. I should have complained much earlier that I was uncomfortable, but unfortunately I've been too well brought up.
All of which meant that I was unable to go on the retreat that I'd booked for Saturday-Monday, and instead had to make do with a home retreat which consisted of resting my back and reading a lot of books. Not too bad, but not the same as spending two days in a gorgeous seventeenth century manor with beautiful grounds, a lake, a fantastic library and lots of home-cooked naughty food not cooked by me. The Grouch and Genius Brat cooked for me at home, but it wasn't the greatest culinary experience.
Now I have to claim a refund on my rail ticket, with £10.00 docked for admin, and I have to pay the full whack for the retreat I didn't have. Piddle. And Bum.
Appendix: Books read while supine.
A Spot of Bother by Mark Haddon (he of the Curious Incident). Very funny and poignant.
Losing my Religion by Gordon Lynch. On leaving evangelicalism. Struck lots of chords.
The Scheme for Full Employment by Magnus Mills. Also funny and original.
Not Religion, but Love by Dave Andrews (he of Christi-Anarchy). A bit more challenging than I was ready for.
The latest issue of Christianity magazine. Very much confirmed why I'm glad I'm no longer trying to be an evangelical. Not that I ever succeeded. Yes, a lot of things have changed since those days but the good old guilt-inducing language is still the same. And the good old insular culture.
Finally today, which was officially work: proofs of Good Enough Mother by (my editor) Naomi Starkey, which doesn't come out till next year and for which I am meant to be writing a cover endorsement. This suggests, reassuringly, that while I may not be exactly famous, I must be a little more famous than Naomi :-)