We arrived in Venice at 4.30 p.m. on the Saturday before and it was a mad rush to get to Mum’s and then ready to go out to the restaurant where a group of friends and family had been invited for the main celebration. My brother, his wife, two of their sons, my son, my sister, Mum’s cousin, various Italian step-family and then loads of friends all sat down to a delicious meal at Da Celeste. I wish I had been feeling more up for it, but I was exhausted. The beginning of the school year has been so hectic and I was totally run-down with mouth abscesses and ulcers. We got to bed at 2 a.m. and I slept like the dead until ten o’clock in the morning. On Tuesday, Mum’s real birthday, we celebrated at the Cipriani Hotel in Asolo (just family) and, by then, I was feeling more like my old self. My mother is one popular lady and the phone did not stop ringing all day.

The rest of the week was for R & R and marking GCSE English coursework (in easy stages so it wasn’t too onerous). We had some meals out with friends or stayed in by the fire (it was cold) and watched DVDs (The Painted Veil, Miss Potter, The Last King of Scotland, Amazing Grace). Here is the view from Mum’s at sunset. Isn’t it lush?

We got back last night and, joy of joy, my RNA reader’s report was waiting for me and it was very positive. Of course there was advice on things that don’t work, notably my use of very short sentences which break the flow of the story. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Now I’ve started running them together the pace is much smoother. The report concludes with the following:

“All in all it is an interesting story and I enjoyed reading it. Your writing skills are obvious and with a few changes this is a publishable book. ...The plot is unusual and I would have thought very saleable. Try and finish it sooner rather than later and I wish you every success with it.”

If only there were more hours in a day! I’m feeling much more motivated now to get on with it, but family and the day job have to come first. Talking of which, today is my dear husband’s birthday. Next one will be the big six oh and we’ll celebrate in style. This one we kept low key with lunch out at a pub and a cake and candles at home for tea.