Hmm...yes, we're off again. Our holidays this year have been like London buses: none for ages and then several come along at once. The fact is not having had a break of any sort and finishing the year with more holiday days left than Santa (though I suppose he doesn't just deliver toys so if he's making toys all year he doesn't really get a holiday? Sorry - tangent, though why if Santa delivers the toys do we have to buy them?) we decided enough was enough. We needed a break. From my wanderings, you can probably tell.

I'll tell you all about out trip upon my return. For now I want to rave about reasons to need a break. I'm beginning to wish I'd never heard the word SatNav for a start. Now, I'm a good navigator but having got caught in the systems around Exeter and seeing rather more of the industrial estate than we would like, we gave in and bought one. It arrived this week just in time for our break. It seemed fine and then we got the free map and software update online. Not only did I have to download 4GB of data over two evenings, the instructions were as usual less than helpful. In fact some of the instructions such as how to register you don't receive until after you've...um...registered. Is it just me or do we see a flaw and lack of common sense issue here? Lack of common sense in today's world is a big issue with me.

The download works fine and the site tells us it's all successful...only the unit then won't work. Today it seems to work but we still get an error message appear first. Having got in touch with customer services they've sent us a file to transfer to the SatNav. It will be interesting to see what happens next. If you don't hear from me again it could be we've diverted and we're trying to navigate the wilds of outer Mongolia in order to find our way back.

Once home I have manuscripts to work on. I'm trying to finish something new and short and then I have two novels to play around with, one of which is causing me problems. I have some feedback on it, which I'm not sure I quite understand. There are times a writer could truly use an editor but I'm not quite at that stage yet so I may have to do the one thing I don't usually do and look for a Beta reader. This is difficult. There can be a trust issue although in this case I'm very well covered. I could ask a friend but that's not such a great idea. It can be useful but I'll explain another day why asking friends to read your writing isn't the best thing. It's best if a Beta reader has some idea of writing, of story structure. It's even better if it's another author (especially a published one) because they'll understand exactly what you need but a well-rounded reader is fine. It has to be someone who doesn't mind m/m romance and who isn't easily *cough* shocked. LOL. In that case, I have to disqualify myself because I'm sure no one is more shocked than me. I've got a good book yet I'm floundering with it.

Did Shakespeare ever feel this way? Oooh, there's a hint to my going away. It's only a mid-week break so you don't need to miss me too much. Now if anyone would like to volunteer to do my packing this weekend...