My, how fast time passes. Everyday I intend to get back here but the day passes and time is gone. Mind you, it is the time of year when family birthdays abound, 2 in May, 2 in June, should be 3 but one granddaughter seems to have gone walk- about, 2 in July, I think it is 3 in August, I am not sure about September will have to check, 4 in October, 3 in November and then it will be christmas. Every year I write down the family birthdays in a notebook and then promptly lose the notebook. Ah well.

It is winter here. I know, my northern hemisphere family laugh at me for being cold but when you spend 9 months of the year in 30-40C when it drops to below 20C I freeze and put on top of that, the wind blowing off the antartic ice and you can see where I am coming from, so I am freezing.
But I do have some good news. I saw my doctor this week, there is no damage done to my body through my last illness. My spine really shows the amount of arthritis but no breaks, bumps or swellings but nothing can help the pain so I will have to put up with it. Now I have to get my body stronger, from all the taking it easy for a long time, I have to strengthen my muscles and bones because I have decided that I am going to visit England again next year, because of my age and strength, it will probably be the last time to go and catch up with the rest of the family and friends. So now the saving starts for the airfare. I shall have to work harder at my writing and get a few more book loaded as e-books and some of my patterns as well and promote them to edge up sale, every penny helps as they say, and apart from some little gifts for birthdays and christmas all other spending is off. I have enough clothes and my one weakeness, buying books, I have forbidden myself, one excuse I keep telling myself is, there is no more room on my book shelves and there is no room for another case in my little unitl, I already have 6, NO MORE. That will save me a few dollars and they say every little helps. So off the England next year. My borther is thrilled to bits. I shall go at the end of April/beginning of May, when it is warmer, I don't think I could take an English winter any more.
Now back to writing.

After I finished here yesterday I took the plunge to load my poetry book into smashwords and create an e-book. I made it. It took me quite a while as I new to this sort of thing and not used to techy stuff and have no one to ask or help but I made it so now I have two e-books on line. I know I have sold a couple of my novel The Celtic Fabler so I will keep my fingers crossed for Book of Dreams.
Gosh, I am feeling clever.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Valerie+Stewart+Lewis

I AM A WRITER.
There I have said it out loud.
I am normally a little shy about my writing but after an inspiring week end with the Bundaberg Writers Club WriteFest I have become more bolden.
From now on I want to talk about writing and there is a lot to tell.
I have been writing since I can remember but none of that remains, I won't go into details but it is enough to say that for the last 10 years I have returned to putting pen to paper, so to say, and I have self published one book which is also an e-book, The Celtic Fabler http://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=Valerie+Stewart+Lewis
which my dear brother Rob fomatted for me and surprise, surprise, it is doing quite well.
I have another small book ready to load up, a book of poetry called Book of Dreams and in a couple of days there will be a novel called Time Again but I will tell about that later.

I love history, always have. Read my first history book when I was 8 years old, a 7 volume Battles of England from 1066 to 1914. I read the set several times and it fascinated me. The next I read was a 3 volume set on The Monachy of England from Victoria to George V. Again read several times but it started me on the road to history and 60+ years later I am still reading history. I am telling you this because most of my stories has a historical setiing.
My first novel, The Celtic Fabler, is set in Briton in 577AD during the Saxon invasion.
I came across a small sentence in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicals for that year, the Saxon boasting about a battle in which they boast they killed three British kings. For some reason this made me very annoyed. how dare this invaders come in and kill my ancestors and boast about it. I know silly of me but there.
What I did though was went straight to google and reseach this battle. Of course there wasn't very much but I did find out the names of the kings and where that battle took place. To my surprise, it was not far from where I have grown up as a child but I had never heard about it, no one seem to know about it. Slowly a story formed in my mind, I would tell this story but from the eyes of a young Bitish girl and her people caught up in the fight and there struggle to rid the island of the invaders.

My next one, which is going through a re-write and edit at this moment, is set in 1704 and again the idea came from a small piece of writng that I found in a book about a royal secret. More of that when I have finished, it will be another e-book

I think I have writen enough for today. I hope to up date thei lot evry week as I am going to be very busy and I must keep up with my face book family as well. So you will hear from me gain soon.

Lazy day.

I got up yesterday full of ideas for the day, what work I would do and how to do it but hey ho, I did nothing. I did find a book to read. It was an old one on my bookcase 'The Book of Insults Ancient and Modern' It is hilarious with insults recorded from people all over the world and through the begining of time. I felt very good after having a good laugh.

My new book.

I made it at last. I think my computer was playing up before.

Back again.

Greetings to all my friends.
I know it has been a long time since I have written here but I really didn't have anything to write about except pain and discomfort so I stayed away.
I am recovering well now from surgery and every day I am feeling better but I haven't been completely idle.
My book 'The Celtic Fabler' has been selling well and those that had bought and read the book were pestering me for another one. As I had been unable to write for several months I decided to put together a book of my poems. I discussed it all with my printer and she was most enthusiastic and with her help I have produced 'Book of Dreams'. It is only a small book of little poems that I have written over the years, some funny, some sad and some are just my thoughts. To my surprise it has been successful and is selling well and it has only been a week since I announced it on my facebook.
It is only a small book so the postage hasn't been so high in fact I sent one to Canada and it only cost AU$17.00 and has been well received. I am trying to load a picture of the book here but at the moment nothing is working for me. I will try again later.

I am hoping to get back to finish a novel that I started late last year and I am able to knit again and have started designing another baby gown. Of course, it is going to take several months for me to finish it so you will all have to wait, so I hope you have patience.

My youngest daughter.

Today, my youngest daughter, Elle, has the first of three operations on her right shoulder. She has had problems with it for years but it has only recently discovered what the problem is. Apparently her colloar bone is too long and is pushing against the shoulder socket. Since then it was also found she had a cist in the ball socket and a ligament torn so today she is having that sorted. It will take about 12 weeks to heal and then she will have another op. I am not sure what they are doing there but it will take about 12 months to heal and then there is supposed to be a third op.
The poor girl is an avid tenpin bowler and coach so she has spent the last few months learning to bowl with her left hand and she is confident that she is almost as good woith her left arm as she is wih her right so she is happy to be able to continue bowl and continue coaching the littlies. I just hopes all goes well for her.

The morning after.

Yes, I am stiff and sore after market yesterday and there were times when I really wondered what I was doing there.
Normally, Mother's Day market is good. The ladies come with dad and the kids and everyone buys another little gift for mum but not yesterday. The crowds certainly came in but they had short arms and long pockets, they looked around but bought very little.
I did have personal visitors though. Gwyneth came by with young Matthew with a present for me, a pair of winter pyjamas and lovely quirky fluffy slipper boots all in pink and as the nights are getting colder, I am sure they will get a lot of use.
Then Elle arrived with her partner Kris and children Raimy-Rose and Lachlan. There was anotherbag of gifts, a pretty clip that can be worn in the hair or as a brooch in a lovley purple which matches my favourite shawl, a box of chocolates and the surprise of the lot, a copy of 'Farmhouse Cookbook'. I had a copy of this for years and was my favourite cook book then lent it to a 'friend' in 2000 who claimed she had returned it to me. Well I knew she hadn't but apart from breaking into her home, how was I to prove it? And I have mourned that book ever since and I have watched out for it but Elle found it on e-bay, it was like meeting an old friend again. Now I might feel like cooking again..
Soon after they had all left, my granddaughter Julie-Ann came by with her three boys so there was cuddles and kisses all around.
By the time they all left it was nearly time to pack up and go home and beleive me, I was ready for it. When I reached home I made a coffee, took some pain killers and went to bed. That was mid-day, I fell alseep and didn't wake until 4PM and even then I felt I could have slept some more.
After tea my som Trevor phoned and wished me happy mothers day. He knew I was at market because I had spoke about it on my 'facebook' but it was lovely to hear his voice. The trouble was, his three boys were washing the dishes, well supposed to be but were fighting over something or other, those boys just seem to love fighting, so the call had to be cut short before they killed each other. LOL.
In reality, it was good day. I saw most of my children, most of my grandchildren and three of my great-grand-children.

Naughty, naughty.

I had just finished saying that I needed no more clothes. Well. my daughter and I went shopping today, grocery shopping that is but as we walked pass Millers they had a 'nothing over $20' sale and there in front was a beautiful long dress. I love long dresses and wear them at every opportunity and these were lovely and they had my size. Of course, I had to buy one. Yes, I know it is nearly winter but we do have warm days in winter, it is just the nights that get cold and this one was chiffon with an underskirt in shades of purple and a bit of cream. I might wear it tomorrow, it is my eldest granddaughters birthday and we are all meeting to share some birthday cake, and I have my variegated purple shawl to wear if it is a little chilly.

The Great Ausie Morning Tea.

That is what I went to today. It is held all over Australia to raise money for Cancer Research. The one I went to was held by the CWA at Oakwood and we had a great time.
There was a speed knitting competition and a lot of women took part. The winner was an 80 year old lady and I swear, her fingers flew so fast that her needles were in danger of bursting into flames.
I also won a prize, a beautiful skein of Mohair from Wagtail Yarns of Childers, just a short drive form Bundaberg. It is a beautiful yarn, lace weight and so soft and silky, I already have a design in mind to make it into a shawl for myself, I will just have to chart it up.
Linda also took part. She was so nervous, she is not used to knitting in public and she feels she is slow but she did well and she was relived, she didn't drop a stitch.
All the ladies were so friendly and made myself and Linda welcome. We will look forward to doing it again next year.

Poor NZ.

As if New Zealand hasn't been through enough. Today, they had a killer tornado rip through Auckland. It is said that a couple of people killed and many injured.
My thoughts are with them.

We had a thunder storm this evening. It wasn't very long but it did make a terrible noise. It is just raining now, very gently and the wind has stopped. Let's hope it stays like that.

I have one.

Today I could prove that I have one. A heart that is. I had to have an ultra sound check on my heart prior to surgery. Once the results have been sent to The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane they can make a date for me to go down and have this crazy gall bladder removed. Hopefully, then I shall be with out this terrible pain which has been with me since christmas day and I can get on with my life again.

I think winter is on its way. The nights are getting colder even though the daytime is very pleasant, still need light summer dresses on but I have been going through my few winter things. Unfortuantely, I don't need any new ones so I guess I don't go shopping in the clothes shops, so annoying but then it means I can save up quicker to have my next book printed, I have nearly finished it.

Disapointed.

On Sunday (8th May) it is a monthly PCYC market that I have been going to for years. I sent the manager an email last week to say that I planned to sell my new novel there and hopefully hold a sign in. I have received a reply. Of course I can sell my book there but not have a sign in, the crowd might get to big.
That is a laugh. A big crowd? I am new author and here in Bundaberg, no one is really interested but I thought it might be a good advert for the market if they mentioned it. I was disapointed at first but I shall still sell my book there and if people want me to sign it then I shall but I am not expecting to be overwhelmed by crowds after all, I am not JK Rowlings or Dan Brown <BG>

Problems.

Linda, my webmaster is read y to tear her hair out. Why? The paypal button for me e-book is playing up. One minute it works for people to pay and then it won't. She has spent all week checking all the codes and thingys that go into this sort of thing but it still plays up. At the moment, if someone emails me about the problem then I send them an invoice and when it is paid, send them the pdf but poor Linda is still pulling her hair out. "It should work." I am sure she is starting to say that in her sleep, "Why doesn't it work?" So if any of you are having problems please email me and I will sort it out. Well, try to anyway. LOL.

The Royal Wedding.

I, like millions of other people around the world, last night watched the Royal Wedding and wasn't it great?
I lovely pageantry and as an ex Brit I love the way we can organise precisely a big occasion and they didn't get any bigger than this.
I loved the gown, it would the type I would chose if I had the money and of course, young enough. I love simple elegance, so many brides nowadays tend to go over the top with frills of beads and anything else they can think of thinking that more is better.
Yes, I enjoyed last night.

This morning I had to go for a breathe test to see what capacity my lungs have ready for surgery. The trouble was, this morning I woke up0 with a terrible sinus problem. For quite a while I coughed and sneezed and wheezed my way around but I seemed to cope well with the test, we shall see. I just have to wait now for my ultra sound appointment.

E-Book on line.

At last the e-book for my novel 'The Celtic Fabler' is available on my web site, http://www.knittedlacedesigns.net/
 My web master worked hard on getting it up and I thank her, it was the first one she had ever done, when she did her computer corse at university e-books had not been invented.
I wanted it put up because postage is a killer now all over the world and makes things like books very expensive now for those who don't need an autographed copy can afford to buy it.
My local bookshop, Dymocks, have taken a few of my books to sell for me, the owner likes to suport local writers and I thank them also.
I plan to do a book signing at the PCYC craft martket on 8th May. I have had a site there for several years selling my craft work and patterns and have a lot of regular clients and friends and they have all been interested in my writing. I look forward to having a good day there.

Trip to Brisbane.

Well I am back from Brisbane. I am exhausted and sore from travelling.
There were a few 'stuff ups'. First when I got to the place where the Bundaberg Hospital had told me they had booked a room for me over night didn't know a thing about me. They checked there booking and there was none for me. They were very good though, they had an empty room and welcomed me in.
They were an elderly Chinese couple and treated me like family and we were soon sat chatting over a coffee and having a good laugh.
The room they showed me to was excellent and I was soon in bed having a rest.
The next morning, I was off to the hospital to see the surgeon. I was advised by reception to have a wheel chair as it was a long walk to the department that I needed. I agreed and a lovely man named Stuart pushed me gayly along while we talked and laughed.
At the department, the receptionist asked me what time I had left home yesterday. I told her my train had left at 10.15 am.
"No wonder I couldn't reach you." she said.
"Why?" I asked.
"The surgeon has been called away."
"Oh, no."
"Don't worry," she said, "I have found another surgeon who is willing to see you but it won't be until this afternoon. When is you train due to leave?"
"At 5.00 pm but I also have to get from here to the station first and by bus that could take an hour."
She agreed to check with the surgeon and it was decided to put me in as soon as possible. I counted how much money I had left in my purse and decided that I would splurge out on a taxi. I knew it would cast a lot but it would be better than trying to catch several different buses and having to walk a distance between them. I told the receptionist this so that there would be time if the surgeon ran late.
I had my consultation and he agreed that my gall bladder should be removed as soon as possible following a couple of other tests.
As I got ready to leave the receptionist called me over.
"Mrs Lewis, we have arranged for your taxi and the hospital welfare is paying for it."
I was amazed. I was wheeled down to the taxi rank and everything was waiting for me. I had to sign a form and just get in the taxi. I was dropped at my station and all I had to do was wait for the train to arrive.
The train arrived back in Bundaberg at 9.30pm and by then I was tired out, went to bed a got a good nights sleep.

E-book.

I am so pleased that my new novel has been well received. I was at Bundaberg Writers Club yesterday and I showed them my book and was asked a lot of questions of how and why I had done it. I sold one as well and a couple of others wish to buy one, it was very exciting for me, I feel more confidant now.
People in England that he been buying my patterns from my website are interested in buy my novel but the postage makes it very expensive so my web master is working on converting it into an e-book to down loaded to a reader. It is a new experience for both of us and we got together today to talk about design and how the page should look like and all the coding that needs to be put in. It should be available in a couple of days.

On Tuesday I am off to Brisbane for a consultation with a surgeon. I shall be staying over night in a motel and coming back on Wednesday an I hope that they will decide on surgery soon then I will be able to sit at the computer longer and get on with another story. At the moment I am in too much pain to sit too long and it is very frustrating, I so much want to get this other one finished so I can start to edit and get it ready fro the printer.

The Celtic Fabler.

At last my novel has arrived. I am so proud of it, it is like having a new baby, only without the labour pains.LOL.

My webmaster has put it up on my web page 
 http://www.knittedlacedesigns.net/
so it is for sale around the world and I am so happy, I have sold one book already and another two are ordered.
I love the way my printer managed the cover, we talked a lot about how I wanted it done. Now I must finish my next one.

Getting closer.

I met with my printer yesterday, she is such a nice person, really friendly and bubbly.
We went through the proof of my book which sent sent to me last week and I had marked a few mistakes that i had made and a few things that I wanted to change. I thought I was making too many changes and was a little worried but she said I had done good and the changes wouldn't take her many minutes to make when she got back to the printery.
We sat and talked after with a cup of coffee and I asked when I had to pay the rest of her fee (so far only a deposit had been asked for) she told me that I needed to pay the remaining when she delivered, I asked how long that would be, and she said 'about a week'. I was over joyed. A week! So soon it will be in my hot little hands. How great is that?
My web master is already preparing a site for the book on my web page. We have discussed wording and presention I just have to work on the final bits and pieces and then get ready to launch it.
It is so exciting.