London calling

I went to London twice last week! It’s such an amazing city and I’m glad I live nearby, but I’m also glad I chose a smaller city for my home. I wasn’t sure I was going to attend the British Black Book Festival but I bought a ticket the day before and arrived in London to find it was blazing hot—women were out in sandals and sundresses and I was sweltering in my fall clothes. I peeled some layers off and walked over to the Barbican, bought a book, found a corner, and sat down to read. I’ve definitely been indulging my introvert tendencies lately and only chatted briefly with two strangers before a friend from the US sat down next to me! Meeting Judy changed my experience of the festival entirely and we hung out for the rest of the day before hustling back to Euston Station to catch our respective trains. She went back to the US the next day and that auditorium must seat 500 people, so it’s amazing that we somehow bought tickets that placed us side by side.

I heard a Black British agent present and thought about querying her but decided I’m going to take some time to just have fun with my latest project and worry about representation next year. The Button in the Bog is taking up a lot of my headspace but I’ve also been checking things off my To Do list. I filled out my US ballot yesterday and will mail it on Monday; the website said I’d missed the deadline by one day, but they still sent me a ballot so I’m sending it in. I applied for and received my UK SSN so I can continue to look for work; my national health insurance number also arrived and my first appointment is next week. I got my bank card and transferred funds into it from the US. I took a tour of the University of Birmingham campus and applied for library membership. Today I’ll pick up my card and then head downtown for the Birmingham Literary Festival. I went back to London on Thursday to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit at Tate Modern and to attend Claire Linney’s book launch—the third book in the fabulous Time Tub Travellers series is out and this time, the kids visit Roman Britain! Like a true introvert, I got lost because I didn’t ask for directions but finally found the party, collected my copy, and sat in a corner to read…

By week’s end, I was exhausted. Worked on a puzzle yesterday and am trying to heed my astrologer’s advice: pace yourself. I went to the post office and finally found out that the box of books I mailed from Montreal never made it to the UK so I filed a claim this morning. I bought and assembled bookcases and the shelves are slowly filling up. I think the flat is pretty much done. I bought pots but haven’t cooked yet (thank goodness for the microwave); did two loads of laundry (no dryer here) and ordered a new fall coat. Life will soon become normal, I think. I’m still exploring—toured the Coffin Works Museum last weekend and signed up for another tour of the Museum Collection Centre next month. Everything feels like material for the book…I’ve added Mr. Egg and will work in the mermaid that’s part of the U of B crest. Tried writing on the train to London but felt a bit queasy so will stick with writing at home. And hope to stay home for the rest of the month…