This has been a long time coming or: The Care and Feeding of this Widow

I've spent an unhealthy amount of time stewing over some of the baggage that comes with being a widow. I have a nasty habit of keeping things locked up inside but I've reached the point where I need to lance the proverbial boil. I didn't want to do it on Facebook because I am not trawling for sympathy, I just want to tell it like it is in my little world. So, here goes. *takes deep breath*.

1. I am not an unexploded tear bomb. You can ask me how I'm doing and I won't break down and blub uncontrollably. I save my crying jags for when I'm on my own. 
2. Do not say things like 'you must come to dinner' or 'we must have lunch' when you have no intention of following through. I'm lonely and if someone makes a suggestion like that, I make the mistake of getting excited, having something to look forward to. Then I am bitterly disappointed when the invitation never comes. It's like dangling a fish in front of a cat then whipping it away. 
3. Don't say 'you must get out more'. I know you mean well but I find it intimidating to walk into a crowded place on my own and I'm terrified that, after the initial hubbub of greetings that I'll be left wandering about trying to find a conversation I feel brave enough to latch onto.
4. Don't say 'you should get a proper job then you'll meet people'. Gee, really? Believe me, if I could get a job with a salary, benefits and the little extras like office Christmas parties and bonuses then I'd be on it like ugly on an ape. Unfortunately, I am 56 years old, overqualified for office/retail work and too many years out of touch with the UK town planning network. I didn't choose to be self-employed and, as a single mother, there is nothing scarier than working without a safety net. So, if anyone knows who's looking to employ  a loyal, hardworking but not-young former planner/self-taught editor do let me know.

That's pretty much it. Having had my little moan, let me just add that I'm doing okay. I get by and I will continue on because that's what I do. I am so thankful for those friends who have listened to me babble, to those lovely people who have fed me, taken me to appointments, invited me to parties. I'm grateful for my online friends who've put up with my ranty Facebook posts and offered sympathy and support. It's just, sometimes, I need to let rip!

Thanks for listening!

Autism Awareness Month.

Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism.

I'm keeping things short and sweet this year. There are plenty of good people out there who have direct experience of living with autism. People who are far more eloquent on the subject than I could ever be. 

My lovely fellow author, RJ Scott has spoken openly and with humour about her lovely, clever son Matt, and continues to work to raise awareness of this condition.. This annual blog event, one that I'm always happy to take part in, goes some way to ensuring that we all learn something. That autism isn't just about a blinding ability to draw a city-scape from memory, or solving complex equations in a heartbeat, it's an everyday thing with its own heartaches, practicalities and worries. Autism isn't contagious, you can't give it to your kids if they have the necessary childhood vaccines. It's just one of those genetic flukes that happens to good people and good families. Love, understanding and support can go a long, long way.

Much love from me.


Her blog post for this year's event is here.

I'm giving away an e-book from my back list to a random poster, an answer to the this question:

How did you learn about autism?