Shannon

We unpacked today, and rationalized the kitchen somewhat (which I’m sure won’t seem rational to the Actual Innkeepers, so we’ll try to remember how it was so we can put it back before they return in February!). Also, just figuring out how to live here–how to answer the phones, how to troubleshoot the internet, what […]

We have arrived on Orcas Island, with a car crammed to the gills. The Real Innkeepers leave early tomorrow morning; we’ve had a few hours of overlap, asking them a jillion questions as they rush about packing and cleaning for three months away from home (huh, sounds familiar!). We came in on the 6:25pm ferry

Oh, don’t you want a nice collection of short stories by me? Eastlick and Other Stories is available from Book View Cafe, and I had almost no time to blather on about it to you all when it was released, because I was flying to London. But I’m so proud of this little book–it’s all

For the next step on our journey, we’re visiting our home in Portland! 🙂 Just breezing through for a few days before heading out to Orcas Island for the winter. Yesterday was The Longest Day–flying from London to Vancouver, then Vancouver to Portland. Luckily, and weirdly, AGAIN the long leg of the flight was at

It is being a whirlwind journey, complicated by a bit of a cold. That voice-losing thing I mentioned a few days ago has turned into an occasionally nasty cough, plus feeling rather less energetic than I’d like to. But I don’t feel especially sick. Even so, I’ve begged off this evening’s Guy Fawkes fireworks (I

Yes, we got to Brighton on time and with everything intact. And it’s been pretty much nonstop since we got here! And to have internet in the room costs 15 pounds a day, so everyone connects for free down here in the lobby or bar. And my computer’s battery was dead, so I’ve just managed

The first time I visited England was in the late eighties, when I was still in college. I had no money then, as one does in college, but my then-boyfriend’s mother lived here, so we scrimped and saved and came for three weeks after the end of a spring semester. It was the first time

A storm blew through London last night–and quite a storm it was! It had been a windy day, as noted, but then in the night, despite our very effective earplugs, we were awakened by–well, it sounded like someone was beating on our windows with sticks. Hard, and with a vengeance. Our flat is on the

I mentioned we’d bought the world’s best red hat. In case you didn’t believe me, here’s photographic evidence: So it’s a little dark, but I think you get the idea. It only blew off once today–and we were in SOME WIND!!! We walked a ton, hurting my arch all over again, till we gave up

I didn’t post last night because it’s so hard from this ipad and I was discouraged by being so exhausted and footsore (really, above and beyond, blisters and strained muscles and a VERY sore arch) and nothing works technologically (despite enormous expense and effort to make it so) and so I just went to bed.