The years are catching up on me!

Hi! If you can believe it—I can’t!—I’ve just spent half an evening writing up all my Hot News only to lose it into cyberspace yet again. I am a slow and ponderous two-fingered typist so this is a disaster. I’m going to type fast and hope that this time I make no foolish mistakes.

Kids, let me talk to you first. I have a confession: I haven’t written anything for you for ages and ages. It’s so hard to write books for your age group that I just dread sitting down in front of the computer. But, hey, listen! At the end of next week I’m meeting with my Australian publishers so I will simply have to write and re-write and write and re-write non-stop for the next six days. Blagghh. The story I’m working on is called Hunwick’s Egg. If you’re aged six right now I guess Hunwick’s Egg might be published by the time you are ten—if I get to work! Cross your fingers.

This week on August 25th my dad, the real Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, turns 86. Last week, when my husband was cleaning out his own study he found a postcard of my grandfather dressed in his World War I soldier’s uniform; it was addressed to my dad on his fifth birthday and signed by him: my dad’s dad. The date was August 25th, 1917! I felt old really myself although I’m only 52.

Before I went to the States in early August I hurt my back as I was throwing some compost on to the garden. Sad, sad. I had a very long flight the next day all the way from Sydney to Charlotte, North Carolina. But the journey was worth the pain: the three conferences I attended were lively and fascinating and I learnt a lot. I also had several standing ovations after my own presentations which is always a pleasant surprise for an Australian since we tend to be a bit shy about showing our appreciation.

I met many old friends and made some truly wonderful new ones. I laughed a lot and was very kindly cared for. In Oneonta, New York I was really cossetted: I saw a chiropractor twice in one day! His name was Dan Bettiol and he was brilliant, so if you know him say hi and thanks from me. He was so caring I nearly cried. It’s awful feeling down when you’re far from home and my back was a real drag the whole time I was away.

At each event I had really spirited discussions (i.e. I got mad occasionally, but kept my temper!) on the best ways of teaching and writing. The highlight for me was meeting the great educator Frank Smith, whose work has influenced my life more than one else’s. I tried not to fawn but it was difficult. I was so in awe I could hardly speak to him!

Well, that’s it for another month or so. I hope all is well with you. It is with me, and with my family. In fact if I didn’t have to re-write Hunwick’s Egg life would be just about perfect! Until next time then, all the best!

Mem xxx