Tempus Fugit

Lying in bed, half asleep this morning, you know the time, just before the day crashes in shouting and bashing its cymbal of demand, beloved mentioned that I hadn't posted a blog for over a month. My immediate impulse was to deny it, and to suggest that he hadn't bothered looking properly, but, but, but..... With an enormous crescendo the morning and the rest of the day week month year crashed in and I realised that I've been so busy running fast to just stand still. I've often been accused of having too many horizons, and indeed it's an accusation I level at my little boy (who's far too similar to me in that respect, poor soul) and even within the confines of my precious baby, OTR, I realise that this is the case too. So, although I've previously vowed never to apologise, never to explain when there have been blog gaps, I recognise that I really need to structure this life and this business and get a routine going. They (whoever they are) say that Tuesday is the day that most blogs are updated, and although I hate conforming, I had to grab this one today and get moving.

So, what's been going on at OTR towers? Well, I had my first outing last week to a Christmas Fair. The event itself was lovely, and for an excellent cause - Marie Curie Cancer Care, and the Petwood Hotel was a splendid venue. However, and it's a big HOWEVER it wasn't the 'right' place for OTR books, especially given that (a) it's a relatively new idea that very few people have experienced and (b) I'll hold my hands up and admit that I'm not a natural salesperson. However, the list of lessons learned has started, and we'll see whether things improve at the Dunholme Village Hall Craft Fair at the weekend. ONe thing I would say, with a wry smile, is that I would have done better if I had been given a pound for every time someone said 'Oh I've got a loft full of Ladybirds' or 'I remember when they used to come bound like that'. I was at the point of shouting 'Well, leave them in your loft, but at least when they're rebound they're being used and admired and are legitimately used by an adult' and 'you don't remember them being bound like that because I'm the only person doing it......' respectively. But I'm a grown up and I kept my big mouth shut and smiled. Zen calm is sooooo important don't you think?

Anyway, here's a pic of the stall, in the OTR poison green and purple livery. What do you think?



Obviously, the spectre of Christmas looms - although for us we traditionally wait til after Charlie's birthday at the end of November before we get into the full blind panic (or I do, I rather suspect I panic for the whole family.....) but this year is a bit different. I imagine that, because my stuff makes good, unusual and unique presents, I am expecting that I'll make some books for people as gifts, but this then starts me thinking about the nature of gifts at this time of year. Is hand made stuff from someone you know acceptable? Does the monetary value or volume of presents count? Where do children get their values from with regard to presents (I say this freely admitting that I was an appalling child who was convinced that my sister got 'more' than I did......and didn't mind telling my poor parents so.) (Sorry Mum and Dad). Anyway, all this navel staring won't get the book orders made. Plenty of time for reflection when the Christmas rush is over.