Well, I waited anxiously all day yesterday for the Island Carriers van to pull into our drive bearing the precious A215 course materials parcel but I waited in vain

This morning, just as I was putting out the ‘Open’ signs for the Gallery, the long-awaited behemoth lumbered into the drive and the sandy-haired young man unfolded long limbs from the driving seat, opened the back doors and reached into the darkness within ….

Moments later, I had the precious parcel in my hands, managed a fleeting ‘thanks’ over my shoulder and scurried up the steps into the house, clutching it tightly to my chest. “It’s here!” I squeaked excitedly to no-one and plonked it on the bench in the office with a resounding thud … only to be called away immediately by customers coming into the Gallery :\

It was almost an hour later that I managed to return to the office and finally snip the thick flat white bindings. Inside was The Big Red Book resplendent in its fiery covers, a Study Guide to match, a plastic-wrapped packet of CDs, the OU’s Applications Disk version 9 and various other leaflets and sheets of information. I could have danced round the Office

Later on, when The Artist returned, I hurried off downstairs to peruse the course materials. It dawned on me that, as well as a lot of writing in the course, there is also going to be a lot of reading as well.

Here I have to confess, somewhat shame-faced, that I very rarely read fiction in book form. In fact, I don’t read much fiction at all. If I do read a book it’s usually non-fiction, principally gardening books, cookery books, computer books etc. I did borrow a couple of books from my Mother-in-Law’s bookcase when we were last in Birmingham – one is “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy and the other is “Bel Canto” by Anne Patchett. But I admit they’ve been sitting on my desk for two weeks and I haven’t done more than read the blurb on the back covers …

I have, however, broken through the writer’s block that meant I’ve been carrying a notebook and pen around with me, expectantly, for the last five days. I finally made some brief notes about the shadows of house martins flickering across the sunny granite wall of the barn opposite our bedroom window

Oh, and I had a nice birthday yesterday even though I spent the morning cleaning one of our apartments ready for new guests. I had a lazy afternoon on the computer and then we went out for a fabulous meal courtesy of the Mad Swiss chef at our favourite restaurant … complete with a single lighted pink candle stuck slightly awkwardly into the ‘creme’ at the very edge of the golden crackly ‘brulee’ that I chose for my dessert Cheers!

Until yesterday my OU Student Homepage said my course materials weren’t due to be despatched until September 21st for a September 29th start and, since I registered late for the course, I wasn’t expecting them for at least another week.

But since students starting posting on the A215 open conference that their course materials had already arrived, I went to look at my homepage. Yes, my materials have been despatched but because they are coming by DHL, they’re going to have a sea journey before they reach me….

I’m not sure if the above details mean that the parcel has made the journey from Truro to Penzance to catch the Scillonian III’s departure at 9.15am this morning or if it’s still in transit. I’m really hoping it’s already on the boat chugging its way across the 28 miles of open sea between Penzance and Scilly It may not arrive today anyway because the boat doesn’t dock until about midday and the parcel may not make it into today’s postal delivery. Maybe tomorrow ….

We’re busy today anyway because we’re having a barbecue this evening and have invited some friends round. We’re having steak, chicken and Mediterranean monkfish kebabs. I’m also going to make Chocolate Mousse for dessert which will make The Artist very happy   We’re planning to eat at 6pm because the evenings are drawing in a little and the wind can make things feel chilly once the sun is nearing the horizon. (Unfortunately we also have customers coming round at 5.30pm, which is after we usually close the Gallery, but they want an original watercolour so we shall have to juggle barbecue and business.)

Tomorrow is my birthday … and also change over day in our apartments – so we will be busy doing the cleaning and keeping an eye on the Gallery. The Artist has put sultanas to soak in brandy so there is a Chocolate Refrigerator Cake in the offing, I suspect. It’s the big Five Oh but, to be honest, I don’t feel fifty at all