joined up typing

I feel as if I've been away for much longer than just 5 days! It's been one of those intense chunks of enormously focussed time - 11 events, anywhere from 15 to 90 kids a go. I was down north doing the Northern Children's Book Festival and then over to West Dumbartonshire doing the second day of their Crackin' Crits project. AND IT WAS GREAT! All of it!

But I've come home with a problem.

My whole life I've been jealous of people with beautiful hands. (I inherited my father's sausage fingers.) But I always consoled myself with the thought that MY hands were really really useful. Hard-working, functional digits, mine. I was less than chuffed when I started to get arthritis and my hands became EVEN LESS BEAUTIFUL, but at least they were still - mostly - useful. (Okay, not for opening jars. But I had sons for a reason.)

This week gave me a new level of trouble, though. I don't know if it was carrying too much luggage (I was doing 2 different kinds of events so I needed to lug around two sets of props.) Or maybe signing too many books (though I can't believe there ever could BE too many books.) Whatever the reason, my arthritis has flared something fierce, and I'm down to one functioning finger on my RH to type with. (Ruby Ring, in case you were wondering.) And I feel incredibly unfluid. My thoughts are coming out jerky, to match the rhythm of hunt and peck. I don't like it. As soon as I finish this blog I'm going to see if I can find some wonderfully weird cure from my old friend Nicholas Culpeper - but if anyone currently alive also has any good tips, give me a shout. (It doesn't even have to be weird.)

I want to get back to doing joined up typing so I can maybe have some joined up thinking to go with it.

I really do.

Joan.