A few tense moments since last blog.  Our cat Minnie, seventeen but usually cheerful and sprightly, started to wail if handled, and was barely eating.  Fearing the worst, we took her to the vet; he said no 'lumps', but had her in for a day's testing.  It was a fretful time, but a full X-ray showed no problems, and the blood test was "OK for her age".  He thought a pulled muscle. We were given anti-inflammatory medication for her, and she soon perked up and started eating again.  Naturally for the time being she can get away with anything.

On the writing front, I have now published four articles on www.suite101.com - all are about child development and parenting.  I am going to try a couple of my recipes on the site, complete with my own pictures.

For John's birthday I took him to Chichester on the train.  We visited the cathedral, then had lunch, followed by the matinee of Bingo at the Minerva Theatre, starring Patrick Stewart.  It's about the last weeks of Shakespeare's life (still don't know why the title).  Really enjoyable.

We've also had the first birthday party of Southampton Writing Buddies - a short working meeting then wine and cake and the odd speech.  I have planned my entries for our anthology competition, and hope to submit by late June.  I've also submitted an article to Saga Magazine; they invited it but said most of their features are done in-house.  Got to try, though.

Lovely day visit by our son and his family.  The girls were on very good form; they all took us out to lunch at Prezzo, then we spent the afternoon in the garden eating my home-made lemon polenta cake while the girls played at running a cafe so we all had to order from their menu.  I won't say what was actually served up on the toy tea set, but catmint leaves were present.

Thought for the day - they say you should try walking a mile in someone else's shoes.  This sounds like a good idea - at the end of it you are well away from them and have also won their shoes.

May at last - the fruit tree blossom in our garden is wonderful.  Since last blog, we have had my brother and his wife to stay - thanks for the wine, David!

Since last blog, we've been to a fete in nearby Otterbourne (Chamberlayne Park), three restaurants for lunch, and a meeting of Writers in Southampton where top crime writer Peter Lovesey gave an entertaining talk.  I bought two of his paperbacks, which he kindly signed - hadn't read his work before but intend to start within days.  We also saw Antony and Cleopatra at the Nuffield Theatre - very long but high drama towards the end and a worth while show.

There have also been two meetings of Penny Legg's Southampton Writing Buddies since my last blog.  At the first, topics included the writers' community suite101, which some of us had been thinking of joining.  By the second meeting, Penny had been accepted and had published two articles, and I was nearly there with just adjustments to be made.  They are very particular about layout, length, attribution of pictures and so on, but I was delighted to hear that my first piece (about parenting) is now published on the website.  Thrilled doesn't even begin to cover it!  There are small amounts of money possibly, but writers have to submit about one piece a week, and I have plenty of ideas.  I would also say that I would never have geared up to do this, had it not been for Penny's group and her boundless energy for writing.  The meetings are highly motivational, very interesting, and great fun.  There is a blog which is usually written by Penny but which I am about to write up for last Friday.

I've nearly completed the mock-up of my latest script for the Eastleigh Talking Echo, too; a big job as always but it's surprising what I find out.  

Hope everyone is enjoying my favourite month of May.  Bring on the Jersey Royals and asparagus!