…to let you know that if I’ve been slow in responding to anything or owe you an email, I am sorry and will get to it.  Things have been a little crazy here, which has shown.  We have the house almost ready for our houseguests (yay!).  We’re almost ready for the trip away with them to Western Australia’s south west (almost yay!). I’ve also been focussed on going through my first job application process in fifteen years, Sophie was unwell (but seems really fine now), and other stuff.  No excuse though. I will be in touch.  And if I’m not, please feel free to bug me.  I’m not trying to overlook you.

I’ll be there, for like the whole time, so if you’d like to meet up, cross paths, grab a drink, do something, drop me a line and let’s get something set up because I don’t get to the US often and would love to see everyone.

From the Denvention website: Hugo voting closes on July 7.  If you’re a member of the convention, or otherwise eligible to vote, please head over to the website and get your vote in, or drop it in the post.  The Hugos are one of the ways that our community rewards work that it considers noteworthy or excellent, and are worth your support.  I acknowledge I have a conflict of interest here: I’m nominated in one category, and I’d love to win.  However, I’d be happier if you voted and voted for who you want to win.  Don’t feel like you have to have read everything or know everyone. Vote for what you think deserves to win.  It’s a good thing.

Well, many thanks to Aaron and Charlie for their advice and recommendations.  In the closing moments of the old tax year, I shot off an order and soon will be the proud owner of a Sony Reader.  I won’t see it till I get to Oakland, but hopefully it’ll be the solution to my problems.

She’s home.  The doctors let her come home last night, but she’s still registered as a patient, so back today to see one more doctor (a supervising neurologist) who wasn’t available last night.  We know a bit about what’s not wrong with her: she’s been given all-clears by cardiologists, neurologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and so on.  So what is wrong? We still don’t know.  It seems it is either a mild virus, a vanishingly rare condition, or it’s all in her mind. She’s up and walking, running, and even skipping. But, sometimes, she’ll say she’s feeling unsteady and be very tenative. Then she’ll get distracted – see a toy or a friend or something – and go running off like there’s nothing wrong.  So, she seems okay, we still don’t know exactly what’s up, there are more doctors to see, but we’re cautiously optimistic.  Thanks to everyone for their kind emails and thoughts. They are appreciated.