It's okay, I've done it before.

Overdue post is sort of...overdue.

( Hearts for me )

( Thank you and Kinkfest recs )

( Remix and Hols )

( My broken heart )

( Travel fail )

Right, that's enough of my blathering for now. Hearts to anyone I may have missed and thank you all again for keeping me in your thoughts.

Or rather, the CCU (Cardiac Care Unit) of the Royal Berkshire Hopital, which is where I'm currently residing.

( My Broken Heart )

Not where I wanted to spend Christmas, but that's where I'll be. Evidently, I don't have exacerbation of my asthma, I either have an ulcer or it's my gallbladder.

If only... See later posts.

I have, at least, spent the day relatively pain-free and am just about to be transferred to a surgical ward.

Hubs and kids are at in-laws and will see them before going to theatre if I need to go. Nurses and docs here are brilliant, and I'm hoping to be home tomorrow eve.

I wish everyone on my flist has a wonderful holiday. Eat and drink lots for me, cause I'm nil by mouth. And completely nauseus. TMI?

Entertaining two fangirls at the house today and we've written fic, painted pictures - well, they did, cause I'm crap at that sort of thing - played with gilitter, and eaten ice cream. (cassie_black12 is just so awesome I can't even find the words!!<-- jtsbbsps_dk wrote that.)

That's pretty much it, unless you count the foray into the overcrowded, completely mud-caked Tesco nearest me, which is also the Tesco nearest to the Reading Festival - that was hell. But the strains of Muse that wafted into the garden tonight were nice.

I've also snagged a most excellent prompt over at mini_fest, which I'm so keen to do!!!

Getting through hd_holidays, and having a great time writing it and discussing it with these poor girls whom I'm sure are sick of listening.

Just waiting for my the_ass_fest fic to get back from the Coroner, and will send it off for the second autopsy next week. Should have it submitted by next Saturday, Kitty!

And, without further ado - WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS! CHECK US OUT!


banner by joan_waterhouse

Hello!

I'm back from my lovely weekend away with cassie_black and accioscar. I live near London, have a HM Forces rail card, and never miss a chance to schmooze with fangirls. We went to two theatre productions - one, a Sondheim musical, and one a black comedy. I'm not a huge lover of Sondheim, but the cast were great. The play we saw later in the evening was amazing, and the acting was just in-your-face superb. I got to see Rupert Someone-from-Merlin in his pants, and got a smile and a nod from Colin Someone-from-Merlin after taking his picture with a near-hysterical Scar.

I also laughed my head off, drank a lot of lovely cocktails, and ate some yummy food! I finished up the weekend at Kings Cross, waving bye-bye to Mr Nursedarry and my kids, as they were catching the train to Scotland to spend half-term with my in-laws. (Better them than me, I say!) I'm working this week, as my boss is also away, but wow, I've got the house all to myself! RESULT!

I would like to thank EVERYONE who has left me lovely comments on the H/D meme. I'm glad my fic tickles your funny bone - I've always said that my stories may sometimes lack poignancy and poetry, but if you need a piano dropped on your head, I'm your gal! I am also so glad to have had the opportunity to meet so many of the great fen who play in my sandbox! And I look forward to organising more get-togethers in future! I really do enjoy everything I do in fandom, and I am so grateful for your nice words. ♥s to you all!

Now, for two compltetely random questions:
1. Does anyone know where acromantular is these days? I need to speak with her somewhat urgently. It's nothing bad, just one of those "doh!" moments we've had at hd_remix. Thanks, anthimaeria!

2. Does anyone know how to take lots of jpgs and make a slide-show that can be posted on/linked to LJ? I've seen it done before, but I've no idea about those things and am keen to learn!


Okay... how about some gooey kissy-fic!

I got a beautiful and touching - AND HOT - gift called Of Dreams and Reality by the lovely kamerreon. It's full of near-trust, typical boy-communication, and even a bit of forgiveness. Did I mention it was hot?

Here is my submission, written for the prompt-tastic baterina_1234.

Title: Suspend Your Disbelief
Rating: PG13 (Huh, what?!)
Wordcount: ~1350
Warning: Someone’s a bit tied up at the moment.
Summary: Time for a little Q & A. Fluffy kink-kissing.
Note: This was also written using a prompt given me by hp_positions for their Valentines Shag (see end of fic).

( Auror Harry knows just how to treat a suspicious character... )

Ottery thank-yous to the lovely nicevenn, treacle_tartlet, cassie_black12, and lilyginny27. Sushi for everyone!

And here's some awkward fluffiness, courtesy of the prolific and completely-effing-hawt enchanted_jae. It's for lil' ole me!

Awwww...Ouch! Accomplishing the Feat


Husband update: last time he went to Afghan (about a year ago), it took him three days to leave the UK! This time it's taking him that long to get back because the planes keep breaking down. Hmmmm... Not good when your job is an aircraft engineer; he's probably itching to get in there and kick the tyres! Anyway - he's now in Cyprus, no doubt getting pissed after months of no drinking. Back tomorrow...theoretically.

I can barely express my thanks for all of the wonderful gifts I've been given. I only need to look at my LJ to be reminded of how much sharing this fandom means to me, but I want to say thank you for even more holiday bounty.

This icon (along with the fic I recc'd previously) were fantastically-inspired gifts from leo_draconis, who's orchestrated so much wonderfulness this holiday *blows kisses*.

I also received wonderful nursey and Dan icons from the lovely bleedforyou1, a new LJ friend *hugs*.

I've (or rather, my lucky children) have had more RL cards from alovelycupoftea and softly_sweetly, who's gift of ST movies I'm still delighting in getting through. (I know, I have no taste:)

Virtually, I've also received a lovely card from dirty_darella (H & D looking so cute in their pyjamas!), and a family of Christmas bears and other great v-gifts from yumekutteikt, cassie_black12, moonlitdark, leo_draconis, arineat, cinnetart, being_here, frayach, thepretender501, and demicus. I can only echo dysonrules when I say how ridiculously happy getting these makes me.

cassie_black12, my soul-sister, gifted me with lovely smelly things for my bath, lovely gifts for the kids, and a huge amount of time and money to visit me whilst I was feeling poorly. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your friendship.

I also got a nice phone call from Mr Nursedarry last night (who had to work, but still got a Christmas dinner). He'll be home now in less than a month. *throws confetti*

nicevenn organised hd_seasons stocking stuffers (click on the link below) which consisted of the Most. Wonderful. Gifts. Thank you so much to everyone who created the fic, art, and media. *am still amazed at the sheer quantity and quality of them* They have brought me so much joy today, it's almost criminal. Ginormous armfuls of love and chocolate go to sabinefrappe, uniquepov, nicevenn, quimvaa, dirty_darella, kjp_013, khasael, ficreader76, and kitty_fic. I'll be reccing these again when they're reposted on individual LJs after the 1st.



Note: there are three - yes, three - pages. Click on Next for the other pages, as they're not linked.


If I've left anything off, please do call me on it. We've had a lot of trouble with the post due to weather, so if you've sent something via snail-mail and I've not yet mentioned it, chances are it's not yet arrived *sob*

More wonderful things to say thank-you for:

* cleo_jay, the awesomest fen wife to the universe (but mainly to dysonrules), sent me a gorgeous scarf and a work-out-tastic CD for when I get back to the gym - my asthma is keeping me home this week whilst the docs try to get it sorted, so no aerobics for me for a bit.

* My favourite incestuous artist/writer, thilia, sent me the HAWTEST James/Teddy Christmas card which had me warming up nicely. And thank you so much for the DVD, BB!

* Not only did the wonderful joan_waterhouse send me a lovely card, she fixed my yaoi-tastic Twitter background, so my two boys are back in focus *hugs hugely*

* Thank you, thank you to bleedforyou1 for my wonderful new slashy/nursey icons! I love them!

* My leo_palooza present posted yesterday and OMG it's from leo_draconis! And it's mind(and other bits)-meltingly HAWT!!! I don't know how she knows me so well, really, it's scary - *snerk* Go read Wand At the Ready. And sit in front of a fan whilst you're doing it!

I'm still off sick, as kids are just now getting better and I still have this stupid head-cold and cough. Huge love to cassie_black12 for giving me a bit of a break last weekend, braving the snow, and playing with my kids whilst I could get on with things. Being sick sucks. Worse is being sick whilst my friends are here cause I can't appreciate them and I hope you didn't have too boring a time, Cassie. We'll make up for it in London in Feb with accioscar, when we're off to see these Merlin and Sir Leon chappies (I vaguely know who one of them is:).

If nothing else, I'm writing/beta-ing like a fiend and whipping my rec list into shape. Okay, I'm mostly reading the stuff on the rec list, but I'm thinking about getting it sorted.

*sad face*
Hubby just left to spend the holidays with the Taliban.
Thank goodness for R/L and virtual friends.
*hugs awesome flist*

hd_holidays, hp_yule_balls, and hd_remix all done. I really do love writing for fests. (You think?!) I love giving gifts, and I love being inspired by other people's prompts. I wish my own stories (sitting around a collecting dust) would inspire me so much. (Having said that, whilst dozing through the Berkshire West PCT Public Health team meeting yesterday, one of my bunnies decided not to hibernate, so I may be have go at working on something non-fest-related.)

Here's some quality pimpage:

Art by naadi
There are also some wonderful November prompts to choose from if you don't have enough on your plate already.

Also, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, TARA, for the absolutely lovely postcard! I love getting stuff - this is awesome!

I've got the best boss in the world who told me to work from home today. I will if I can just rearrange a meeting in Newbury I'm supposed to have this afternoon. *looks at clock* A little early to be ringing, methinks. Sorted.