Still Alive and Writing.

Another item ticked off my bucket list. After seven and a half gruelling hours, with 100 sit-ups and 140 press-ups (or it might have been round the other way, I was into the what-the-hell stage by then), 200 star jumps,  600+ kicks, my grade moves, god-knows how many katas and then 20, back-to-back one minute fights.
I am now officially a 2nd Kyu Brown Belt. That's it for me. Its taken almost eighteen years to get here, but I wanted to pass my original Green belt grade in Shotokan that I got when I was in my twenties and I've done it.
Now, its a case of keeping fit and karate will give me that. It builds stamina, strength and supplety, not to mention confidence, mindfulness and the ability to protect yourself in a crisis. What's not to like about it? More people in their 50's and 06's are joining our club. One of our member's passed his 2nd brown belt with me. He is in his 70's! Well Done Arthur you are a true star!

On the writing front, for Aqua 3 I've only 100 pages left to proof. The new cover is done. I've had two offers for the launch, and am considering a morning one in Margate and an afternoon one in Ramsgate on the same day.  Meanwhile, I've attended the mini Broadstairs Literary Festival Friday and although it wasn't packed, I've increased my network of authors and discovered an Illustrator who might be interested in doing Chicken Wizard.

In the coming weeks, I'm giving talks to other writing groups and attending our own local ones too. My next signing event is this Saturday back at Faversham again, in the Alexander Centre in the high street. I'm also off to Thorpe Park this week. It was a bit of a surprise when my boss asked me to go as 1st aider for the journey, but I'm getting paid so what could I say?

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