Hi everyone,
I know it's early, especially for Tasmania but I definitely feel a sense of spring in the air. The daffodils are starting to bloom and the birds seem to have more energy and song. As I am typing this I can see them darting from limb to limb of the walnut tree. Of course it might very well be freezing in a day or two, and certainly August is often our coldest month but it's still nice to think those dark evenings are gradually lengthening and the sun is coming up earlier. One of my favourite plants is daphne, it has such a beautiful lemony fragrance. I love having in a egg cup vase on my bedside table so I can smell it as I go to sleep.
I have just found Mango the cat asleep inside our grand piano. The lid has been open for a while but I can't see how it can be comfortable lying on those metallic strings!
Hope you have a good week wherever you are and whatever you are doing,
All the best,
Melanie x

Hi everyone,
I seem to start every week with a rush but we had a busy weekend so I feel even more run off my feet. I had a charity swim yesterday morning for a friend who is attempting to become the first Tasmanian woman to swim the English Channel. Her name is Anne Steele and she and I swim together quite regularly. There was a swimathon to raise funds for the Children's Cancer Institute so it was a real thrill to be part of such a worthy cause. I swam 5 km which seems so paltry when you think of how far Anne will have to swim and in tough conditions. The only challenge I had yesterday was overtaking my husband who was in my lane. Actually it wasn't a challenge at all as I am much faster than him but he hates to be reminded of it!! This week I have a goal of finishing my medical and did I tell you I got another 5 out of 5 review for Her Man of Honour? You can check it out on the link under the medicals on my site.
Hope you all have a fabulous week,
Cheers,
Melanie x

Hi folks,
Well we finally got our heat pump fixed and just as well as there was snow on Mt Wellington over the weekend. It looks like a giant cup cake with white icing on the top. Poor little Polly has been ill again with a bladder infection and is back on medication. She is responding well and as I write this is chasing Mango the cat around the conservatory which is within view of my office. No wonder I get distracted! I have a big week ahead with a deadline due on Friday, the book is written but I need to do a read through one more time. I am also right into my WIP which means I will have to switch heads and personalities which is always frustrating but very much a part of the writing life. At any one time I can be working on up to three different books, the WIP, a copy edit or one that needs some editorial suggestions incorporated. With the big schedule I am on that means a lot of work so I have to remain focused and very disciplined. That has not been easy this week when my older son came to visit again from Sydney for six days. I had to switch into mother mode which I didn't always feel like doing. Most working women I speak to have the same problem of juggling the different roles we are assigned.
Well I am off for a swim as I missed a couple of training sessions last week due to being time poor. I hope I can make up for it this week as I love the thinking time it gives me.
Lots of warm wishes to everyone,
Melanie x

Hi folks,
Well I am totally wiped out with tiredness as I sat up until 3.30 a.m watching Wimbledon. It was so fantastic to see two such wonderfully talented players fight it out. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are true champions and definitely hero material! As I tried to sleep for the remaining hours of the night I thought about how it seems only strong men can handle defeat. It truly is the mark of a mature man to cope with either triumph or tragedy and Roger and Rafael handled themselves brilliantly, I thought. So too did gorgeous Lewis Hamilton in the Grand Prix at Silverstone in the UK. I was switching channels during commercial breaks and biting my nails throughout. I never used to appreciate top level sport until I became an athlete myself. I didn't grow up in a sporty family, there was no time on the farm for anything but work. But because I have swum since my late twenties in Masters Comps I now understand the incredible discipline and focus and sacrifices athletes have to make in order to achieve greatness. One of my all time favourite tennis heroes is the gorgeously modest down the earth Australian Pat Rafter. He was always a perfect gentleman and treated his opponents with the utmost respect. Anyway, enough about sport. I have been teaching Polly a new trick. She now can jump through my arms on command instead of gnawing at my hands on the way through! It was such a breakthrough I can tell you!
All the best for the week,
Melanie xx

Hello everyone,
We are celebrating a special anniversary this week, on Tuesday it is our 25th wedding anniversary. I know it makes me sound old doesn't it?! I can't believe where the time has gone-I am sure I have only seen Steve for less than half of that as he has always been so frantically busy being a surgeon. We decided to come to our beach house for the week, even though it is winter. We just want to be alone with the dogs and the cat and reflect on our life together, treasuring the memories we've built together. The fire is crackling in the background and the dogs are exhausted after an hour and a half walking along the water's edge. It is so peaceful and calm. I will still do some work as I have two very special characters I am working with just now that won't like it if I take a week off!
I have a huge stack of books with me for when I get tired of writing and I can't wait to curl up on the sofa with a glass of champagne-yes even though it is winter! I should be having mulled wine or something.
All the best to you all, thanks for all the lovely emails.
Happy reading,
Melanie x