I’m like most of the rest of the world at the moment: staying at home most of the time, apart from necessary trips outside. I’m able to work from home – no, not the writing (that’s in the evenings) but my day job from NHS Digital, as they gave us all laptops. I’m also working on books seven and eight, and on a knitted blanket which I started several years ago and then managed to lose under a pile of other projects, and I’m sewing masks. (They’re not compulsory here in the UK yet, but I and a number of friends and coworkers want to have them, so my fabric stash is making itself useful. If anyone’s curious, it’s this pattern – https://operationwecansewit.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/We-Can-Sew-It-Mask-Pattern-2.20.20-v4.pdf – with bias tape ties.)

For my birthday last year, my parents took me to a production of the Malory Towers musical. One of the songs (based on a line from the books) was about becoming “women who the world can lean on”. I find that coming to mind every now and again these days. Sometimes we lean on others: sometimes other people lean on us. Nobody can be strong all the time.

It would be nice if I had a great insight or helpful thought to post here, but to be honest, I’m finding it hard work going from day to day myself, and my creativity is way down. So if it helps you to know it: you aren’t alone. We’re all living from day to day. Hopefully it will be better in a while.

Stay safe and keep well.