Me collecting my award. OK, I’m not loving the pic, but it does capture my shock! Mainly I’m feeling ginormous by comparison to the ultra-dainty TV stars behind me and I’m wondering whether the wet-look leggings under my Mum’s lace dress – instead of the black petticoat – was a good decision. But thank you so much to everyone who voted for me!

Now, a little update to say I was totally thrilled (not to mention stunned!) to win Scottish Woman magazine’s Woman of the Year Award in the Wit category. Many, many thanks to everyone who took the trouble to vote for me; there are so many fantastically witty women in Scotland that I really am honoured to be counted among you.

The award ceremony was an amazing fashion show and dinner in Edinburgh, fundraising for the very worthy Macmillan Cancer Support. It was a brilliant event and no one warned me about winning, so I had a jolly old time and was pretty much gobsmacked to be suddenly called to the podium. I don’t really recommend having to address hundreds of people while clutching a surprise award. It’s pretty nerve-wracking… the stuff of nightmares rather than dreams, if you ask me! However, the award came in the shape of this beautiful silver cuff from Edinburgh jewellers, Hamilton and Inches.

The best thing was going into the jewellery shop the next day to have it fitted. The shop is gorgeous (were money no object, I would do all my shopping there!) but even better, I got taken upstairs to the workshop. I do love a peek behind the scenes and this was excellent… ancient old leather and wooden tools, pots of bitumen, little Georgian shutters, someone hammering flamingos onto a solid silver platter for a sultan of Oman! I could have poked about all morning.

As soon as the cuff returns, I’ll post a pic!

I went to Blackpool – fantastic to meet readers and writers there. I did one reading with Jane Costello then read her very funny The Nearly-Weds on the train home. I highly recommend.


Tragically, I don’t have any photos of the brilliant Girls Nights In at Portlethen or Fort William (if anyone wants to send me one, please do!)

Portlethen was a family event as I took my daughter and my Dad. Dad was giving me a lift and I’d forgotten all about his punctuality issues and the fact that the Land Rover can only go at a certain speed, so we arrived just 15 minutes before kick-off, but everyone was incredibly calm! Claudie was all dressed up and looking lovely as she worked her way steadily through the many snacks provided. Can I just say how incredibly glamorous everyone looked: sparkly pink shoes, pink tops and jazzy scarves, it was very fashion-forward. We talked lots about writing. I think they are a very keenly creative lot up there. Thank you for inviting me along!

Fort William… is a long way away! I took the train from Glasgow and it took almost four hours. However the weather was beautiful and the scenery was picture postcard Scotland. Seriously, there were stags leaping from the tracks, then posing in front of blue lochs, velvety brown mountains and Rowan trees full of berries. I was trying to work on the train, but the views were so amazing I kept getting totally distracted.

I got an unforgettably warm Highland welcome from the library and so many people came along! No wonder, there was a chocolate fountain (!) food, drinkies, two makeover ladies. We all had an absolute hoot. I have been told to spread the word, if any writer is even thinking about making the trek to FW, it is totally worth it, I promise.

Thank you to Perth Library for organising such a fantastic event! Here is a snap of me with some of the brilliant people who made it all happen.

We had half an hour of mingling, chatting, hand pampering and hair-styling tips, then we all went through to the theatre where I read to my biggest audience ever. But you know, I didn’t feel nervous, I felt amongst friends. It was great to see that some readers had come with their Mums and their daughters.

Brilliant: multi-generational fans! We had lots of chat about reading, writing and all sorts of interesting things. A fantastic night. Thank you so much to everyone and to photographer Fraser Band who did the pics.

You can see more at www.fraserband.co.uk

Fort William here I come!