5* London on a 0* budget…

The travel nerves are setting in, now they are no longer numbed by the prospect of seeing James Martin. I don’t do travelling, as I’m always worried I’ll be ill and let people down. I only travel if it’s to see/do something I’ll never see in my own region ie I went to Manchester to see Linkin Park (in 2003) and Steve Coogan at various venues (many moons ago). This time it’s a sporting event. Budget is also a factor: I need to make sure I’ll be comfortable and occupied if I am confined to my room. I got a fabulous deal on a 5* hotel, with free massage, room upgrade and breakfast in bed (too good to be true? I hope not). I got cheap rail tickets by subscribing to a rail website, have Tesco Deals vouchers to pay for meals (Slug and Lettuce have a nice, varied menu…but not sure ‘The Slug Breakfast’ sounds appetising…), have vouchers for 2 for 1 entry into various attractions and a Buy One, Get One free voucher for Wagamama. I was hoping not to spend anything…except I’m terrified of the Tube, so it looks like my meagre budget will disappear in taxi fares. No shopping in Covent Garden for me!

I’m hoping my trip to London will give me some inspiration for a hotel-based scene I’m thinking about for…well, for nothing, really, as it’s all in my head at the moment. It’s really hard to think about writing, as I’m a little sad that Karma hasn’t been more successful. That said, I’ve had more good reviews from readers, but wonder how much more I can do to get it to a wider audience – I guess that’s the benefit of having an agent. Someone I know on another forum has had a book released recently and, because her publisher is one of the biggies, it’s in every Waterstones from here to London…and beyond, probably! I still can’t even get the Metrocentre store to do me the courtesy of responding to an email! Actually, it looks a good read, and I’m thinking of getting it for my trip – I’ll report back once I’ve read it. That reminds me of a family holiday one year: we always used to get magazines to look at while we were travelling (probably to stop my sister and I from fighting). My mam also bought loads of things to read on the journey…before she remembered that she was driving!