Book update

Aargh!  Half term is upon me, and I have to hold my hands up and say I have not completed my book.  It was my first deadline - failed but, if I'm honest, I always rather suspected I would.

So I must mark my achievements.  Thousands of words - over fifty thousand to be precise.  Lots of beautiful memories.  And, to exonerate myself a little, I have spent the last three weeks editing rubbish bits rather than writing new bits.  So ultimately the book is better for it - God willing!  

In fact, the only truly new bit of writing to do is the final chapter, which is lurking around in my mind, pulling strings together, wrapping up the present and finally gifting the completed book.  

So now there is a Christmas deadline looming instead.  Perhaps by then there'll be a more positive outcome for the hours hunched in front of the computer - or maybe I'll copy-and-paste this entry...

STOP PRESS! CREDIT CRUNCH HITS!

The Credit Crunch has hit Jesmond.

Two shops in Acorn Road have closed in the past four months or so.

One was a student property letting office.  Their business has been relocated to their head office in the city centre.

Within days it was transformed into Daniel's: a high fashion shoe shop.

Almost opposite it was a corner store: newsagent and general sales.  It has been closed for some while, but at the beginning of October it was finally refurbished and opened as ... LeBeado: a shop that sells beads.  Yes, beads.  For necklaces and the like.

It is good to know that, in the midst of banking turmoil and stock market crisis, Jesmond is capable of being at one with the people of great britain...