More words...and my desk

Word Count: 4660

Finished Chapter Two this morning, using the 'late in, early out' technique - basically, coming into a scene as late as you can, and cutting out of it before the action wanes.

I also thought I'd show you my desk, as I am fascinated by other people's workspaces (go on, post yours on your blog and link to it, especially my fellow racers).

I know I am really lucky that I now have a dedicated office - I wrote the first three books on my kitchen table/sitting on the sofa in front of the telly. I fondly imagined that having my own office would make me 10x more efficient, but I failed last year, hence the race really...

So, left to right, a stack of notebooks and notes on current novel; a stripy pen pot (including the letter knife that I now use to stab holes in the Persil washing capsules which are rubbish and stick to our washed clothes like used condoms if I don't stab them: the washing machine is right outside my office door); a lovely set of Laura Ashley glass jewellery drawers that I use for staples, stamps etc; rack with storage for all the back-up CDs I forget to use; drinking glass with Toord Boontje design; my reference library of baby name book, London A-Z, Dictionary, Book of Love quotations (which I fondly imagined would provide inspiration for romantic scenes); boxes with various bits in them; a funny little bird that I attach receipts to; a scented candle (a recent innovation - I am lighting it to show I am WRITING THE NOVEL in the hope it stops me getting diverted by blogs etc.); my laptop; a gorgeous bunch of flowers my friend brought over on New Year; my Mr Benn mousemat. Far right you can make out my printer, plus a noticeboard with a print out of the new jacket for The Self Preservation Society, and various money-off vouchers I forget to use. The view outside is lots of houses - mildly interesting, but not too distracting.

Missing from this pic: the cat. She has become DESPERATELY clingy since we got back from holiday, and sits on my lap as I type, making odd 'chatty' noises. Am getting worried she's suffering from feline dementia. Is there a word for hypochondria on behalf of your cat? But she's probably just missed us!