So, I was at my mum's this weekend, picking up the car. She lives in a small village in Somerset. It's pretty nice, although it was death growing up there. Somerset is only about 220 miles south of Yorkshire, but it makes a hell of a difference. Up here it's muddy and the rains been falling intermittently for weeks. Down in Somerset, the ground's bone dry, and it was warm enough to sit outside in the sun--too hot, almost.

Anyway, my mum uses this really great hair conditioner. It's one of those you spray on after you've washed your hair. Not having any with me, I thought I'd borrow it. I gave it a bit of squirt, brushed it through and was pretty satisfied.

Later on, I said to my mum, "Where do you get that conditioner?"

"Oh," she says, "I can't get hold of it anymore. It's disappeared."

"I saw some," I say.

"Don't use that," she says, "it's got window cleaner in."

"Hmm," I said, suavely.

It didn't turn out too badly. My hair has never been that shiny before.

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Another week over and another Clarion West challenge supposed to have been finished. Kind of run out of steam, not to mention time, on this one. I think I was a bit optimistic. I was going to finish revising/rewriting the chapter I was on, revise a short story, and then revise/rewrite half of the next chapter. Well, these chapters are turning out to be a bit long. I finished the chapter I was on, revised the short story, and then started to plot out the next chapter, but that was as far as I got. I don't think this next chapter is going to be a quick one. So, I'm going to be more realistic for this week:

Revise/rewrite half of the next chapter, and plot out all of the chapter. And think about another short story to write. We'll see.

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We went for a walk in the mud and rain when I got back from Somerset. Like I said, weather up here in the north just isn't the same as down south. Nika got mud in her fur and tried to persuade us to turn back fairly frequently. Despite the wetness, it was a good walk. I managed not to fall over, despite slipping every few yards.

It's beautiful and sunny now, and I'm hoping it'll stay that way. Only gardeners like rain, and they've had their shot.

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We're trying to think up a name for the car. Steph insists it's female, so Clarence is out. At the moment, Maria is leading the field. Any other suggestions?