Autumn 2006
Hi Everyone,
I can’t believe it’s August already. I have no idea
where the last few months have gone. Baby Jago is now nearly four
months old and I can’t remember life before his swift and
happy arrival. I’ve had a busy four months, with weddings
galore and two more in the next two weeks. I do love weddings but
I’m running out of outfits at this stage and am suffering
from a touch of wedding fatigue. And if I’m asked one more
time when me and Ben are going to tie the knot/do the decent
thing/make it ‘official’ or even worse when Ben is
going to make me an ‘honest’ woman (as if being
unmarried is dishonest) I really will scream. We are devoted to
each other and couldn’t be more solidly together if we were
‘legal’ so please, stop with the questions people! (End
of rant, I promise)
Photo of me and baby Jago
Here is a photo of me and baby Jago. He’s a fine chap and
growing by the day. Several of you have asked about his name.
Well, Jago is the Cornish version of Jacob. We met a darling
little fellow called Jago in a swimming pool in New Zealand and
liked the name a lot.
Jago’s Birth (Not for the squeamish!)
Many of you have also asked about Jago’s rather dramatic
birth. And yes, he was supposed to be born at home, that part was
planned. But the delivery by Ben, my lovely English partner
certainly wasn’t!
I went into labour at about ten in the evening on the 17th
April. I was pottering around the house, getting bits and pieces
ready, and chatting to Ben. I was having regular contractions
(for those of you who have never gone through labour, it’s
like a strong tightening of the stomach. Like severe cramp.) but
I was grand. At 11.30 the contractions were getting stronger and
stronger so I climbed into the birthing pool, pretty much just a
giant paddling pool. As soon as I got in my waters broke and it
all started speeding up. Ben rang the hospital and alerted the
midwife who jumped into her car and started to drive to our
house.
Meanwhile Jago wasn’t waiting around. About ten minutes
after the phone call, the pressure was so strong I knew he wanted
to be born, midwife or no midwife! It was all rather scary, but
we didn’t have time to worry about at the time it to be
honest. Ben jumped into the pool (I don’t remember this bit
but he told me afterwards) and delivered the baby. We wrapped the
baby up in a towel and I held him close to me, keeping him warm
in the pool while we waited for the midwife. We had no idea if
the baby was a boy or girl at this stage as we hadn’t
looked!
The midwife arrived a few minutes later after being stopped by
the guards for speeding. She wasn’t fined or charged I
should add! She weighed him and checked us both over. And all was
well. All quite dramatic, but Jago arrived safe, well and happy,
thanks be to God.
Home birth isn’t for everyone, but for fit and healthy
women with a history of normal labour and birth, it is an option
which should be offered to everyone. Both my home births have
certainly been happy, life affirming, and most importantly safe
for both me and the babies. But next time (if there is a next
time) we’ll ring the midwife at the first twinge. Poor
Ben’s nerves can’t take any more battering!
Reflections on Baby Days and Mother Guilt
I’m never happy. If I spend too much time working I feel
guilty for not being with the kids. If I’m with the kids, I
worry I’m not doing enough work. But I’ve made myself
stop this time. I’m a terror for sneaking off to my
computer. I feel like something’s missing if I haven’t
written for a few days. So I’ve had to make a conscious
effort to slow down and enjoy every minute with Amy and Jago
while they are still small, and Sam while he still wants to hang
out with me.
We bought a trampoline in June and it’s been brilliant.
Most evenings I have a little bounce on it with Amy, just the two
of us. It’s our special time together. Then we have story
time, which I also adore. I’d highly recommend getting a
trampoline – it’s great fun for adults too! Nothing
like a good bounce to chase away those blues and make you feel
less lethargic.
Right, time to read to Amy who has been waiting patiently by
my side, rearranging my ‘office’ and colouring on a
manuscript. Oops!
Photo of me on the trampoline
Lazy Days and Holidays
I spent a glorious three weeks in West Cork in July. My
dad’s ancestors are from the area and I love it, it’s a
very special place. I worked on my new book in the mornings for
the first week and then took two weeks ‘proper’
holiday. I’m lucky to be able to bring my work with me.
I did a lot of sailing, pottering around in our motor boat,
swimming – the sea was lovely, honestly – and eating!
There’s a fab pub/restaurant in Castletownshend called Mary
Ann’s and it does the most amazing sea food. I adore crab
and gorged on it several times, along with some chilled white
wine. Heaven!
Amy watching the regatta parade in
Castletownshend
West Cork Scenery - Where we take our
holidays and my favourite place in the world
My Parents’ Ruby Wedding Anniversary
Last weekend was fairly hectic as my parents celebrated their
ruby wedding – 40 years together which is quite an
achievement. My parents love a good party and decided to have two
– one on Saturday night for friends and family and one on
Sunday for extended family. And of course, me and my sisters had
to bring the cousins out on Friday night to a ‘real’
Irish pub. They’re American you see and it would have been
rude not to don’t you think?
So it was Finnegan’s in Dalkey on Friday night, big party
on Saturday where yours truly as eldest sibling had to say a few
words. Now at the moment I barely have time to use the loo let
alone write speeches, so it was brief and to the point. Then my
uncle, Gully (officially William but we all call him Gully) gave
a fab and much longer speech. He’s in politics in Denver and
you can see why. A really gifted orator. Then on Sunday we had a
big family lunch hoolie and all the generations played, chatted
and caught up in the sun. It was truly lovely and a very special
weekend.
So happy anniversary Mum and Dad and here’s to many more!
And a big hi to Emily and John, my lovely American cousins.
You’re both awesome!
Writing and New Books
My new book, When the Boys are Away will be published
in February or March 2007 and I’ll give you an early sneak
preview of the cover very soon. It’s about a woman called
Meg whose partner, Simon is a sailor. I was telling a friend,
Stirfry about the book and he looked at me funny when I told him
about Simon and what he gets up to. ‘Sarah,’ he said.
‘Simon? You called him Simon?’ Then the
penny dropped. Stirfry’s real name is of course Simon. I
felt a right eejit I can tell you. But my Simon is certainly not
Stirfry, although Stirfry is a professional sailor like my
character.
In Some Kind of Wonderful the main character is called
Rosie and her husband is a horrible man who’s always having
affairs. An estate agent. And one of my mum’s best buddies
is called Rosie and her husband is an estate agent. A fine
upstanding man I should add, nothing like ‘my’ estate
agent. Unfortunately my brain works in mysterious and odd ways.
I’ve never purposefully put anyone in any of my books but
sometimes these things just sneak in.
So humble apologies to Stirfry!
And please note I have no sex obsessed sisters, like Hattie
the sister in When the Boys are Away. Honestly! I have two
great and long suffering sisters, Kate and Emma.
Book Events to Look Forward To
There are lots of great book events to look forward to in the
autumn and I’ve been asked to speak at several, which is
most flattering.
Firstly in September there’s an event in the Fingal
Finsceal 2006 which I helped organise – the event I
mean, not the whole festival. Assumpta Hickey does all the hard
work on that festival, great woman that she is. I’m afraid
it’s completely booked out, but there will be another
readers’ day in the spring and I’ll let you know about
it soon.
Last Readers’ Day in May in
Deansgrange Library
Morag’s Reader’s Day
Morag Pruny (who also writes as Kate Kerrigan - I loved her
‘Recipes for a Perfect Marriage’ – do read it,
it’s brilliant) is organising a reader’s day in
Castlebar on November 18th. More details will follow.
Speakers include myself, Claudia Carroll and Martina Devlin.
Inkwell Talks for Writers
Vanessa O’Louglin is organising a series of workshops and
talks for writers and would be writers. Again more details will
follow. I’m speaking at one of them, on Sat 7th
October, along with the award winning crime writer, Julie
Parsons. For more details or to book you can email Vanessa on
vol@esatclear.ie.
Christmas Drinks with Pen and Irish Girls’
Annual Christmas Dinner
I also have two writing related social events coming up later
in the year. Jeepers, Christmas is looming, yikes! More about
these in the next newsletter.
Other Events
I’ll also be doing a lot of other events in the autumn,
and spring 2007, from talking at Mothers’ Union lunches to
reading groups and mother and toddler groups. If you’d like
to book me for an event do get in contact – sarah@sarahwebb.info. I
can’t guarantee I can do it, but do ask!
Great Reads
Unfortunately I haven’t had much time (or brain power) to
read much in the last few months. But I have finished four books
(hurrah!), plus some research books for my next novel, and some
children’s books. I’ve posted the children’s
reviews on the children’s pages on this site for any
interested parents. The books are two novels for confident
readers: Small Minded Giants by Oisin McGann (7.5 out of
10 and a very clever book) and Half Moon Investigations by
Eoin Colfer (8 out of 10 for making me laugh so much); and a
picture book for youngsters, Silly Mummy, Silly Daddy by
Marie Louise Fitzpatrick (7 out of 10, great illustrations).
I’ve just bought the new Lorna Landvik and Elinor Lipman
books and I’m looking forward to those. If you’ve never
heard of these talented writers, do check them out. Two sassy,
clever American women who write brilliantly about relationships
and manners.
Speaking of great American writers did I mention Digging
for America in the previous newsletter? No, I didn’t.
Good. This was one of the first books I read after having Jago
and it’s brilliant. I just adore Anne Tyler and with this
one she’s back on top form. I wasn’t all that keen on
her last one, the name of which escapes me – hang on
I’ll check my shelves. Ah, The Amateur Marriage. But
I loved Digging. It’s about two families, one very American,
the other Iranian-American. Both adopt Chinese babies and the
novel chronicles the lives of both families. It’s
fascinating and full of delicious detail. Anne Tyler is brilliant
at the nitty gritty of things and her characters are so
realistic. And of course her prose sings. I highly recommend it.
A well earned 9 out of 10 from me. And if you haven’t read
it, please read The Accidental Tourist. One of my
favourite books of all time. And a 9.5er. I haven’t yet read
a 10 (I live in hope), so 9.5 is as good as it gets from me.
I’m a tough marker.
 |
My Best Friend’s Girl by
Dorothy Koomson This is a lovely book about friendship,
family and forgiveness. I galloped through it on my
holidays and adored every bit of it. It’s heart
warming and sweet, but also deals with serious issues.
It’s about a woman called Kamryn who has to look
after a young girl when her mum, Adele dies of cancer.
Kamryn and Adele used to be best friends until Adele
slept with Kamryn’s fiancé. Basically you’ll
be laughing one minute and crying the next. Highly
recommended for summer holidays. And many thanks to
Oonagh for recommending it to me. You’re a star,
Oons! I have no idea how you read so many books; must be
all that night duty! A healthy 8 out of 10.
|
 |
I also greatly enjoyed The History of Love
by Nicole Krauss which is beautifully written and most
interesting. Definitely worth reading and a great one for
a book club if any of you are members as there’s a
lot to discuss. For me, it didn’t pack the same
emotional punch as My Best Friend’s Girl.
Probably sacrilege to say as it’s a far more
‘literary’ book, but there you go. I’m
just being honest. At the moment, like a lot of people
I’m sure, I need something with a gripping storyline
and realistic, well drawn characters with a voice I can
relate to. After giving my all to work and the kids, I
just don’t have the mental energy for anything else.
7 out of 10. |
I’ve just started the new Maeve Binchy, Whitethorn
Woods. I’m a huge fan and I can’t wait to get
properly stuck into it.
My Summer Confession –
As promised, another confession. This time it’s Bikini
Dread and Jelly Belly Depression
Every time my belly wobbles I get a little depressed. You see,
I’d love to have the kind of figure that can carry off a
bikini, but I just don’t. And after three kids I probably
never will. At the moment I’m in that post baby body limbo
– my body hasn’t gone back to ‘normal’ yet
and I have no idea what size I will be when it finally
(hopefully) does. I’ve tried doing that horrible leg lifting
thing when you lie on your back and hold your legs an inch off
the floor. Your tummy shudders and complains and then your legs
collapse onto the ground. It’s completely exhausting. Those
of you out there who are gym bunnies are probably going to laugh
at this but I can only do ten leg lifts before I have to give up,
wrecked. I hope my weekly yoga will help, but it’s not
looking good so far.
But I have three lovely kids to show for my jelly belly, so in
the larger scheme of things it’s not so bad. I can still
wear most of my clothes, even if I do need tummy sucking in
knickers for some of my dresses. Sigh. I’m rather fond of my
food and need it if I’m to write, look after the little ones
plus have some sort of life. At least that’s my excuse. I
gorged on strawberries and cream in July, eating them literally
twice a day. But I adore fresh Irish strawberries. Right,
I’m going to stop obsessing about food now.
I’ll keep you posted about the jelly belly dilemma.
One final note
And by the way, for Mary from Athlone who asked is Jago a
contented baby, yes Mary, he is. Very. But he’s not in any
‘routine’, apart from his own. He’s just naturally
good natured and easy going. He’d need to be in this
household. I forget where I leave the poor chap sometimes. Anyone
seen the baby?
Until next time, keep well and good luck with all the back to
schoolers. What a relief, eh? Or is it just me whose kids are
taking lumps out of each other? Jeepers, I do hope not.
Very best wishes,
Sarah XXX
| 
