Later in the week I will do a full round-up of the RNA conference. After I've figured out how to permanently fix my bed and after I've figured out how much damage I did my mobile broadband dongle by dumping a cup of hi-juice on it. For now, the highlights:

1. Spending time with the lovely and talented madlee276, and catching up on how amazingly well she's doing (can't wait to go stay with her in August!).

2. Meeting loads of new writers at all stages of their careers, which was truly motivational.

3. Catching up with people I met last year, like Kate Johnson and Imogen Howson.

4. Packing away about a year's worth of wine. Still feeling slightly soused, actually.

5. Getting so many freebies! Seriously, my bookcases are now overflowing even more than they were before I left, which is saying something.

6. Being invited to Texas by Jodi Thomas, who is incredibly funny, by the way. I really hope Leanne and I can sort something out so we can go.

It was all over far too quickly, and before I knew it, I was home again. The fish either instantly forgave me for leaving them or didn't notice I was gone; I'm not sure which.

I have to be honest, getting home again was a bit of a let-down since it was straight back to work yesterday. I'm seriously debating right now how much longer I want to go on working in an office and stealing time for writing around that. I have my annual review with the Director next Monday and one of things we're discussing is my "career progression." I feel like it might be rude to tell him I never intended to stay at the Institute this long and that I'm desperately seeking an escape route as we speak. Is there an elegant way to slide "paid sabbatical" into the conversation? I plan to find out.