I began today bright and eager to get on with everything needed as I have a really busy week.

I was also excited as a courier was coming to pick up all my work for the new book- beadwork samples, finished projects, beads to photograph etc. Literally years of work in one box.

So when the doorbell rang, and a man said he was there to pick up a box, I handed it over and we chatted about the lovely sunshine.

Then less than ten minutes later another man appeared saying he was there to pick up a box...

You know that moment when suddenly it becomes crystal clear that something's gone wrong and you know exactly what. That special moment of clarity that's joined by the sinking of your stomach and your body being filled with dread.

I at once remembered (ten minutes too late) that last week I'd put out a bag of coffee capsules that were due to be picked up for recycling at some point.

Time froze as I just knew that there was no way this man was here for those, but instead was here for the box I had merrily sent away with the recycling courier.

Who was picking things up to be destroyed...

It felt like ages as I stood there like a deer in the headlights wishing I could rewind time and knowing that I had messed up.

I knew that I needed to check the slip the other courier had given me when he'd left to know for sure. But I also knew that I didn't - I just knew there was precisely zero chance things had managed to go well and I could answer this man, who was surely baffled by my being frozen on the spot, and all would be well.

I knew for sure that if I looked at that sheet of paper it would confirm my mistake but those seconds before I checked were my last ones where there was still some hope it could be OK.

It took one glance and then it was confirmed. My hard work was headed off somewhere else and it was going to be one of those days.

4 hours on I've spent nearly an hour on the phone and the rest of the time pacing and cursing myself for making such a stupid mistake.

I'm still waiting for the first courier to ring me back and all the whilst the parcel gets further and further away from me and I'm now convinced it's sure to get lost in the mess of it all.

Fingers crossed all goes well.

Update: 6 hours later and after me ringing the courier firm 3 times and spending an hour on the phone with them they're 'looking into it'. The last man I spoke to said they'd been told about it too late to stop it from leaving London. I pointed out I had rung 6 hours earlier... I guess that frantic phone call from me within 10 minutes of it happening was never passed onto anyone.

Oh and my printer has decided to stop working.

I guess I'll go back to banging my head on the desk.

Update: There's a happy ending to the story!