Life's Hard - Wine Helps!

Yippee!! More Weight Lost!!!

2012-03-04T04:56:00.002-08:00

Exciting news this morning! When I crept onto the scales I found I had lost 2lb last week. Yes, two whole pounds. This means I have now lost 1stone. I would have liked this to have happened, say, a couple of weeks ago, but it hung on until today. Nevertheless, I am delighted as it means I am on the downward slope, so lookout you slim guys down there, because here I come!!

The rest of the week has been quiet, in a busy sort of way. If that is possible! I went to Newcastle on Wednesday and had a wonderful, if not tiring, day. Thursday, my husband had an appointment at the hospital, not the one with the hard seats, no this one was our local General Hospital, where they have a few sofas dotted around the ground floor. Very comfy. I also had to have a chest x-ray, though it wasn't for anything serious - at least I hope not. Big gulp, here and fingers crossed. Friday turned out to be bits and pieces day, because the computers were out of action at the post office on Thursday and, finally, Saturday was coffee morning at our social club. So you see, there was something going on every day, though nothing to make your socks roll up and down or my tights, for that matter.

Today, Sunday, is proving to be a quiet day. Though it shouldn't have been. We should have been going to the coast for lunch. However, as it was snowing when I pulled the curtains this morning, the whole thing was cancelled until the sun shines again. Hopefully that won't be too long in happening. So I think I will curl up with the book I am reading at the moment - Heartstone by CJ Sansom.

Enjoy your day whatever you decide to do.

Cheers!!

Having a Moan

2012-02-21T04:36:00.005-08:00

Disappointingly, I only lost 1lb in weight last week. I know it is best not to lose too much weight at once, but come on, 1single lb is a poor show after another week of restraint. (Even the wine is being measured out, so you can see how serious the situation is) I suppose I should have had this moan yesterday, but I seemed to be all over the place!!

Now don't you all go misunderstanding me here. By all over the place I don't mean I was doing all manner of wonderful things. No! that wasn't the case at all. During the morning I made a pan of nil points soup for my lunch, which involved chopping and boiling vegetables. And if that wasn't enough, I then went on to make some low points Hungarian Goulash for my dinner, which, again, had me standing in the kitchen cutting meat and chopping onions. Somewhere in between, I spent 30 minutes stepping on and off the Wii in a desperate effort to burn off some points. Anyway, you know now and that's the main thing.

I'm afraid I haven't anything else to tell you, except I have signed a couple of petitions against animal cruelty and written to my MP about what they are doing to our NHS. Not that it will do any good. These politicians seem to do what they like and not what the people want. Best I don't say any more here, once I get on my soap box I could be here all day. But I will say that I have the utmost admiration for the lady who confronted the Health Secretary yesterday. Good for her!

On that note, I will leave you as my washing machine has just finished its cycle.

I hope all is right in your world and that you have a wonderful day.

Cheers!!

PS Any animal lovers reading this blog might like to check out this petition and sign. I have already done so. Thank you.
http://www.change.org/petitions/support-air-canadas-decision-to-stop-transporting-primates-for-research#share

Latest Report - Absolutely Nothing To Report!

2012-02-16T06:34:00.001-08:00

I am sitting here trying so hard to find something to blog about, but I can't think of a single thing to tell you. Apart from today being bits and pieces day and you have all heard about bits and pieces day before - many times.

Life has been very quiet here - too quiet. During this quiet time I should have taken the opportunity to do whole manner of things. The house could have done with a whole clean, my novel is sitting there waiting for me to get the show back on the road and yet I haven't done anything at all. What is going on? Is it the time of the year? Can it be the diet? ( hope not, as I have still some way to go) or is it just a phase I am going through? Will my life heave itself back together again next week?

On the other hand, could I just be lacking a little retail therapy? It does seem a while since I was last in Newcastle, one of my most favourite places. Perhaps a trip down there might be the answer I am looking for. You know what, I am feeling better already. Sooo, unless there is a snowstorm, a hurricane or a tidal wave, I will be going there within the next few days.

Meanwhile, I will think about all the things I am going to look at when I get there.

You know something? Talking to you guys has cheered me up know end. Thanks for your help!

Cheers!!

Weight Lost

2012-02-12T04:46:00.000-08:00

I am happy to report that I am still losing weight. Last week I lost 2lb and this morning I discovered I lost another 1lb. Soooo I have lost 10lb in 5 weeks. A few more weeks like this and I will be looking heaps better. I have to say that I am certainly feeling better already. My lovely niece is getting married in 6 weeks time, so I do hope to have at least lost 1 stone before the event.

I have also been doing some aerobics on our Wii. Mostly the one where you step on and off the thing on the floor. I found playing a CD helps to stop the boredom from settling in. A friend called recently and she brought another program for me to try out. It is a dancing thing. I gather you have to copy what the little people are doing. I haven't tried it yet, but I think I will have to close the curtains when I do, otherwise the neighbours will wonder what is going on!! I'm not usually so active.

Yesterday we went to visit my niece as she was holding a pre-wedding drop in. It was very nice and we got to meet the bridegroom's mother and sister before the actual day. Everyone was in good spirits.

Apart from that, I haven't anything else to mention. It seems to be a rather quiet time of the year. Hopefully when the spring comes and I have lost more weight, I will be raring to go,go,go, Got to smile here, I think my go,go, go days are over, but I can still dream about it, can't I?

I am still waiting for news of the launch of The Trojan Project in the USA. In the meantime, don't go away, sit tight and I'll paste the info here as soon as it comes.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend,

Cheers!!

My Birthday!

2012-02-01T06:41:00.000-08:00

My birthday was on Monday Jan 30th and WOW it was some birthday to remember!!!!!

I had been very apprehensive at reaching this new phase of my life, but I shouldn't have worried at all. Most of Springwood Village turned out to celebrate the occasion. I was well and truly gob smacked at the support I had. From those who set up the tables, hung banners, and blew up balloons to those who helped clear away the debris at the end I would like to pass on my warmest thanks, they were all stars. I certainly hope everyone enjoyed the day as much as I did.

I was given a lovely cake and a M&S gift voucher, which I gather everyone had contributed to, so once I lose a little more weight ---- watch out Marks & Spencer, because here I come!!!

Tuesday, I was shattered. I hadn't slept well on Monday night, as my mind was whirring over the day's events. However, now that I am back on form, I'm thinking of having the whole thing again next month!!

Hope your day was as good as mine!!

Cheers!!

Sunday 29th Jan 2012

2012-01-29T04:09:00.000-08:00

I will have to make the most of today, as tomorrow will mark the dawning of a whole new chapter of my life. I know I have told you this before, but this is a serious business and is definitely worthy of another mention, before it leaps onto me like a ton of bricks.

One good thing has happened already this morning, I lost another 2lb in weight, which means I have lost.... (drum roll here).......7lb in the last three weeks! So onward and upward with the Weight Watchers diet. They even gave me a star when I logged onto their site this morning. How cool is that?? Now I need to sit back and wait for all the other wonderful things that are going to happen today. (Big smile here)

I went to Newcastle on Wednesday and met up with my sister and cousin. They showered me with presents for my birthday, while we had coffee and brought each other up to date with what was going on in our lives. I think I was able to sum up my last month very quickly, which gave the other two plenty of time to fill me in with their news, both good and bad.

When we had finished chatting I wandered around the town looking for something to wear at my niece's forthcoming wedding. However, I didn't see anything even worth trying on, as all the shops seemed to be selling off their winter stock and truthfully, I wasn't impressed. Therefore I will have to make another trip, which isn't so bad as I might have lost a bit more weight. - hopefully!! Actually I didn't buy very much at all. I didn't even spend the £25 worth of M&S vouchers I had collected. And that brings me to another thing, M&S have been moving things around in their Newcastle store and not for the better. Since when do you find make up etc located in the men's department on the ground floor. when all the women's stuff is on the first floor? The children's gear has now been placed upstairs where all the women's classic wear was. I could ramble on for ages here about what they had moved and where they had put it, but I won't. Suffice to say I am not very happy with what they have done. I might even send them an email. (At least they haven't moved the cafe in the food hall where they serve a delicious chilled white wine.)

The rest of the week went much the same, except bits and pieces day was Friday instead of Thursday. I was too shattered after my trip to Newcastle to even think about rushing out Thursday morning!! Crikey, is that the first sign of my age!!

Soooo next week begins with a bang tomorrow. By the time I write my next blog, I will be a decade older and if that doesn't call for a glass or two of wine, I don't know what does.

Have a lovely day,

Cheers!!

Another Week!

2012-01-23T07:03:00.000-08:00

It's Monday again! Having just got through last week, you know what? I have to start all over again! These Mondays are starting to come around very quickly - too quickly. By the time next Monday comes around, it will almost be the end of January. Not only that, but I will be entering a whole new chapter of my life and the frightening part is - I can't do a damn thing about it!!

Where do I go from here? I'm told life will go on exactly the same, but will it? Will people start to look at me differently?? I damn well hope not, because I am the same person and there is plenty of fight in me yet!! Besides, I still have things I want to do and one of them is get a story in Take a Break Fiction Feast. Any brilliant ideas on how I might manage that would be good.

Anyway enough of that! I just wanted to get it out of my system!

On Friday evening I was at friends' house for drinks. There were around ten of us, so it was really very nice. It's good to be able to have a chat with friends. However, I didn't drink too much because, as you know, I'm on a diet!! Yes I am really sticking with it this time. I lost another pound this week making in 5lb in two weeks, so I must keep it up.

Someone in Texas has sent me their manuscript to read, as they want my advice. I'm not sure yet how they came hear about me or why they think my advice is worth anything. However, I'm in the middle of reading the story now and it's quite good actually. But it seems this person can't find a publisher to take it on and wants my opinion.

Another person in New York has also asked me to check out the alterations she has made to her novel, so it seems I'm going to be busy this week.

That's all for the moment,

I hope the sun is shining in your world.

Cheers!!

The Diet

2012-01-12T06:34:00.000-08:00

So far the diet is going well. I have joined Weight Watchers online and am trying hard to follow all their instructions. (Though I had to figure out their website first) I also had a few tips from a friend and quite honestly, I found her suggestions to be very helpful. So with a bit of luck, I shall start to see some rewards for my efforts.

Apart from that, all is much the same. I haven't done anything or been anywhere exciting. I think I am saving it all up for my birthday at the end of the month when I will be waving good bye to my 60s and entering a whole new chapter of my life. A new dawn, so to speak. Put like that, it doesn't sound quite so bad!!

On that note, I think I will close,

Have a lovely day,

Cheers!!

New Year

2012-01-07T05:40:00.000-08:00

First of all I would like to wish you all a Very Happy New Year! All the best for 2012.

I should have said all that a week ago, but I don't seem to have got my head around it being a brand New Year already. It's not as though I have been swamped with invitations to parties or been rushing here there and everywhere to make sure I haven't missed anyone out. Quite the opposite. In fact, we had both a quiet Christmas and New Year. So I have no excuses at all.

Anyway, I am here now, though unfortunately, I still don't have anything to tell you. Life this week has been the same as ever. Quiet, quiet and more quiet. Apart from the gales! They were dreadful. There were times when I felt that our roof was going to sail off somewhere into the great beyond. But we are still intact, so that is a blessing.

We have booked up a couple of holiday breaks. Both are in this country, as we are not really keen on jetting off anymore. We are going to a couple of tried and trusted hotels, where we can laze around, be fed, watered and entertained. We have been several times before, so we know exactly what to expect.

Something else I must do this year is to lose some weight! I have shouted this from the rooftops in the past and nothing has happened, so this time I am whispering it. Ssh - I am going on a diet. Don't repeat it in case someone hears and blows the whole thing. This morning there was a recipe booklet in the newspaper. The meals are for dieters, so I am going to check it out. I'm still whispering, as I haven't yet told the rest of my body what is going to happen. This needs to be done gradually, otherwise my whole system will go into defiant mode and drag me around cakes, biscuits, and that wonderful stuff called chocolate.

I think that is all for the moment, best quit while I'm ahead.

Have a great day!

Cheers!!

Boxing Day

2011-12-26T06:09:00.000-08:00

I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year. I guess we are all wondering what is in store for us in 2012. Will this be the year when all our dreams come true. I suppose it depends on what we are dreaming about.

You must all know how much I am looking forward to the republication of my novel, The Trojan Project. If you don't, then I guess you must have been out each time I sent the memo. It has gone around the world a few times now. The CEO of the publisher has had a few personal problems, which is why it was delayed, but hopefully it is on course now. The publisher has set up a new Website and now you can become a member and subscribe to the newsletter when it all starts up again. If anyone is interested in doing that then go to Moongypsy Press.

We haven't ventured out today. I decided I wouldn't join the crush at the sales, though I gather from the news that some shopping malls are packed.. Instead I think I am going to curl up with a book. I must be old fashioned, but I recall in times past, all shops were closed both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Sales began in January. Best time for them, if you ask me.... but nobody did, so now they start Boxing Day.

I think that is all for the moment, but do keep checking back. If something special happens, you'll hear it here first.

Have a lovely day wherever you are

Cheers!!

Season's Greetings

2011-12-25T02:14:00.000-08:00

I wish you all a Very Merry Christmas & A Happy and prosperous New Year.

Wherever you may be, have a Great Day,

Back soon

Cheers!!

More of This and That!

2011-12-14T05:40:00.000-08:00

It seems ages since I last posted anything on here. To be truthful, I haven't had very much to blog about, though those that know me well will be saying,'When has that ever stopped you?'

We have had severe gales here, in fact it was so bad, Bits and Pieces day had to be postponed! That has got to be a first! Then just when we thought we had got rid of them and were looking forward to getting out, we woke up the next morning to find snow! Thankfully that didn't last too long.

In between the gales and the snow, my husband had more hospital and Dr's appointments to keep. Fortunately, the hospital was the Borders General, which isn't too far. At least we didn't have to travel to the hospital in Edinburgh, the one with the terribly hard seats. I'm not sure we would have risked going up there with the weather situation. I think we would have had to cancel. Anyway, after a cardiogram and a monitor stuck to his body for two days, he has been given some new pills, but I gather the side effects are not good, so we will have to wait and see how he reacts to them.

I have written and posted all my Christmas Cards and delivered our presents to my sister and her husband. That is another good thing. We were able to go down to Newcastle on Tyne quite easily this year. Last year the snow came so early, we had to make a quick dash there and straight home while there was a lull in the storm, so to speak, so we missed seeing my niece, who was at work.

I am still looking forward to the republication of The Trojan Project. You will recall that it was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances. Hopefully it will appear in January, but I will pass on more news as soon as I have it. So all those of you who are sitting on the edge of your seats waiting for the announcement, hang in there for a little while longer.

Meanwhile if anyone would like to press the like button at the top of the page I have set up on facebook, I would be very grateful. http://www.facebook.com/thetrojanproject

We were at the MS Christmas lunch last Sunday. It was very nice and we all enjoyed catching up with people we only see now and again. This Sunday, we are going to the Ruby Wedding celebrations of a cousin. So I do hope the weather behaves itself for the journey there and back. Fingers are crossed.

On Friday evening we have been invited to a little get-together with some friends. Looking forwrad to that. Obviously a glass or two of wine will be on the agenda, so we will all have the Festive Spirit in more ways than one!

I thought you might like to see a little thing, I made at a website recently. Just follow the link and sit back and enjoy my husband and I as no one has seen us before.

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/Gj2DDJojPu3IVqph

Take care everyone and enjoy your Christmas, wherever you may be!

Cheers!!

The New Laptop

2011-12-03T06:58:00.000-08:00

The new laptop is up and running!! However, I should add that everything didn't just fall into place in a few minutes. No! We had a few problems along the way. For a start, when we went to download all the stuff copied from the old laptop, it appeared no less than three times. Yes, for some unspeakable reason, I had three copies of every single thing!! Photos, documents, letters, everything. In the end we decided to delete everything and start all over again the following morning. We even cleared the memory stick or whatever it is you call it, in case it had something in there that might cause it to happen all over again.

However, by the morning,the old laptop had cunningly figured out what was going on and decided it didn't like the idea of having everything removed and placed into the bright new spark that was now sitting on my desk. Therefore, when I switched it on in readiness for the big changeover, the screen remained black. Everything was whirring away inside, so we knew it was loading up okay, it just wouldn't let us see anything.

Anyway, after a great deal of head scratching, my husband dismantled the whole thing and took out the hard disc and placed it in some neat little gadget, which allowed all the stuff to be copied on to his computer so it could be saved on the memory stick and then uploaded onto the new laptop.

Thankfully, all is well now, except for some reason I found I have 2041 email addresses in my contacts. Some people are in there four times. So I guess the old laptop had the last laugh after all. As I had no intention of going through the whole procedure again, I am simply deleting the extra addresses as and when I come to them.

Strictly come dancing is on this evening. I wonder who will be voted off this week. Like everyone else, I will have to wait until Sunday evening to find out, but I hope it isn't one of the better dancers!

I hope you are having a good weekend.

Cheers!!

New Laptop

2011-11-27T15:42:00.000-08:00

You might recall that I was having a few problems with my laptop. It was freezing, blanking out, and doing other strange things. Well yesterday the screen started to turn pink when I had left it for a while. I don't know why. Perhaps it was frustrated at me going off and leaving it - who knows what gets into these things??

Anyway, I decided enough was enough and today we went out and bought a new one. At the moment, my husband is in the process of setting it up for me, so I am still using the old one. However, once he gets everything up and running, he will transfer all the stuff from this one. I say all the stuff, but I don't really mean that. I really need to sort out some of the folders on here. I can't possibly pack up all the rubbish on here and simply dump it in the new one. For heaven's sake, it could be that all this stuff tucked away in corners I don't even know about, has wreaked havoc with this one.

No! A good clear out is what is called for and that is the first thing I am going to do tomorrow!! But where do I start? How do I know whether I am deleting something I am going to want next week? It's a bit like that in our house. I hang onto things for ages because I believe they will be needed. My drawers and cupboards are full of bits and pieces that never see the light of day from one year to the next.

Perhaps I will have to keep this Laptop in the cupboard just in case I need something hidden away in one of the folders. My husband is going to love that!!

Have a good day!!

Cheers

Shopping Again

2011-11-24T07:17:00.000-08:00

I met my sister and my cousin in Newcastle yesterday. We had coffee and chatted before going our separate ways. My sister took the bus home, while my cousin went off to meet another friend who she hadn't seen for a long time. At least I think that is where she was going. I tend to lose the thread when we all have so much to say!

As for me, I went shopping! Newcastle is wonderful at any time of the year, but at Christmas, when all the shops are decorated and the Eldon Square has coloured lights everywhere you look, it is a sight to behold. I should also mention Fenwick's shop windows - they are so beautifully adorned with moving elves and other characters from Fairy Stories. And somewhere above your head, there is a speaker blasting out Christmassy songs. Every year they have a different theme. This has been going on for as long as I can remember. Someone must start planning this at Easter!!

Anyway, after taking all this in, I went off and did a little more Christmas shopping. And I rounded off the day with a glass of chilled white wine in Marks and Spencers. They have a lovely cafe in their Food Hall, where you can sip coffee, tea or wine, while watching the shoppers dashing around the counters looking at all the goodies to eat.

I think I have worn myself out just thinking about yesterday, so I will leave you with this thought - the wine was delicious!!

Have a good day!

Cheers!!

Diet and Other Things

2011-11-14T08:50:00.000-08:00

The big thing today is that I have decided I must go on a diet. Okay, I can see you cringing already. I know you have heard this before, but, believe me, I have heard it a lot more times than you, so please be patient. Yes, I am going on a diet. Starting today, I an cutting back on all non-essential food and drink.... Well almost all. Obviously, I will still have the occasional Gin & Tonic or a glass of wine. Why on earth would I want to give up on the staff of life?

Anyway, my mind is made up and it is now written in stone as I have posted this news on facebook and twitter, as well as telling you about it here. So there is no backing down now. Also, I did a bit of walking today to get me started on the process, so I wouldn't want that to go to waste :-)

The other thing I have to say is that my novel won't be published in the USA before the New Year. However, that does not mean that you can sit back and forget about the whole thing, because I won't let you. No! I will mention it now and again, and most certainly spread the word of the release date as soon as I have it.

Meanwhile, I hope you are having a good day and that you are not plagued by weight problems!

Cheers!!

Ready and Raring to Go!

2011-11-07T07:14:00.000-08:00

On your marks... get set.......GO!

Phew!!! After approving the final edit of The Trojan Project, I have just returned it to the publisher in Nevada. Hopefully, it is now ready for re-publication in the USA. I have ordered and received some postcards and magnetic calendars for 2012, which I intend to send out to various establishments in the States. If anyone has any addresses of places in either the USA or any other part of the world that would display these postcards, then I would love you to get in touch. Meanwhile, I will continue to trawl the Internet. (I am certainly getting my money's worth from my Broadband at the moment)

The book will available from the publisher Moongypsy Press or Amazon
It would make a superb Christmas Present for anyone who enjoys a good edge of the seat thriller. It is set in Northeast England and mentions a few of the towns and villages in the area - not least, the small market town of Wooler, which nestles at the foot of the Cheviot Hills. It is here that the novel begins....

(If you order a copy from Amazon, please make sure you order the new revised copy, showing the brand new cover, as above.)

Met up with some writing friends this morning. We had a good natter about the trials and tribulations of finding a publisher and also on marketing and promoting your novel once it is published. It sometimes makes me wonder why on earth we bother to do it. Nevertheless, after a good moan over coffee and scones,I think we all got it out of our systems and departed on a high note - which, hopefully, will last a few days :)

I am off to relax now. All that staring at the computer screen over the last few days, has made my eye balls dazzle. At the moment, I feel as though they are both in one socket!!

Hope you are having a lovely sunny day wherever you are, it's gorgeous here in the Scottish Borders.

Cheers!!

Strange Request

2011-11-02T04:35:00.000-07:00

I have just had a strange request from someone who stumbled across my blog this morning.... Thinking about it, perhaps the request is not so strange really, as whoever it is, is simply trying to promote their business and who can blame them for that?

He/she is called Dovi from Lithuania and has asked me to review their hand felted slippers on my blog. Now, please be clear, I can't give a review, because I have never tried them, nor can I say I endorse them, as I have never even seen them for real. However, just for the pure heck of it and because I am in a fairly good mood, I will pass on their website address here and you can log on if you wish. www.HandFeltedShoes.com For heavens sake, you have got to give the person something for trying.

But this is the first and probably the last time I will do this.

Things have been hectic here for the last few days. My husband's medication had be raised and it caused his blood-pressure to rise and his pulse to race. However since the dose was lowered again, he seems to be back to normal. Phew!
We also had to have a trip to the hospital again. Thankfully, not the one in Edinburgh with the terribly hard chairs, but our local General Hospital, where the seating is of a more comfortable nature.

At the moment I am preparing envelopes filled with postcards and calendar magnets all showing the cover of my novel, The Trojan Project, to send to various places in the USA as soon as the book has been released. Finding addresses is the most difficult part, but I am getting there.

Now I am off to hang out some washing before the weather changes.

Cheers!!

Back to the Drawing Board.

2011-10-27T04:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to Newcastle again yesterday to meet up with my sister and cousin for a chat over coffee - well it was a bit early for wine, so that came later! My cousin was full of cold, but had made the decision to still meet up, because she likes to keep up with what is going on in a different world to hers - as do we all!!

Anyway, after we finished coffee, I went to look around the shops before meeting up with the lovely lady I mentioned a month ago. We couldn't talk long, as I had to get back to Kelso for a talk on wine (more on that later) and she was doing some shopping of her own. Nevertheless, it was good to see her again, even for a short while. We will have to try to meet up another time, when we both aren't in such a rush.

As for the wine school, I'm afraid I didn't get to it after all. Oh, I was there on time - 6pm - 7.30, the invitation said, but unfortunately for some reason it had been changed to 6.30 - 8pm and quite frankly, I didn't feel up to hanging around the shop for 30 min waiting for it to start, so I left. I was shattered after my shopping trip, but still went to the talk because I said I would, but felt I couldn't stay there till 8pm. I will have to make my apologies. I do hope it went well, though.

Today is bits and pieces day, but it has been postponed until tomorrow, as my husband isn't feeling too well today. So now it is back to the drawing board, with my novel, Divorcees.com. I must try to get my head around it, as all the characters are doing what they like and I am sitting here watching them.

Perhaps pressing my finger on the delete button and holding it there will teach them a lesson. But I won't hold my breath.

Have a good day whatever you are doing.

Cheers!!

Is It Safe to Come Out Now?

2011-10-19T02:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, say I, as I peep out from behind my desk. I think it is safe to come out now. My new Website is still working and the Internet hasn't crashed after my feeble attempt to set up the Website for The Trojan Project. I had feared the worst, as I am in no way technically minded.

My personal Website, Freelance Writer was set up for me by my husband and while he is not an expert, he has taught himself to find his way around a computer after reading every book published on the subject. However, I prefer my reading matter to be more light-hearted - something enjoyable and in no way work related. Anyway, the site is up and running and I would be grateful if you would check it out sometime.

I am now going to have another crack at my novel, Divorcees.com. I have no idea what is going on there. Now the women are having a row. I hadn't expected that, so I am in no way ready to cope with it, so I have been putting off the evil moment of trying to sort it out and decide where they are going to go from here. All this has been going on behind my back while I have been enjoying a book called Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow. It is a really good read. I recommend it if you are looking for something to keep your attention. I didn't want to put it down, which is how I abandoned my ladies and allowed them to get into the mess they're in now

But before all that, I'll have to come back to earth and peg out the washing. There's always something to bring you down when you're on a high, isn't there?

Have a good day,

Cheers!!

New Website!!

2011-10-17T05:49:00.000-07:00

I have just set up a new website for The Trojan Project in readiness for its re-publication later this year. I must tell you that I have done this all on my own and that this an achievment in itself.

I spent all morning fiddling and phaffing around, clicking on this, deleting that until I was almost blue in the face. I lost stuff, and then found stuff, I didn't even know I had. But I got there in the end. At least I hope I have. My fingers are crossed that it is all still there when someone logs on and that I didn't wipe the whole thing when I left.

If anyone would like to visit this new site then the address is:
http://www.the-trojan-project.webs.com/

I would also be grateful if you would pass on this rivetting piece of news, because I really need all the help I can get.

Have a great day!!

Cheers!!

Catching Up!

2011-10-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

I think this must be catch up day. I have just realised that it has been a few days since I left any blogs. The problem is, everything seems to have been very quiet in my life and I don't really have anything much to blog about. Not for the beginning of the week, anyway. However, yesterday my friend and I took the bus from Jedburgh to Newcastle. This meant I had to get up extra early, as we have to drive the ten miles to Jedburgh to catch the bus at around 9 o'clock.

Okay, you are all thinking that 9am isn't so bad. Well I'm afraid it is for me. In the mornings I need to get my head around things before embarking on the world, even if there isn't much going on in my day. For a start, I need to take my pills and read the newspaper with the TV blasting out the Breakfast News behind me. After the pills are washed down, I then have a cup of tea and continue to read the paper, only glancing at the TV if someone special is going to enlighten the world with their wisdom. (Which doesn't happen very often) Or if someone like Johnny Depp makes an appearance. This ritual is written in stone and must take place before I even think about taking a shower and getting dressed. Therefore rushing this regime is doomed to failure. So you see, to be able to do all this before rushing out for a bus, means I have to get up extra early and getting up extra early is not really me.

Anyway, we had a great day in Newcastle. I say 'day' in Newcastle, but it is only a few hours, as we have to be on the bus again by 2pm to come back to Jedburgh. Nevertheless, we did get around quite a few shops and had a giggle at the same time, so we plan to do it again sometime in the coming weeks.

Today we went to the new Sainsbury's supermarket. The town has been waiting for this to happen for over ten years. Why has it taken so long? Won't go into that, but I'll simply say that the town is rejoicing at last. The store is large with lovely wide aisles and plenty of stock to choose from. Wonderful stuff!!

I can't remember whether I mentioned that I have ordered some magnetic calendars to promote my novel. There will be a picture of the new book cover next to a calender for 2012. If anyone has any suggestions where to send these calendars to get the best possible notice, I would be grateful.

Have a good day,

Cheers!!

Friendly Blogger Award

2011-10-09T02:38:00.000-07:00

I have just been awarded the Friendly Blogger Award by Teresa Ashby.
A big thank you, Teresa. How nice of you to think of me. I would also like to award the Friendly Blogger on to several other people, who blog regularly. I can name a few, but if any of you would like to pick it up, then please do so.
Pat Newcombe, Linda Lewis, and Vee. Stop by their blogs and see what they have to say. However, all those blogs shown at the right-hand side of my page are good, so drop by those, too. (And if they would like to pick up the award, then please do so - you deserve it.)

Cheers!!

Sins of the Father

2011-10-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

Last night my husband and I went to see the play, Sins of the Father, written by Tom Murray. It is currently doing a tour of the Scottish Borders. The play has a cast of two and lasts for about seventy minutes.

A man and a woman meet in a remote cottage. Why are they there? How do they know each other? What is the history that brings these two people together? To answer any of those questions would be to give away the plot, which I am not going to do. Instead, what I am going to do, is to suggest you all go along to a venue near you and check it out for yourself.

Below is a list of venues where you can still see the play.

Sins of the Father by Tom Murray with Lesley Hart as Emma and Jordan Young as Robert.

Lesley's stage work includes Future Proof a 2011 Edinburgh Fringe first at the Traverse. Other work includes: I Was a Beautiful Day, Shimmer and Outlying Islands. Film and Television work include Casualty, Fast Romance and Taggart.

Jordan’s stage work includes Black Watch and Gagarin Way. TV work includes Rab C Nesbitt and Legit.

Directed by John Carnegie. Scenery and Costumes designed by Gregory Smith.

'The winds batter a remote cottage in the Borders. Emma enters this 'animals' lair' for her long planned encounter with its owner, Robert.Years before, the worlds of Robert's father and Emma's mother collided in a way that would affect their children's lives forever. Today, that situation is going to be resolved.'

Tense, passionate, edge-of-the-seat theatre, Tom Murray's involving drama was joint winner of the inaugural Rowan Tree Playwrighting
Competition.

DATES/VENUES

Eastgate Theatre, Peebles
Saturday 8 October 7.30pm

Box Office: 01750 725777 & online http://www.facebook.com/l/-AQBMx10nAQBc_HcSIE33yuTGOzO48yTPM1L79dqFSeS1sQ/www.thebooth.co.uk

Village Hall, Smailholm

Sunday 9 October 7.30pm

Tickets: Smailholm Pottery 01573 460 666 & online at borderevents.com

Biggar Corn Exchange

Wednesday 12 October 7.30pm
Tickets: http://www.facebook.com/l/RAQC-QKGnAQC00stmbMKOM3uB78XwYpkMzHAcqkG_L-zjsQ/www.biggarcornexchange.co.uk
or on the door

Carlops Community Hall

Thursday 13 October 7.30pm
Tickets: Carlops PO or on the door & online at borderevents.com

Coldstream Community Centre

Friday 14 October 7.30pm
Tickets: Clark's Newsagents, Coldstream
or on the door & online at borderevents.com

Wauchope Hall, Town Yetholm

Sat 15 October 7.30pm
Tickets:Yetholm Village Shop 01573 420366 & online at borderevents.com

Saturday & Sunday

2011-10-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

Saturday passed rather quietly. Nothing happened, not that very much happens here on a Saturday, but this week, nothing even tried to happen. Altogether it was a rather deadpan of a day.

Sunday, was different. On Sunday, we went out to lunch with the MS Society. It is a chance for a natter and to find out what is going on in other people's worlds. But more than that, the meal is planned, cooked and served by someone else!! Not that I make a drama out of making meals anymore - no, those days have long gone. The least said on that the better. Nevertheless, it is still nice to have someone else plan the whole thing for a change.

The lunch itself was very nice, though rather slow in being served, but a couple of glasses of wine helped to stop us all noticing that! I had Roast Beef followed by Lemon Cheesecake. The Cheesecake was delicious, really lemony. My friend, who likes everything to be very strong-flavoured, would have been very impressed.

We chatted with our friends, before, during, and after the meal, as it was the first time we had met up in a while, so we had rather a lot of catching up to do.

Now we are back to Monday again and one day this week we will have to go for our Flu injections. Not something to make your socks roll up and down, but if it helps to keep the Flu away, I will go with the flow...

Hope your day flows well,

Cheers!!

Post Cards

2011-09-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

The postcards I ordered to help advertised the republication of The Trojan Project, arrived this morning - all 500 of them! Therefore if anyone wants a postcard from me, let me know, as I'm not sure where I am going to send all these. No doubt something will spring into my mind at some point. I suppose I could send them out instead of Christmas Cards this year.

Meanwhile if anyone has any brilliant ideas as to how I can use all these cards to market my book, then get back to me. .......... Details on a postcard please!!

Cheers!!

PS. Those who enjoy entering writing competitions might like to take a look at NAWG.

A Busy Day

2011-09-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to Newcastle. Those of you who have read any previous blogs will know that I adore going to Newcastle. Yesterday was no exception. It was brilliant!! The sun was shining, which made everything seem even more delightful than usual. Also the dreaded journey there and back was enhanced by the late summer sunshine.

I say dreaded journey, though it's not so bad really. However, it takes around an hour and a half to get there and the same coming home, so it does add quite a lot of travelling time to the day.

I met my sister and cousin and we chatted over coffee, then I went off to look around the shops. Naturally I had to spend some money, but not a lot. I'm saving some for the next trip, when I hope to have lost some weight. But let's not get tangled up with that subject, it is something I don't want to dwell on when it is such a lovely day outside.

Anyway, back to Newcastle. After checking out everything possible, I went for my customary glass of wine in M&S before going back to the car. They have a cafe in their food hall and it is lovely to sit there and watch everyone struggling with their shopping, while I sip a glass of cold white wine. A lady came and sat close to me and we started chatting. She told me she only lived about ten minutes walk away, and she was relaxing before setting off home. We talked about everything and by the time I left, I felt I had known her all my life. It even turned out that she knew of someone I went to school with! That is one of the wonderful things about Newcastle. The people are great!

Today I booked up for lunch on Christmas Day. It has become folklore in this house that we go out for lunch on Christmas Day. None of the hassle of getting the turkey in the oven and wondering whether it has been cooked long enough. No! We go out and let someone else take the strain, even if we have to pay more to do it!

Now I am off to have another crack at ordering some tickets from a website. All I am trying to do is to order two tickets for a play to be held in The Wynd Theatre, Melrose. An easy task, you might think, but not so. Whatever I do, I get a notice saying 'There was an error when we tried to process your request.' I even tried ringing the number given, but a recorded message told me that I would find it easier to buy the tickets on line Grrrrrr!!!

I am off for a glass of wine to soothe my troubled nerves before steam starts to come out of my ears.

By the way. There is still time to add a LIKE to The Trojan Project page on facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Trojan-Project/134733363288214

Cheers!

New Facebook Page and more.

2011-09-26T10:24:00.000-07:00

I have started a new page on Facebook for the republication of The Trojan Project. By that, I really have just started the thing and have no idea where to go from here. However, I have been assured by those who know about such things that I really need to get the page noticed and 'Liked'.

I stress the word, Like, because it was repeated several times so I guess this is very important. Therefore, I rreally would appreciate it if you would go to the page and click on the 'Like' button as though your very life depended on it. Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Trojan-Project/134733363288214

I know this looks a longwinded link and I'm sure I could do something about it if only I knew how. But until I learn more about it, you will have to bear with me.

I went into the Berwick branch of Tesco today. I wandered up and down the aisles adding this and that to my trolley. I didn't think I had chosen very much, as the trolley wasn't overloaded. However, when I got to the checkout, I had the place in an uproar.

Someone came to assist me unload the trolley onto the belt, as I was having a problem in keeping up with the guy who was rattling away so fast on the thing that was about to call time on the money in my purse. Suddenly, he stopped and suggested he would help me with the packing, which was a really good idea, otherwise we could have been there all night. He loaded the frozen stuff into the freezer bag I had taken with me and then continued to haul the rest of my stuff past the little red light that was adding £££s to my bill at the speed of light. By now, there was no room at the other end of the checkout to put the stuff the guy had checked out, so he had to leave his till and come around to dump the items he had packed back into my trolley.

Thankfully, by now all the other items had been unloaded, otherwise the things I had already paid for could have taken a second trip past the wretched flashing red light.

When I finally paid the bill, which was creeping towards £200. I thanked the staff, and assured them I had kept them in a job for another week!

Can I just say here, that if you are confused by this blog, then you aren't the only one. I have developed a headache. I am going to have a G&T now, while I am still ahead! Not sure that is the best treatment, but it beats swallowing a pill.

Cheers!!

Brand New Cover

2011-09-25T04:01:00.000-07:00

I am so excited. This is the new cover of my novel, The Trojan Project, due to be republished in the USA later this year. The novel has be re-edited for the American market and is with the final proof-reader at the moment. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will be well received.

Home Again!

2011-09-23T04:46:00.000-07:00

Just got home after a lovely week at Littlecote House in Berkshire. We both really enjoyed our stay. We had planned to visit several towns in and around the area, while we were so far south.

I paticularly wanted to see Glastonbury after reading a novel based on the area. I also rather fancied a trip to Bath, and I also wanted to go to to Oxford and visit the places immortalised on the TV screen by Inspector Morse. However, we did none of those things, instead, we spent our days languishing around the hotel. There as so much going on during the day that neither of us wanted to get back into the car and drive around the congested roads only to find there was no where to park when we got there.

We joined in with the quizzes, we watched the plays, so ably acted by the Littlecote players, and we strolled around the beautiful grounds. We also visited the Roman mosaic, first set out in AD640 and still wonderfully preserved. And in between, we read books and sipped wine. Absolute bliss. In the evenings we watched the shows, again put on by the Littlecote players. They are really a very talented bunch.

So you see, there was absolutely no time to go flitting around the countryside. Perhaps we will go again next year and forgo the pleasures of the Hotel. After breakfast we could go out to see all the things we should have seen this year. But we shall see what happens when to time comes, my guess is that we will do the same thing all over again.

Now back to the washing and ironing, while watching a couple of episodes of the West Wing. Yes, I am well and truly home.

Don't forget to check out 'Behind Closed Doors' by Brian L Porter on Amazon.

Have a good day!!
Cheers!!

Notices! Please read.

2011-09-21T06:09:00.000-07:00

I have a couple of things I would like to draw to your attention.

1) A novel called 'BEHIND CLOSED DOORS' BY BRIAN L PORTER is now available on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. As the publisher is making a donation to an animal sanctuary in Yorkshire for every copy purchased, I strongly urge you check out this book.

2) I hope anyone near enough to one of the venues in the Scottish Borders, shown below, will check out this play by Tom Murray

ROWAN TREE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENT

'SINS OF THE FATHER' BY TOM MURRAYWith Lesley Hart as Emma and Jordan Young as Robert.

Lesley's stage work includes Future Proof a 2011 Edinburgh Fringe first at the Traverse. Other work includes: I Was a Beautiful Day,
Shimmer and Outlying Islands. Film and Television work include
Casualty, Fast Romance and Taggart.

Jordan’s stage work includes Black Watch and Gagarin Way. TV work includes Rab C Nesbitt and Legit.

Directed by John Carnegie. Scenery and Costumes designed by Gregory Smith.

'The winds batter a remote cottage in the Borders. Emma enters this 'animals' lair' for her long planned encounter with its owner, Robert.Years before, the worlds of Robert's father and Emma's mother collided in a way that would affect their children's lives forever. Today, that situation is going to be resolved.'

Tense, passionate, edge-of-the-seat theatre, Tom Murray's involving drama was joint winner of the inaugural Rowan Tree Playwrighting
Competition.

DATES/VENUES

Bowhill Theatre, by SelkirkFriday 30 September & Saturday 1 October 8.00pm

Tickets: 01750 22204 & online at borderevents.com

Tower Mill, Heart of Hawick
Tuesday 4 October 7.30pm

Box Office: 01450 360 688 & online http://www.facebook.com/l/-AQBMx10nAQBc_HcSIE33yuTGOzO48yTPM1L79dqFSeS1sQ/www.thebooth.co.uk

Macfie Village Hall, HeriotWednesday 5 October 7.30pm

Tickets on the door & online at borderevents.com

Coldingham Village HallThursday 6 October 7.30pm

Tickets: Coldingham PO 01890 771831
online http://www.facebook.com/l/0AQBHfUgcAQC4PnlL7Xs3UJ5aL4gBpUHqSogZ8EQchgzfLA/www.coldingham.info

The Wynd, Melrose
Friday 7 October 8.00pm

Tickets: 08432 898 555 online http://www.facebook.com/l/LAQBKvkfrAQCCATLRXnAasddlgD-n3Jybf2-vqBmJkuSg_Q/www.redshedtickets.com

Eastgate Theatre, Peebles
Saturday 8 October 7.30pm

Box Office: 01750 725777 & online http://www.facebook.com/l/-AQBMx10nAQBc_HcSIE33yuTGOzO48yTPM1L79dqFSeS1sQ/www.thebooth.co.uk

Village Hall, SmailholmSunday 9 October 7.30pm

Tickets: Smailholm Pottery 01573 460 666 & online at borderevents.com

Biggar Corn ExchangeWednesday 12 October 7.30pm

Tickets: http://www.facebook.com/l/RAQC-QKGnAQC00stmbMKOM3uB78XwYpkMzHAcqkG_L-zjsQ/www.biggarcornexchange.co.uk
or on the door

Carlops Community HallThursday 13 October 7.30pm

Tickets: Carlops PO or on the door & online at borderevents.com

Coldstream Community CentreFriday 14 October 7.30pm

Tickets: Clark's Newsagents, Coldstream
or on the door & online at borderevents.com

Wauchope Hall, Town YetholmSat 15 October 7.30pm

Tickets:Yetholm Village Shop 01573 420366 & online at borderevents.com

Thursday - The Usual Plus More!

2011-09-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

As you know, Thursday is bits and pieces day. We start with coffee and scones at our local garden centre cafe (They make the most delicious scones) then we go to the post office, the bank and finally WHSmiths, where I buy my lottery ticket in the hope that I am going to be a millionaire before the week is out.

However this morning, I thought I would pop into the food store. We only have one store in the town at the moment, we are all waiting with baited breath for Sainsbury to finish building their new Supermarket and I'm sure the staff will be blown away with the number of people herding in there on opening day. You see the town have been waiting so long for a proper supermarket, everyone, will all want to shop til they drop for fear it disappears overnight. I have lived here for thirteen years and talks have been going on about which store and where it should go since before we arrived!

But I digress, (besides, it's best I don't go there.) All I was going to say when I started this post, was that I decided when I went into the store this morning, I wouldn't buy any wine. The wine rack is full, I told myself, firmly, as I marched down the aisle. However, when I wasn't looking, a bottle of red wine leapt off the shelf and deposited itself in my basket. Now put yourself in my position. What would you have done? The bottle was sitting there looking up at me in such a pathetic way, how could I lift it out and put it back on the shelf. I really hadn't the heart to do that. Besides, it was so cheap, it would have been unbelievable to turn it down. Having said that, it might be so rough, when I take a sip, it could blow my socks off!

Hope your day is good,

Cheers!!

PS I'm sorry, I should have mentioned we have a Co-op a little way out of town. They have done a magnificent job in supplying the local people over the years. Shame they aren't on the main street.

A Brief PS

2011-09-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

This morning, I went for the dreaded breast screening, as mentioned yesterday.

It was even more torturous than I remembered it. It seems a new policy is in place. Each side has to be x-rayed twice. Yes, twice! First, you have to contort yourself into a totally unnatural position and hold it, while the very life is being squeezed out of you, then you are asked to relax for a nano second, before being put into another awkward position. Then, just when you think the world has gone absolutely mad and you can see stars twinkling in your eyes, you have to do it all over again. I felt as sick as a parrot when I left. :(

Might I recommend that a glass of wine should be offered once you have undergone this treatment. It's the very least they could do.

I only hope the results are good and I don't have to go back and have the whole thing done all over again!

Cheers!!

Spending Money!

2011-09-05T03:55:00.000-07:00

It has been a week since I last posted on here. Where does the time go? On the other hand, I haven't really done anything or been anywhere worth mentioning, so perhaps that is one of the reasons I have given my blog a miss.

However, on reflection, I went to Newcastle on Wednesday. Now that is something worth mentioning. I can't believe that I didn't tell you earlier. I love going there. On this occasion, I met up with my sister and cousin and we chattered for over an hour, before going our separate ways. I spent the rest of the day wandering around the shops, spending a few £s here and there. I took out a mortgage and bought some Jimmy Choo perfume and some rather expensive face cream. However, as the perfume makes me smell lovely and cream is working itself into a frenzy to keep the wrinkles from my face, I guess they are both worth the money. I also bought myself a skirt, some slippers, which don't look anything like slipper, but make my feet look good and two shirts for my husband. I only wish we lived a little nearer to Newcastle. Though my husband probably thinks we are close enough!

Saturday morning I, and two others were on duty at our social club's coffee morning. This entails helping to make the tea and coffee and clearing away the debris afterwards. There was also a garden produce competition last Saturday. Friends and neighbours took flowers, fruit and vegetables to be judged and then they were all sold off to the highest bidder. The produce was excellent, a great deal of hard work certainly goes on in our village. I should add here that I did not enter the competition. I'm afraid our garden is not fruitful, nor do I intend it to be. We are not gardeners, though we have had some lovely gardens in the past. But those days are over - well over!

Our friends spent last week in York and thoroughly enjoyed their break. I gather they went everywhere and did everything possible during their stay. They climbed up towers and went down dungeons, therefore, I think they will be sitting with their feet up for the rest of this week!

Tomorrow morning I am going for that torturous thing called breast screening. I wasn't able to attend the date they suggested, so they very kindly gave me another. I say kindly, though it could just as easily be called sadistically.

On that note, I am going to leave you now. I suddenly don't feel so good,

Hope your day is going well,

Cheers!

Strange Sounds Coming From My Ka

2011-08-26T05:59:00.000-07:00

The Blackberry is working well. I seem to have got to grips with it at the moment. I don't think I am using it to its full potential, but I can work the thing and do the things I want to do, so it can't be all bad,

Not much else to say really, except I went to the hairdresser's yesterday. On the way there in my little Ka I saw a couple of friends coming towards me in their car. As we both had to slow down to pass each other, I decided to flash my headlights in a sort greeting. It was then that I heard this awful screeching at the back of my car. I felt awful, I thought I had run over a rabbit or something and I would hate that to happen.

When I rolled down my window to speak to my friends, the screeching sounded louder. I told the chap I could hear a terrible noise coming from the back of my car and asked if he could hear it, too. He listened, as another screeching sound could be heard. Do you mean that noise, he said with a serious look on his face. Yes, that's it, I replied. Do you know what it is? All sorts of things were running through my mind, If I hadn't run over something, what could it be --- probably something expensive!! Yes, he replied. You've got your back windscreen wiper on!

I felt such an idiot. Instead of the headlight lever, I had pulled and pushed the wiper lever. The front ones were wiping, too, but I hadn't even noticed. At that point, we both moved on! I'm sure he was muttering something to his wife, but by then, I was concentrating on not hitting a workman, who was fixing a wall.

Hope you have a good day!!

Cheers!!

My New Blackberry!

2011-08-23T04:24:00.000-07:00

At last, I have reached out beyond my limitations and have touched the Twenty First Century!!

Yesterday I bought a Blackberry. How about that? Mind you, I have no idea how the thing works, but I am learning, albeit very slowly. However, this means I am up there with the in-crowd, wherever that might be. So world, watch out, because I can see myself as a female Del-boy, rushing around clutching my Blackberry and a filo-fax and shouting, next year we will be millionaires --- and we all know what happened to Del-boy!

Seriously though, it is amazing what this thing can do, when in the right hands. By that I mean someone who understands this technology and knows how to use it properly. I doubt the poor thing will ever reach its full potential with me. However, I needed to buy a new mobile, as mine was starting to get the messages in the inbox all mixed up, (and no, that had nothing to do with me) so I thought I might as well go for this new-fangled thing called a Blackberry. Well it's a new-fangled thing to me! Didn't I just say that I had only touched the twenty first century yesterday.

I will let you know how I get on, meanwhile, I have learned how to send a text on it and make a call and with a bit of luck and a fair wind, I might even have sent an email. Though I'm not sure who to at the moment.:-) I will have to wait and see who replies - that is if they receive the thing in the first place.

I was shattered last night, and a glass of wine was definitely called for!

Okay, I am off to learn some more!

Hope you all learn something new today,

Cheers!!

Quiet Days

2011-08-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

Not only was Thursday bits and pieces day, but this time around it was haircut day, too. Haircut day is when my friend comes around to cut my husband's hair and we all have a merry time drinking wine and talking about weird and wonderful things. Thursday was no exception, though she and her husband couldn't stay too long, as they were preparing for visitors the next day. Nevertheless, it was a good afternoon.

I can't for the life of me remember what I did on Friday, except put a few more words to my novel Divorcees.com. It can't have been a day to make my hair stand on end, otherwise I would have written about it before now. Saturday, well Saturday came and went the same way as Friday, so I guess I really need a bit of excitement at the moment.

Today, I sent three chapters of my Divorcees.com to a friend to read through if she had a minute to spare. She does this sort of thing for an appraisal company, so thought she might tell me if I was wasting my time. I warned her that it was a story about nothing. I mentioned I had reviewed a book, which was all about something and nothing and quite honestly, I enjoyed it immensely. This set me thinking that I could do that. I could write a book about something and nothing with the best of them, so that was how Divorcees.com got started.

Anyway, back to my friend. As soon as I pressed the send button, I wondered whether I had done the right thing. What if my friend hated it, what if she thought it was rubbish (she could be right) what if... But I had sent it now, so that was that. As it turned out, she liked it. She made a few suggestions, which I have taken note of and will do something about it at a later date. Of course, she might be just being kind, but I'm putting that out of my mind and staying positive.

I have just had a short session on the Wii. Little and often is my motto. After all, I don't want to knock myself out, do I? Nevertheless, I worked off some calories, so that can't be a bad thing.

I am in the process of setting up a page on Facebook for The Trojan Project, when it is re-published in the USA later this year. I really need to get it known out there, so if anyone has any ideas on how to go about it, I would love to hear them.

Meanwhile, I might go and check out what has been going on at The West Wing - that lovely series, which was shown on TV a few years back. I am absolutely crazy about it.

Hope you are having a great weekend

Cheers!!

Odds and Ends

2011-08-16T05:53:00.000-07:00

I finished reading the manuscript and returned it to the editor. I have since learned that it is now in the hands of a copy editor in the USA for final proofing, so things are moving on. I understand I will receive it back for another read through, then hopefully we are on our way. So, USA, my novel, The Trojan Project is coming your way, I hope you guys are ready for it.

Another wet morning. Tesco has just delivered the groceries, so there is no need to go out. I guess that is something. But this is supposed to be summer, for goodness sake. Didn't someone get the memo??

However, staying home means I can add a little more to my new novel, Divorcees.com. It has been a little quiet there for a while. I took a look yesterday, but nothing had changed. There was a time when the ladies did things without me telling them to - they simply took over the whole plot. Yet, now when I really need some help with it, they are sitting around doing nothing - probably reading my blog! Especially Sadie. She's the one with some spunk. She says what she thinks and means what she says. Ah well, I'll have to see if I can pick up the thread.

I am also going to have another stab at losing weight. Yes, I know I have said all this before and I really do start off with good intentions, but somehow I slip back into my old habits. I'll let you know how it goes.

I hope there's some better weather where you are,

Cheers!!

Rain, Edits, and Things

2011-08-14T06:46:00.000-07:00

We have had a lot of rain this past week. Actually, we have had a lot of rain for the past month, but I don't want to go there. As it turns out, I hadn't planned to go anywhere over the last few days, which was rather lucky as I would have been drowned. Instead, as you will recall, I have been working with an editor to get my novel, The Trojan Project, ready for the American market. It is to be republished in November.

I think we are almost there. I have just finished reading the whole thing through, after the alterations and now it is his turn. He is going read it through and return it to me for a final check, before sending it on to the publisher. I tell you, my eyeballs are just about falling out. But I won't give up now.

You will also recall I mentioned my computer in my last post. How it has been shutting down on me when it felt like it. By the way, I am whispering now, as I am sure this thing can hear my thoughts, but I want you to know, that no sooner had I finished my last post, than the whole thing closed down again. And, if that wasn't enough to make my socks roll up and down, it did it again, just as I was editing my novel. Thankfully, I had saved everything, so nothing was lost. But it is still annoying.

We went out to the Cross Keys for lunch today. We quite enjoy going there, as the staff are so friendly and the food is good, too. Plus, and this is a big plus, it saves me having to think about what we are going to eat. Now I am going to put my feet up and watch a couple of episodes of The West Wing.

I haven't heard anything back about my blood tests, so they must have been okay.

Well I think that is all for the moment. However, if anyone wants to check out my website, go to http://www.eileenthornton.co.uk/

Have a nice dry day,...... When I say dry, I mean weather-wise not... But you know what I mean!!

Cheers!!

Nothing Going On!

2011-08-10T06:28:00.000-07:00

I'm afraid things have been very quiet here of late. I have been beavering away with an editor of the American publisher, trying to prepare my novel, The Trojan Project for the USA market. However, we are almost there, so I guess I will be back very soon.

I should add that nothing too drastic in my novel has been changed. What we have mainly had to look at, is the difference in spelling. When I first wrote the story, my PC kept wanting to change my spelling into American English and I had to keep telling the thing to ignore it. Now I have had to change everything back and I think my PC is getting some sort of kick out of that, as it keeps doing weird things, like shutting itself down. Fortunately, it doesn't lose the whole story in the process. Or it hasn't up to now!

My Computer (I give it a capital C here to tell it how important it is in my life) has been having these funny turns for a little while now, but not as often as recently. Either it is being smug and getting its own back or the thing is ready for the big PC junk yard in the sky. I suppose I could have it checked out with one of these PC doctors. But some of them cost a fortune to cross the threshold, while others don't really seem to have a clue what to do.

Ah well, I think I will see what happens next. I am definitely one of those people, who like to wait and see. No point in rushing into anything, is there?

Hope your PC is working okay,

Cheers!!

Is it really a week since I last posted?

2011-08-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

Is it really nearly a week since I last posted something here? Doesn't the time fly? I will need to have a think as to what I have been doing these last few days, as nothing exciting springs to mind.

On Monday I heard that the guy, who has been appointed to edit my novel, The Trojan Project, for the American publisher, had received the manuscript. (Did I tell you that my novel was going to be republished in the USA??) So I guess you could say that most of the week has been taken up with me going over the novel chapter by chapter with him. He sends me a few chapters at a time via email, so that I can approve the alterations and so far it is looking good. I rather like what he is doing with it. So here's hoping that the Americans will love it.

On Wednesday I went to Newcastle to meet up with my sister and cousin. Needless to say, we chattered for ages over coffee. It was good to see them both again. When we finally split up, I went to look around the shops. I think I have mentioned before how much I love going to Newcastle. I just wish it was a little closer to where we live. Or perhaps not, as I would be there every day!!

I tried on a couple of dresses, but I didn't didn't like myself in them. The dresses were lovely and they did actually fit, which is something really worth adding here. But I think I felt there was is a little too much of me, to do them justice. In the end, I bought myself some tights and hair conditioner. However, I also bought two shirts and a pair of trousers for my husband. Then I trotted off to enjoy a glass of wine in Marks & Spencer's cafe in the food hall, before going home. Now that is something. If you haven't tried doing that, you have missed a treat. You can sit there with wine, coffee or tea, whatever you fancy and watch the world go by, while relaxing after looking around the shops. Such Bliss!

This morning I went to have a blood test. I had received a letter from the surgery saying it was time I had a test to check that the tablets I take for my Thyroid were still working okay. Needles and I don't get on. By that I mean any kind of needles, sewing needles included, but I have to say those vampire-like things they use to take blood or to inject something are the worst. When will they come up with those injection gadgets they use on Star Trek. No one on that ship felt a thing when they had to have an injection for anything. I guess we are a long way off that at the moment.

Later, I am going to have a go on the Wii.

And that is my week in a nutshell. Nothing there to make your socks roll up and down, but if anything crops up later today, I'll be back with all the info.

Just a quick PS
This afternoon, after I had done 30 mins on the Wii, I decided to tackle the ironing. I have finished now and it went over like a dream. A glass of wine and an episode of the West Wing certainly helps me get through the most dreary jobs.

Have a good day, I just did!!

Cheers!!

Saturday - A Lovely Evening

2011-07-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was very quiet. I forgot about Zara and Mike's wedding, so missed it. I still can't believe that I forgot about it. That is not like me at all. Something is happening to me, which I am not comfortable about. Some people say these things happen as you grow older. But, as I am sure I have mentioned before, I have a problem there. I don't want to grow older. I never wanted to grow older. Yet, some well meaning person put my name down when I wasn't looking and now I am stuck with the whole concept. If only I could find the list of names, I would scratch mine out! There is absolutely no justice!

Anyway we had a lovely evening, which made up for the missing the wedding thing. We were invited around to a friend's garden for drinks. Very civilised. We all sat in the garden sipping our drinks and chatting until the sun went down. Then we picked up our glasses and went indoors, where we continued with the conversation, the laughter and the drinking. I have to say, we all had a really lovely time. So in the end, all was not lost and I am sure that Zara and Mike will forgive the fact that I missed their wedding. I did see this morning's Daily Mail and I have to say that Zara looked wonderful. I'm sure they had a really lovely day.

I hope your day went well.

Cheers!!

Funny Old Week

2011-07-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

This has been a strange week. Everything and nothing has been going on.

On Monday... Sorry, I can't even remember what I did on Monday, so it can't have been anything important. However, I can remember what I did on Tuesday.... I went to the hairdresser's to have my hair trimmed and blow-dried. I quite enjoy having someone fiddling around with my hair - it's rather relaxing. I made the most of that on Tuesday, and didn't do anything else. The reason for this was because, I was saving myself up for my appointment at the eye hospital at the Borders General Hospital on Wednesday.

I had started to see some flashing lights. I won't go into all the details, except to say that I do know you need to see someone if you start to see flashing lights. However, after an examination of my eyeballs, the doctor said that all was fine. So I came away a very happy bunny. The rest of Wednesday was taken up with introducing our friends to Ten Pin Bowling on the Wii. We had a couple of drinks and a few laughs.

Today both my husband I I had appointments at the doctors, before going off to get our bits and pieces in the town. As you will recall, Thursday is bits and pieces day. So as you can see, this week so far, has all been something and nothing. Nothing is planned for Friday, but on Saturday, we are off to a friend's garden for a natter and I am sure a glass of wine or three will be involved.

More on that later,

Hope you are having a great week.

Cheers!!

Elderflower Champagne!!

2011-07-24T09:54:00.000-07:00

On Friday afternoon, a friend called to give me a sample of the Elderflower Champagne she had made. I thanked her and put it in the fridge. On Saturday evening, my husband and I decided to try some while watching TV. I have to say it was really GORGEOUS!! We both really enjoyed it. In fact, it was so good I had a refill. The consequences? ----------- This morning I slept until 9.15am without flinching and my husband's blood sugar levels rose by 6 points. It's really good stuff, so we are going to have another crack at it this evening!!

This afternoon was so lovely, we whiled away a few hours sitting on our lovely swing. It is such a shame that we haven't been able to use it much. The weather here has been far from warm. Very wet, actually. Anyway, today we made full use of the swing after we did a little clearing out in the garage. Yesterday I decided - no that's wrong! I declared that we would make a start in sorting out the garage. You have no idea what the inside of our garage looks like.

I included myself in this venture and believe me, when I say I will help sort the garage, you must realise that things are desperate. For one thing, I am terrified of spiders, and secondly, -- I am terrified of spiders and from that you will realise that I don't like spiders and that I am aware that spiders of all sizes run wild in there. They appear from nowhere. I sometimes think they lie in wait of me popping in. Then they leap out and start running around all over the place. When this happens, I let out a yell, and the whole street knows that I have seen a spider somewhere!!

Phew!! All this talk of spiders has made me feel queasy. Now is the time to have a drink of my friend's Elderflower Champagne!!

Have a nice, spider free day.

Cheers!!

Tights! What is Going On!

2011-07-23T03:45:00.000-07:00

There has been a great deal of talk about M&S underwear of late. Some say it isn't up to their normal standard. I can't say I have noticed that, but what I have had a problem with is their tights.

At one time I could pick out some tights knowing that they were going to fit like a glove. I should add here that I did need to choose the Large size. However a little while ago, I found that the large size were enormous, so I opted for the Medium size. Again these were too big. Therefore on a third visit, I chose the Small size, yet these were also too big. Actually, too big are not the right words - the legs were so long, I could have almost pulled them up over my whole body and tied a knot at the top of my head!!

I still buy M&S tights, but have to opt for the body support tights, as they are firmer and don't stretch beyond where they are meant to. But I still only need to buy a medium size. I suppose that sounds good, really, but what it means to me is that whoever supplies the tights in the first place, must think that British women are giants.

So far today, I have done some washing and changed the bed covers, which means more washing. In turn it also means lots of ironing later this afternoon.

Have a good day!

Cheers!!

My Ka

2011-07-22T05:38:00.000-07:00

This morning I had to take my car to have the tyre looked at. It looked as though I had a slow puncture. The garage wasn't very busy, so three men came across to check it out. My car was hoisted into the air and jacked up and the wheel was removed. Everyone tramped out into the yard and watched as my wheel was lowered into a large dish of water. There were a few mumbles between the men, before it was decided that the little knob where the air goes in was faulty. (I can't think of the name of it at the moment)

Anyway, we all trundled back into the garage and this little knob was changed. Then again we all went outside to the dish of water. At first it seemed like there was another leak in the rim, but then the water stopped bubbling so we all gathered that the little hole or whatever had sealed itself. Phew!! For a moment I thought I was going to have to buy a new wheel!!

My wheel was re-attached to my car and driven off the lift thing! And the sum total for this was..........£2
Yes! Only £2 I thought it would have been more than that for the little knob thing, never mind the labour of three men. Well done those three men.

Now it's back to my novel.

I hope all your wheels are intact!!

Cheers!!

Phone Calls

2011-07-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

This morning I had a phone call. It was one of those calls where when you find out that the person on the other end wants to sell you something, you hang up. However, I found that this time the woman on the other end of the line was talking about the PDSA.

As I am an animal lover and do support animal charities when I can, I continued to let her speak and only interrupted to inform her that I had already agreed with an earlier caller to sell raffle tickets on their behalf. She thanked me for that, but then went on to suggest that I might like to consider including the PDSA in my Will and would I be interested in receiving a booklet telling me how to go about it. I laughed and told her that in no way was I even close to thinking about popping off just yet!

Hopefully, I still have a few good years in me - there is so much I want to do. Besides, we have just bought a new TV and stand and also subscribed to BT Vision and I certainly intend to get my money's worth. Nevertheless I said she could send the booklet.

Anyway, we had a good laugh and I think I made the lady's day. Not a call she will forget quickly.

Have a good day!

Cheers!!

PS

2011-07-19T04:50:00.000-07:00

PS. I have just got to start working on the Wii again. I need to try to get fit!! Bit of a long shot, but worth giving it a go.

Cheers!

Wedding Celebrations

2011-07-19T04:40:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we were invited to an Evening Wedding Reception. It was being held in Gateshead, so we decided to spend a couple of nights in Newcastle at the Millennium Bridge Premier Inn. The evening was a great success and we wish the happy couple lots of love and happiness during their life together. The bride looked beautiful, but for some reason I didn't get the chance to tell her, so I will write to her and her new husband this week.

On Sunday morning, we spent a few hours in the Sage in Gateshead. It was very pleasant, as there were some musicians and singers in the main hall. We found it to be very relaxing sitting with a coffee, listening to them all. The Sage is a magnificent building standing above the River Tyne. It houses two concert halls and we were able to look down on one of them from a view point. I have to say it was very impressive.

We came home yesterday and are now back to normal. I have done some washing, which will have to be ironed shortly, while my husband is reading. Later today. I will also have to finish reading the book I was sent to review. I did get some reading done at the Premier Inn, but didn't get the book finished.

I must also finish editing the short story I have been writing so that I can send it off. Somewhere in between all this, I will have to give some thought to doing some housework. As I said ---Back to normal!!!

I will have to give up writing this now, as I have come over peculiar after mentioning housework. It does have this effect on me, I don't know why I speak of it at all, when I know how many problems it gives me.

I hope your day isn't filled with problems!

Cheers!!

Bits and Pieces Day

2011-07-15T04:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was bits and pieces day. It is the day we pop into town and pay the papers, look at the magazines, call at the bank and then look in the dress shop. There is more than one dress shop here, but this one is next to WHSmiths, so I can leave my husband in there, while I browse the stock in M&Co. There is a sale on at the moment, but I wasn't tempted, as we seem to have spent so much money lately, I thought I should give my card a rest. Not that it wanted to rest. No, when I spotted a rather nice long white skirt in my size, it almost exploded to get out of my bag, but I pushed it back in sharply and closed the zip tight.

We also have coffee and scones at our local garden centre on bits and pieces day. I have to say they certainly know how to make good scones. Mine never ever turned out like that. I used the phrase, never ever, because I don't make scones any more. Why bother, when you can get better ones at the coffee shop?

Tesco delivered our shopping about an hour ago. When you see the van from the window, it is all hands to the pumps. The guy is following a schedule and can't hang around, so we empty the baskets as fast as we can and after bidding him farewell, we set about clearing all the stuff strewed around the kitchen. Not an easy task, but we get by.

Tomorrow evening, we are going to a Wedding Celebration, so that is something to look forward to.

Meanwhile I shall try to get some writing done.

Have a good day,

Cheers!

The DVD is installed - whether it likes it or not!!

2011-07-12T05:09:00.000-07:00

Good News! Our DVD was installed last night. We waited until it thought it was safe from tampering, before sneaking up on it. My husband then plugged in all the necessary leads into the back as quickly as possible, while I held onto the front incase it decided to try to slip off the stand and make it's escape! Then we switched on! There was a wobbly moment, when the DVD image came onto the screen and then went off again. It did this twice. One one occasion, the image turned a very pale colour and we held our breath. At this point, I reckon the DVD box was trying to pull the leads out, but thankfully, they held fast. I reckon even they were getting tired of being handled so much, so decided enough was enough and stayed put.

So now everything is working or at least it was last night. Fingers crossed this evening when we switch on in case the DVD has been working out a plan to mess us around again.

Apart from that, all is well in our world.

Have a good day

Cheers!!

My Body is Aching

2011-07-11T07:11:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness! I could hardly get out of bed this morning, I was so stiff! I guess it was all that bending up and down yesterday when we were putting the new television stand together and then getting everything transferred from one stand to the other. It seemed to take up most of the day.

I felt a bit better after a hot shower and decided to do some polishing and dusting to make the room look bright and sparkling after its new make-over. The old television stand is made from wood and looks just like a coffee table, so after polishing it like mad, it has taken on a new role and is standing in the middle of the room, sporting a vase of flowers.

As for the DVD, (I am whispering now) we are going to wait a few days, before trying to re-install it. We need to let it think it is safe and then pounce when it is sleeping. Some of these gadgets can be so temperamental.

I won't be doing much else today!

Hope your day goes smoothly.

Cheers!

End of the Saga

2011-07-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

Okay everyone, the moment of truth came today at 11am when two men arrived to deliver our TV stand. I asked them whether they knew they were to take the old TV away and they said no they didn't. No one had mentioned it. It wasn't on the paperwork. He we go again, I thought. However, after peering at it from all angles, the two men lifted our old TV, lumbered out the door and placed it in their van. So we bade a farewell to the Television set and set about putting up the new stand.

There weren't any problems to speak of. All the bits were there and fitted together without too much fuss. The main problem came when we had to dismantle the DVD, Video and BT Vision box and set them all up again on the new stand. Why are there so many wires and plugs for each piece of equipment? You wouldn't believe the tangled mess we have behind our TV set. Anyway, after fiddling around for what seemed like an eternity, things are working, well almost. The DVD is unhappy with the new arrangement and has put its foot down about being installed. So we are leaving it for the moment until it gets used to the idea of being on a lower shelf. Then we will sneak the leads in while it isn't looking and switch on. I hope that does the trick.

There is no need to use the Wii today. I have had enough exercise acting as the labourer to last me for a few days. My poor knees and hips are almost dropping off with lifting things up and putting them down. I am absolutely knackered. Goodness knows what we will eat tonight, as this cute little chick is finished for the day.

I am going to settle down with a glass of wine and watch Midsomer Murders - yes I have seen it before and can probably mouth the script with the characters, but does this face look bothered? I don't think so.

Hope you are having a great day!

Cheers!!!

The New Television Saga Continues

2011-07-09T06:08:00.000-07:00

We have still got our old bulky television sitting on the floor by the dining table.

My husband telephoned yesterday and spoke to some one in India, (at least it sounded as though she was speaking from India). He explained all over again that we were waiting for someone to collect the old TV. However, he was told that they didn't do this. Trying to stay calm, he told her that only the day before, someone had delclared that it would be collected. He also mentioned that website, where the TV was ordered, stated that they did their bit for the environment, by collecting the old equipment. It is stated in three places on the site: one of them being in the terms and conditions. I gather there was a lot of huffing and puffing, before the woman went off to talk to her colleague. When she returned the reply was the same, the website was wrong. How my husband kept his cool, I don't know.

Not wanting this to rest, my husband then got back onto the website and after clicking on various links, he found another phone number. Taking a deep breath, he dialed the number. This time he believes he was speaking to someone in the UK. The person looked at our order and told us our old TV was due to be collected on 10th July when they delivered the stand.

So now we are waiting to see what happens tomorrow, when the stand is delivered. Believe me, we will be home. Our feet won't cross the threshold tomorrow for fear of missing the delivery and, hopefully, the collection. In a way, I think I will be sad to see it go. I have become a little attached to it sitting there on the floor by the table. But it certainly can't stay there. We need the space. I am also considerating getting rid of our hostess trolley - I'm not sure they make them anymore - I have had it for around twenty years, but I haven't used it for some time.

Stay tuned for an update on the old TV.

Have a peaceful day

Cheers!!

New Television

2011-07-08T04:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday our new television arrived. Our neighbour very kindly took it in. We were under the impression that we would receive a text an hour or so before it arrived. But this didn't happen, so that's why we were out when it was delivered. The plan was that the delivery van would take away the old one, so that also didn't happen. Now we have two TVs in our room, our shiny new one and a very large bulky old one.

Why is it that things never go to plan? When we ordered the new one, we were assured that the old one would be taken away. However, it seems that the firm used a National Carrier to deliver our order, so I doubt they would have taken it away even if we had been in. Nor would they have unwrapped it and taken away the packaging, as we were told would happen. Or would they? Apologies if I am wrong here, but as far as I am aware, they run a courier/delivery service.

My husband rang the firm once we carried our TV across the road and they said someone would call to pick up the old TV and would ring in the next four hours to give a time. That was yesterday and no one has been in contact. Therefore our heavy TV is still standing next to the dining room table.

I wonder whether we will hear anything from the company today. Meanwhile, we are still waiting for our new TV stand, which we ordered from the same company at the same time as the TV. Wouldn't it have been a good idea to deliver both at the same time? It seems not.

Anyway, to get over the whole experience, I had a glass of wine. I doubt there is a better antidote for solving problems.

The new TV is great. It seems to be working okay and we are pleased with it. It is certainly easier to move around should you need to get to the back where the plugs etc are.

Incidentally, I met my friends in Berwick yesterday for a natter over coffee and scones. It was very enjoyable, as I hadn't seen them for some time.

Have a good day,

Cheers!!

BT Vision Day 2

2011-07-06T04:03:00.000-07:00

Our BT Vision box seems to be working. Last night we fiddled around with the remote to see what we could be able to watch, should there be nothing on the terrestrial channels - which often there isn't. Anyway, it seems we can download films, drama, comedy etc, via our broadband hub (marvellous, isn't it) so there should always be something we can watch. Well that's the theory!

This evening we are going to a friend's house for drinks. So we are looking forward to that. As for the rest of the day, I think we will be taking things easy - gearing ourselves up, so to speak. While tomorrow, I have a choice to make. Do I go to the darts and show myself up again or do I meet my friends in Berwick for coffee? The second one seems the less stressful of the two. Decisions, decisions, thankfully the whole world isn't waiting for me to make the right one!

Take care all,

Cheers!!

BT Vision

2011-07-05T05:26:00.000-07:00

The BT Engineer called this morning. He was due after 1pm, but phoned quite earlier to ask if he could come within the next half an hour. Gosh, was there a scatter in our house after that. I wasn't dressed, my husband was still in bed and the room I use for an office was still in turmoil. (The hub for our PCs is in my office, so he needed to check it out.) But it is my office and that's how I like it. It seems that all the extra things we can get with this new BT Vision box come through our broadband. So the engineer had to check it out.

Isn't science wonderful? I have no idea how this new fangle thing works. Actually, I have no idea how I can switch on my PC and 'talk' to people all over the world - let alone how the hub in my office can transport films, etc to our TV which is along the passage and on the far side of the sitting room, without an ariel. Perhaps it's best I don't know,as I might want to start fixing things. The engineer was very nice and explained everything to us, at least my husband knew what he was talking about, while I tried to sound intelligent and asked a few questions. However, I think the gist of it is, we are supposed to be able to get Demand TV, as well other things which have been on TV previously and we might have missed for some reason or another. We should also be able to watch films, though some we will have to pay for - a bit like Sky. I'm sure there are a lot more things we can get, but I need to read up on it.

It all sounds really good, but tonight will be the big test. Will we be able to find the things we want to see??

I hope your day goes well.

Cheers!

Sunny Days

2011-07-03T07:12:00.000-07:00

We went to The Barn at Beal for lunch today. The views from the restaurant across towards Holy Island are stunning and, as the sun was shining, it beautiful. There were quite a few people there. They must have all had the same idea as us.

Yesterday was lovely and sunny, too. They were holding a cream tea event in our local social club, but we didn't go to that. Being diabetic, there wouldn't have been much there he could eat. Okay, I could have gone and eaten for the two of us, but I decided to give it a miss. Instead, I did a few exercises on the Wii and it thanked me by telling me I had the fitness age of thirty. How about that!! Those who know my real age will know how pleased I was, while those that don't know me will just have to keep guessing!

I have been sent a book to review and I haven't even started it yet, so I must get down to that today. I have been putting the finishing touches to a short story, so I might get that posted off to a magazine tomorrow. I even changed the title of the story during the editing. I wonder whether that will help.

On Tuesday, someone is coming from BT to check out what we get on Freeview. It seems we can have a new box and pick up even more channels. That is the plan anyway. Whether it comes off or not, is anyone's guess. Anyway, what I am getting around to saying, is that I will have to have a tidy up before the engineer comes - especially if he has to come into the room I have as an office. That is where the broadband router is or whatever it is they call it. I am not clued up on all these gadgets. I simply turn them on and hope that everything will spring into action. If it doesn't, then I call my husband to check it out. Anyway, getting back to the engineer, I hope he is wearing blinkers, as my office space is always in a mess. But that is how I like it and I have a magnet on my notice board saying so.

Well I had better get a start on that book - I hope they don't want the review in a hurry.

Have a sunny day wherever you are!

Cheers!

A Shopping Spree!

2011-06-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went on another shopping trip to Newcastle. I think I have said before that I love Newcastle, but I will say it again. |I love Newcastle, it is a great place. I was born in Gateshead, just across the Tyne, but often spent time in Newcastle, so I feel I am going home when I visit. Now I live some seventy miles north, so it's not so easy to get there, however, when I get the chance, I do make the effort. I wandered around the shops, Fenwicks, John Lewis, M&S, Debenhams - yes Newcastle has them all and more - enjoying every single moment. I also spent some money, which made the day even more enjoyable. I ended the afternoon with a glass of wine in the M&S Cafe situated in the Food Hall, before going back to the car to return home.

Today, I went to play darts at our social club. I should add here that I used to go regularly at one time, but was never any good at it. However, you may be thinking that I might have developed a better aim since I was last there. Let me put your mind at rest right now, nothing has changed. I was less than useless. I threw my darts like a maniac possessed. They went everywhere, except the target. Thankfully everyone knew better than to stand anywhere near the board when I was about to throw. Will I be there next week? At the moment, your guess is as good as mine, so you'll have to watch this space. Right now, I am enjoying a glass of red wine, something of a consolation prize, I guess.

Hope your week is going well,

Cheers!

Drinks with Friends

2011-06-26T06:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a quiet day. I re-edited my short story and watched an episode of the West Wing. I think I know that series by heart now. Yes, it was quiet, until around seven-thirty. That was when we put on our glad rags and went to a friend's house for drinks and nibbles.

This has become a regular occurrence. A small group of us have got together and and every so often we hold a mini 'party' in one of our homes, where we mull over all sorts of things over a drink or three. Last night was no exception and I have to say, we all had a very enjoyable evening. The conversation went from health, to politics, to tennis and the olympics We even discussed the world coming to an end in 2012! I think the conclusion was, that if we only have a few more months left, we are certainly going to have to do some partying between now and then!

I hope you are having a party wherever you are

Cheers!

Stylish Blogger Award

2011-06-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

How lovely to gain an award.

I would like to thank Pat Newcombe at Thriller Writers Blog for passing on the Stylish Blogger award to me. I appreciate this award very much.

The Rules:

1. Thank and link back to the person giving you the award. (Many thanks Pat Newcombe!)
2. Share 7 Things About Yourself.
3. Award 10-15 Blogs Who You Think Deserve This Award.
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know about the award.

7 things about me:

1. I spend a lot of time writing and reading
2. I Love watching The West Wing!
3. I exercise using my Wii
4. My favourite tipple is wine or even a G&T

5. My favorite season is summer- I used to love the snow, but I have gone off that.
6. I am not keen on games, as they don't hold my interest for very long
7. I love animals

My 15 Stylish Blogs I pass this Award on to:

1.   http://thecoffeeloversblog.blogspot.com/
2.   http://akacatherinehoward.blogspot.com/
3.   http://writingsavedmylife.blogspot.com/
4.   http://toldyouiwasill.blogspot.com/
5.   http://womagwriter.blogspot.com/
6.   http://dianarubinoauthor.blogspot.com/
7.   http://teresaashby.blogspot.com/
8.   http://lynnehackles.blogspot.com/
9.   http://tillyrescuedog.blogspot.com/
10. http://theliteraryproject.blogspot.com/

Please visit some of the above and admire their blogs!

Ups and Downs

2011-06-22T03:48:00.000-07:00

Must get down to some serious writing today. I seem to have dabbled at it since I came back from our few days away. It seems to take me a while to get back into the routine. One moment I am full of ideas, but when I come to write them down I seem to have lost momentum.

Yesterday I went back on the Wii for the first time since our break. The bad news is that I have put on 2lb while I was away. The good news is that I my Wii fit age is 33, so the 2lb weight gain didn't seem to matter too much. (It does really, but what the heck can I do about it?) I'm not sure how they work out this Wii fit age, but while it is working in my favour, I won't knock it. I will have another go this afternoon and see how I do then. I also watched a couple of episodes of The West Wing. (You will recall that I am absolutely hooked on that series and watch it over and over again.)

Today, my husband went to the surgery for a blood test or at least that's what he thought he was going for. It turned out it was for a Blood Pressure test. The one good thing was that he was supposed to there at all, as he had to set his alarm clock early to get there on time :-)

I sent my romantic novel off to another publisher today. It was the first novel I ever wrote and is still unpublished. Anyway, I have received an acknowledgement of receipt so fingers are crossed yet again. People must think that I am arthritic, as I always seem to have my fingers crossed about something. But what else can I do? Once I have sent off a manuscript, it is in the lap of the Gods - so to speak. If it would help to get it accepted, I would swing from lamp post to lamp post in our village singing the National Anthem. (Watch this space)

Hope you have a swinging day,

Cheers!

Where Are The Short Stories?

2011-06-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

Has anyone noticed that magazines have been slowly cutting short stories from their pages?

Why is this happening? I'm sure that there are a great number of people out there, who enjoy reading a spot of fiction in Women's Magazines. Yet, short stories are continuing to disappear.

Back to the Grind!

2011-06-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

We have been away for a few days. We went to Nidd Hall near Harrogate in Yorkshire; it is a hotel for adults only and is very nice. We relaxed most of the time, but did enjoy everything that was going on around us. We loved the mini plays or Vignettes, as they call them. These were played out in the Drawing Room and lasted about ten or fifteen minutes. We also enjoyed the afternoon play, Double Death, which lasted about an hour in the Hotel Theatre. I understand that the play was written by Simon Williams of Upstairs, Downstairs fame. The evening were great, too. Lots of dancing, singing and even a comedian. As you can tell we had a great time.

Now I am back at home and things don't seem to have stopped since we walked through the door. Washing, and ironing played a large part yesterday. However, this morning we went to the Borders Book Festival, as the Borders Writers Forum, of which I am a member, were putting on an hour of entertainment to advertise our new Anthology called Border Voices on Border Ruins. This afternoon, we have been invited to a drop in to celebrate someones birthday and tomorrow my husband has an appointment with the dentist. I must also finish the short story to send to a magazine and I really will have to get back to my novel, Divorcees.com.

No doubt a few other things will crop up before the week is out. But it is certainly better that wondering what to do next.

Hope you are enjoying the weekend.

Cheers!

Strange Thoughts!

2011-06-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

When I awoke this morning, I lay for a while deciding whether I wanted to get up or not. Suddenly, I heard the sound of my pulse. It was a pulse beating in my ear! Do we have a pulse in our ears? Anyway, back to the point. On the positive side, it was a good steady rhythm, which I was delighted with considering, until I thought it missed a beat, before starting off again. Then it did it again. Still lying there, I put my fingers to my neck to check out my heartbeat, but I couldn't feel a thing. So I lay there and thought about it some more. There had to be an answer.

Could I have passed away in the night? Should I shake my husband and ask him whether I was really talking to him or not? Or - this one is good - when I got out of bed, would I turn around and still see myself lying there? Eventually, I realised I was letting my imagination run away with me and got out of bed. Nevertheless, I did turn around and give a quick glance at where I had been lying. Of course I wasn't still there. All I can say is that while these thoughts were running through my mind, I didn't panic - on the other hand, what on earth would have been the point?

As you can tell from the fact I am writing this, I am still alive and kicking. I am also writing this with a glass of wine at hand. Yes, life is hard, but wine certainly helps.

There has got to be a story in there somewhere.

Have a good weekend.

Cheers!

Moans and More Moans

2011-06-10T07:29:00.000-07:00

I still haven't been to Newcastle. How sad is that? I love looking around the shops in the city, but for one reason or another, I haven't been able to make it. Hopefully I will get there soon otherwise the whole city is going to wonder where I am! They have got to be missing me darting around the shops trying to fit everything into one visit.

I am trying to re-edit another story to sent to Take a Break. I have a few submissions there at the moment, so my fingers are crossed. However, knowing my luck, they will all come winging back together. I have read several copies of the magazine, and I have re-read several copies of the magazine, and I still don't know what is so different about my stories to the ones they publish. However, there must be something, as I am still trying to bend the Fiction Editor's ear. But I haven't given up yet. It is such a shame that The Lady stopped publishing short fiction, as I had been writing for them in a freelance capacity for some time.

My husband still hasn't managed to control his diabetes. He has to keep ringing the Diabetic Dept giving his readings, and they then up the dose, but so far he still has a problem. No doubt it will sort itself out soon - but when??

Yesterday I had another session on the Wii and I think that is the only positive thing in my life this week, as the results are getting better. Truthfully, I quite enjoy it, so I think I will go and have another try now.

Take care all and have a good day.

Cheers!

The Week So Far

2011-06-08T01:58:00.000-07:00

We had a very pleasant afternoon on Sunday. We were invited to a neighbours house to carry on from where we had left off the Friday before. Therefore there is no need for me to tell you that the wine flowed at an alarming rate. This time, as the weather here had cooled considerably, my swollen feet had reduced in size, so I was able to wear shoes.

Tuesday was Haircut Day! My husband is looking neat and tidy again. Last week it had to be postponed, as he wasn't feeling at all well, but yesterday there were no problems and the afternoon went off well. His hair was cut before my friend had drunk too much - if it is left till later in the afternoon, the scissors take on a life of their own and things can happen that weren't meant to. (If you see what I mean)

Today I was going to go to Newcastle, but I didn't get up early enough, so it has been put off until another day. Instead we might pop into Berwick. Not quite the same, but it will have to do.

Later I think I will have another crack at the Wii. I am getting better, but not quite good enough to take on the world yet.

I think that is all at the moment.

Enjoy your day

Pleasant Evening

2011-06-05T03:12:00.000-07:00

On Friday evening we went to a gathering in our friend's garden for a few drinks. It had been a very hot day, so I think everyone welcomed the cooler evening. I certainly did! My poor feet had swollen during the day and by the time it came to get changed, I found I couldn't get any shoes on. Nothing would fit. Anyway, not to be miss out, I went to the 'do' in a pair of slip-on slippers. At one time, they were rather nice, as they have golden coloured sequins on the upper. However, they are getting on a bit and some of the sequins are missing now. Not to mention the stains of several liquids that had been spilled on them. Oh! and the soles are drifting apart from the uppers! Nevertheless, I wore them to the do. They must have gone down okay, as we are invited to another do this afternoon!

Might have a trip to Newcastle tomorrow. I'm not sure at the moment, as it involves getting out of bed a little earlier; the city is some 70 miles away from here. But I do love going there, so I might be swayed. Wait and see!

Well I guess I had better get back to see what my divorcees have been up to, while I have been playing around with another short story for a magazine.

Have a good day!

Cheers!

Another Hospital Appointment

2011-06-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

My husband had another hospital appt this morning. We had to be there for 9.45am, so thankfully it was at our local general hospital, because that is not a good time of day for us. We both like to break into the day gently, rather than take a headlong dash at it. On the other hand, having an earlier appt meant that we got a parking space quite easily. There was none of the usual driving around waiting for someone to leave and the dangerous act of nosing your way into the spot before someone else gets in first. Also, the seating at this hospital is much more comfortable than some we have been to recently. I have to add that the staff were very thorough. We were there for about three hours while my husband underwent several tests.

It is another hot, sunny day. Two days in a row - that has got to be a bonus. This evening we have been invited for a relaxing drink with our neighbours in their garden, which sounds very nice. In the meantime, I am going to try to keep cool.

Hope your day is filled with sunshine,

Cheers!

Red Hot June!

2011-06-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, yesterday was absolutely freezing and I said so on here. However, today is the complete opposite. It is warm and sunny, just as a June day should be. It is the sort of June day I remember when I was a kid. Hopefully it will last more than one day, but you never know in this country. Therefore I think we should all make the most of it. So what the heck am I doing sitting here writing this when I could be out there wallowing in the sun?

Went to the hairdresser today for a cut and blow dry, so I am looking very smart around the head at the moment. Later my husband and I called for coffee at out local garden centre, before doing a little shopping. The town was packed. The lovely sunshine must have brought out all the people.

The town has a new one way system, which is designed to keep the traffic moving. Usually it works very well, but today is recycling day for the shops, so the traffic was held up while the guy collecting the cardboard etc, loaded his lorry or whatever it is they call it. The line of cars stretched back up the road and snaked around the corner. There is the same problem if one of the shops is having a delivery - still, I suppose you can't win them all.

Perhaps I might get the chance to sit out on our garden swing. The weather turned bad shortly after we bought it, so I'm afraid it hasn't been used very much. We should take the opportunity today in case the sunshine doesn't last.

Perhaps I should mention that I am getting better on the Wii. Perseverance does the trick.

Hope you have sunshine wherever you are.

Cheers!

Freezing June!

2011-06-01T05:15:00.000-07:00

Is it just me or is it really cold this morning? I would have expected some warmer weather by now, yet today is the 1st June and it is freezing! What is going on? Has someone out there been messing with the calendar? Is it only February and I have somehow got lost in the mists of time?

A neighbour has just knocked at the door with some flowers. I had ordered something for her on my computer, so brought me flowers. How lovely. It has quite made my day.

I don't know whether the postman has been yet, but if he has, then there isn't anything for us. Perhaps it's just as well, as it seems to be the time of the month for bills to drop onto the mat.

Nothing else going on at the moment, so I will have to leave it at that. Should something turn up, then I'll be back.

I hope your day is going well.

Cheers!

The Day That Never Was

2011-05-31T03:37:00.000-07:00

Today should have been haircut day. This is the day a friend comes around to our house and cuts my husband's hair. Okay, I can hear you saying, what is so special about having your hair cut. Well it is normally a social event because my friend's husband comes here as well. We all enjoy a drink or three, while putting the world to rights. Somewhere in between, my husband has his hair cut. However, today my husband isn't too well, so the day has been cancelled, which is why this is the day that never was.

This means the ironing will get done this afternoon after all. I had already warned it that it would have to wait until tomorrow, as today was haircut day. Therefore, it is in for a surprise, when it sees me get the ironing board out.

Haircut day will take place next week. Watch this space.

Meanwhile, I will be seeing my hairdresser on Thursday.

Cheers,

Not A Thing Going On!

2011-05-29T08:23:00.000-07:00

I don't seem to have added anything to my blog this week, but quite truthfully nothing has happened worth mentioning. Oh yes, I have attacked the Wii a few times, well several times, actually, and I seem to be getting better at various things. I have also completed another short story, which I will send off to a woman's magazine this coming week. I have also added some words to my novel, Divorcees.com, but nothing exciting has happened, if you see what I mean.

The mention of my novel has reminded me of a dilemma I am in. I can't make up my mind how to write/word the title. Should it be Divorcees.com or would it look better if it read Divorcees dot com? I have commented on this to a few folks and no one can agree. Some think I should go with the former, Internet wording, while others say I should spell it out. Any suggestions from all you folks out there would be appreciated. When I first decided on the title, which was before I had even thought about what to write, I went for Divorcees.com. Perhaps I should stick with my gut instinct.

Well it seems I have managed to write a few words about nothing after all. I seem to be getting good at this, must make it a hobby of mine.

Next Tuesday is haircut day. Those who read my blog on haircut day the last time, will recall that it is marked in our diaries as a social event, not to be missed. More on that next week.

Hope your week has been filled with joy.

Cheers!

Something and Nothing!

2011-05-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

While I can't think of anything to mention here, I feel a lot has gone on this week. On the other hand, perhaps my imagination has been running away with me. It does happen sometimes. I see myself doing wonderful things, when all the time I am sitting here thinking about the things I could or would like to be doing.

I have continued to work out on the Wii. In fact I think I am becoming an expert ---- No! perhaps expert is too strong a word. But I am certainly getting the hang of it. Can't say I have lost any weight, which was the whole purpose of me dedicating an hour of my afternoon to leaping on and off the thing, but I am enjoying the experience, so that must count for something. However, I am starting to aim straight on the Archery, I am getting to grips with the bubble thing and I am even sorting out the ski jump, so all is not lost.

I am going, while I am still ahead.

Hope you are ahead of whatever you are doing.

Cheers!

The Weekend

2011-05-23T05:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my niece and her boyfriend drove up from the city to see us. It was the first time we had met him and he seems a really nice guy. We had lunch in a local hotel, which my husband and I enjoy going to, so we were able to relax and have a good natter. (My cooking is not what it was, so I thought I wouldn't ruin a good day with something inedible) The time seemed to pass very quickly and it wasn't long before they were back on their way home again. That's the trouble with weekends, as my niece said, they pass too quickly.

Yes, if you are working all through the week, I guess the days you have free do go quickly. I never seemed to have time to all the things I would like to do when I was working. Now that I am retired, I have all the time in the world to gad around all over the place, but do I really want to dash around any more?

YES! YES! I do, but my body now has limits, despite the Wii telling me that the condition of my body is that of a twenty-three year old. Perhaps it was referring to my mind! Come to think of it, that could be the answer, because I do tend to think like a twenty-three year old! Not always appropriate, but fun, nevertheless. Who on earth wants to think and feel their real age? I will leave you with thought!

I hope your weekend was good,

Cheers!

WOW! How about that!

2011-05-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

I have simply got to share this piece of news with someone and as I know you can't interrupt, it is going to be you.

Today, I had a session on the Wii and when I had finished doing the various exercises, I took the body test. I did the two tests given, one for the mind and one for the body. Surprisingly, I did quite well and I was pleased that my balance was improving.

My balance has been pretty bad of late, but I won't go into that now. Anyway, the time came for the Wii to work out my body age. I held my breath until the figure shot up onto the screen. It showed 23.................. Yes, believe it or not, but my body is in good condition. Can I add here that it does not mean I am slim or anywhere near being slim. Nor do I look like a film star. What it means is the condition of my body is that of a 23 year old. But for heavens sake, get a grip that has got to be good!

Sooooooooo I am going to forget about my groaning hips and my creaking knees and act my Wii plus age. Watch out folks, because this cute little chick is on the way! (Not sure where. I haven't figured that out yet!)

Hope your body is in great shape!

Cheers!

Ten Pin Bowling and more!

2011-05-20T03:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon a couple of friends called and we showed them how to play ten pin bowling on the Wii. After the bowling, we decided to introduce them to the delights of the Slalom, the Ski jump, rolling the bubble along the river, catching fish on an iceberg and finally archery. All this activity took place in the space of three hours. When our friends set out to visit, I don't think they expected such an energetic afternoon.

The whole Wii set up is so realistic, we found ourselves leaning back and forth on the sofa, as one person was trying to ski between the flags. The same with the bubble on the river. Though it was a matter of keeping the bubble from bursting on the side of the river bank. As for the Ski jump, our friends fell head over heels a couple of times, But I must add, they got up, dusted themselves down and had another crack at it!! Perhaps it might be best not to mention the archery!!! Except to say, please stand well back when our friends are taking aim. Arrows were flying all over the place. I'm sure some poor guy in the hills must have been scared out of his wits, when arrows started flying in all directions. We expected some little red faced man rushing towards us with arrows sticking out of his hat! Even if you were out at sea in a boat, where you might have thought, nothing can reach me here, you would have been wrong, as arrows flew past the target and disappeared over the clifftop never to be seen again. Sailors beware as you sail along the north east coastline, especially when our friends are around!!

Nevertheless, I have to say we all had a really good laugh and a good time was had by all. (I hope my friend still speaks to me when she reads this) :-)

Nothing much going on today - at least I'm not expecting anything to happen, but the day is young, so I will wait and see.

Enjoy your day, whatever you decide to do.

Cheers!

Yesterday

2011-05-17T05:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, was another lazy day. However, I did spend fifty minutes on the Wii, though my balance still isn't good. When it comes to the standing on one leg thing, I simply topple over. The little guy on there is very patient. He simply says, you put your foot down there, didn't you? Or your leg is shaking slightly, even when it is wobbling around as though I am about to take off any minute. The other afternoon I did the jog and I was knackered. I only did eight minutes and not the ten I am supposed to do. I have to say I start off well, but I soon run out of breath.

I also did some washing and then ironed while watching a couple of episodes of The West Wing. A glass of wine was at hand, as I need some kind of an antidote when ironing. It seems I am allergic to it.

Did I just say that yesterday was a lazy day, because reading this back it sounds as though plenty went on here.

Tonight we are going to a friend's house for a few drinks and a natter. I think there will be about eleven of us, so there will be plenty to discuss. More of that another day.

Hope all is well with you,

Cheers!

Sunday Lunch and all that!

2011-05-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

Today we went for lunch with the local MS group. It was held in a rather nice hotel in Berwick on Tweed. It was good to meet up with a some friends who we only see very occasionally. Everyone had a good natter. Actually, this will be no surprise to those that know me, as they will recall that I can talk alot, but I must have been going some, because I feel a little hoarse at the moment. The food was good, too and I think everyone enjoyed the day. It was also the AGM, so we have a new committee in place. Well, some are new, others are people who have bee doing the job for many years. It's a big thank you to them, because without them the branch wouldn't function.

Now we are home and relaxing our tummies - and my throat! I have decided that it needed lubricating, so I poured myself a glass of wine. I had intended to catch up with my divorcees when I got home, but in the end I thought I had better try to get on with a book I am reviewing. I found it a little slow at first, but now that I have got into the swing of what is actually going on, I am beginning to enjoy it.

The Melrose Book Festival begins on June 16th and goes on for about four days. On Sunday 19th June at 1045AM, the Borders Writer's Forum are talking about their latest anthology. It is called Border Voices on Border Ruins and contains Fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Some of the writers of the antho will be reading out part of their contribution. Though, I have a non-fiction piece in the publication, I won't be reading, but I shall be there in the audience. There are still places available if anyone would like to go along. The anthology is available on Amazon.

Have a great day!

Cheers!

Bits and Pieces

2011-05-14T06:23:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't been here for a while, but when I tried to write something the other day, the blog spot was down. Though people could read blogs already up there, the writer's couldn't add anything. Having said that, I haven't really been doing very much to tell you about, though I haven't let that stop me before :-) Nevertheless, I really do only have bits and pieces to write about today.

I have been working on the Wii Fit Plus, but though I feel better in myself, I can't say I have lost any weight. However, I will continue with it, as it is really quite fun. Perhaps that's the problem. I never thought about it before, but do you lose weight when you are having fun? Or are you supposed to be grimacing and groaning as you work out? It's something to think about.

The pills I mentioned in my last blog are a no-no. (Acai Berry) My doctor has advised me that they wouldn't work well with the medication I am taking. I did actually add a PS saying this on the day, but when the blog went down the PS went down with it. Sunk without trace, you might say. A bit like my plan for losing weight! Ah well, back to the drawing board on that one.

Popped into town this morning and couldn't believe how many neighbours we met up with. It was almost a neighbourhood outing. The sun was shining, so everyone was in good spirits.

Tomorrow we are going out for lunch with the local MS Branch. It is their AGM, so we are going along to learn who the new committee members are. MS is only one of the many problems my husband has, which is why he has so many hospital appointments. That reminds me, his next appointment won't be at the hospital after all, as someone is coming to our local clinic. This means we won't have to camp out in the hospital car park overnight after all. That can only be good news.

I hope your news is good,

Cheers!

Parking!

2011-05-11T07:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we made another trip to the hospital, as my husband had an appointment. This is turning out to be a regular habit. We are starting to wonder whether we should investigate the possibility of renting a room in the building. At least we wouldn't have the problem of parking, which is getting worse every time we go there. Yesterday we drove around the parking area several times before we found a spot where someone was coming out. I'm telling you, it was very nearly fisticuffs for that one place, but we got there first and there was no way we were going to give it up. Anyway, I think we have to go back in a couple of weeks, so perhaps we will set up camp the evening before.

This morning, I went to Holland and Barrett to enquire about some Acai Berry capsules, as I have read somewhere that they help people to lose weight. However, it seems I need to consult my GP first as I am taking medication, which might not be compatible with the berries. I have sent an email to my GP, so I will have to wait and see what happens next.

Meanwhile, it seems a while since I stopped by at my divorcees, so I'll wing over and check them out.

I hope you find a good parking spot.

Cheers!

Retail Therapy - A Great Day!

2011-05-09T08:48:00.000-07:00

Today a friend and I went to Newcastle on the bus! For a start, this meant I had to get up earlier than I normally do and then get my wits about me before my body realised what had happened. Otherwise it would have gone into a sulk mood and I wouldn't have been ready in time. My body does this to me now and again, especially if I have to go somewhere early in the day. It can be so annoying when it does this to me. Once or twice, I have had to cancel an outing to satisfy it.

However, once I had fooled my system into thinking it was later than it was, everything went according to plan and I had a great day looking around the shops in that wonderful place called Newcastle. Everyone seems happy in Newcastle. If the folks there have a multitude of problems at home, they don't let it show; they leave them there and get on with it. The shop assistants are great, too. At least they smile at the customers and try to be helpful. They don't have the attitude that says take it or leave it.

Anyway, I repeat, I had a great day. In layman's terms that means I spent some money. I bought myself some Jimmy Choo perfume, rather extravagant, but something I promised myself a while ago. I also bought a skirt and top, tights, and a rather expensive hair shampoo. Oh! and I got my husband some socks!

Now I am home and am having a G&T as I type this. So, all is well with the world.

I hope all is well in your world.

Cheers!!

New Publisher!

2011-05-08T04:21:00.000-07:00

Though I did manage about thirty minutes on the Wii during the afternoon, I didn't get a chance to write about it, as I was corresponding via email with a publisher in the USA. They are going to republish my novel, The Trojan Project. It will have a whole new edit and cover etc, so it will be around November before it goes to print. However, I find the whole thing very exciting. I shall pass on more information about the process as and when it comes in.

Yesterday morning I went to the coffee morning at our social club. It was nice meeting people and catching up with all the news. Not that much has been going on lately, nevertheless, there is always a little snippet here and there that is news to me.

As I said, I had half and hour on the Wii. I stepped on and off in time with the beat for around twenty minutes, before dodging the flags on the slalom and flying down the ski slope. I also did some waist and torso exercises. There is so much you can do, it's difficult to know what to do next, but I am enjoying it, so that is the main thing.

Hope you had a good day

Cheers!

Jogging Plus

2011-05-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

I haven't been anywhere today, so I don't really have any news at all. However, I had another go with the fitplus thing this afternoon. I'm telling you all here and now, I am so unfit. I did a few aerobic step things first and then decided to do the jog. This was not a good idea. Next time the jog will come first. By the time I got around to it, I only managed about seven minutes and not the recommended ten. I sat down and watched as all the other little Wii people passed me. I have to say, they gave me a few funny looks as they passed by, but I ignored them and thought to myself, 'Just you wait, guys. This cute little chick will be back!'

I will mention briefly that the vote here in Scotland didn't go as I hoped it would. But I will grit my teeth and get on with it. Thankfully, the guy I voted for got in, which is good, so I won't say anymore. Except to mention that I am having a glass of wine. We have yet to see how the AV vote turns out.

I hope you day turns out exactly as you hoped it would.

Cheers!

Voting Day!

2011-05-05T07:05:00.000-07:00

I went to the hairdresser this morning, so I am looking all spruced up again - at least my hair is. After that we went to the polling station to place our votes for a candidate and a party for the Scottish Parliament. We also had to vote one way or another on the great debate, the Alternative Vote. The polling station was quiet when we got there, but I gather there had been a good turnout and the boxes were quite full when we pushed our slips through the small hole at the top. Whether we will get the person or party we voted for I have no idea. As for AV, the least said about that the better!!

I am starting to get the hang of the Wii. Actually I am enjoying the aerobics etc on there and am trying to do a little more each day. After all, there is no need to do everything at once. I want to get fit and live a little longer, not kill myself earlier! This afternoon I am going to try to stay with it for a little longer. Last night my husband and I spent an hour playing ten pin bowling and then did three holes of golf. Okay, it's not a lot, but it was an hour we would have spent sitting in the chair watching TV. Also, it was in addition the time we spent doing the aerobics.

Hope you are all having a good day!

Cheers!

Wii - Day Two

2011-05-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Had another go at this fitness lark today. I have to say that it is quite enjoyable using the gadget. I have learned one thing, though, my balance is bad and I am so very unfit. Oops! That's two things. Having said that, there are probably a few other things I have found out about myself, but I shall leave them for another day. Anyway, I had a try on the Ski jump and now know that I would never dare go on a real slope. I also tried the Slalom and the same thing applies. I am getting the hang of the step aerobics, but need to learn my left foot from my right foot. I tend to loose track of which is which when I have to change feet or direction. Nevertheless, it is good fun and will try to keep up with the little Mii's on there. They are so much better than I am.

Tomorrow, I will have a go with the Training program. There is a super little guy on there who is going to lead me gently through the whole thing. Poor guy hasn't a clue what he has let himself in for.

How is your day going?

Cheers!

Our new Wii

2011-05-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

Today we bought a Wii. We got the Sport, Resort Sports and Fit plus. So we have spent most of the afternoon setting it up. Anyway the good news is that the whole thing is now up and running. Naturally we had to try a couple of things to make sure that it was okay. So now for the bad news. I have pulled something, which hurts a bit when I move. Actually it hurts quite a lot. Okay, I agree this is not good, especially on the first day, but I didn't give up. No, you would have been proud of me, because I stuck with it and did a few other things before I collapsed onto a chair with a glass of wine. It's amazing how much a glass of wine helps.

Tomorrow is another day, so watch this space, because this cool little chick is not finished yet.

What more can I say?

Cheers!

Doing Nothing.

2011-05-01T04:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a lazy, sober day! It was a day when I wanted to do everything and yet on the other hand, I wanted to do nothing. The do nothing part of me won! It was a great do nothing sort of day. Part of the doing nothing was to watch... yes, you've guessed it... an episode of the West Wing. I also pondered over a couple of crossword puzzles, just to make sure my brain didn't think I had forgotten it. But apart from that, I did nothing!

Today is working out much the same, though we did pop out for a couple of hours this morning. I need to get back to my novel and see what has been going on, while I was doing nothing. The last time I looked, Connie had taken her life into her hands and re-kindled her off-on relationship with her ex-husband, before I was ready for that to happen. I have to get a grip on that woman, she is starting to drive me nuts.

I must give my sister a call to see what is going on in her life. It seems a while since we spoke, though we do text back and forwards very often. She has met my niece's boyfriend and says he is very nice. We are going to meet him in about three weeks.

Last night my husband was reading about the Wii on various Websites. We are thinking about getting one, as we enjoyed the game of Ten Pin Bowling at our friend's house the other evening. I'll let you know what happens another day.

Enjoy your day, lazy or otherwise

Cheers!

One Royal Wedding & One Splendid Wedding Anniversary

2011-04-30T05:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I watched as Prince William and Catherine Middleton were married at Westminster Abbey. Fortunately the weather stayed dry for the day. I say I watched the Royal Wedding, however I wasn't actually there in the Abbey, I saw the whole thing on TV. It seems my invitation was lost in transit. Never mind, these things happen, so I won't dwell on it. Catherine's dress was beautiful. It was simple, yet looked stunning.

In the afternoon we went to our friend's house. As it turns out, it was their wedding anniversary, so we toasted them and the newly-weds with a glass of champagne, before we started playing ten pin bowling on the new wii she got for her birthday. It is very addictive, though I wasn't very good. However, I did manage to get two strikes. How about that! If only I could manage to do that when playing darts or indoor bowls at our social club, then I would make a better team member. But I'm won't talk about my humpty dumpty bowls or my darts that go everywhere except the dart board - not today. Anyway, getting back to our friends, we all had a wonderful afternoon and evening. The wine flowed and the time simply flew by.

We aren't doing anything today. Simply having a quiet, sober day.

Hope your day turns out well.

Cheers!

A Better Day

2011-04-28T10:44:00.001-07:00

Today is a better day!

Or perhaps I should say, it's another day. No matter how gloomy one day is, we know that it is only twenty-four hours of our lives. Tomorrow is another day altogether and we should see it from a whole new perspective. So I am looking at today wearing another hat.  A sunny hat with large bright coloured flowers and it has a big smiley on the front. You will certainly recognise me if you see me in the street!

Having said all that, today could have been a bad day, because the water was turned off this morning. It appears there is a leak somewhere down the road, so it is being repaired.  However, I decided that even the lack of water wasn't going to spoil the day. Besides, it's a good excuse not to wash anything and to have a glass of wine!

We went out into the town this morning, not because of the water thing, but because today is Thursday. We go into town every Thursday. It's a kind of ritual that we go to the post office, the bank, WH Smiths, the dress shop and the Garden Centre Coffee Shop on a Thursday. I think I might have mentioned that sometime before - I tend to forget what I have already told you and say the same thing over again. But I'm not going to concern myself over that, because I am wearing my sunny hat!

Tomorrow is the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The newspapers have been filled with the goings on for weeks and I gather people are flocking into London to see the procession to and from Westminster Abbey. There are to be street parties galore around the country - there's even one being held in our social club, but we aren't going.  We're not into street parties. Nevertheless, I shall watch the whole thing on television wearing another sunny hat and drink a toast to the happy couple.

Enjoy your day, it's only 24 hours long and won't come around again.

Cheers!

Oh Dear!

2011-04-27T07:34:00.001-07:00

Today is not turning out to be a good day!!

Firstly, it seems that the publisher isn't interested in my romantic novel after all. Despite rubbing my orange four-leaf clover like a maniac possessed, they have still given it the thumbs down. Back to the drawing board on that one I think. Life is so full of set backs, I sometimes wonder why I bother to get out of bed in the mornings.

Secondly, the mechanic came to look at my car today. He took it for a drive around the block and confirmed that it was making terrible noises. I bought it new in 2002, so, yes, it is getting on a bit, but I find it so handy for popping to the shops. Anyway, he took it away to check it out at the garage. No doubt I will be hearing from him very soon. However, if it is too costly to repair, I think I will have to call it a day. I hope not, as I can't afford another one. It would be a case of getting to grips with my husband's car, but as that is an automatic, I'm less than keen. Therefore I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

You have got to be having a better day!

Cheers!

Postscript: The mechanic has brought my car back. He has fixed it! So something good has saved an otherwise bad day. Hopefully I can go down to the shops without everyone on the street thinking that an invasion is imminent. Well done that man.
Now if I can just sort out another publisher.....

In a Nutshell

2011-04-26T08:48:00.000-07:00

Added a little more to my novel today. Things are starting to come to a head. Lucy, one of the characters, has decided she needs to assert herself, while Connie is spending the day with her ex-husband. I am a little annoyed at Connie. I didn't want her to do that, well yes I did, but not yet. I wanted her to hang on for a bit, leave him dangling for a while longer, but no, she has gone ahead and done it anyway. Sadie is running around with a new man, and as for Jenny, I have absolutely no idea what to do with her. These characters don't realise who is boss here!

I heard from a publisher today, they are going to let me know by Friday whether they are interested in reading any more of my romantic novel. I hope they are, however, my luck being what it is at the moment, the chances are they will say, thanks, but no thanks. I will keep you posted on that one.

So that is my day in a nutshell. Nothing exciting at all.

What about your day? Has the world changed its axis for you?

Cheers

Easter Monday!

2011-04-25T05:02:00.000-07:00

Today hasn't started well! I thought it was about time I cleaned out the en-suite. Not the most exciting thing to be doing on Easter Monday. While most folks were out there doing pleasurable things, there was I stuck with my head down the loo, holding a brush in my hand almost as though it was a wand. Before that, I was scrubbing away inside the shower for all I was worth. (I must add here that I was using a different brush at that time). The mind boggles at what I will be doing next.

One bit of good news today, I have found all five eggs in the Daily Mail hunt the egg competition. I spent some time scouring every page with gusto - Sherlock Holmes would have been proud of me. So here's hoping I win. Now that would certainly make up for the dismal start to the day. However, I doubt the Daily Mail read this, so I can't expect any sympathy from those quarters.

It's my friend's birthday today. I gather she is having a lovely day opening presents. I hope you will join me in wishing her a Happy Birthday!

I will add a postscript if something out of the ordinary happens.

YES! I have a postscript.

1) I have printed out a story to send to Take a Break. It is all ready to post off tomorrow morning.

2) I have contacted someone to come and check out why my car is making weird noises. Whatever the noise is, you can bet that it is going to cost a small fortune to stop it. Cars cost a fortune to buy, they cost a fortune to run - petrol, tax etc, and cost a fortune when something goes wrong, even if it is something minuscule. However, I believe that this guy tells it how it is, so I'm going for it.

Hope your day is working out for the best.

Cheers!

Easter Day!

2011-04-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter Everyone!

Today we went out for lunch with some lovely friends. Though it is Easter Day, we were actually celebrating our friend's birthday, which isn't until tomorrow. However, we couldn't wait, so we all went out today. We had a lovely meal at the Cross Keys in Kelso. This also means that her birthday celebrations are being spread over two days.

Since we came home, we have lazed around because we are feeling a little over full and perhaps a little the worse for having too much wine.... On second thoughts, Is it possible to have too much wine? That is something for you ponder over for the rest of the Bank Holiday.

Personally speaking, I don't think you can, but who am I to judge? If you read my blog yesterday, you will have learned that I went to the bottle bank with so many bottles, I couldn't keep them all in the very large bag and they overspilled in the boot of the car. So no, from my point of view, you can't have too much wine. You can never have too much of a good thing. What you can have, is too much of a bad thing. But I'm not going down that road. Today, I am staying cheerful, even if it kills me!

Tomorrow is my friend's birthday, so I hope you will join me in wishing her a very Happy Day, with lots more to come.

Enjoy your day, your wine or whatever else takes your fancy.

Cheers!

Empty Bottles!

2011-04-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

Even empty bottles can cause some embarrassment!

Today i went to the bottle bank. I usually try to go when I think no one is around, as I hate folks to see how many empty wine bottles I have! However, it usually doesn't work out like that and today was no exception. Yes, you've guessed it, I saw someone I knew. Though he was also there to do his bit for the environment, he was recycling something much more respectable. He had brought garden waste. Anyway, having made the effort to go, I wasn't going to be put off, so I heaved the enormous bag of bottles out of the boot, but it was so full, several spilled out and rolled around inside the boot. The embarrassing thing was, the chap came across to help scoop up the empty bottle of Brown Ale that was lurking behind my husband's wheelchair at the back of the car. Ah well, you can't win them all! And you have to admit that there are still some men out there willing to help a lady in distress. Yes, I still consider myself a lady!

I would just like to add here, the empty bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale that was causing the problem, was one of the few bottles in the bag that wasn't mine!! My taste is more civilised!

Next time, I'll go there at midnight!

I hope your bottles are fewer and better behaved in public.

Cheers!

More Writing

2011-04-22T04:31:00.000-07:00

Added quite a lot to my story novel yesterday. However, Connie is beginning to rattle me, because she is doing things I don't want her to do - well not yet anyway. That was supposed to come later, but she is way ahead of me. I've really got to show her, who is in charge here! I wouldn't care, but the others are aiding and abetting her. Isn't there one person in this novel, who has any respect for my position? I also re-edited my short story. It is much tighter now, so hopefully a fiction editor of a magazine will approve.

Quite honestly, what with working on the novel and the short story, my head was buzzing by the time I went to the Border's Writer's Forum last night. It was an interesting meeting, as one of the local printers had come along to talk about the technicalities of self-publishing. Obviously, he could only talk about the printing side of it, nevertheless, he and his wife were able to point out the costs to anyone thinking of going down that road. The whole thing sounds like a minefield, as you would probably have to pay someone to edit your manuscript first, which will add to the bill. Thankfully, my novel, The Trojan Project, was traditionally published, so I didn't incur any costs at all. And if my characters in Divorcees.com stop riling me, I might even get a foot in the door somewhere for that one, too!

Today is Good Friday. I intend to have another go at my writing, before checking out The West Wing. Apart from that I believe it is going to be another fairly quiet day.

I hope your day goes exactly as you want it to.

Cheers!

Sombre Thoughts

2011-04-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Late this afternoon I went to sit in our garden. In the distance I could hear the rumbling of traffic. People were travelling home from their place of work. I was immediately transported back to 1964 when my husband and I moved to London and rented a one bedroomed flat in Ladysmith Road. Ladysmith Road is located off Dowsett Road, just off Tottenham High Street.

My husband worked for the BBC at this time, so he had to work shifts. On the nights he worked late, I would often stand on the balcony outside the flat and listen to the traffic, as it passed Bruce Grove. looking back, it seems like a lifetime ago. Nevertheless, even today, hearing traffic in the distance still brings back so many memories. Sitting out in the garden today I recalled coming home to Ladysmith Road from work and seeing my next door neighbour waiting for me. She had a telegram in her hand. Back then phones weren't commonplace, so telegrams were used to take news quickly to relatives or friends. That day it was really bad news. My father had been taken to hospital with a brain haemorrhage. Though I didn't realise it at the time, my lovely dad was never ever going to be the same again. In fact some months later he died. He was fifty-two.

Okay, that was a long time ago and I have got over it. But I will never forget my father. He was one of the most lovely patient men I have ever met in my whole life. I simply wanted to share that with you.

I must add here that my mother was a great Mum. Up until her death, she was proud of her daughters and her granddaughter. She had also been devoted to my father. After his death, she never remarried. I don't think there could ever have been anyone else for her.

This is a sad thing to talk about here, but it all came flooding back with the sound of the traffic...

I hope you have fond memories to cherish.

Cheers!

Another Hospital

2011-04-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the hospital, as my husband had an appointment. These appointments seem to be coming in thick and fast at the moment. It was a lovely sunny morning, so it was a nice drive to Melrose. We set off early, as parking at the hospital is horrendous. Usually, we have to drive round and round the car-park looking for a space and then dash to it before someone else gets there first. However, today we were lucky, as there was a space waiting for us.

As we were so early, we sat around in the main reception area for a while and I bought a card for my brother-in-law's birthday this week. I'm not sure what he is going to make of it, as there is a picture resembling James Bond on the front. Once the appointment was over, we shuttled off home only to find I had left my cardigan in the waiting room. I have phoned and asked them to keep it until I pass the hospital again - I couldn't be bothered to go all the way back, look for somewhere to park all over again.

I must add here that the seats in the reception area of the Borders Hospital are much more comfortable than those at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. They seem to have taken into account that people going to hospital for one thing, don't want to end up with poorly hips and sit-upons!

That, it seems, is going to be my day in a nutshell.

Hope your day works out better.

Cheers!

Dentist!

2011-04-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

Today I went to the dentist! This is something I used to hate and still do to a certain extent, but I suppose it is necessary. If nothing else, it keeps someone in work. Nevertheless, it's amazing to think that I actually pay money to have someone rattle a drill around in my mouth. Now there's a thought. A little man running around like a maniac inside my mouth with a drill in his hand. Would it be necessary for him to wear goggles and ear muffs like the sort the men use when digging up the road? If health and safety were involved, I guess he would, as bits of teeth could be flying at him from all directions. Perish the thought!

This afternoon I added a little more to my novel and sent an email to a friend in the USA. We have never met, it is only through networking that we got to know each other. However, it is nice to keep in touch and learn what they have been up to across the pond.

Someone came to put some weedkiller on our garden this morning, I say garden, but it isn't really. We have mostly gravel, as we don't want to have to look after it all the time. However, try telling that to the weeds. For some reason they shoot up all over the place. One of these days, I will have to explain that they aren't really welcome.

Hope the flowers in your garden are growing well.

Cheers!

Still Very Quiet

2011-04-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

It seems that today is going to be another quiet day!

However, I have changed the bedclothes and washed them, so I suppose that is something positive. At the moment, they are hanging on the line taking in the sunshine.

I am adding a little more to my novel and earlier I began making changes to a short story that was rejected for some reason or another. Not knowing the reason makes altering it difficult: I could be changing the wrong thing and making it worse in the eyes of a Fiction Editor. Best I don't dwell on that. My stars said I have to think positive, all my signs are in place for something good to happen so I'll plod on with the alterations and see how the story ends up.

Don't know why, but I read my stars every morning in the newspaper. I guess I am hoping that one day, he is going to tell me something wonderful is going to happen. Still you have to have something to clutch onto, so why not?

I wonder if it will be warm enough to sit in the swing this afternoon. I doubt it. It wasn't too warm when I hung out the washing. So I guess it's another case of wait and see. My life seems to be full of 'wait and see'. Wait and see if the lottery comes up, wait and see if an editor is going to buy my stories and beg for more, wait and see if the postman delivers something other than bills, wait and see if a publisher is going to publish my novel. It must be lovely not to have to 'wait and see' all the time. 'Wait and see' seems to trip off my tongue effortlessly, I am so used to hearing it or saying it. There I go - moaning again.

Yes, it's definitely going to be a quiet day!

Enjoy your day, quiet or otherwise,

Cheers!!