Murder on Tyneside

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Sunday 27 November 2011

New Laptop

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

Thursday 24 November 2011

Shopping Again

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!!

Monday 14 November 2011

Diet and Other Things

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!!

Monday 7 November 2011

Ready and Raring to Go!

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!!

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Strange Request

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!!