Only Twelve Days --- Problems!!

     ONLY TWELVE DAYS

  A Heart-warming romance

 Available from Amazon

    

For the last two days I have tried to add a picture of Only Twelve Days to the left hand side of the page. The idea was that it would stay there permanently together with a blurb about the story- or at least until I wrote another novel, which could be in 2017 at the rate I am going.

However, nothing I did seemed to work, so I have added the photo here in the hope that someone will see it.  I had to do it this way or sit here fuming.  I can't stand it when something suddenly doesn't work. I have never had any problems before. I have simply pressed a few buttons and hey presto! the image has been exactly where I want it to be,  But not this time. Of course I blame Windows. It seems to be since I got this new laptop with the brand new all singing and all dancing Windows 8 that this trouble loomed up from nowhere just to get me down. 

Why on earth can't they leave things alone. Windows XP was brilliant. It worked great and I had no problems at all. In fact everyone I spoke to was absolutely delighted with it. So why change it? But no! They had to bring out Widows 7 and now Windows 8. 

Perhaps that was the problem. Everyone found they could work their PCs perfectly, so the powers that be decided that it must be time to change the whole system.

So like I said, the book cover is shown above. The back cover blurb can be found on the left hand side of the page..... Oh yes! That went up there like a dream, it's only the picture that I am having the problem with.

Anyway, enough of my rant.  I only hope that now I have finally got Only Twelve Days up here you will at least check it out.  The links are in the title, cute eh?  :-)

Take care everyone and have a great day,

Cheers!!

A Great Deal of This and That

It has been a while since I lasted posted here. How the time flies . Where does it go? And, more to the point, does it have to go so quickly?  I have even had a birthday since I was last here and that was at least two weeks ago!

We didn't do anything special on my actual birthday day, as my husband had a hospital appointment. Though I have to say the Borders General Hospital has become a home from home these past months   :-)  We did have a coffee and a Kit Kat from the cafe on the ground floor as a sort of celebration, so I suppose all was not lost. The cafe is run by the WRVS and everyone is so friendly.

However the following day our friends treated us both to afternoon tea at the Roxburgh Hotel, which I have to say was very scrumptious!! There were finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and the most delicious cakes, all very nicely presented to us around an open fire in the drawing room. I have made a note that we must go back there again.

Apart from that, I haven't done anything at all. The weather hasn't been too good for getting out and about, though I have to say it hasn't been as bad here as it has in the Somerset area. It must be really dreadful for the people who have lost their homes. I only hope the water levels drop soon and they can get back to some resemblance of order. However I doubt anything will ever be the same again for them.

A little more help from the Government wouldn't come amiss. Though now that the River Thames is beginning to rise, I guess they start to do something!

Meanwhile Kelso town centre is still in turmoil due to the 'improvements'. Can you believe it? This has been going on for about a year now and I understand that it won't be finished until the summer. True, some lovely paving stones have been laid and I agree that they look good - very neat and clean --- but did it really have to take so long?? Next on the list is a face lift for the shop fronts, so now I suppose we have have scaffolding all over the place; very probably making a mess of all the brand new pavement. So will it all begin again? Will we have men sloshing water all over the place to clean up the mess made from the shop face lifts only to have to clean the shop fronts again.  Oh my goodness it could go on and on. I could still be writing about all this in two years time!!

You know, I think that if a woman had been in charge of Kelso's face lift, it would have been done and dusted months ago! Did I hear a groan from some of my male readers??

On Sunday, we are going to a meeting in the Tait Hall. It seems the Conservatives have changed the way they select a candidate for Westminster. We are all being given the chance to hear what each person has to say and then we can vote for the person we think would be best for the job. How about that then?? At least we will get a chance to voice our opinion and not have someone thrown at us from above.

And now a couple of snippets about my novels.

1)  My book, Divorcees.Biz is being featured on Wednesday February 12th 2014 at eBookSoda, a new readers' site where they'll send you ebook recommendations tailored to your taste. http://www.ebooksoda.com/ebook-deals/. You might want to take a peek, Well I hope you do.....

2)  Only Twelve Days is being displayed on Fat Fairy Fantastic at the moment. I would be grateful if tou would stop by and add a LIKE by pressing the button on the left hand side of the page. The In-depth review  shown is written by Fran Lewis in the USA and can also be found on Amazon

And now I think I have run out of bits and pieces to tell you and am in need of a glass of wine.  Writing is very dry work :-)

Have a great day,

Cheers!!

Quick Update

I have to call this a quick update as I really don't anything to tell you. Yes are a few things I should be doing, but somehow I can't really work up any enthusiasm.

Have you ever felt like that? Stupid question! Of course you have. Everyone must go through that sort of phase once in a while. But it passes and then everything gets back to normal. Well that is how it is supposed to work. The only thing is, I seem to be stuck in this lack of enthusiasm mode and can't get out of it.

I should be working on my sequel to Divorcees.Biz, a fun romance...  I could be thinking about writing a sequel to Only Twelve Days, a heart-warming love story...  I could also add a few words to the sequel of The Trojan Project an action-packed thriller, which, incidentally, was nominated for the Desmond Elliott Prize in 2008... But no! I just can't get my head around any of it.

I did go off to Newcastle with my friend on Wednesday. That was great, but then I do get enthusiastic when it comes to a trip to Newcastle, But I can't do that every day! It's a 140 mile round trip!

So what do you all do when you feel like this? I would love to hear what you do to get through it.

On a brighter note, it's my birthday next week. Did I say on a brighter note?  I think I might have got that wrong.  I'm not sure what is so bright about being one year older, especially as the years are creeping up on me at an alarming rate. I have never known the years to pass so quickly as they are doing now. It doesn't seem fourteen years ago that we crossed into the 21st century. When we were told it was possible that aeroplanes were going to fall out of the sky as computers across the world crashed. Thankfully none of that happened.  I have just read that back and am amazed at how my mind wandered fro my birthday to planes falling from the sky!!

I do hope I have something more exciting to blog about when I write my next post.

Meanwhile, I would love to hear from you all,

Cheers!!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all.

I am so sorry about the belated Happy New Year, but I don't seem to have caught up with 2014 yet. I don't know what is wrong, but I just seem to be stuck in year 2013. I have no idea why I would want to hang around there for so long. It certainly wasn't a good year for  my husband or for me. Anyway, I have suddenly realised that we are in the middle of January and I haven't posted anything here since December.

I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. We went out to The Queens Head here in Kelso for Christmas Day lunch and I have to say it was wonderful. The food was wonderful and everyone was in such good spirits. We will definitely go there again next Christmas... or should that be this Christmas? I never know which is the right phrase to use. I shall leave you to ponder on that one.

And now that all the festivities are over I guess you will be sorting out your holiday for this summer. Up to now we are going to go back to Nidd Hall, near Harrogate. We both enjoy going there. It is so easy going and relaxing. Once I get it booked up we shall have something to look forward to.



Our lovely nephew, Christopher, who was born last June is doing very well. He woke up to lots of wonderful presents on Christmas morning and even
had his own Christmas Cracker complete with his paper hat. He looks so cute in his hat I just had to share a little photo with you.

His mother, our niece, and his father are so proud of him - as are all the rest of the family.

Last week my friend and I made a trip to Newcastle. The weather had been horrendous strong winds and lashing rain for seemed like forever. But surprise surprise, it all eased off for the day so we were able to get there on the bus without any delays.

A good look around the shops and a glass (or two) of wine in M&S certainly works wonders for us. We both felt like new women when we arrived home. However it soon wears off. Therefore we are going back again tomorrow for another dose!!  I think our husbands have got used to the idea of us deserting them one day a week. They might even be delighted to have a day on their own!!

Apart from that I don't think I have done anything else over the last two weeks. The weather has been so bad. However, I guess we weren't hit a badly as so areas were, so for that we are really very thankful.

Just to keep you up to date, Kelso town centre is still in a mess. New paving slabs are still being laid. I am beginning to wonder whether they are just going around in circles!!

My three novels are still on Amazon. If anyone would like to check them out, simply follow the links.

Only Twelve Days, a heart-warming romance.
Divorcees.Biz, a novel of fun & romance.
The Trojan Project, an action thriller.

They are available on Kindle and in paperback.

Take care, everyone and I hope this year, now that I have finally joined it,  is going to be brilliant for all of us!!!

Cheers!!                                                                                          

Chaos and More Chaos!

As if there hadn't been enough chaos in Kelso town centre this year due to new pavements being laid, the town  is in an uproar all over again. For some reason no one can fathom, it suddenly became necessary to move the taxi rank a few feet, from one spot to another. In doing so, several disabled parking places had to be lost and the white paint on the road was changed to yellow to show that the spaces were for taxis only.

However, the new yellow paint hardly had time to dry before there was another change of plan. The disabled parking was restored with a fresh coat of white paint marking the places. Meanwhile the taxi rank has been moved into the next street - fresh yellow paint and all. Was all this messing around simply to keep drivers on their toes or could it be that someone at the council had over ordered white and yellow paint and needed to use some of it before stocktaking took place and the mistake was found out?

Yet Kelso isn't the only place to be in an upheaval at the moment. I had to take a trip to Galasheils last week and I had to drive around the town three times before I could find anywhere to park. When I say drive around the town, I mean right around the town. Back out and then back in again!! Not only had the car park disappeared, but the bus station had, too. To tell you the truth, I had no idea where I was going and by the time I got what I went there for, I was all too anxious to find my way out of the town and head for home. Whatever has got into the Scottish Borders Council, I only hope it evaporates by midnight 31st December. Enough is enough!

But Christmas is almost upon us and it is the season to be jolly, so let's talk about something else.

On Thursday a friend popped in and we had some champagne to start the festive season with a bang, I have to say it was really a very pleasant afternoon.

Last Friday evening four of us went to a Cabaret evening with show girls singers and acrobats at Springwood Park here in Kelso. Yes, can you believe it? There really was a dinner and a cabaret here in Kelso. It was really very good and I'm sure everyone had a wonderful night out.

Tomorrow afternoon - Christmas Eve - we are going to a friend's house for a glass of something wonderful and some nibbles. There are to be a few others there, so it should be a lovely afternoon among friends.

And then, of course, it will be Christmas Day.

My friend and I haven't managed to get to Newcastle for a couple of weeks now and I must admit we have missed our jaunt around the shops, usually followed by the glass of wine or two in the M&S Deli bar. But rest assured we will be there in the New Year. So if you see us in there, stop by and say hello!!

I think that is all for the moment, except to say that if you have forgotten to buy someone a Christmas Present and they have a kindle, then perhaps you could offer to download a copy of Only Twelve Days for them......  :-)   You can't blame me for trying.

Party hats on at the count of three
One...

Two...

Three!!!

Have a wonderful Christmas & all best wishes for 2014

Cheers!!!

Odds & Ends 2

During the summer, you might recall me mentioning that the town of Kelso was in an uproar as new pavements were being laid.  Well I have to say, it does look better, but, and there is a big but here,  can you believe it --- the work is still going on! Yes, the town is still in an uproar. There are still red and white barriers all over the place and I'm afraid I can't see an end to it before Christmas. Why on earth has it taken so long?

Stop Press: Christmas is definitely on its way.  Kelso town's Christmas decorations have been brought out of wherever they are stored.  The tree is already in place in the town centre, so it won't be long before we have the switching on ceremony. I have to say that the Christmas lights in the town always look very pretty. Long may it last.

Our nephew is being Christened on Sunday. Yes Christopher Ian, to give him his full title will be going to church for the first time. I do hope the weather stays dry for his big day.

Talking about the weather, we have had some wonderful sunny days this autumn. How lovely to see all the autumn colours in their full splendour. Though I should add it is getting much colder now. In fact my friend and I went through a snow shower on our trip to Newcastle this week. Snow in November!!

Yes I was at Newcastle again this week. More Christmas presents bought so I think I am almost ready for Christmas now.  I also strolled down to Fenwicks Christmas windows. They always put on a wonderful display for Christmas. Don't miss them if you happen to be in Newcastle.  Of course we had out usual liquid lunch at the M&S Deli Bar before dashing for the bus to come home.  The bus was packed again this week - standing room only at one point.  I'm not sure whether I will get there any more before Christmas. On the other hand, I would  miss a trip to that wonderful city.

By the way, if you are looking for a Christmas present for the bookworms among your family and friends, you might like to give my novel a thought.  It is called Only Twelve Days and is a heart-warming romance. Have you read Fifty Shades....  Well, - it is nothing like that :-)
Available from Amazon so you don't even have to go out of the house to buy it. It can be delivered straight to your door! I gather you can even have it gift-wrapped!.


I think that is all for the moment.

Take care everyone and have a brilliant day wherever you are.

Cheers!!

A Little bit of This & A Little Bit of That...

A little bit of this and that! Okay, where on earth do I start?

What has gone on in my life over the last week that you could possibly be interested to read about? The answer to that is simple - absolutely nothing. Yes I seem to have been flying around all over the place, but at the end of the day, nothing stands out. There is nothing that pushes its head above the cloud and says - yes - here is something you have all been sitting on the edge of your seats waiting to hear.

But then aren't most people's lives like that? Not everyone can be like James Bond and lead an exciting life flitting around the world to keep the UK safe from... whatever it is he keeps the UK safe from. No, most people simply to plod along from one day to the next and I am afraid I am one such person.

Therefore since my last post, the most exciting thing I have done is go to Newcastle and do some Christmas shopping.  Yes, you read that right - I have done Christmas shopping already!  I made up my mind that I wasn't going to rush around at the last minute this year. No! This year I was going to be prepared. So I have made a start.  However, I have to add that I was absolutely shattered when I got home. But don't misunderstand. Don't think for one minute that I am some weakling, who can't do a bit of shopping without having to sit down every five minutes and gasp for air. Let me tell you I have shopped until I have dropped from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Road and back again before now. But dashing around the shops in Newcastle and leaving time for a glass of wine at the M&S Deli Bar before having to rush for the bus back to Kelso is something else entirely. Only having three hours to shop in town is enough to leave anyone breathless. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the day and hope to do it all over again this week.


My novel, Only Twelve Days, is out there in the big, wide world of Amazon if anyone is interested in heart-warming romances. However, despite Amazon being such a big wide world I'm sure you will find it with the help of the link from the title above.

Can I just add that Only Twelve Days would make an ideal Christmas present if you are stumped about what to give someone who enjoys reading romance novels.

BLURB.

"It is almost Christmas – one of the most wonderful times of the year. Nearly everyone is eagerly looking forward to spending the festive season with their loved ones.  Children see it as a magical time. A time when wishes come true and longed for gifts miraculously appear under the Christmas tree.

But what about those who are facing Christmas alone? When Christmas means nothing more to them than working from home, rather than the office or the college?

Bill and Sally are two such people. Both are shy and rather lonely; both left behind when the rest of the country was caught up in the changes of the swinging sixties. Will they avoid the holiday season, as they usually do and spend it alone? Or, this year, just for a change, will Christmas catch up with them?"

This morning I met some writing friends at a local hotel for a chat. We tend to talk about all things, rather than just writing, so it was rather interesting to meet up. Looking forward to the next get-together.

That's all for the moment.

Have an exciting day, wherever you are.

Cheers!!

Only Twelve Days...

Only Twelve Days, to what?? I can hear you saying.


Well in this case, Only Twelve Days refers to the name
of my latest novel.  It is a heart-warming romance and is set during the twelve days before Christmas.

Only Twelve Days would make an ideal Christmas present for someone who enjoys a tender romance, so I am relying on you to pass the word around for me.

Talking about twelve days, it must only be around that time since my husband and I came back from our holiday. But as I have been flying around all over the place, it seems more like twelve weeks.  Amazing isn't it? You wait all year for a holiday and it passes over so quickly, then when you are home, you don't even feel as though you have been away. So when is the next one to be?

                                                                                                           
                

The next event on our calendar is our nephew's Christening.
I saw him last week. It was the first time I had seen him for a few weeks and I noticed immediately how much
he had grown.

He was looking gorgeous and gave me  the most wonderful smile.
So we are looking forward to the Christening when we
can catch up with him again.

The picture shows him in his pumpkin outfit. All set for Halloween!

You might recall a few months back I commented on Marks & Spencer's tights. How I was rather surprised to find that even the medium size could almost be hoisted above my head and tied in a knot. I wondered who on earth they were made by.   Well after I had written the blog, they seemed to shrink back to a normal sort of size, but now they have suddenly grown again. Or could it only be me who has this problem?  I certainly hope they get it sorted out - fast.

I am having problems with my hair!  (More problems) Not only is it falling out, but my scalp has turned very dry and itchy. If it's not one thing it's another. The Doctor has given me something to rub in at night and a shampoo to wash it with the next morning. Hopefully this will sort out the problem. I have only used it once, but I expect it will take a while to cure.

Well I think that is all for the moment,

Have a good day whatever you are doing.

Cheers!!