Post Cards

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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!

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

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!

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!