If it’s been hot in the UK recently, imagine what it was like in France this week with a high of 34°. 37 on the day I’m due to come home on Sunday! But I’m not complaining too much, because I’m indoors writing most of the time, this trip, on my annual writing retreat. Look out for some big news next week about my book (the never-ending French or Dutch, that I’ve been writing for years! LOL.)
Met up with some good friends once again and had some lovely laughs, walks, swims, meals, and lots and lots of relaxing. So rare that I get the time away to spend it just with myself because even on some of my other holidays I’m with family and I’m thinking about them rather than myself.
Plus it’s all about novel writing, with my ace long-term mentor Julie Cohen, (fifteen years this year!)
And the pool… oooo the pool!!
One of the highlights was an outdoor lunch on one of the hottest days, with an incredible home-made quiche and home-made mousse, they’re famous dishes in the restaurant in the middle of Castillon. Janie and Mickey who run the writing retreat Chez Castillon highly recommended it so we all partook.
Here’s a little video montage of some of the best bits!
Pleased to say I got thousands of words done, but at time of writing, I haven’t quite earned the right to announce the news that I will say in next week’s blog… Or that’s the plan.
Rowan Coleman and Julie Cohen, two of my favourite tutors over the last, blimey, 15 years it is now, were both there. And Julie gave me a challenge… And that’s what I’ll tell you about next week! I’m not going to jinx it by saying anything now. So make sure you read next week’s blog! Or keep up with me on social media where I will make the announcement first. (Don’t get too excited, it’s important news for me rather than everyone else!)
Rowan has a book out too, early July, which you can pre-order now, see next week’s blog. And I was also there with some other fabulous authors including, Kate Harrison, Anne Booth and a lovely new discovery, Clare Swatman – if you like books with a feel-good factor! And of course Julie Cohen’s amazing books! With a dark twist of fate in the ‘serial killer women’ genre! Try them out 🙂
Very inspiring to be surrounded by such amazing women.
And always lovely to be back in my home from home, the equivalent of my retreat that I run in Devon, only next to the Dordogne, with a pool and always great weather! Next year, I’ll be back. Unless I decide to ditch everything for another week in September! The way I feel at the moment there’ll be some ditching going on!
SNIPPETS
Brothers abroad!
At the same time as I was away in France, my three lovely brothers all got together in Sweden last week, I’m so proud of them all. Glenn has a doctorate, the other two got degrees at Open University and are now counsellors. Sweden was nowhere near as hot though and it rained. Poor guys! We are all going out to Cyprus for my brother’s 60th in October – looking forward to it!
Well Done Craigy & Co
Big well done Craig, and the place in the sun team for winning the Trix award this year! We are very proud of him. We’re all gunning for him to be chosen for ‘Strictly’ at some stage! His profile has never been higher so fingers crossed! Come on universe give it to him he deserves it and he would be brilliant!
Wales Days Out
A flying visit to Wales to see my lollipop and her kids involved us going to the botanic garden near Carmarthen. It was very nice and not too sunny. The kids love all things nature, they are such rural children! A pleasure to be with albeit briefly!
End of an Era – ish
I stopped being Chair of our Association in Devon and went back to just arranging events. Thank you everybody who turned up at the AGM in Devon – another really flying trip! Just can’t fit it all in nowadays, so something had to give. And in September I stepped down from being area events organiser as well. Thank you very much to lovely Ali Nix, my friend and admin lady, without whom I could not have managed the last event for a year! Good luck to TTCA and new Chairman Peter Crozier! I will support you as long as I can.
Exclusive – on this week’s newsletter (sign up to get yours in the inbox every weekend), the exclusive content is the most lovely letter in the form of a fantasy review of when my book, ‘French or Dutch’ comes out, by prolific author of children’s picture books and adult books as well, the lovely Anne Booth! And me in the pool…
Watch – When I have a cinema fest, I’m going to see F1 the movie – not in the least to do with the fact that Brad Pitt stars! (Not!) Looking forward to that one!
Blooper / Funny – Deborah Ann gets in on the act when Rezzy was on! LOL. Accidents happen! By the way, well done to Rezzy who this week did our very first TikTok shop on Tuesday teatime! Plenty more where that came from! Look out for it in the future. See it here.
Vlog – an unusual one indeed! See it here.
Book of the Week – Clare Swatman’s ‘The Lost Letters of Evelyn Wright’ tickled my fancy this week, so I’ve downloaded the audiobook and I’m looking forward to it. It’s one of the most successful ones and one of the highest rated so far, and although it’s not her new one (just about to be released with a different title), this one from Feb last year is a good start if you want to get into a new author. The writeups look good, people enjoying the journey of Beth as she navigates a new life and deals with her errant ex-husband. Read the reviews so you know what to expect, and give it a go! I’m ordering the audiobook. It has very pleasing ratings on audiobook and I love Antonia Beamish! She actually narrated my novel ‘Take a Chance on Me’ (originally, Hawaiian Affair) back in the day too. Looking forward to it during my walks down by the Dordogne river!
QVC TOP DEALS FOR THE NEXT SEVEN DAYS
Friday (today) – go to qvcuk.com and search ‘today’s special value’ to see and buy what’s left of Le Creuset toughened nonstick set of two frying pans
Saturday – Tili five-piece collection already online, 254260.
Sunday – Lorna is back with a new Bernini fountain offer, the one called BARI, again a multifunctional addition to your home! And I will be back on QVC at 7 o’clock on Sunday evening when I return from France! Just before I zip back off down to Devon for the next week’s retreat that I’m running!
Big deals ending Sunday night
Go to this section of our website each week to discover the current ones which often end on Sunday nights if there are any stocks left!
Big deals are available on air for usually a week, they may be longer online if stocks last. Occasionally they last a couple of weeks but there are new ones every Sunday night so come back again and see them on the link above.
Next week should include:
– style – Carol Hochman whisper Terry embossed lounger robe
– garden – luxform set of four solar cut out lights, very very affordable!
– extra TBC
– beauty – oral BI02 gift set bundle if you need a new toothbrush!
– main – GOLD 9 carat Italian gold diamond cut polished bracelet 2.48 g
– digital TBC
Now back to the today’s special values for the rest of the week –
PLEASE NOTE – these are correct at time of writing but maybe subject to change.
Monday – silk in motion Premium IPL device
Tuesday – Garden stories Large 60×120 cm metal decorative mirrored panel, going on sale early.
Wednesday – izabel London embroidered cotton shirt
Thursday – rock luggage Soho three-piece suitcase set
Friday – Stylpro wavelength LED face mask, very affordable!
Friday 9 pm – and going on sale earlier in the week, the court stone Baker, griddle and grill set! Hope Curtis is back over! And on Saturday night at nine I launch the golden hour glow set with Liz Earle beauty.
Next week – the remainder of my holiday in France, and going to Devon to see Rebecca Horsfall again and gang! I love it when I run her retreats because she’s just so lovely to have around, and is such a good tutor.
Have a great week and I hope it’s not so hot where you are!
Best wishes
Debs
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