What a lot of books have been written by me and my writing gang, in the 10 years since we all hooked up. The week full of laughter and learning, in Tuscany, featuring a character called Julio dominating the doorway, much pasta, boiling weather, and delightful company, learning bridge, and how to write nails and bones. Fond memories. What a lot of books have been written by me and my writing gang, in the 10 years since we all hooked up. The week full of laughter and learning, in Tuscany, featuring a character called Julio dominating the doorway, much pasta,…

Hi! Just a quickie. Just wanted to say not only did I have a few technical web problems earlier in the year, and then lost my lovely doggie Gracie recently, but grandchildren duties took over, hence the radio silence on this blog. However! I have plans to revamp ... Firstly. Did you miss me? LOL. Secondly. How many of you have been following my antics via my weekly QVC blog anyway? Thirdly. Or have you kept up-to-date via my social media, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter? Finally, perhaps you have seen our regular newsletters on my retreats for you North Devon guesthouse/writing…

Had a fab Xmas - did you? Just to say a very happy new year to you! I will be seeing out the final hours alongside my lovely mate Miceal, on QVC. Join us between 10 & midnight, with two smashing hours of cuddly Charlie Bears, which I of course have a fair old collection of! Meanwhile, I wanted to just point you to my latest QVC blog - it's my annual Review of the Year. When you look back over the last year, what are the highlights? Mine are listed in this blog - including quite a few which…

Last week I had a most wonderful welcome from the ladies at the Halwill W.I. near me in North Devon. Lovely Anne Goodspeed asked me in the Spring if I would come do a talk - and decided the theme would be - appropriately - split lives. It was a very interesting talk because as I began speaking, little snippets came out that I hadn't necessarily planned to reveal, but it felt right, in that intimate atmosphere to go into details eg about my short period of depression in 2006 when my importing business folded. It was very rewarding afterwards…

New Grandbaby So it's happened! And (not so) little Phoebe Deborah Ann , my daughter's first baby, came into the world on October 3rd. Very glad it was all over after a bit of a difficult introduction to the world but she is gorgeous. The kids don't really want to share too much on social media, and that's understandable, same as with little nine month old Blake, my son's first girl. So here's an officially allowed pic, and sorry it's not of her face! But she does look very much like Lolly looked when she was a baby, especially around…