Boxing Day, December 26th 2011
Had a great Christmas Day. Went to church at 9 o’clock to the service from the King James prayer book of 1662, which we prefer. The church looked beautiful and it was nice to be with so many friends.
BBC 1 broadcast a great service later in the morning live from Lichfield Cathedral, which we also enjoyed.
We had our Christmas dinner at five o’clock, just the two of us, and I am pleased to say that the turkey and everything was delicious. I would like to compromise the cook! Woo hoo! But she wasn’t in the mood. I’ll secretly slop some more Sherry in that trifle. See if that will do the trick.
Well, now the big day is over, who do you think is doing the washing up?
I’ve piled the pots and pans up very neatly at the far end of the worktop and found some odd plates and clobber at the back of the cupboard to get us by until Elaine comes later today. She’s marvellous. She’ll do the honours. And she’ll put it all away as well.
Among my lovely pressies, I got a heating pad from one of my nephews, Dylan and his lovely lady, Sarah, which is for wrapping around any part of the body that needs heat. As I write, I have my feet on it and I see that they are changing from purple to pink, which is absolutely great. ‘Purple to pink.’ Mmmm. Sounds like a great title for a book, doesn’t it. Pity I can’t make it fit the present Angel book I’m supposed to be writing. Do you know, I haven’t written a word of it for more than a fortnight. What with launching THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS as an eBook on Kindle, opening a Twitter account (as they say), coping with Christmas and going to the gym, I have simply not had the time. I must get down to it, or I shall be getting shrieks of complaint. I used to write three Angels a year and the odd play for the States, now it takes all my time writing the one book in twelve months.
I have worked up my attendances at the gym to five times a week, and I don’t mess around. I exercise hard for an hour at each session. I should soon be as lean as Prince Philip, who, although he is still in hospital as I write, I hear exercises on a regular basis, which must be some achievement for a 90 year old.
By the way, as you know, the NHS is being reorganised. And absolutely everything at Barnsley General Hospital is being turned upside down and back to front. I hope it will not result in negative improvements, because, up to now, the queen and I have always been looked after by the staff there in the most wonderful and careful way. Obviously the upheaval affects WEIGHTWISE. That’s the NHS department sexy Linda works for. I am waiting to consult her for diet analysis, follow up advice and to be weighed, but when I phone, poor lass, she is always in a meeting or dashing around somewhere. I don’t think she knows whether she is coming or going, or on her way back. But she’s very good. She always rings back, from a temporary phone number in a temporary office with no firm information. I must try her again soon. I might be knocking myself out at the gym and putting weight on!!!???
Well, Christmas day is over. The beginning of Chritianity has been duly celebrated. Whatever we did or didn’t do is now history. Hope you had a great day. 2012 is knocking at the door.
Have a great time, whether you are on your own, two of you or in a big family party.
And come back soon.
Tuesday 6th December 2011
Well, I’ve been talked into joining TWITTER, which is more pleasant than I had thought. But I will have to be careful not to waste time. I mustn’t fritter on Twitter. Ya hay!
I’ve caught the rhyming bug.
Yesterday, after watching the news, the queen and I wrote the following doggerel in a twink, what do you think? (There it is again!)
Here we go ...
Sarcosy is cozy with Merkel,
But Putin is always disputin'.
The rest of the mob
Are still on the job,
And going around in a circle.
Ba bum.
I know it’s tripe but it rhymes.
By the way, talking about tripe, I’ve just seen the winning entry for the Turner Prize. I don’t think I'll ask Martin Boyce to design my sitting-room.
Ah me. Back to the book.
Thanks for looking in.
Well, I’ve been talked into joining TWITTER, which is more pleasant than I had thought. But I will have to be careful not to waste time. I mustn’t fritter on Twitter. Ya hay!
I’ve caught the rhyming bug.
Yesterday, after watching the news, the queen and I wrote the following doggerel in a twink, what do you think? (There it is again!)
Here we go ...
Sarcosy is cozy with Merkel,
But Putin is always disputin'.
The rest of the mob
Are still on the job,
And going around in a circle.
Ba bum.
I know it’s tripe but it rhymes.
By the way, talking about tripe, I’ve just seen the winning entry for the Turner Prize. I don’t think I'll ask Martin Boyce to design my sitting-room.
Ah me. Back to the book.
Thanks for looking in.
Monday, 28 November 2011
I’m back, book lovers.
This is a busy week for me.
It was ‘Stir up’ Sunday, on Sunday. The day traditionally set when the cook in the household made the Christmas Pudding. Did you make yours? No. You big fraud. I expect you’ll buy one from the supermarket.
On Wednesday, it will be the launch of the Kindle, Sony Reader and iPad edition of my book, THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS. I've never done this before, but everybody's doing it. So if on Wednesday you see crowds of people taking a day off work, marching around, waving banners, fighting the police and making speeches, don’t be a bit surprised!
And Thursday next, December 1st, is the day of the release of the beautiful recordings of my book THE DOGCOLLAR MURDERS read by that great actor, Jonathan Keeble.
So it’s a busy week.
And since I last wrote, I’ve had my ears syringed and my eyes tested, so I should be OK for a bit longer now. If you’ve crackling in your ears, have them syringed by a competent Nurse. It doesn’t hurt. It sounds as if the North Sea has come rushing in at you, but no worse than that. And you sit with your head upright in the normal position, which is good. So there’s no question of feeling dizzy afterwards. I thought you’d have to lean to one side, like having drops in. But no. Now I can hear the queen as if she was sat next to me – which she is. She never stops telling me what I ought to do or ought to have done.
Well, I’d better back to writing. I’ve reached an exciting part of the book, where Angel has to stop the murderer committing another murder. I’ll have to go, or he might get there before Angel does and kill him.
Thanks for looking in.
I’m back, book lovers.
This is a busy week for me.
It was ‘Stir up’ Sunday, on Sunday. The day traditionally set when the cook in the household made the Christmas Pudding. Did you make yours? No. You big fraud. I expect you’ll buy one from the supermarket.
On Wednesday, it will be the launch of the Kindle, Sony Reader and iPad edition of my book, THE SNUFFBOX MURDERS. I've never done this before, but everybody's doing it. So if on Wednesday you see crowds of people taking a day off work, marching around, waving banners, fighting the police and making speeches, don’t be a bit surprised!
And Thursday next, December 1st, is the day of the release of the beautiful recordings of my book THE DOGCOLLAR MURDERS read by that great actor, Jonathan Keeble.
So it’s a busy week.
And since I last wrote, I’ve had my ears syringed and my eyes tested, so I should be OK for a bit longer now. If you’ve crackling in your ears, have them syringed by a competent Nurse. It doesn’t hurt. It sounds as if the North Sea has come rushing in at you, but no worse than that. And you sit with your head upright in the normal position, which is good. So there’s no question of feeling dizzy afterwards. I thought you’d have to lean to one side, like having drops in. But no. Now I can hear the queen as if she was sat next to me – which she is. She never stops telling me what I ought to do or ought to have done.
Well, I’d better back to writing. I’ve reached an exciting part of the book, where Angel has to stop the murderer committing another murder. I’ll have to go, or he might get there before Angel does and kill him.
Thanks for looking in.
Thursday, November 10th 2011
What do you know?
My erudite friend and website Manager, James, has kindly found a link that will enable you to listen to the actual broadcast referred to below on my last diary post. If you have a computer, tap in the address below.
http://litopia.com/radio/crime-pays/
Happy listening.
And reading.
Back soon.
What do you know?
My erudite friend and website Manager, James, has kindly found a link that will enable you to listen to the actual broadcast referred to below on my last diary post. If you have a computer, tap in the address below.
http://litopia.com/radio/crime-pays/
Happy listening.
And reading.
Back soon.
Tuesday, November 8th 2011
Hello there, book lovers.
I had a very interesting time last Sunday evening on Radio Litopia. I was a guest on their weekly, 50 minute programme, ‘Litopia After Dark’. It is from the writers’ colony of the English speaking world (their phrase). It was broadcast at 8 pm here, 1 pm on the west coast of the United States and 3 pm on the east coast. There were no ads. I was in good company with fellow authors Barbara Nadel and Chris Nickson. Their website is http://litopia.tv/10. It is a specialist website for writers. This month is their 'Crime Wave' . That's why I was on.
Moving on …
Fellow writer and friend, Zoe Sharpe, went out to the States in March and on her return, she wrote in last month’s issue of RED HERRINGS, –
“…while waiting for a flight in one of the largest airports in the US I realised that I was one of only three people in the entire departure lounge who was reading a paperback. Everybody else was reading on some electronic device.”
Well book lovers, whatever is going to happen next? Are you the proud owner of a Kindle, Sony Reader, iPad or some such device? Are you buying your reading matter in electronic form or do you still want to hold a book in your hand? Do write me and let me know. I will reply to you even if it takes a week or two. And if you say anything I can usefully print, I will put it in my next piece here. My email address is angeldetective@uwclub.net.
Well, I’d better get back to writing my book.
Thank you for looking in.
Hello there, book lovers.
I had a very interesting time last Sunday evening on Radio Litopia. I was a guest on their weekly, 50 minute programme, ‘Litopia After Dark’. It is from the writers’ colony of the English speaking world (their phrase). It was broadcast at 8 pm here, 1 pm on the west coast of the United States and 3 pm on the east coast. There were no ads. I was in good company with fellow authors Barbara Nadel and Chris Nickson. Their website is http://litopia.tv/10. It is a specialist website for writers. This month is their 'Crime Wave' . That's why I was on.
Moving on …
Fellow writer and friend, Zoe Sharpe, went out to the States in March and on her return, she wrote in last month’s issue of RED HERRINGS, –
“…while waiting for a flight in one of the largest airports in the US I realised that I was one of only three people in the entire departure lounge who was reading a paperback. Everybody else was reading on some electronic device.”
Well book lovers, whatever is going to happen next? Are you the proud owner of a Kindle, Sony Reader, iPad or some such device? Are you buying your reading matter in electronic form or do you still want to hold a book in your hand? Do write me and let me know. I will reply to you even if it takes a week or two. And if you say anything I can usefully print, I will put it in my next piece here. My email address is angeldetective@uwclub.net.
Well, I’d better get back to writing my book.
Thank you for looking in.
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