Photo diary: Project 365, week 6 2026

 Rain, rain, go away...

What a grey miserable week, weather-wise, it was, everything is soggy and wet. There is so much work to do in the garden, and it's impossible to do anything in the rain.

The Windrush has turned "burly".

At the same time you can see that nature is awakening, and spring is just round the corner. I have spotted a ladybird on the withered plant, and liked this juxtaposition of the bright red and the moldy grey.

The crocuses are out, though with the heavy rain most of them are lying on the ground, poor things. That's about the only standing crocus I managed to find in our garden.

On Wednesday morning I saw this jolly car with the stormtroppers, and they made me smile.

We haven't been able to walk through the fields in weeks, which upsets Sasha as he likes to walk there. I haven't even ventured near there. Eddie was curious enough to come close to take a photo.

In the last week I have been reading To the Hilt by Dick Francis. I haven't enjoyed a book in this genre so much for a long time. While not entirely about the British horse racing, there is still a horse-related plotline along the main mystery. 

The main protagonist Alexander Kinloch is an artist who lives in a remote bothy on a Scottish mountain. One morning he is accosted by four rough thugs who beat him up, demanding to know "Where is it?" Alexander is not sure what IT is supposed to be. Then a call from his mother brings him back to England. His stepfather Sir Ivan has had a heart attack after his brewery business is nearly ruined, with millions of pounds embezzled by someone trusted. And Ivan's racing horse Golden Malt is under threat. Al is asked by his stepfather to look into his business while he tries to recuperate. Al agrees to act as his Power of attorney. The cost of being a hero is very high, as he will find out.

I loved the pages where the artist describes the process of priming the canvas, painting techniques and ideas behind his artwork. Top-notch.

Alexander makes a likable character. Some of the sidelines are slightly preposterous, but still great fun.

Enjoyed this book so much that I'm going to plunge straight in another Dick Francis' book, Decider. It's one of my Mum's favourite books.

And I'd welcome any more suggestions of Dick Francis' books that you enjoyed and would recommend. 

How many times do I tell my guys not to buy flowers for Valentine's, as they are overpriced and more often than not, of inferior quality, as the vendors try to get rid of all their supply. But no, my husband still comes home with a rose. I put the log stem in an empty champagne bottle.

We had a nice dinner, and started watching A Complete Unknown, about the young Bob Dylan. He is portrayed as very talented but also self-centered and a bit of a jerk. Timothy Chalamet is good, and his singing voice is decent, but it is still like listening to a karaoke in comparison to the real Dylan's performance. 

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Grace by A.M.Shine

 

"...the island was dying long before anyone realised it. If there'd been some early symptoms of its sickness, then nobody had the good mind back then to see them. And now it was too late. Croaghnakeela had become a black heart festering in the bay, its inhabitants no better than maggots writhing in its salty air, waiting for dark wings to descend and devour them".

Grace by A.M. Shine is a dark, unsettling modern Gothic horror, rooted in ancient Irish myth.

Grace

A haunting, atmospheric modern Gothic horror tale based on traditional Irish mythology, from the author of smash hit The Watchers. Ancient evil is awakened on a lonely isle off the coast of Ireland.

TO LEARN THE TRUTH

WOULD YOU DESCEND INTO HELL?

Off the west coast of Ireland lies a lonely island, isolated and wilfully forgotten. Some say there hasn't been a child born on the island for thirty years. Other speak of strange deaths there, decades ago. But no one really know what happened. Locals believe that the dark times are behind them.

They are mistaken.

Grace, adopted at four years old, has never known where she came from. A mysterious phone call leads her back to the island where she was born - and where a terrible evil has been disturbed.

As the evil starts to spread, Grace finds herself dragged back into a living nightmare that threatens to engulf anyone who steps into its path.

Grace is perfect for fans of horror classics, Paul Tremblay, and Kealan Patrick Burke.

Beyond the reach of the mainland Ireland lies a god-forsaken island that maps barely remember. It's a haunted place lashed by the Atlantic storms, wrapped in an eerie silence. The locals avoid speaking of what's happened all those years ago, of a string of macabre unexplained deaths and of the locals, who were buried quietly in haste. There have been no children born on the island in the last thirty years. 

No one wants to mention the name of the old evil. Most prefer to exist in silence and alcohol-induced stupor which numbs the pain of loss. No one agrees on what's really happened, and they try to convince themselves that the darkness has passed. They are survivors whose memories are truncated by the unwillingness to remember.

Grace was adopted at four years old, her origins sealed in a secretive silence. She has spent her life with a hollow space where her beginnings should be. 

"Somewhere in that empty space that her adoptive parents so carefully guided her around like a bottomless pit, there was still something. Maybe it wasn't anything as appreciable as a memory. But it had always been there, in the periphery of her life, some residual feeling that time couldn't clean away".

Then a single phone call shatters everything she knows about herself, and summons her back to the island where she was born. Grace finds out that her biological mother has passed away. The priest, Father Richard O'Malley, tells Grace she has inherited a house, which he is happy to sell for her, to save the inconvenience of travelling. She is adamant that she wants to go and see where she came from.

And the island has been waiting all this time. Something ancient has been reawakened. This evil force does not forget or forvive. As it seeps into the present, Grace is drawn into a walking nightmare. Coiling around the island, it tightens its grip on anyone who dares to uncover the truth.

Some places do not forget, some evil is never laid to sleep, and some doors once open, will never close again.

Though the book is called after Grace, she is but one of the two main protagonists. The other one, Father O'Malley, is looking after his wayward flock on the inhospitable isle. We learn his backstory and inner struggles with acceptance of his rare gifts.

Robin is a newcomer to the island, transferred to Croaghnakeela six years earlier. He was hoping for a fresh start.

"Croaghnakeela had its secrets too... The waves there broke the shore in a light mist that tasted too much like death. And it wasn't the sleepy kind of silence that kept the island so still. Whispers don't work when they're all a people speak. Something happened there that it wanted to forget. Sealing their lips was a way to pat down the soil. Talking only disturbed it. But Robin knew better. The truth never stayed buried, and the silence never got any easier, no matter how they may pretend".

Grace's arrival spurs him into action,and he starts asking questions that he has been avoiding to ask. Only to uncover the truth, he has to descend into hell.

The claustrophobic setting of Croaghnakeela is top-notch. The elements of the Irish myths and the introduction of the arch-villain Bodach in this remote location create a powerfully sinister and uncanny piece of writing.

Grace is a bleak chiller, a disturbing parable of the human greed, silent acquiescence, and even endorsement of evil. It might be a fiction, but it makes you think of how ordinary people are prepared to live alongside the unmentionable horror by pretending not to notice it, not protesting or trying to do something to fight it.

This horror story presents an uncompromising, desolate view of humanity, or the lack of it. Read it if you dare!

Grace is my first encounter with the author, A.M. Shine. I somehow missed his previous books and The Watchers on Netflix, though I am going to remedy that, as I bought The Watchers on Kindle.

Many thanks to A.M. Shine, Head of Zeus and Rachel's Random Resources for my proof copy.

Purchase Link - https://geni.us/GraceCR

Author Bio –

A.M. Shine writes in the Gothic horror tradition. Born in Galway, Ireland, he received his Master's Degree in History there before sharpening his quill and pursuing all things literary and macabre. He is a member of the Irish Writers Centre. His debut novel, The Watchers, has been made into a major motion picture produced by M. Night Shyamalan. Follow him on @AMShineWriter and www.amshinewriter.com

 

Social Media Links –

https://x.com/AMShineWriter

https://www.instagram.com/nocturn_al_shine/

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Twitter: @AriesFiction

Facebook: Aries Fiction

Instagram: @headofzeus

Photo diary: Project 365, week 5 2026

In some way the last week wasn't memorable, which is good, as in no news, good news. I'm slowly getting better and better. My knee is back to normal colour, though it has a strange sensation, as if a muscle or ligament has shrank. I am taking marine collagen in hope it would solve the problem at some point. My back is almost fine.

Sunday's sweet pastry haul from Costa, using TooGoodToGo app. Not as impressive as Lynwoods cafe, but it also costs less.

Popped into a card and gift shop, and saw a few lovely Rolife diy miniature rooms on display. They were on offer and look so tempting, but I don't have space in the house for any of them. Our bookshelves are crammed, and books are stacked in every possible and impossible space.

The only drawing I made in the last week is of the little girl in a shawl, vaguely based on a photo of me, when I was a child. The sketch is made in mixed media, with pens, inks and watercolour.

My orchids in the kitchen were looking a bit tired, so I got new clear pots with drainage holes and a bag of orchid potting mix, and re-planted them. Fingers crossed, they will perk up.

I started reading The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie. We watched The Seven Dials on Netflix recently, which is quite amusing and entertaining, until you start reading the book and wonder what was the point of changing it so dramatically.

Agatha Christie satirises the upper classes beautifully. I'm enjoying the book more than the series.

On Saturday evening Eddie was invited for dinner by our friends. I asked if I could tag along for a bit of a chinwag. Tried to catch this little chirpy thing sitting still for a photo, but he kept moving like a lightning.

How was your week?

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Murder at the Duomo by T.A. Williams

 

"The duomo... With its stunning green, white and pink marble facade, magnificent statues and the unique and impressive domed roof, it's a place of worship, peace and calm.

But, as I was about to find out, this isn't always the case".

Murder at the Duomo by T.A. Williams is a delightful cozy mystery, set in Florence. This is the brand new instalment in the bestselling Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series (Book no.14), which features a retired DCI Dan Armstrong and his loyal companion, Oscar.

Blurb:

Murder at the Duomo

Even angels can have a dark side...

As the sticky heat of August settles over Florence, Dan Armstrong is ready for a well-earned break -sightseeing with fiancée Anna, daughter Tricia and her fiancé Shaun. But when a British man is found dead inside the city's magnificent Duomo, Dan's plans quickly change.

The victim, Tristan Angel, is a super-wealthy arms dealer with a saintly name and a devilish reputation. But what was he doing in the cathedral, and who decided to make it his final confession?

At Angel's opulent villa in the hills of Fiesole, Dan and Commissario Virgilio encounter a colourful cast of suspects - each one hiding secrets and none too eager to talk. as tempers rise and the heat outside grows ever more intense, Dan and his four-legged sidekick, Oscar, must sniff out the truth before the killer strikes again.

The weather outside is miserable, it's been raining for days non-stop, though in my imagination I'm travelling to the hotter climes and locations. Florence, to be precise. Italy in August is a formidable place to be, not for the wimps for sure.

Reading Murder at the Duomo brings back memories of staying in Florence in August many years ago (and in comparison give me an incessant rain any time). 

Florence is being smothered in a heat wave, and Dan Armstrong is determined to enjoy a pause from crime. His plans include outdoor meals, perhaps a bit of sightseeing with his daughter Tricia and her fiancé Shaun, long walks in the countryside which end up in the shade with a cold beer and a treat for his dog Oscar.

Dan's peaceful break is soon brought to an end, as the news reach him that a British man is discovered murdered inside the city's most sacred landmark, the Duomo.

When Commissario Virgilio Pisano contacts Dan, he drops everything to make it to the questura. There's an English connection to the victim. Dan is excited to get involved in the case.

"I have to confess that a murder investigation every now and then makes a pleasant change from tracking unfaithful spouses or light-fingered employees".

Initial stages of the investigation reveal that the victim of the murder at the Duomo is an obscenely rich arms dealer Tristan Angel, with a haloed name and a hellish reputation.

"He's an arms dealer. Big time. I'm not talking a couple of handguns and a pocket full of ammo; I'm talking everything from machine guns to missiles. He's reputed to be one of the richest men in the world..."

What was he doing in the Duomo's confessional when he has met his end? And who's the perpetrator?

As Dan teams up with Commissario Virgilio, the investigation leads them to Angel's lavish villa in the hills of Fiesole. There is a whole plethora of colourful characters from Angel's business team staying at the villa, and each guest has something to lose.

Secrets simmer, alibis crack, and the relentless Tuscan sun mirrors the rising tension. With time running out, it's up to Dan and Oscar to follow the scent of lies before another soul meets their maker.

Oscar's promotion in the ranks made smile. "This is Officer Oscar. He's a valued part of the investigative team". And he truly is that, finding important clues that help with the investigation.

He is a brilliant judge of the human character, albeit not without his foibles. As Dan says, "My dog is a remarkably good judge of character - although his opinion of people can all too easily be swayed by the offer of food".

And there is plenty of food too. The descriptions of mealtimes are, as always, mouthwatering. I don't think I've found a single dish on the menu in this entertaining series that I didn't want to try.

Ripe with all the twists and turns, Murder at the Duomo is a book you won't be able to put down. Mystery and suspence are peppered with humour. The compelling story is soaked in the Tuscan atmosphere, its magnificent sights and sounds. Dan and Oscar are truly a team made in heaven. 

Escape the misery of the rain-sodden British weather with a fictional trip to Florence.

This review is part of the blog tour for Murder at the Duomo.

Many thanks to T.A. Williams, The Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/MurderDuomo

Author Bio –

T. A. Williams is the bestselling author of the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series. Trevor studied languages at University and lived and worked in Italy for eight years, returning to England with his wife in 1972. Trevor and his wife now live in Devon.

 

Social Media Links – 

Facebook: @TrevorWilliamsBooks

Twitter: @TAWilliamsBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawilliamsbooks/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/TAWilliamsNews

Bookbub profile: @trevorwilliams3

Degustabox January Box: Breakfast & Brunch

January is a month of new beginnings, resolutions and renewal, even if it's often considered to be the most miserable month after the excesses of December festivities. Ultimately it depends on your own outlook and perceptions. It can be a bit of both. To help you eat healthier (if indeed that one is one of your new year's resolutions), here is a January Breakfast & Brunch Degustabox.

Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in January Box Degustabox?

Let's start with the Product of the Month - Bisto Creamy Cheese Sauce (£2.25), a new product from the well-known range. 

Like many British families, we buy Bisto gravy granules for a quick and easy gravy. We were quite curious to try this new product.

Simply add 4 level tbsp of Bisto cheese sauce to 250ml boiling water and give it a quick stir until the sauce thickens.

Lovely with homemade pasta bakes, lasagne and cauliflower cheese.

Each tub contains 19 individual servings. 

Typical values: 41kcal and 0.56g of salt per 50ml portion as prepared; no artificial colours or preservatives.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Clearspring Organic Silken Tofu - Single Serve (£1.89) is made in Japan, using fresh water and real Nigari.

I have bought Clearspring silken tofu before, it is very delicate, and easily broken. For our favourite Teriyaki tofu dish I prefer a more robust tofu that would hold its shape after being cubed and fried. 

Silken tofu is great for recipes where it can be added and scrambled, or used in a tofu cheesecake recipe, where its delicate texture would be appreciated.

Typical values: 67kcal and 0g salt per 100g; gluten free, high protein, plant-based, vegan, non-GM.

Available on www.clearspring.co.uk, www.hollandandbarrett.com and in Planet Organic and independent health shops.

Sharwoods Chef's Special Tikka Masala Curry Kit (£2.80) is a curry kit with garlic & ginger paste and a creamy tomato Tikka sauce, crafted in India, using quality ingredients to create an authentic flavour.

The kit contains two pouches. Super convenient and very tasty too.

Just add diced chicken and serve with rice, naans and mango chutney. For a vegetarian version, use roast cauliflower or roast squash.

Typical values: 153kcal and 1.53g of salt per 1/2 pouch (this pouch contains appr. 2 portions); suitable for vegetarians; no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.

Available in Sainsbury's, Morrisons, ASDA.

Cirio Passata Rustica (£1.50) is crafted from 100% Italian tomatoes, grown by dedicated farmers.

Always happy to have a Cirio product. Cirio is well-known for its delicious tomato-based products and brings a true Italian authentic flavour to your kitchen.

Cirio Passata Rustica consists of crushed tomatoes, perfect for a variety of homemade meals, from hearty pasta to pizza toppings. It has a chunky texture and a rich tomatoey flavour.

Nutritional information: 32kcal and 4.2g of sugar per 100g.

Available in Ocado, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Linwoods Overnight Oats 400g (£4 each) is part of the healthy breakfast range (a blend of oats, chia and plant protein). Protein & Energy overnight oats come in 4 flavours.

You should receive 1 variety in your box. We got Chocolate flavour protein overnight oats.

Just add milk & chill. 

Nutritional information: 195kcal and 0.2g of salt per 50g; gluten free; with fibre, Omega 3 and minerals.

If like me you're not a fan of chia or overnight oats, may I suggest using the blend as one of the ingredients for bakes (add a couple of tablespoons to the oat cookie dough for a healthier cookie).

Available in the major supermarket chains, health store chains and at www.linwoodshealthfoods.com.

nakd. fruit & nut bar Blueberry Muffin/ or Cocoa Orange (£1.50 each) is a raw fruit and nut bar, made with 100% natural ingredients and no added sugar. Their motto is "No ultra processing, no added sugar & no labels that sound like science kits". Amen to that.

You should receive 1 item of 2. We got the Blueberry Muffin flavour, which is made with dates, raisins, cashews, almonds, freeze-dried blueberries and natural flavouring. So flavourful.

Nutritional values: 166kcal and 22g sugar (naturally occurring) per bar.

All nakd. bars are gluten free and vegan.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

UP&GO Protein Chocolate/ or Vanilla (£2.50 each) is a convenient, high protein breakfast drink, designed to fuel your busy mornings.

Packed with 35g or protein, essential vitamins and minerals, it delivers sustained energy and nutrition in a smooth shake. 

You will receive one flavour of two. We got Chocolate breakfast drink.

Nutritional information: 397kcal and 33.5g of sugar per 500ml; high in protein, high in calcium, 11 essential vitamins and minerals, no artificial  colours.

Available in Tesco and Co-Op.

Mission Carb Balance Original Wraps (£1.80) are a healthier choice for any mealtime.

With only 9g of carbs per wrap (66% less than Mission Original Wraps), they balance high fibre with lower carbs.

There are four wraps in a pack. Enjoy them for breakfast or lunch or any mealtime, as burritos, tacos, fajitas or dessert (with chocolate spread and chopped bananas).

Nutritional values: 125kcal and 0.55g of salt per  wrap; high fibre, suitable for vegans.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Pip Organic Pineapple & Mango Smoothie (£1.50) is a delightful organic fruit smoothie.

Each smoothie provides 1 of your 5 a day. Each carton contains 1.5 apples, 1/4 of a banana, 1/4 of a pineapple, a chunk of mango and a dash of squeezed orange.

Typical values: 53kcal and 11.9g of sugar (naturally occurring) per 100ml; no added sugar, no nasty additives, no added sweeteners, non-GM.

Available in Ocado, Abel & Cole and Pip Organic website.

You should receive 2 items in your box.

If you subscribe to a Degusta Plus Box, you will receive an extra treat.

What is your favourite product in the latest Degustabox?

Photo diary: Project 365, week 4 2026

Our local Waterstones is a very special place. It draws me like a magnet, and I pop in every time I go shopping in town, just to see what's new and say Hello to the wonderful ladies who work there. 

I know some people are a bit derisive about Waterstones, because it's a chain. Our local bookshop might be a part of the chain, but it's a big part of our life. It's people who matter, and we are very lucky to have a super friendly team working there.

Sasha loves perusing books in the children's section, and goes in the shop every time he is out with us or his PAs. They all know him there, and are such a friendly bunch. They keep an eye on him, and when Sasha only started going out with his PAs, they would tell me later how it went. 

Very knowledgable about the books too. I bought so many books based on their recommendations.

I have been taking Eddie to this bookshop ever since he was a tiny tot. I cannot praise the staff enough for being so lovely to all their customers, from little people to grown-ups. 

Last Sunday my husband gave a talk about the book that he edited - called Tradecraft - which was published last year to coincide with the exhibition on le Carre at the Bodleian (he is also one of the curators of the exhibition). The ladies at the bookshop invited Federico to talk about  John le Carré.

Sadly I couldn't join the event, as one of us has to stay with Sasha. It was packed full, and all the copies of the book were sold. Very pleased it went well.

Running errands on Monday, and my husband offered to meet me for a coffee when Sasha was out with his PAs. We chose Coffeesmith cafe. We ordered a latte and a chai, and sat by the table. A guy came in with a big dog and placed an order.

The girl behind the counter made his drink first, came out from behind the counter to fondle a dog, then went back to make our drinks without washing her hands.

I appreciate that people who live with dogs don't necessarily wash hands after each interaction with their dog, and that's fine, as they choose to have a dog. In a cafe I would still expect some hygiene standards. I didn't say anything, but that surely put me off going to that place again. Am I being precious?

It's been raining almost every day in the last week. When a bit of sun gleamed from out of the clouds on Tuesday, I decided to walk by the Windrush. Wrong decision, as the fields were flooded, and I couldn't pass through in my short wellies.

Wednesday was a trying day. We had to go all the way to Banbury to the dental clinic with Sasha. We usually go to Oxford, which is easier to get to, with buses running on a regular basis. Banbury is further afield, and travelling by two buses would mean almost two hours each way. 

We expected to talk to the anesthesist, sadly, it was just a completely useless meeting with the dental team. It all could have been done on Zoom, they didn't do anything that needed our presence. We had to wait for an hour before being seen, and Sash was getting more and more anxious.

Now we need to go back to Banbury to meet the anesthesist, and then again for the actual procedure.

Our poor chap doesn't travel well. He was unwell on the way back. On top of everything, the taxis both ways cost over £200. Gulp.

On the same day Eddie had his mocks' results announced. Overall, he did well (though could have been better).

While writing my reading challenge goals for the year, I mentioned that I should try to expand my usual range of genres, and perhaps dip into a genre I have been avoiding so far, like a romantasy.

Last week I asked one of our lovely book ladies at the Waterstones if they could recommend me a romantasy book, but minus dragons, magicians and vampires. They were rather stumped. So, if you could suggest a book from the romantasy genre without these attributes, please let me know.

I do love sci fi and fantasy, but not too heavy on the romance side.

This is a romantasy section from the T G Jones in Banbury.

Charles Clinkard has an ongoing shoe sale at the moment and I bought a pair of boots. Definitely not for the rainy days.

Eddie asked me if I could get him an audio book, and we have downloaded Audible app on both his phone and mine. There is a current offer of a 3-months' subscription at 99p per month, after that a full price. You get one credit per month for any book, and there is a selection of free audio books too. 

We used the credit to get Fahrenheit 451 for Eddie, and I have chosen a free book, which is available only on Audible, called The Twisted Women's Book Club. It is a selection of chapters written by 15 authors, like Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, B.A.Paris and others. Each chapter is narrated by a different actor. It is actually pretty gripping. 

I listen to it, while I'm ironing, the task I absolutely hate, and now I am almost looking forward to it, as it means I will be listening to the story. Win-win.

Husband and I finished watching His & Hers on Netflix, a mystery thriller set in a small town in America. I remember Jon Bernthal as Shane from The Walking Dead series. There are plenty of twists, some details are rather implausible, but it still makes a bingeable TV.

The twist at the end was so unexpected. The series is the adaptation of Alice Feeney's book of the same title, and is currently available for free as an ebook on Prime.

And now we're watching The Pushover on Channel 4, based on the Scandi Noir series by Lone Theils. It's totally different from His & Hers in pacing and atmosphere. The characters are complex, and there is a lot of psychological tension.

And how was your week?

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Photo diary: Project 365, week 3, 2026

Week 3 going on 4, and it wasn't the smooth sailing. 

 It's been a while since I made pancakes on Sunday, and I thought my guys would enjoy the treat. That's the way my boys like it, with a sliced banana, whipped cream and chocolate fudge sauce on top.

My personal preference is honey, or maple syrup. How do you like your pancakes?

It was definitely a Blue Monday for me. I got up, feeling utterly wrecked. My ribs hurt a lot, I had difficulty breathing, and was really worried how I was going to cope. 

I went to the pharmacy and begged for the pain relief (when Sasha was out with his PAs), as the Ibuleve gel didn't even touch the pain. They suggested I needed to be seen by a doctor. As if it were that easy.

I couldn't go to A&E as my husband was away and I had no-one to look after Sasha for several hours. His PAs took him out briefly, but waiting time at A&E is so long that it would be unrealistic to expect to go in and out in that short slot. Paracetamol & Codeine helped with the pain, and by the next morning my breathing normalised too.

There are still some Christmas decorations in town, including this reindeer in the square by the cinema. I wonder when he goes back to sleep until the next Christmas.

Finished reading Hero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes. She is well known for her marvellous illustrated books for young children, like the Alfie, and Doggo series. Her charming drawings are instanty recognisable. She also wrote some books for middle grade school.

Hero on a Bicycle is set in Italy, in 1944, when Florence was under the German occupation. It's a story of a 13-year-old Paolo and his family, and how in extraordinary circumstances ordinary people find strength to do heroic deeds, often against their own judgment. Reading it as a grown-up and a mother, it made me think of how fragile we are, how vulnerable, and how often children don't listen to their parents, thinking they are invincible. If only.

It also made me think of my in-laws, both of whom were young children in the Nazi-occupied Italy.

Started reading Grace by A.M. Shine, a horror story set on a remote, creepy island. The proofs arrived in an evelope with the image of the book cover printed on it, how cool is that?! So far it is pretty riveting.

My husband was back from his travels the evening before, and as has become our little custom, he shopped at St Pancras station. There is a little cafe Aux Merveilleux de Fred that sells the most delicious buns, with sugar on top, and with raisins (they also have other tasty bakes and patisserie).

We had buns for breakfast.

Thursday is another miserable day. Grey skies and almost non-stop rain. My poor Sash got a stomach bug, so I had to cancel his PAs asap. He spent most of the day dosing off in bed.

I was too preoccupied to take even a basic snap. My brother, on the other hand, who was staying in Istanbul with his wife and daughter, sent me a whole lot of beautiful photos from their travels and visits to museums, palaces and harem.

My brother is a big softie. When he travels, he takes with him a big bag of cat food, and also buys food locally to feed the street cats. There were lots of cats' photos. 

I loved this staircase, so moody and atmospheric.

Thanks goodness, Sasha was better the next day. 

All the week I have been drawing illustrations on the theme of the Alphabet Challenge. My final drawing was a Zany Yak with a Xylophone, covering XYZ letters. 

In the last few months I got addicted to ginger-flavoured teas. I think I prefer lemon & ginger combination in comparison to the pure ginger tea, but anything goes. I am quite obsessed with it, and have at least a couple of cups every day.

How did your week go?

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Celebrations at the Beach Hotel by Francesca Capaldi (book extract)

 

I'm delighted to invite Francesca Capaldi to my blog today, with a book extract from her latest historical novel, Celebrations at the Beach Hotel.

Celebrations at the Beach Hotel

Sisters Alice and Annie have always been close but will a man come between them?

Annie and Alice love their life working at the Beach Hotel together and each is thrilled to have finally found a sweetheart. Yet the path of true love never did run smooth, and they soon find themselves facing conflict and strife. Could love come between them and the bond they share?

Meanwhile, as men start to come home from the war, the women have to work out how to keep their jobs, although they are delighted to be back with their beaus. Soon, wedding bells ring out in Littlehampton.

Will everything be made right in time for Christmas?

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Extract: Celebrations at the Beach Hotel by Francesca Burgess

 

The men have slowly been returning from the war to the Beach Hotel to work. Alice Twine had looked forward to Jasper returning, but things haven’t turned out the way she’d hoped.

 

The following Monday, it was Alice’s afternoon off. She was glad to get away from her sister, and the growing whisper around the staff that she was walking out with Jasper. At the same time, she felt lonely, wandering around the town on her own, her head filled with unwelcome thoughts from which there was little distraction. She’d asked an old school friend, who lived near them in Wick, whether she fancied a trip out, as they’d done on occasion. But her friend’s day off from the grocery store was currently on a Wednesday.

Walking down High Street, she stopped to look in the window of Mann’s, the draper’s shop. Perhaps she should buy some fabric and make herself something, a dress maybe, like the straight-lined, mid-calf length ones she’d seen some young women wearing. It might do her good to have a little project like this to interest her. And it would be much cheaper to make it than to buy it. She unclipped the metal catch on her handbag and took out her purse to peer inside. There wasn’t enough, and her savings were in a box at home, under her bed. She should have thought of it before.

She put the purse back in her handbag and was about to close the clip, when she was pushed forward, almost hitting the glass of the shop window. A young man had bumped into her, knocking her handbag off her wrist. With it still being open, her purse, comb and handkerchief spilled onto the pavement.

The young man crouched down quickly to pick the bag up, along with the items. At first, she panicked, afraid he was going to steal them, but he quickly stood up and handed the bag back to her, looking contrite.

‘I am so sorry. How clumsy of me. I really should look where I’m going,’ he said in a middle-class accent.

She was struck by his good looks and by how tall he was. His hair was very fair and a little longer than was fashionable. He had on a grey cap. His beard was fair too, with a hint of ginger, and he was wearing glasses. His neat, blue, three-piece suit, visible under a smart, open coat, was quite dapper.

‘That’s all right.’ She smiled to make him feel better. ‘No harm done.’

‘I do feel guilty. I hope your bag and the other bits haven’t got too dirty.’

‘They’ll survive.’

‘Listen, to make up for my clumsiness, could I buy you a cup of tea somewhere?’

She faltered for a moment, not knowing how to react to this rather swift invitation.

‘Sorry, where are my manners. I should have introduced myself first. I’m Jamie. Jamie… Sparks.’

She didn’t know him from Adam, so would it be right to agree? Then again, there were plenty of people around, so it wasn’t like she’d be in any danger.

She held out her hand and he shook it. ‘And I’m Alice Twine.’

‘Nice to meet you, Alice.’

‘And nice to meet you, Jamie. Yes please, a cup of tea would be very welcome.’

For a moment she was hopeful that he’d suggest Read’s Dining Rooms, as it was just around the corner on Surrey Street. She’d always fancied visiting it.

‘There’s a nice little tearoom at the end of High Street: Kimble’s.’ He pointed in the opposite direction.

‘Yes, I know the one. All right.’

They said little as they made their way to Kimble’s, and she wondered whether this would be a rather stilted affair. She questioned her decision; she wasn’t good at talking to strangers. But then how was she ever going to meet a future husband?

Future husband! She had no illusions that Mr Sparks was any such thing, but she had to start somewhere.

To her relief, once they were settled into the cafe, awaiting their order, he started chatting.

‘It’s my day off today and I wasn’t looking forward to spending it alone, yet again, so I am glad I, um, “bumped” into you, though I wish it hadn’t been quite so literally.’

‘It’s my afternoon off too. Where do you work?’

‘I’m a reporter for the Sussex Daily News.’

‘Isn’t their office on Terminus Road, near the railway station?’

‘That’s right.’

‘You must be well educated to do that job.’

‘Oh, I don’t know about that,’ he said shyly. ‘I’m just good with words. Where do you work?’

‘I, um, work in the stillroom at the Beach Hotel, on the common.’ It wasn’t quite true, of course, but it sounded better than ‘scullery maid’, which might be considered the lowest job at the hotel.

‘The Beach Hotel, eh? Very posh.’

He looked a little surprised – or was it even shocked? – at first. Didn’t she look good enough to work there?

‘It is very posh. I work with my sister mostly, which can get a bit much at times, as she’s older and rather bossy.’

‘What’s it like, working there, apart from having a bossy sister?’ He chuckled.

‘It’s a great place to work. The manageress, Mrs Bygrove, treats us all well. We’re very lucky in that way. Of course, during the war, it was mainly women doing the jobs, even as porters. The male staff are starting to come back now… those what survived.’

He nodded. ‘We lost a couple of the reporters I worked with too. I’ve always wanted to go for lunch or afternoon tea at the hotel, but I’m not classy enough.’

‘I wouldn’t say that.’ It was out of her mouth before she’d had time to consider it. It might sound like she had a fancy for him…

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Author Bio – 

Francesca Capaldi has enjoyed writing since she was a child, largely influenced by a Welsh mother who was good at improvised storytelling and an Italian father who loved history. She is the author of historical sagas, short stories and pocket novels. 

The first novel in the Beach Hotel series, A New Start at the Beach Hotel, won the Romantic Saga Award at the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards in 2024. The first novel in the Wartime in the Valleys series, Heartbreak in the Valleys, was shortlisted for the Historical Romantic Award in the RoNAs in 2021. 

Francesca was born and brought up on the Sussex coast, went to London to do a history degree, but has lived for many years in Kent with her family and a cat called Lando Calrission.

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