Wednesday 27 May 2009

After the Sun Comes The Rain



The Bank Holiday weather had been glorious and we had made the most of the sunshine by being very lazy in the garden. We dug the sunbeds out from under a year's worth of 'stuff' in the garage, poured ourselves large glasses of something cold and alcoholic and then spent the afternoon reading the Sunday papers before firing up the BBQ for dinner. Just what we needed to recharge the batteries and forget (if only for a few hours)  about all the problems we are having with the people we are hoping to buy the new house from.

But yesterday it was back down to earth with a bump. The weather reverted to type and most of my day was spent dodging the showers, no sunbathing today, just taking Murphy to hydrotherapy, shopping, housework and then the afternoon in front of the computer writing the latest installment of the new story. - mind you the garden looks like it appreciated the downpours.
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Wednesday 20 May 2009

Life On Hold and I'm becoming a grumpy sod

This might sound really mad but at the moment we are feeling that our life is somehow on hold.


All the decluttering has been done, the little jobs are finished and our home is spic and span and waiting for a potential buyer to beat a path to our door.

But (and you knew there was going to be a but didn't you) the people we are buying the house from in Kent  are having problems, the house that they were looking to buy has some issues - not sure what they are but they must be dramatic because they have pulled out of the purchase. That means that they are now running around looking for somewhere else to buy.  

So where does that leave us? Well at the moment we feel stranded, we don't particularly want to pull out from buying the new house but equally we don't want to be kept hanging around for the other people to sort themselves out.  Does that sound harsh?  well probably, but I make no apologies for feeling aggrieved because when we viewed the house they told us that they were as keen as we were for a quick sale as they were planning to come off the property ladder and rent for a couple of years.

As you can imagine the phone lines between Cheshire and Kent are buzzing away and hopefully we will be able to get something resolved in the next day or so but what we're not prepared to do is to be kept hanging around for ever while they get their act together.

So what do we do in the meantime - well we're thinking of running way - the weather has been awful for the past week and we don't fancy going away in the van spending our well earned rest cloud dodging - so sod it, we're going to get on airplane and fly away to somewhere hot and sunny (not next week though, I don't fancy battling through an airport on a bank holiday/half term weekend)




Thursday 7 May 2009

FOR SALE

At long last our house is now For Sale with the local Estate Agent.  The bloody HIP (Home Information Pack) nonsense meant that there was a two week delay before we could advertise but now it's all systems go.  


I'm not daft, I know that we are in the middle of a recession and house sales are at an all time low, but anyone looking for a house at the moment is in luck, there are some great deals out there - not least our home.  

So if you're looking a lovely big family home that's been filled with love since we bought from new, here's your chance - take a peek at the Agents website for details and pictures.



Tuesday 5 May 2009

Phew, I've finished Chapter 1

It's been a really good day today. 


Dave has been running around taking more 'stuff' to the tip, dropping off the contract with the Estate Agent and taking Murphy to hydrotherapy, all so that I could spend the day writing.  And all his hard work has paid off, I've finally managed to finish Chapter 1. of Death in the Morning.

I can't believe how much fun this is to write.  With feedback and comments from Dave and Paul Daniels (yes the real Paul Daniels!) my hero is morphing from a quivering wreck in to a foul mouthed maverick, although I'm not sure if that's what either of them expected to happen.

Now I suppose you're wondering why Mr Magic himself is commenting on my story, well if I say that's it's all down to the power of Twitter would you be surprised? Well not half as much as I was when he Twitted me with his comments on my last post - you could have knocked me down with the proverbial feather - all hail the power of Twitter.  

I'm thinking up a new challenge for Twitter, something that's never been done before - keep watching this space and all will be revealed.

Friday 1 May 2009

Busy Morning

With another two cupboards cleaned and sorted I felt justified in take a few hours off from the pending upheavel and settled down in front of the comupter to get on with some writing.


Not since Spanish Steps have I had so much fun with a keyboard.  Death in the Morning is a joy to write - no storyboard, no research just flex the fingers, bribe the dogs with a promise of a long walk and off I go.

This might not sound very revolutionary, after all how many of Jane Austin's story boards have ever come to light? but for me, the ultimate list maker, this is ground breaking.  I'm finally writing the same way that I think.  That's to say, disjointed, off wall ramblings, that will hopefully take the reader on a journey rather than drive them up the wall.

The story so far has introduced Ronny, a ex-copper who is still trying to sort out his feelings about taking early retirement. He misses the job and is probably feeling a little vulnerable for the first time in his life when out of the blue his wife goes missing.  Has she had an accident, has she left him, is she having an affair? I don't know yet where she is - I have an idea but I don't want to spoil the surprise.

Although the beauty of this kind of writing is that I may change my mind and have her hiding out in a convent in France after she hijacks a fishing boat and guts the crew with a filleting knife - god the possibilities are endless.....