No Sky Television

 Bad enough that it is too hot and muggy to do anything. Add to that Sky Television is not working - yesterday it was almost blanket non-coverage in West Sussex. No idea whose fault it is today but....

What do I want to do? The same as most other house-bound golden oldies - watch television. Especially I want to watch who is doing what in the Snooker! Not bothered about the continual repeats of other programmes. Snooker is live!!! Guess I will have to get out my old laptop computer and see if I can watch it on that. Fingers crossed! 

'Homicide in Hampshire'

The New Forest in Hampshire is somewhere I have long wanted to live. Maybe when - like Cleo Marjoribanks - I win lots of dosh on the lottery. Dream on! 

From the moment Cleo was seen driving through the village in her vintage Rolls Royce she became a person of interest. Flamboyant with her red hair and colourful caftans, along with her London (sometimes cockney) accent and warmheartedness she quickly made friends. Just as well because not long after her arrival her housekeeper was murdered. Cleo had been away and on her return found the poor woman dead in the swimming pool. DCI David 'Steaming' Kettle took charge - big surprise, they had known each other as children when they lived in East London. 

As one reviewer put it 'Small village mystery with many people who could be the culprit. Easy read, funny characters who have good chemistry.'

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005LO72BA

This is also available in print format! 

FREE BOOK - DEATH OF A COPYCAT

When English travel writer Trudi moved to Florida (which is a mystery in itself!) she did not expect to become embroiled in a murder investigation. This was when TWO members of a writers' circle were killed. At first the Sheriff wanted to blame Trudi - as the outsider - but fortunately a Detective believed she was innocent. But not without incident for Trudi. Thanks to a clever piece of driving she avoided what could have been a fatal accident. 

The book is FREE for the weekend 10-13 JULY 2020. 

https://amazon.co.uk/dp/B005T258S8

Funny-peculiar Friends!

Working in Miami in 1979 (or thereabouts!) 

What a good job I have a sense of humour. Throughout the Lockdown several friends who normally rely on e-mails for keeping in touch resorted to long telephone calls. Yes, they were much appreciated by this 81-year-old. Although the conversations began with their wanting to know how I was getting on, it quickly became clear that they wanted to talk about how lonely and bored they were.

They all know that I live on my own and that my neighbours are either out at work or, like me, disabled. Which leaves me very much on my own. And some of these friends even had the temerity to say that as I am on my own any way, I am used to it. Really? Maybe they should write down and read what they are going to say before they make phone calls!!!

Passing lonely hours with Crosswords

During this lock-down crisis I am sure more and more people are taking to crossword puzzles.

If you haven’t tried them, please do. The easy ones really are very easy. And with practise you can quickly improve and find yourself wanting to try slightly trickier ones. When you are a beginner nobody minds if you ‘cheat’ by looking at the answers. After all, if you don’t know the answer how will you learn without looking it up? You never know, you might become so good at them you end up being able to win competitions!

Over the years I’ve progressed from small ‘quick’ crosswords up to cryptics. Not always successfully – it depends whether I can get onto the same wavelength as the setter.

Another problem I have is knowing or having knowledge of several other languages. I’ve lost count how many times I have puzzled over an answer which fits the number of letters but isn’t the right answer. Yup, try fitting an English word across a Spanish word. Don’t work.

Happy crosswording!

Living in Isolation

Thanks to Corona Virus most of the countries affected are either in lock-down or about to be.

Looking back into history and Britain’s Great Plague of 1666 there was only one way that died in London – the Great Fire of London. (Ironically William the Conqueror took over Britain in 1066). 600 hundred years later.

We should think ourselves lucky that we CAN stop the spread of the virus. But only if we pull together and obey the rules.

As I live alone and am used to isolation, it isn’t too much of a problem for me. Of course I do have the universal problem of grocery shopping. I was fortunate in that I had a grocery order delivered a couple of weeks ago and already had my April delivery booked. Today I received notification that I can only have 80 items. Going to be difficult deciding which 80 to take bearing in mind that I haven’t been able to get a May delivery booked.

I suspect that I may have to break ‘the law’ and go to the supermarket this weekend.

If you know of any old and/or disabled people who may need help please, please, please give them a hand.

Wind or Rain?

Which do you think is the worst? For me it is the wind. Even tho’ I have a Rollater (what’s that? Popularly called a walker – except that it has wheels, so it don’t walk!) walking in wind is still a problem. The wind blows it all over the place.

So, as you can guess, gale force winds equals to me (and others) being housebound. Obviously the food cupboard is well stocked but there are some items that have to be replenished. I am now in the habit of checking the weather forecast to check the wind velocity and dashing out when the wind is ‘breezy’.

Help from the neighbours? Four flats per floor – me and the lady at the other end are disabled and two flats in between are occupied by workers.

On Monday I am meeting with someone from the County Council Adult Social Care Team so that they can assess my needs. But….

The meeting is at Age UK’s Laburnum Centre so that we can use one of their private rooms. Part of the discussion centres around the fact that I live alone. I assume there is free parking at the Centre whereas my nearest car park – next door – costs. Ergo Costs: Council – zero; OAP – 2 taxis.

Watch this space for progress report!

A FREE book for Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day! From today until Tuesday I am giving you a free crime novel!

DEATH OF A COPYCAT is set in Sunny Florida (where I used to live) and where English travel write, Trudi, now lives. When a member of the Writing Circle dies the local Sheriff chooses the stranger as the culprit. Fortunately Detective Ricardo Gomez doesn't agree. Along with help from Trudi and her friend Lucia he discovers who-dunnit. And it was almost too late for Trudi and Lucia.



https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005T258S8

FREE KINDLE BOOK - Dirty Deeds in Downdene

My pressie to you lovers of Cleo Marjoribanks the cockney millionaire who lives in the New Forest. The second book in the series - Dirty Deeds in Downdene - will be free from tomorrow 9th January for FIVE days only.

In this book Cleo gets mixed up with golfing crowd after an estate agent is murdered. Yes, her close friend DCI David 'Steaming' Kettle is trying to solve the mystery with what he terms as interference!

As well as making new friends with some lady golfers, the golf club secretary tells Cleo she isn't welcome there as she is a 'whore'!!! Read it to find out her response!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008ORNGCU