Toni Anderson's Blog: Toni Anderson, page 74

Please Vote

Not only in the Canadian election (but YES, vote in the Canadian election) and also the cover for SEA OF SUSPICION is up for best contemporary cover
http://www.covercafe.com/contest/2010/contest2010intro.shtml

[image error] You can check out the best of and best of covers. Voting is easy. Honest ;)

May 1st

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My one and only...

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Peony, bleeding hearts, astibilles, globe thistles, honeysuckle, poppy, day lillies, daisies (bloody daisies), are all starting to sprout, but crikey, it's been a long hard winter. Watch this space--the dog will trample, the rabbit will nibble or kids' soccer practice will obliterate this poor lonely baby. Happy spring!

My St. Andrews...

In the spirit of all things 'William and Kate', here are some photos of the university town where they met. I know many, many married couples who met here and (thinking hard) don't know of any divorces (fingers crossed) yet. BTW--did I mention both my Scottish books are set in or near this town?
Did I? *laughing*


[image error] The Cathedral (from many different angles)  [image error] Deans Court
[image error] St Rule's Tower [image error]


[image error] The Harbor [image error]
[image error] Famous Pier [image error] The castle ruins (not the pub) [image error]
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Tom Morris. God of golf. [image error] [image error]
[image error]  The crosses represent where they burnt the martyrs. Hell of a lot of crosses in that town.
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[image error] (Above) DH's house when we started going out... [image error] The Royal & Ancient (I do not play golf).
[image error] Sallys--where the royal couple could have got married if it hadn't have been all booked up :)
[image error]   The Tron in Market Street.  [image error]   [image error]
[image error]  The cobbles of Market Street and the cross of death  [image error]
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[image error]  The town library (old town hall)[image error] Most important landmark in St Andrews...the ice cream shop. [image error]   [image error] Hope the Royals are as happy as me and my hubby :)

She's in the Dog House

[image error] for digging up my flowerbed. As if the rabbits and weather weren't bad enough.

[image error] Not getting around me that easy... :)

Flowers and The King's Speech

[image error] My beloved hubby brought home my favorite flowers for our anniversary and I made him pizza. LOL.

We went for a super cheap night out. It wasn't intentional. A friend of ours minded the kids and I decided I wanted to see The King's Speech. Not only was it at the cheap cinema, but Tuesday night is half-price night. $3.50 for both tickets. :)  Naturally we pigged out on popcorn and maltesers.
The movie itself is just a good as everyone said it is. Colin Firth is brilliant, so are Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter.
The premise is so dull--set in the 1930s a common man helps the Duke of York with his stammer. Yawn. But it isn't yawn at all which is a testament to both the writing and the acting. I loved it. And I really enjoyed spotting and naming the peons of British acting. Pride and Prejudice meets Harry Potter, with Jennifer Ehles (Myrtle/Eliza Bennett) and David Bamber (Theatre Director/Mr. Collins), Michael Gambon (George V/Dumbledore), Helena (Duchess/crazy Bellatrix), Timothy Spall (Churchill/Peter Pettigrew), with appearances from the cast of neighbors (Guy Pearce), and other greats like Derek Jacobi, Anthony Andrews, Claire Bloom, plus a host I didn't recognize. Great cast.

Seeing Wallis Simpson reminded me how much my granny hated her. As my granny was part of the war-effort and a huge supporter of the monarchy, I'm not surprised. But Edward, who always comes off as this brave soul who sacrificed the throne for love, came across more as a lazy, fun-seeking arse. I loved seeing the underdog--that is the second son and much abused Duke of York--taking on the responsibility of not only Britain but the Empire. It's a shame he didn't live longer. 

There's no doubt the royals are tremendously wealthy, but it's not a life I'd want. I'll settle for a couple of million and lots of good friends :)

My beloved granny

Would have been 91 today. It's also Primrose Day and my Wedding Anniversary (I must digitize some wedding photos).
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Weather Girl

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Blogging today

on Not Your Usual Suspects about FATS (Firearms Training Simulation) at the Writers Police Academy last year.
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Flood Watch 2011

A week ago the river was at it's normal level. Now it's almost reached the top of the embankment near our local golf course. The Red isn't set to peak until early May and the sandbagging of houses most at risk has just begun. Wish us luck, crazy place we live in.
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