Ailsa Abraham's Blog: Ailsa Abraham, page 5

Ninja Lizzie

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I’m out in the garden waiting for one of my Crooked Cat friends to arrive. We haven’t met before but all work very closely on co-promoting each other’s work. Ah- here she comes. Welcome, Lizzie Chantree! Come on over to the table and help yourself to … what would you like to drink?

I drink pots of tea while I’m writing, but a glass of red wine would be wonderful!

Oh good, the grapes for this brand come from our neighbour over the road. How was your trip on the magic carpet?

It was a bit bumpy, but luckily I managed to hang on round the bend! I did bring my dog, Pepper, who is very small and fluffy, but fierce, so she managed to grab the edges of the carpet with her teeth and keep us in the air.

OK, we’ll introduce her to Lilydog and Pistoncat slowly. They are very friendly. They can all play together or ignore each other. I have all kinds of home made cake, jam, bikkies etc – choice?

Home made cakes… what a welcome. Coffee and walnut cake? I love to bake cakes at home, but for some reason they are always enormous! My Grandad ran a tearoom and I think cake making is in the genes.

Let’s start with your books – do you write under just one name or several? How many genres do you cover? How much have you had published including anthologies etc?

I write under my own name. My parents call me Elizabeth when I’m naughty and Lizzie when I’m good. I have written five books so far. They are all romance novels, but one has a magical twist and two have a mystery feel. They all revolve around entrepreneurs and their quirky businesses.

Oh I understand that! My mother only called me Ailsa when she was cross. That’s why I prefer “Otter”. How long have you been writing professionally? I imagine that, like all of us, you wrote all your life before “turning pro”.

Totally. I’ve always loved writing stories. I have been writing professionally for five years. Before that, I ran a retail and wholesale business where I sold my own product designs to other companies. I had this business for over twenty years, but needed a career change when my daughter became unwell, (she’s fine now).

What was your first published work? Short story, magazine article, poem?

My first book with a publisher is my latest novel, Ninja School Mum. Before that, I self-published after seeing a magazine article on the subject, that caught my interest.

What are your ambitions / hopes for your writing career?

I would like to publish more books and help other authors to publish theirs. My main ambition with my own writing is to make readers smile. My first book was written during a tough time in my life and writing it helped me so much. I hope my work makes others feel happy.

Highfive! We do have so much in common. I love helping other writers and I spend most of my day making people laugh.

[image error]Lily – be nice. The other doggie isn’t going to attack you if you play nice!

Now on to you, the author. Where do you live and with whom? Describe a perfect day at home for me. (Where else have you lived?)

I live in Essex, England, with my husband of 20 years, our two children and a very fluffy dog. A perfect day at home is a meal with family, ideally by the sea or somewhere with an amazing view. I have lived and worked in London, but otherwise I have always been local to Essex.

Do you have a “day job”?

Writing is now my full time job and I absolutely love it. My daughter tells everyone she helped me start this career and she’s right. I also run a networking hour on Twitter for creatives called #CreativeBizHour every Monday night 8-9pm (GMT). It is a great place to network and support each other in our work. I am a business mentor and it’s really satisfying to see new and old businesses flourish.

Outside of writing and any other work, what is your main passion (greatest pleasures?)

My family and friends are my greatest passion. They make me smile every single day and put up with my daily creative plans for another book or project.

Awww, how lovely. Tell me two or three interesting facts about you that I haven’t asked.

I was one of the Female Inventors of the Year for a product I invented called Runaway Spray. It’s a lipstick size ‘ladder’ stop spray for hosiery. It’s not tested on animals and works a treat!

Wow! That’s impressive!

I’m allergic to chocolate.

Wow, that’s handy! Wish I were.

I designed the crown for Miss Southend-on-Sea for the Miss UK final.

Well aren’t you the inventive and creative one?? Finally and most importantly – Bio and links please.

[image error]About The Author

Award-winning inventor and author, Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year in 2000. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children were little and now runs networking hours on social media, where creative businesses, writers, photographers and designers can offer advice and support to each other. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex.

www.lizziechantree.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizzie.chantree.3

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

Book link:   viewBook.at/NinjaSchoolMum

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Val Penny’s Thoughts

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First off – what would you like to drink?

Please could I have a decaf Earl Grey Tea? I find I don’t sleep well if I drink too much coffee or caffeinated drinks.

Good idea – we have hundreds of types of tea! I have all kinds of home made cake, jam, bikkies etc – choice?

I can never resist home-made cake. I like baking cakes, but eating it is even better! Do you have any coffee and walnut cake?

One of my standards! Let’s start with your books – do you write under just one name or several?

I write under my own name. I remember discussing pen names with Peter Robinson some years ago. His view was that it felt good to be recognised for your work, and I suppose I accept that. When I asked Karen Campbell, she said her name was as good as any other. I think that’s right. She, like me writes under her married name.

How many genres do you cover? How much have you had published including anthologies?

I have had various poems included in national anthologies and have had some success in poetry and short story competitions. However, my first novel, ‘Hunter’s Chase’ is a crime novel set in Edinburgh.

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Crooked Cat is publishing it. The launch date is 02.02.2018. I am very excited. I think this is a very auspicious date as 2 is the only even, prime number, so it is one of my favourite numbers. I am now working on the sequel to ‘Hunter’s Chase so, to date, I have stuck with the crime genre. But I would like to look at the children and young adult markets in the future. At the moment, it is one genre at a time.

How long have you been writing professionally?

I am still very much finding my way in this profession, so I do not yet feel that I am a professional writer. It is such early days, but I am so excited about this stage of my career. My husband is equally excited and keeps thinking TV and film rights. At six feet four inches tall, he is my biggest fan!

I imagine that, like all of us, you wrote all your life before “turning pro”

I have had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, lawyer, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer. However, I have not yet achieved either of my childhood dreams of being a ballet dancer or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, I have turned my hand to writing poetry, short stories and novels.

What was your first published work?

My first professionally published work was a poem I wrote for my husband, Sleeping Warrior. It was included in a collection of poetry ‘Homeland’ published in 2013.

What are your ambitions / hopes for your writing career?

I am currently writing the sequel to ‘Hunter’s Chase’ it is entitled ‘Hunter’s Revenge’. I hope people will enjoy my first book enough to invest in the second one. I have chosen Edinburgh as my setting for DI Hunter Wilson’s stories. It is a beautiful, vibrant city and I hope readers will enjoy exploring it with Hunter and me.

Now on to you, the author. Where do you live and with whom?

I am an American author living in SW Scotland. I have two adult daughters of whom I am justly proud and live with my husband and two cats.

Describe a perfect day at home for me.

My favourite day in the year is the day my husband and I make our Christmas pudding. It is one of our family traditions. We both take an active role and have such fun together, messing about in the kitchen and creating a item that will form a pivotal part of the Christmas meal for the whole family. However, as we are very partial to our pudding, we make a big one and can be found having it sliced and fried with bacon and eggs for breakfast on January first after the Hogmanay festivities.

Outside of writing and any other work, what is your main passion?

I do not smoke or drink to excess, but my great passion is travel. Travel broadens the mind, not just the feet. Indeed, it has been said that I would go to the opening of an envelope! I love meeting new people, experiencing new things and visiting new places. I particularly enjoyed the different culture of the people in China and the cactus forest in Arizona is amazing.

Tell me two or three interesting facts about you that I haven’t asked.

I like watching cartoons. The traditional Disney classics are amongst my favourites.

Handbags are my guilty pleasure. My husband once asked why anybody would need more than one…. (in each colour and material, I added!)

I have always loved cats. I was given my first cat by my great Auntie Lizzie when I was 3 and have kept cats ever since, so it was with great delight that ‘Hunter’s Chase’ was accepted for publication by Crooked Cat Books.

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Finally and most importantly – Bio and links 

I review books on www.bookreviewstoday.info

I review travel experiences on www.hotelandrestaurantreviews.com

My website is www.authorvalpenny.com

You will find the Facebook Group, Friends of Hunter’s Chase at https://www.facebook.com/groups/296295777444303/?ref=bookmarks

The Group is first to learn about the novels relating to fictional detective ‘Hunter Wilson’ created by Val Penny.

The Girl in the Gallery

[image error]Series: London Murder Mystery series book #2

Genre: Cozy Crime

Release Date: 19 th December 2017

Publisher: Crooked Cat Books

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to Dulwich…

It’s a perfect summer’s morning in the plush south London suburb, and thirty-something Beth Haldane has sneaked off to visit one of her favourite places, the world-famous Picture Gallery.

She’s enjoying a few moments’ respite from juggling her job at prestigious private school Wyatt’s and her role as single mum to little boy Ben, when she stumbles across a shocking new exhibit on display. Before she knows it, she’s in the thick of a fresh, and deeply chilling, investigation.

Who is The Girl in the Gallery? Join Beth in adventure #2 of the London Murder Mystery series as she tries to discover the truth about a secret eating away at the very heart of Dulwich.

BUY LINK

https://MyBook.to/GirlintheGallery

ABOUT ALICE CASTLE

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Alice Castle was a UK newspaper journalist for The Daily Express, The Times and The Daily Telegraph before becoming a novelist. Her first book, Hot Chocolate, was a European best-seller which sold out in two weeks.

Alice is currently working on the sequel to Death in Dulwich and The Girl in the Gallery. The third instalment in the London Murder Mystery series, it will be published by Crooked Cat next year and is entitled The Calamity in Catford. Once again, it features Beth Haldane and DI Harry York.

Alice is also a top mummy blogger, writing DD’s Diary at www.dulwichdivorcee.com.

She lives in south London and is married with two children, two step-children and two cats.

Alice Castle’s Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/alicecastleauthor/

Alice Castle is on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DDsDiary

Links to buy Alice Castle’s books: myBook.to/GirlintheGallery myBook.to/1DeathinDulwich, myBook.to/HotChocolate

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dds_diary/?hl=en

Blog: http://www.dulwichdivorcee.com

GIVEAWAY

A signed copy of the book and a £20 Amazon voucher!!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/4be03017274/

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WHALES AND STRANGE STARS

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Series: First book in my new Wych Ferry Series

Genre: historical fiction

Release Date: 12 th December, 2017

Publisher: Crooked Cat Books

A world beyond her own.

A sea captain passes through the forgotten port of Wych Ferry, and whiles away an hour relating his traveller’s tales to young Rosamund Euden. He tells her that the stars are different, if you sail far enough, that the horizon isn’t quite real, not when you get there; he speaks of sea serpents and whales, and mysterious islands.

To an impressionable girl who has never left her home, the whales and strange stars of his stories come to symbolise the great outside world she longs to see. The sea captain moves on, unaware of the dramatic events he has set in action as Rosamund’s search for adventure leads her into a world of dangerous secrets in the marshlands of eighteenth century Kent.

Torn between loyalty to her uncles, and her desire to discover what lies beyond the marshes, Rosamund seeks help from an unexpected source. But who can she really trust?

BUY LINKS

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2CqGR6v

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2CucLhr

ABOUT KATHY SHARP

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Kathy Sharp was born and brought up by the sea in Kent. Life took her inland, and she worked for many years as a desktop publisher for Surrey County Council, and as a tutor in adult education.

And then, one day, she visited a friend who had just moved to the Isle of Portland, Dorset, and fell in love with the place. She has now lived by the sea in the Weymouth and Portland area for more than ten years, and still loves it. The wonderful Jurassic Coast, and Portland in particular, were the inspiration for her Larus Trilogy of novels.

Kathy also sings with, and writes lyrics for, the Island Voices Choir on Portland, and is a keen member of local writing groups, as well as enjoying studying the local flora.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kathy-Sharp-111574195915740/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathySharp19

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2728164.Kathy_Sharp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-sharp-5b5a9736/

Blog: https://kathysharp2013.wordpress.com/blog/

Website: https://kathysharp2013.wordpress.com/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kathy-Sharp/e/B00E5BJ0BK/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1 

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“As flies to wanton boys….

…are we to the gods, they kill us for their sport.” (Shakespeare → King Lear → Act 4, Scene 1, Page 2)

There are many different names for the places where people believe their gods to live: Valhalla, Paradise, Heaven etc. It is little-known that the deities of all religions, of all ages, dwell happily together in a vast land which they call “Hereafter”. Hell or anyone’s concept of it, is just down the road and there is a bumpy track which leads to the land of the Fae.

They were offered a picnic table in Hereafter but as they were not strictly speaking worshipped and had more to do with humans in their day to day activities, they chose to stay half way between. Those who were meant to find them, would. Those who were staring firmly at the skies would, as usual, walk into rabbit holes and fences.

Tink, the Happy-Endings Fairy, hardly ever “came upstairs”. She was kept so busy on Earth that she’d recently taken on her half-mortal half-sister as a trainee assistant. This was why she was stamping up the path, still in her “materialisation gear”, her DM boots throwing up mud as she covered furious amounts of ground.

[image error]At least up here she didn’t need to smoke her purple sparkly cigarettes which contained Fairy-air, allowing her to breathe properly and she could cut back on the gallons of black coffee which served to keep her awake while with humans. The atmosphere in Hereafter gave her massive energy which was probably going to prove unfortunate for somebody.

There are no pearly gates. I’m sorry but there it is; those who are meant to come in, do so, those who aren’t, are re-directed elsewhere. So Tink just came to the end of the path and strode towards a building which changed shape to reflect whatever the viewer expected to see. In her eyes it was a concrete and glass office-block with no distinguishing features apart from a very large revolving door at the front. As she barged through the entrance the inside became a very luxurious gentleman’s club from Victorian London. Tink’s heavily-pencilled eyebrows narrowed and she tutted audibly.

“SHOP!” she called loudly, banging her fist on the reception counter, but, hearing voices from a room [image error]on her left, the Goth Fairy marched into a large dining room where many of the gods were leaning around a table. The papers in front of them and the profusion of multi-faceted dice told her they were in the middle of a Role Playing Fantasy Game, but in this case it was far from fantasy, because she knew the victim.

Just as Thor was jabbering about “rolling her intelligence” Tink stamped her foot very hard and roared “Oh no! Don’t you dare! If you do it will be three times higher than yours, you hairy git!”

All of the deities around the table jumped at the sudden noise and turned to glare at her but a fairy in a fury, especially a Goth fairy, is enough to impress most beings, even gods. There were a few blushes and a woman in blue and white, bustling through with armfuls of roses, snapped “There! I said no good would come of it!”

Pressing her advantage while at least one were on her side, Tink took a step forward, a finger raised, her black-varnished nail quivering. “I thought you lot were omnipotent!” She hissed. “Nothing is impossible for you. Why do you think those pathetic creatures down there petition you day and night? Because you can do it. You can surmount all obstacles.  You don’t have to obey the roll of a dice, you can decide for yourselves what happens.”

“Thank you, Tink. I have been trying to get that across for some time. Perhaps I’m not scary enough!” The sarcastic remark came from a young man with mutilated hands, entering the room whittling on a piece of wood.

“Glad to see you aren’t playing, JC.” Tink replied. “I don’t expect your dad approves much either.”

“Well, he and Mo are kept rather busy at the moment with their respective followers exploding each other.” The young carpenter raised a sardonic eyebrow. “But then they still have very active followers.”

A very fat man sat cross-legged in the corner joined in. “I found it far more useful to encourage my own group to find out the answers for themselves. Guidance, not dice.”

Tink nodded before addressing the game-players.

“Listen, you lot. I know you are starting to gather more worshippers now. The New Agers are getting very keen. Why can’t you go and play with them instead of visiting all this crap on my sister? Do you know what you’ve done to her in the last few weeks?”

There was mumbling and shuffling of feet before some deity decided, ill-advisedly, to blame the “fall of the dice”. This seemed to enrage Tink even more.

“I’m not talking accidents and illness – you all know she is used to those. She just gets on with it. Skies but you have doled out enough of those in her life. Recently she has had her husband diagnosed with a terminal cancer. OK. I’ll take that. But her aunt? The one member of her human family left to her? And now her beloved career is on the line. How is she supposed to concentrate on that with all this other crap going on? Hmm? I know she’s only half human but you are treating her like one of you. There are limits. She’s helping me as well now. So I’m going to make a deal with you. Listening?”

Bacchus timidly approached her with an ornate goblet of nectar which she drained in one gulp.

“I’m the happy endings fairy. You rely on me to do half your job for you, all of you. You say yes or no but I make it happen. Well if you go on playing silly beggars with my sister, I’m going on strike. Your people can light as many candles as they want, you can snap your fingers and shout “Make it so, Tink” but, know what? I won’t be listening. I’ll be off on a sunny beach with my sister having a well-deserved holiday.”

Juno drew herself up to her full height and began to speak but Tink held up a hand.

“Before you say it, madam! Yes I do know “to whom” I’m speaking but I’m threatening industrial action because of management incompetence. Stop chucking dice and do your jobs properly or the trouble Mo and Dad are having will be as nothing when the humans realise you really can’t do anything.

I’m not asking for any special favours for Sis, just stop using her as your character. A couple of good things for her would be a nice gesture but I leave that up to your holy consciences. Good day to you, Ladies and Gentlemen.”

[image error]As she turned to leave, the fat man called her over to give her two fortune cookies. “One each for you and your sister. Go in peace.”

“Peace be with you too, Buddy.”

On her way down the track, Tink smoked a cigarette, not for the air effect but because she needed to calm down. It wasn’t every day that some fairy took on the entire pantheons of all ages. She giggled as she broke open her fortune cookie and read “Atta girl, Tink. Give ’em hell!” Seeing as this came from the most enlightened being the world had ever known, she took it as an enormous compliment.

She cheated slighty and looked magically through the cookie for her sister. “Change must come from within. May I improve the world, starting with me.” Yes, that was one of his favourites and maybe Sis needed to hear it.

Crunching happily, Tink magicked up some music in her head and danced enthusiastically back down the path to her own land. Job done!

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Hi Heidi!

[image error]My guest today is Heidi Catherine – another Crooked Cat writer and I am sure she is going to be frozen!

Whoa! It’s a bit cold here. Hi Ailsa. So lovely to meet you. Do you have an extra coat for me please? I’ve gone from summer in Australia to winter at Bingergread Cottage. I had to wrap the magic carpet over my shoulders when we flew over Iran, which steered me off course. So sorry I’m late. These are my two dogs, Trixie and Willow, who go everywhere with me. Trixie! Stop nipping Ailsa. Go and play with Lilydog.

Hello Trixie, you’re OK, I’ve been nipped all my life. Welcome Heidi. I thought I’d put a wrap on the carpet. First off – what would you like to drink? I’d normally have a coffee at this time of day, but since I’ve just survived my first ride on a magic carpet, I’m going to need to ask for an extra large glass of champagne please.

Ooo locally made Champenois fizzy – just the job! My neighbour grows the grapes. Get close to the stove and warm up. I have all kinds of home made cake, jam, bikkies etc – choice?

Do you happen to have any birthday cake?

Well I have Christmas cake which is very similar – here, have a slice Let’s start with your books – do you write under just one name or several? How many genres do you cover? How much have you had published including anthologies etc?

I only write as Heidi Catherine. I’ve had four short stories published with Romance Writers of Australia and one short story published by Simon & Schuster in an anthology about disadvantage in the community. The Soulweaver is my first published novel, although I’m hoping it will be the first of many! I’ve also recently self-published a short story, which is a prequel to The Soulweaver. It’s called The Moonchild and is available for free on Amazon as a little bit of a ‘taste test’ for readers. Hopefully it tastes as good as this birthday cake!

How long have you been writing professionally? I imagine that, like all of us, you wrote all your life before “turning pro”.

I have a marketing background and was a freelance copywriter and proofreader for many years, but eventually grew frustrated reading and writing for other people, when all I really wanted to do was write for myself. I stopped freelancing a few years ago to focus on my own writing projects. My productivity and writing success have soared since then (in direct disproportion to the plummeting of my income…)

What was your first published work? Short story, magazine article, poem?

It was a short story called My Moonstone Love, which I wrote as part of an annual competition for Romance Writers of Australia, with the winning entries published in an anthology. I’ve entered the competition in the three years since then and somehow have been lucky enough to be a finalist each time. I recently re-named this first published story to Arianna’s Wish and I give it away on my website when people subscribe to my newsletter. It’s about a moonstone that has special powers and when placed under your pillow on the night of a full moon, it will draw your one true love into your life.

What are your ambitions / hopes for your writing career?

Like most writers, my hope is to share my work with as many readers as possible. With The Soulweaver I’d really love it if the story encouraged people to think about what they believe is possible in the afterlife. I’ve written two more books in the series and am hopeful they’ll be published too. Each book is quite different, yet they all tie together. I’ve also written a couple of middle grade novels and two crime novels that I’d like to get out there one day. So lots of hopes and ambitions, and not enough hours in the day to fulfil them, so I’m having to practise being patient!

Now on to you, the author. Where do you live and with whom? Describe a perfect day at home for me. (Where else have you lived?)

I live in Melbourne, Australia, with my husband and two sons. And Trixie and Willow, of course. I’ve lived in Melbourne all my life, although I spend most of my weekends at the beach in the Mornington Peninsula, which is about an hour out of town. My perfect day would be to wake up at my beach house and have a coffee with my husband on the deck, while watching a few ships go by. I’d then be left alone to spend a few hours writing, before taking the dogs for a walk with my family at the beach. A carload of my favourite girlfriends would then arrive and we’d eat pasta, talk, laugh and have a glass or three of wine, while watching the sunset. Of course this perfect day is at least 30 degrees Celsius until midnight. Speaking of which, have you got a blanket I could put on my lap please?

Do you have a “day job”?

No, apart from being a mother, which is a day, night and while-I’m-asleep kind of job. I’m very fortunate to be able to call writing my day job.

Outside of writing and any other work, what is your main passion (greatest pleasures?)

Definitely my children. As soppy as it sounds, nothing makes me happier than seeing them smile. I also love gardening, reading (of course!) and going for long walks. Sleeping is another great love of mine that I wish I could do more of!

Tell me two or three interesting facts about you that I haven’t asked.

I have a fascination with reincarnation, which is why I wrote The Soulweaver. Recently I had my past lives read and was told that I was an actor in black and white movies. I was also told that I was once a miner trapped underground. And apparently I was a dancer, which is fairly hilarious as I don’t have much rhythm in this life. Perhaps I used it all up in the last one!

What else? Oh, yes. Five years ago I watched a documentary on the meat industry and very accidentally became an instant vegetarian. I’ve always been an animal lover, but this complete change in lifestyle came totally unexpected to me. Watching television should come with some kind of warning!

Finally and most importantly – Bio and links please.

Heidi Catherine is a writer with a weakness for stories that encourage readers to see the world in a new light. Her debut novel, The Soulweaver, explores the possibility of loving the same souls over many lifetimes. This novel is the winner of Romance Writers of Australia’s Emerald Pro award and will be released by Crooked Cat Books on 19 January 2018, with pre-orders available now.

Not being able to decide if she prefers living in Melbourne or the Mornington Peninsula, Heidi shares her time between both places. She is similarly pulled in opposing directions by her two sons and two dogs, remaining thankful she only has one husband.  

Heidi loves to hear from readers and can be found at www.heidicatherine.com

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Links:

The Soulweaver order link – myBook.to/thesoulweaver 

Amazon author page – http://www.amazon.com/author/heidicatherine

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/HeidiCatherineAuthor

Twitter – @heidicatherine

Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/heidicatherine

Ever learn?

Elaine loved one thing above all others about being a widow: finally she could rant.

Yes, there was nobody in the house since her kids grew up and her husband died (thank God!) but her habit of being out front in the garden gave her some opportunity to communicate.  Just waving at passing cars was a connection, and sometimes she was fairly sure that she recognised the driver.

The woman next door was OK if she was in the right mood but it was a heads/tails situation. Sometimes she would be like a long-lost sister, other times a right stranger but the foreign couple were always nice.

It was mainly the man she saw as he walked the little terrier, Milly, who always came to say “hello” to humans. The woman had said that Milly was maltreated as a puppy  but she was very friendly as an adult dog.

If it were the woman walking the dog, sometimes with a cat or two following on, Elaine looked forward to a long chat. She was foreign and had a funny accent but some of the things she said made Elaine howl. She talked about her animals as if they were her children and even spoke to Elaine’s cat as if he were a prince.

“And is Your Highness quite contented this morning? Then Your servant is most happy.”[image error]

Elaine used to laugh out loud at that because that was exactly how she felt about her male Persian.  He WAS a prince and only some people realised it. She and the foreign woman had lots of “in-close” chats and not just about pets.

The foreign man blotted his copy-book quite out of the blue. He had known Elaine when she was married and muzzled so she was entirely outraged when he told her to “Calm down’ when she was letting rip about her animal- mistreating neighbouts.   Who did he think he was? When he told his wife, she fell about laughing. “And you expect to live? OMGs how do yoo think I’d react? You’d be dead!”

Did he not understand that widows needed a time to vent, explode and let rip? His wife was twenty or so years younger than her but surely… for Goodness sake.. after twenty years of marriage to her, who was so  like Elaine?  It was several  days before “the wife” came by with the dog. They made no excuses but came straight over to her gate. Elaine liked the foreign woman and saw that she was disturbed. They took each other’s hands over the gate.

“I”m so very sorry. He’s been married to me for over twenty years. He should know what is not to be said,  especially that. Please forgive him.”[image error]

The man was given a very short stay of execution while the witches worked out what needed to be done.

They discussed what it had been (another litter of dead kittens) which had driven her mad!    Between  them, the old ladies worked things out. Cats appeared at the vet’s and, as they were not chipped and didn’t belong to anyone, were sterilised. A small village had fewer feral cats and a woman had two fully- grown male cats who followed her when she walked her terrier. Funny, that!

 

No good deed…

I went to physiotherapy this morning with the intention of going shopping for Badger’s birthday as I had an opportunity of being alone.

Unfortunately I learned there that one of my neighbours in the village had died so I went straight from the medical centre to the funeral home to say my goodbyes to him. We still have that old custom of “viewing the body” here.  So, said my words to George, patted his arm, kissed my fingers and laid them on his forehead and said the tradtional “Bonne nuit” as if he were just asleep. Wrote a quick message in the condolences book from both of us, then sped off to the shops to buy cards (birthday and condolance)

Our new adopter GingerPop hasn’t always had a great relationship with Badger so he bought him a huge box of assorted biscuits (payback) and a gorgeous card which is mis-spelt and got confused between French and English, so it reads “Happi purrdi Tonton Unkl” (Tonton is French diminutive for uncle)

Lily and Piston had told me to buy Dad some “bitz” – which is their word for anything they get from our dinners but never on our plates. A corner of pizza, tiny bit of meat etc. So I found an Italian selection of Bitz for Humans which are wrapped.

In the village we have a family who are mainly shunned because they are mentally-challenged which led to a brother and sister having a child. Obviously it makes sod-all difference to me so I greet them and chat to the daughter who is the more communicating one. Seeing them with two trollies at the check-out I was tempted to leave it be, having greeted them. But it was chilly and damp and I wouldn’t walk three kilometres to their house which is on my way home…which is why I went back and ensured their shopping was being delivered.

“OK – hop in the Post Van I’ll deliver you two!” I chirped as I bundled them into Custard. I didn’t know they had a box of chocolates to give to someone on the way. The screeching alerted me to a disaster and we stopped. The chocs were still at the shop. So back we went, got the present and drove again to their friend’s. Duly re-packed, set-belted and secure, we finally got off to their home and mine.

I’d phoned Badger to say that I’d be late but I hadn’t anticipated an hour and a half late! Busy ole morning I think. And I must learn to listen to my own ideals – you help, doesn’t matter if it takes time, you help. End of.

Every ending …..

… is also a beginning.  [image error]  I’ve lived by this all my life, it’s part of the pagan creed and just common sense. When something stops, something else starts because Nature abhors a vacuum.

This has all come home to me in many ways recently. Facing up to Badger’s death has been a surprisingly positive experience for both of us. We decided that we’d just make the best of every day given to us and enjoy. Hence his decision to go on a Farewell Tour to say goodbye to places he’s liked. We’re having more fun than we have in years.

I don’t know what the future holds for me post-Badger but I do know that there will be a future which is an improvement on imagining following him closely behind.  Being a full-time carer is a change and I have to keep remembering to ask him to do things too – he isn’t incapacitated yet.

Having not written anything for ages due to my own health problems, I suddenly decided to write again. It is good therapy for me to have something selfish to do. Perhaps there is also a new beginning for me as a writer, who knows?

Signs keep coming to me and little spirit messages pop up. They are very reassuring. [image error]

Shopping? Vale!

[image error]As some of you may know I used to be a language teacher and learning them is my hobby. I love being in a place where I’m not fluent because everything becomes more interesting.

Just going to the supermarket this morning was a real treat. Picking things up and peering at the words to see if I could translate them, remembering to speak Catalan and not French to people and the most important word VALE (pronounced Baah lay) which means OK or “right” and is the answer to everything.

Just finding stuff which doesn’t exist at home gets me jumping up and down squeaking, pointing and being a very excitable otter. 

Mind you, I do that in Britain these days, as my friends will tell you. They suffer me screaming out in Tesco’s “Look! They have Marmite!”

We managed to find everything we needed and some treats like Turron, the nearest thing to Scottish [image error]Tablet south of Carlisle! Although I don’t smoke cigarettes at home often, they are so cheap here I have switched back, partly for the old-fashioned pleasure of inserting my money and getting them out of a machine, turning to the assembled mass behind me and announcing “Oooo I won a packet!”  Leave ’em laughing, I say!

Everything can be fun if one just looks at it the right way. Here, borrow my glasses!