M.K. Turner's Blog: M K Turner, page 5

What a month!

Hello one and all, welcome to new subscribers,

What a start to the year! Despite January being my birthday month, and as I’ve stopped counting that makes little difference, it always seems to be the worst month of the year for some reason. If bad news is coming my way, it usually lands in January. This year was no different. However, good things also happen, they just get overshadowed at the time. So here’s the good news:

Error of Judgement is finished and with the editor, it’s available for pre-order HERE. Most of the Beta readers have downloaded and will hopefully be enjoying Meredith & Hodge’s latest adventure.

I have finally finished the edit on The Murder, the first in the Little Compton Mysteries, and later today it will be off to editor Sharon. This is a more lighthearted murder mystery, introducing amateur sleuths, Tom Large and Liz Thorne, and I love the cover. Lindsey has done a fabulous job yet again! I had great fun writing this one, I love ‘meeting’ new characters, these two didn’t behave themselves either, but we all got there in the end. As soon as I have a return date from Sharon, I will be putting it on pre-order and I’m looking for Beta readers. Today I’m going to start working on the next in the series, The Abduction. This also has a great cover, which I will reveal to you next time.

Lee has finished recording the audio version of Web of Deceit. We have a little bit of editing to do, and it will be uploaded next week. Fingers crossed, it should be available by the end of the month. If you would like a  free code to download the audio, please shout, and as soon as I have them, I’ll get one off to you. Lee has also booked in Error of Judgement and The Murder, the later will be a dual narration with Perdita Lawton.

I won’t share the details of the bad news, other than to say, we lost our lovely Bichon, Molly. She was just the sweetest, kindest, most loving little dog, although she didn’t like the postman, Amazon delivery drivers, or people wearing bobble hats, but other than that she loved everyone, and everyone loved her. Needless to say we are heartbroken, and our two German Shepherds, Archie & Ted are missing her too. Pictured here with her little brothers (she was always the boss), and with her first soul mate, Sketch the house bunny.

That’s it for now, there’s writing to do, but please shout if you like a cozy mystery, and fancy joining the Beta team on The Murder. Qualifications needed: Enjoy reading murder mysteries, able to spot plot holes or storyline blips, happy to leave an honest review when book goes live.

Happy reading,

            

 

You’ll be glad to hear this!

Hello,

It’s a cold, foggy day here in Bristol. So here I sit, heating on, throw over my knees, and my laptop smoking with overuse. With so much on the to do list, it was difficult to know what to do first! So, I’m jumping from one job to another, and getting a bit of writing done. Hurrah!

With a Web of Deceit finally going live tomorrow, 1st December, there’s been much to do. But with hours to go, it’s done. Like most authors I wish I could just sit here and make stuff up and have someone else to do all the running around online, because as most of you know, tech is certainly not my strength. Sigh. We’re all allowed to dream, especially if those dreams involve a fairy godmother.

If you have already pre-ordered your copy, thank you! The beta readers have sent positive notes back, but we’ll have to await the reviews to see what they really think.

I’m about to start a re-read of my latest, and as yet untitled amateur sleuth mystery, in the hope of getting it a title, and I have to do a read through of the follow up to Web of Deceit,  Error of Judgement (Meredith & Hodge #13) to make sure I’m on  the right  track. So, once I’ve hit send on this email, I’m closing the laptop.

So, this is a thank you for your continued support, especially to those of you who have emailed me about your thoughts on my stories, Meredith & Hodge in particular. I hope you enjoy the latest offering.

That’s it for now, better get on with the to do list,

Happy reading,

Follow me on BookBub and you may choose a FREE ebook from my list of novels. ( boxed sets excluded)  Simply click here and you’ll be taken to my author page, and will find the follow button on the top right. If you don’t use your own name for BookBub please drop me a line and let me know what it is and I’ll be in touch.

Is number 13 really unlucky?

Hello,

It’s been a busy, busy here. Writing, editing, trying to learn new techy skills, dog walking, grandchildren, etc., etc. But I’m loving it. Everything is flowing nicely.

My amateur sleuths, accountant Tom, and cleaner Liz, have only gone and solved the mystery! Yes, you heard correctly. In record time, what was my latest WIP is finished. It’s new, so all the usual concerns about whether it will work for you, the readers, are bumping around, and there is still the issue of a title. I have several ideas on a series name, (if I ever get that far), but I’m still stumped on the title. I’ve sent it off to three trusted friends, all of whom will tell me if it’s any good, and hopefully get the inspiration that I am lacking on what to call it. I’ll keep you posted on that.

Here’s a little taster for you taken from Chapter Two after Tom has stumbled across a dead body. I hope you like it, let me know what you think.

*****

“So, tell me what you want, what you r . . . Argh!” Her, singing interrupted, Liz Thorne’s scream was shrill, and she jabbed her feather duster at Tom. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.” She pulled one of her earphones out. “What are you doing in there?”

Heavy eyes looked at Liz. “Taking a shower. What does it look like I’m doing? I was sleeping. Why are you here so early? Is it even your day?”

“Yes. Wednesday. And I’m not early, I’m late. It’s ten-thirty. Had to go into . . . I won’t bother you with that. Then they had the top of the road taped off. I hope it’s not another unexploded bomb. That took an age to deal with last time. I thought you’d gone out, although that would be strange. Have you not got to work today? You usually just grunt from behind your screen.”  Liz Thorne waved the duster as she spoke.

Tom sometimes thought he should have a word with her about the lack of respect. But he liked her attitude, her zest. Liz was never rude, not really, she simply told it how it was. She was refreshing, if somewhat irritating.

“I have, yes. Ten-thirty, bloody hell.” Tom threw the duvet back. “I’ll jump in the shower. Don’t suppose you’ve made tea, have you?”

“Nope. Because you weren’t there to ask for one. I’ll go and put the kettle on and do downstairs first. I only came up out of habit. Don’t you get moaning at me for doing it first. Did you have too much?”

“Too much what?” Tom flicked his hand back and forth indicating she should move out of the way. He knew exactly what she meant.

Leaning around him, she pointed at the glass. “Too much.”

“No, I haven’t, and I resent the accusation. If you must know, last night I . . .” Tom’s hand flew to his mouth, and he mumbled into it. “You knew her.”

“What? Knew who?” Liz grinned. “You dark horse. Have you been on a date? Is that what you’re really doing on that computer, dating sites, not boring old accounts?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I found Denise Knight’s body, she was dead. I’m so sorry.”

“Dead. Denise? Oh my God. She’s been murdered, hasn’t she? That’s why the tape’s there? How did you find her, were you meeting her?”

“I know it’s a shock, Liz, but really. You’ve met Denise, you’ve met me. Why would I be meeting her?”

“Well, I don’t know. Stranger things have happened, like you being out and finding dead bodies. Dead bodies belonging to people who have been stalked.”

“Stalked? Have you told the police?”

“I’ve only just found out she’s been murdered. Oh God I need a drink. I’ll put a drop of this in our tea.” As bold as brass she opened his bedside drawer and took out the almost empty bottle. She held it up as though inspecting how much had been imbibed. “Hmm.”

“Hmm! How did you know that was there? Have you been going through my things?” Tom’s hands were on his hips.

“No I have not! And I resent that accusation. I clean for you. Properly. Behind stuff. On the first Wednesday of every month I do the bedrooms, properly. I move stuff to clean behind them. That cabinet always chinks. Glass on glass. I didn’t need to look to know what it was, I also see your recycling.” She was jabbing the feather duster at him again. “It’s obvious you have an issue.”

“What? Liz, you have just overstepped the mark. I might have issues, but drink isn’t one of them, and even if it was, you are not the person to tell me. I’m going for a shower.”

“And I haven’t got an issue with it either, but I’m having some of this in my tea. Hurry up. I want the detail, then we must call the police.” Liz was already on the stairs. “Don’t stand there gawping. Get in the shower.”

“Even my wife didn’t speak to me like that. You are overstepping the mark. Again.”

“So you keep saying, hurry up, Mr Large. I’ve got to do Harry Burnham after you. I don’t know what he’s going to say. He was her neighbour, he liked Denise.”

*****

The ink’s barely dry, it’s got a long way to go yet, but let me have your comments. Would you like to read it?

In other news: The first beta comments are back in for Web of Deceit, and HURRAH! it’s gone down well, we did miss a few issues, but my eagle eyed betas are catching them. Thank you.  M & H had a bit of a shake up at the end of Web of Deceit (but panic not, no one died!) and so far they seem to have liked that too. If you’d like to order your copy before it goes live, you can do so here.

“But what was the number 13 stuff all about?” I hear you shout.

Brace yourselves . . . Meredith & Hodge are already working their next case. Yes, already! I had an idea on the next storyline, it’s mentioned at the end of Web of Deceit, and I had to get it written down. The story then ran away with me. Unlike poor old Tom & Liz, M & H 13, at least has a working title. “Error of Judgement”.

I won’t say much more, because as I say there’s been a bit of a shake up. I’ve just started chapter four, and I’m thoroughly enjoying watching the new dynamics.

That’s it for now, hope you’re all having a lovely weekend.

 

Happy reading,

There was an agoraphobic accountant and a cleaner . . .

Good Evening,

It’s been a grey and dismal day here in Bristol, or so hubby tells me, but I’ve been busy, we could be snowed in and I wouldn’t have noticed. Because, one of the things I do between writing (or when I need a break from the latest project), to clear my brain but keep the old grey cells focused, are little writing exercises. Long story, short, (fat chance I hear you shout!), I did one recently which sent daily prompts to outline a story. As most of you know, I rarely outline, I just start writing and see where the characters take me.

This particular exercise, started with the main character, moved from the setting, through to ‘the’ incident, the antagonist, the ally, etc., etc., until your outline was complete and ready for you to flesh out. As I completed each section a nice little mystery took shape. My plot outline involved a middle-aged retired woman, who turns into a bit of a sleuth, (similar to Miss Marple, but younger and common), and thought I that might make a nice little cosy mystery, I’ll come back to it.

With Web of Deceit up for pre-order, and the editors beavering away making it readable (more of that later), I opened a blank document and started writing it. The result? Nothing like the plot I thought I had, but here I am a week later, and I’m about a third of the way in to writing a novel length mystery. But, there’s no middle-aged, Marple, common or otherwise. But there it Tom Large, an agoraphobic accountant, and his cleaner, Liz. When their friend, Denise Knight is found dead, and the police are treating it as misadventure, Liz convinces Tom it’s murder. And so begins their own investigation.

I’ve really enjoyed meeting them. and I know there’s more they will reveal in the coming chapters.  I have no idea if it will ever get published, or, as I’m imagining at the moment, it will become a mini-series. What I do know is that it’s been an enjoyable trip away from the usual. I’ll keep you updated as to the progress.

And back to Web of Deceit. With the manuscript away with the editor, Lindsay, my talented cover designer has made ready the covers for the paperback, the hardback, and of course the audio version. They are lovely and I can’t wait to see the real thing. I’ve spoken with Lee Beddow, and he tells me he can’t wait to ‘be’ Meredith again and recorded a little (unedited) extract for me to share.

SPOILER ALERT (although you knew it was coming), Louie and Linda got married, and this clip is Meredith looking at the recordings of the wedding trying to find out whether anything unusual was captured on film. It includes the father of the bride speech. I hope you enjoy it. As is always the way with my techy attempts, I’ve had issues, so if you don’t get the full clip the first time, click it again. It worked for me ….. I can’t check with Lee, the lucky devil is in Morocco as I type.

https://mkturnerbooks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/WOD-excerpt-1.mp3

That’s it for now, I’m up for a Saturday night take-away, and I can’t decide what to have.

Happy reading,

Web of Deceit – The Beginning

As the grandfather clock in the foyer struck two, Stephen Sanderson closed his eyes and stifled a yawn.  He was exhausted. Nodding at the night manager, he held up the cloth bag. “I’m going to lock this up, then head to bed. I’d better try and get a few hours before the joy begins again.” He had no idea he would never know joy again.

Sanderson had done the rounds. The dining room was ready for the breakfast service, a few stragglers remained in the bar, and two of the waiters brought in for the event had almost finished clearing the debris collected from the marquee.

“Right you are. You happy for that lot to keep drinking?” Niall O’Conner jerked his head towards the bar.

“Yep. Take the bugger’s money. Just make sure Phillip clears up before he clocks off.”

“Will do. Night.”

Sanderson opened the door to his office and frowned. The lamp on his desk was on. He was sure he’d switched it off. He was after all on yet another economy drive. Shrugging away his failure he headed for the safe, but spun around as a movement behind him caught his attention. He stared in disbelief.

“What are you doing here, do you know what the time is? Is there anything more to say? Actually, don’t bother answering that, you’ll only lie and prattle on again.”

Sanderson rolled his eyes at the bitter laugh spluttered in response, and the slow shaking of their head as they pointed out that when it came to lying he took the gold medal. Their smirk remained as he turned back to the safe.

“Glad I’m amusing you. I’m guessing you’ve made your point, whatever that might have been, you can leave. I won’t change my mind.” He shoved the coat that had been slung over the sofa towards them.

Ignoring the snort of derision, he dropped onto one knee and spun the dial on the safe, angling his body to block their view. Swinging in the bag containing the days takings, he slammed the door and span the dial to a random setting.

“Look, what’s the point of you being here? There’s nothing left to say. What does this achieve? Nothing. Please don’t make me kick you out, because I will, I kid you not. But, as I’m absolutely knackered, and in just a few hours I have another long day ahead of me. I’m going to ask nicely. Please leave.”

The reply was a slow shake of the head, and seeing what, determination or amusement, perhaps both, in their eyes, Sanderson walked to his desk. It was neat and tidy as it always was, it didn’t appear they had been snooping. Wondering what they hoped to gain as he wouldn’t change his mind, he pulled his cigarettes from the top drawer, and opened the French doors onto the small patio. He blew smoke towards the crisp night sky. Turning back, he pointed the cigarette at them. “You have five minutes. I don’t want another pointless conversation. I just 

want to go to bed. If you’re not gone by the time the big hand hits ten, I will call for help to eject you if necessary.”

Stepping out onto the Patio, he noticed the temperature had plummeted, the lawn was already a blanket of white, and the webs on the ornamental fountain in the pond were decorated with flakes of frost. He watched the contractor’s silhouettes working inside the marquee on the other side of the lawn until he’d finished his cigarette. If this mob were as good as they promised, the tent would be gone before breakfast. Pushing the cigarette deep into the planter to his left, Sanderson walked back into his office a shiver ran up his spine as the warmth welcomed him. The sight that greeted him caused him to laugh.

“Give me a break and spare me the dramatics.”

His laughter died on his lips as the knife was thrust forward. His assailant wouldn’t have known, but that first stab did enough damage to kill Sanderson. But to be sure, the knife was pulled out and thrust into his stomach twice more.

Sanderson didn’t speak again, he was too busy making a futile effort to stop the blood pumping out of his body at an alarming rate. He fell to his knees, and as his body crumpled, his head hit the corner of his desk with a thud. Any damage that caused was irrelevant, Stephen Sanderson was already as good as dead.

Removing the shirt worn over their clothes, Sanderson’s murderer first wiped away a tear, then the knife, and dropped both into a carrier bag. Wet wipes were used to remove the spots of blood which had hit their skin, these were also added to the bag. Pulling on their coat, final checks were made. All clear. The lamp switched off, the hood on their coat pulled up, and the patio door closed quietly behind them as they left.

*******************************************

A little taster for you. It’s done. Web of Deceit is with the editor. It’s available for PREORDER and will be live on 1st December. The paperback and hardcover covers are being made ready. They might even be ready on 1st December too. Now, that would be a first.

Have a wonderful weekend one and all, I’m off to start work on the next project, just have to decide what.

Happy reading,

The Final Countdown (Drum roll required)

Hello one and all,

All though the sun is shining here in Bristol, there’s a definite nip in the air, and if it wasn’t for the beautiful autumnal colours appearing all around me, I’d wish I was back in Halkidiki in Greece. We had a wonderful break in a lovely hotel resort built in an olive grove. The designers were very clever and sympathetic to the olive trees which were incorporated within the design and build. It was an all inclusive break, and too much food and far too many cocktails were enjoyed! But as  well as being a picturesque setting, it was a little haven of peace and quiet and I managed to write every single day!

The result? I am now working on the final chapter of . . . (please imagine a drum roll) The Web of Deceit. I hope you love the cover. The brilliant Lindsay Marshall came up with numerous options which we whittled down to six, and my lovely Beta readers voted for their favourite.  This web was a clear winner by fifteen votes.

I’ve booked a slot with both my editor, Sharon Kelly, and proof reader Jill Buss, and so confident am I that we will bring this all together in record time, I’ve put it on pre-order for 1st December 2022.

I couldn’t write all the time of course, and during my time on  the sunbed, I managed to read two books. The first was Marple: Twelve new stories, written by various authors. I enjoyed my visits  with Jane Marple although a couple disappointed me. The one I liked least was by one of my favourite authors, who shall remain nameless, and one was clearly by an American author and a few bloopers slid in, including the appearance of fireflies in St Mary Mead. Whatever next!  The next book was by the very talented Jane Davies –At The Stroke of Nine O’clock. Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in England, and this fictional account of the months leading up to her execution is totally absorbing, so much so that even when the book reached its natural conclusion with Ruth Ellis being hanged, I still wanted to know what happened next to the three central characters, who were an unlikely trio of friends. An excellent read, and highly recommended.

But, I’ve been home for two days, and this book is not finished. So, I’ll leave you in peace, and with a few holiday snaps dotted around, and get on with it! Oh, but before I go if anyone can tell me what the ‘alien’  we found floating in the sea was, I’d be grateful. (Look how clear the water was!) The two ladies who quickly exited the water with me reckon it was a jellyfish, but it’s not like any I’ve ever seen. It had sort of scalloped, frilled skirt underneath and no tentacles. Google did not help.

Happy reading,

Follow me on BookBub and you may choose a FREE ebook from my list of novels. (boxed sets excluded)  Simply click here and you’ll be taken to my author page, and will find the follow button on the top right. If you don’t use your own name for BookBub please drop me a line and let me know what it is and I’ll be in touch.

There’s something about Lucy

Hello one and all, and welcome new subscribers,

It’s been a busy summer, mainly looking after my grandchildren, (photos because they’re cute), but I have managed to do some writing – about time, I hear you shout – and the new Meredith & Hodge, as yet untitled, and I have yet to decide which of the three suspects ‘done it’, is over half way there. If I carry on at this pace it should only take a couple of months to finish. Although there is a cheeky break in Halkidiki to get in at the end of the month.

I work with some wonderful people, and designer Lindsay and narrators Perdita Lawton and Lee Beddow have done it again!  It was time to get The Recruitment of Lucy James onto audio, and Perdita and Lee have done a fabulous job. But Lucy was written some time ago, and the cover designer has since retired, so I asked Lindsay to work her magic. What a result! As always she sent me numerous covers to choose from, and I usually ask you for help, but this one just jumped off the page and grabbed me. I had to have it! Don’t you think it’s stunning?

For those of you yet to read The Recruitment of Lucy James, it’s a little different to my usual Murder/Mysteries. There is a mystery, someone has been murdered, but there’s no detecting. But, no spoilers, here’s the bumph:

Lucy James celebrates the end of her final exams at university. The next day she regrets those celebrations, as she has to attend an important interview, but she can’t remember why. Is it a meeting a prospective employer, or is it yet another member of the top recruitment agency she signed up with? Deciding to wing it, Lucy turns up and meets Gloria. Gloria naturally expects Lucy to know why she is there, and almost immediately gives Lucy her first client. Lucy is horrified, but concerned she might blow her chance if she confesses her lack of knowledge, she sets off on her first assignment. Within days Lucy finds herself involved with blackmail, missing persons, and a possible murder.

Convinced she is working for a covert government agency, Lucy ploughs on with the job. Until the day comes when she is forced to make a decision that will affect everything she has ever known. And having made her choice, she is devastated when it is denied.

Nothing can ever be the same again.

Who is Lucy working for? Why is she denied the one thing she requests? Get your copy of this thought provoking mystery, with a sensational twist, today and find out.

Here’s a taster of the audio:

https://mkturnerbooks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LUCY-MKT-ZZZ-RETAIL-SAMPLE-ONLY.mp3

If any of you would like a free code to download the audio version, please shout and I’ll get one to you as soon as it goes live. Here’s a ‘Did you know?’ tip.  If you have read an ebook you like and would like to listen to the audio version. If you purchased via Amazon and the audio version is available on audible, you can buy it at a fraction of the cost. Bargain!

Now I really must go, I have writing to do!

Happy reading,

Follow me on BookBub and you may choose a FREE ebook from my list of novels. ( boxed sets excluded)  Simply click here and you’ll be taken to my author page, and will find the follow button on the top right. If you don’t use your own name for BookBub please drop me a line and let me know what it is and I’ll be in touch.

I’m not even sure what day of the week it is . . .

Good Morning from an almost sunny Bristol.

Welcome to this month’s new subscribers. Time is not on my side at the moment, so this is a very quick update.

I’ve had a holiday (I think), and I am now looking after my grandchildren EVERY day as my daughter-in-law is on an intense four-week training course. I can’t remember my own kids being this exhausting. They might look like angels in this picture, but they are very demanding. I have a dog with an ulcerated eye, which after three procedures hasn’t healed, so I’m on first name terms with all the staff at the vets. That said, we’re off for another check-up in an hour, so please keep your fingers crossed.  She is not happy wearing the cone, which has been a fixture for almost four weeks and it’s driving her mad.

But, at least I’ve made it here to let you know that the latest audio book, Meredith & Hodge Bear Witness, went live today. The very talented Lee Beddow & Perdita Lawton have done an excellent job as always, and I think you’re going to love it!  If you would like a free code, please drop me an email. I know some of you listen to them via audible membership, and never ask for a code, so here are the links.  Click HERE if you use .com – and HERE if you use .co.uk.

With regards to the works in progress, I’m working (I use that term loosely at the moment) on the latest Meredith & Hodge – as yet untitled. Although I know who died and how, and most importantly why, I have still to decide ‘whodunit’. But, it is crawling along, albeit at a snail’s pace. Only three and a half weeks to go, and I promise to get my head down.

That’s it for now, got to find the harness and lead,

Happy reading

Follow me on BookBub and you may choose a FREE ebook from my list of novels. ( boxed sets excluded)  Simply click here and you’ll be taken to my author page, and will find the follow button on the top right. If you don’t use your own name for BookBub please drop me a line and let me know what it is and I’ll be in touch.

Introducing…… Perdita Lawton

Hello,

It’s a week later than promised but there’s a good reason for that, but first, I’d like to thank everyone for their kind condolences via email and messages, they were very much appreciated.

Back to all things books, I’m delighted to say that the audio version of Terms of Affection is now available. Narrated by the very talented Perdita Lawton, and produced by Lee Beddow, it really is a delight to listen to. I kept forgetting to proof it against the manuscript! As always if you are happy to leave an honest review please shout for a free code.

Here’s a sample for you:

https://mkturnerbooks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/TOA-MKT-RETAIL-SAMPLE.mp3

 

In other news, I have written the opening chapters of both the next Meredith & Hodge and Bearing Witness, I don’t have titles for either yet. They sit on my laptop as M&H12 & BW4. At the moment it’s the Bearing Witness ladies who are holding my attention, not least because one of the characters shares many of the same traits as my dad. This was not by accident. At dad’s wake a group of his friends said I should write a book about him, and I know I couldn’t do that for all sorts of reasons. Instead, I promised them there would be a character in the next book that they would recognise, if only in part. It won’t be the first time I’ve ‘borrowed’ from dad. I have often used his expressions or mannerisms in the stories. The one that amused him most, was in One Secret Too Many.

Those of you who have read it, will remember Meredith was suspected of murder, and had to confront the Russian in London. Peggy became his getaway driver and undercover accomplice. She lost concentration while speaking (probably arguing) with Meredith in the back, and veered towards the wrong side of the road. An oncoming driver blasted her with his horn, and Peggy’s retort was that ‘he could have got a bus through there with Concorde strapped to the side’. As a driver of chemical tankers, my dad was never very patient with people who couldn’t manoeuvre a standard sized vehicle – me included.

It’s very early days, but I will keep you posted when it’s available for pre-order, and will share a snippet of the opening chapters in the next newsletter.

That’s it for now, I have writing to do.

Happy reading,

Follow me on BookBub and you may choose a FREE ebook from my list of novels. ( boxed sets excluded)  Simply click here and you’ll be taken to my author page, and will find the follow button on the top right. If you don’t use your own name for BookBub please drop me a line and let me know what it is and I’ll be in touch.

The Final Chapter – David John Hawkes

Hello, I’m back,

I haven’t written a newsletter for a while, in fact, until the last week I hadn’t written at all for a few months. On the 18th January 2022, the most important man in our family passed away. David John Hawkes, our dad, and I think most importantly to him in his later years, Gramps, and great Gramps.

I’m going to tell you a little about him, and share some of my favourite photographs. I’ll do another news letter over the weekend, and I promise that that will be back on subject, but for now, let me tell you about my lovely dad.

Dad loved his family, children, dogs, telling stories and bad dad jokes, music, dancing (in his younger days), a bit of karaoke, and Spain. And he was much loved in return. He had old fashioned values, good manners, and a positive outlook for the best part. Although, I should mention he did predict that Russia was going to do something terrible. An avid newspaper reader, and follower of news, he spoke at length about his concern only the week before he went into hospital. He read reports about Russian military planes being escorted out of British air space, of submarines supposedly off course off the coast of Scotland, and wagging a finger at me said, “When Russia are in the news this much something bad is going to happen. You see if it doesn’t.” He was right.

Although during that last month we knew he didn’t have long to live. With covid restrictions he was only allowed one visitor in hospital, me, and knowing he didn’t have long, he wanted to come home. When he did, we were told he might have up to three months, as it turned out we only had this wonderful man who was the centre of all things family for three more days. To say we were devastated is an understatement, but logic tells us that for him it was a much better outcome and he was ready to go. I don’t dwell on those last few days, instead I think about the laughter, the hugs, and the comfort that just knowing you had him brought. But now we don’t. Now we rely on the wonderful memories we have, and I have to say it is almost impossible to have any sort of conversation about him without a smile, or more likely a laugh. Dad told a good story, and he had many, some we’d heard many times, but you never minded, because for the best part, they were either amusing, interesting, or shocking. Sometimes all three.

Born in 1938, dad’s family were not well off. Before the war his parents and the five children lived in three rooms in a Victorian house near the centre of town. When the bombing of Bristol began, they would have to run to the bomb shelter. With the iconic Bristol Suspension Bridge in sight, my grandfather would load his bicycle with the younger kids and get them to the shelter as quickly as possible.  My dad, used to the search lights filling the night sky, would be balanced on the handlebars. One night he decided to help, shining their torch at the shadows of the planes overhead. As you can imagine this cost him a severe slap around the ear and he didn’t do it again. For the latter part of the war he was evacuated to Weymouth. He loved it there, and tucked under a floorboard in the loft of the house is a note with the names of the group of evacuees and the date, with the message they were evacuees from Bristol. He often wondered if anyone had found it.

After the war the family moved into one of the newly built council houses, which seemed like a luxury, but money was still tight. Dad can remember his shoes being pawned until payday when they were retrieved in time for church on a Sunday, before the process started all over again. The tales of the wooden clogs when one of us needed a new pair of shoes was aired on many occasions. While her children were still young, my lovely grandmother spent a year in hospital with TB, and they had to go to a children’s home. Although my grandad visited every week if he could, my dad and his siblings agree it was the worst of times. Their guardians, in his words, were ‘cruel swines, who had not an ounce of care or compassion for their wards’.

I could tell you lots of stories about his childhood, but the one that sticks out for me, is the one where he became infamous for punching a nun in the stomach and calling her ‘Bloody cruel’ for humiliating his brother in front of the whole school. His experiences of the church in his childhood taught him little about the comfort some people find in religion, but on the contrary, taught him it was to be feared and never trusted. He made it very clear that his funeral was not to be a religious ceremony.

As a consequence, during the service, which was a real celebration of his life, and so many people attended they had to stand at the back of the chapel, the songs we played for him were: Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers, Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler, The Green, Green Grass of Home, and Delilah by Tom Jones. The latter two he could belt out flawlessly.

Dad hated school and was delighted to leave. He had many jobs in the early days, most of them involved driving. He was a bit of a jack-the-lad I think, although those stories weren’t told to me. He loved music, and was a Teddy Boy, much to my grandmother’s horror. We kids loved nothing more than to see him jive with my mum. He used to spin her so fast I often wondered how she kept her balance. Before he met my mum, he was called up for National Service, and became a corporal in the military police. There were so many tales from those days, but one of the best was when escorting a lad who had gone AWOL back to barracks, dad managed to lose him in Woolworths.

Mum was the love of his life, having a family completed him. He was a man’s man, going to the pub at weekends, his word being the last word, whatever the disagreement, and so on. But other than on one occasion when I kicked my brother (he must have deserved it), I can not remember any real fall outs with dad. I hated the strict curfew he set me, I hated having to phone a taxi to get me home before I left the house if I was going out for the evening, after all I was working and considered myself very grown up.  I hated the way he’d ask boyfriends where they kept their guide dogs, but I hated it all with a secret smile, because that was my dad being my dad, and I loved him.

Dad’s biggest regret in life was that my mum never got to meet her great grandchildren. But he showered them with enough love for both of them. Dad loved kids and they loved him.

He kept his sense of humour until the end. On the day he was coming home from hospital, he told me he didn’t think he had long as he’d been hallucinating. Before I got there, my Godfather had been sitting in the chair I was using for over an hour. ‘He kept looking at me like I was going to speak to him.’ Dad told me. I asked if he did. ‘Don’t be stupid, the man’s been dead for twenty odd years, do you think I’m mad?’ he replied, and then winked at me.

His funeral was sad, but I hope a true celebration of his life. He’d have had competition on the stories being told about his life at the wake, and if he was looking down on us, he’d have been miffed he wasn’t there to join in.

So, David John Hawkes, my wonderful Dad, it’s a goodnight from you, and a goodnight from us. If I ever wake to find you sitting in a chair expecting me to speak, rest assured I will. How I’d welcome one more story.