Guess where I’ve been…

Oh yes, any trip to IKEA should be rewarded with a bite of lunch. Fortunately, the Croydon store wasn’t too busy when I visited last week and I came away with all the purchases on my list… and not much more. (The marketplace is fatal for picking up just another bargain.) I was interested to note there’s a scene set in IKEA in You by Caroline Kepnes, where the protagonist helps his muse to buy a bed. I am late to this novel (it’s now available on Netflix) but I did find it a compelling story and it made me realise how few books I’ve read recently where the main viewpoint character is male.

On this occasion it’s David and our friend Martin at the helm of a GoBoat. This electric-powered boat took us on a jaunt along the River Thames from Kingston and the table provided an excellent way to share a picnic. I’ve been madly searching Google to find the name of the romantic novel which I think was set in Copenhagen and features GoBoats. Instead, I’ve come up with an AI overview of how I can write a novel based on my search:

The protagonist, a travel writer, is tasked with documenting the “hidden gems” of Copenhagen. She meets a local guide while exploring the city’s canals, and they decide to take a GoBoat tour…

Although I find plot the hardest thing to nail as a writer, but I won’t be resorting to AI any time soon.

This jousting garden feature appears in the flowerbeds at Hampton Court. I had to take a photo as our niece is appearing in A Knight’s Tale at the Opera House, Manchester. It’s a musical based on the film with the same name that starred Heath Ledger. We’ve got tickets for the show in May.

Have you been out and about during these sunny days in April? I’d love to know where you’ve been!