August celebrations

August is living up to everything I'd thought it would be. Busy.

I sent my finished book My Lawyer, My Love to two of my sisters for their honest opinion. Anyway, from the comments they gave me, they rather liked it, so I will be sending that off to M&B just as soon as I can.

Last weekend saw us speeding down to London to visit DH's brother and his wife. They now live in Hampstead with their family, so Saturday saw the nine of us ambling around the vicinity, where we got plenty of fresh air in our lungs and when we could get our breath back from clambering up the hills, chatted lots. Luckily, I'd taken my trainers, but then I tend to live in trainers these days. Is that becoming of a woman of 60?

We had a great time - the weekend passed quickly - and as a treat we'd booked first class on the train. The return journey's refreshments weren't quite as delicious as the ones we got given on Friday evening, when we were also plied with alcohol, but we certainly didn't go hungry, and it saved us having to trudge along to the shop in coach C being thrown hither and dither by the Virgin pendolino. Going to the toilet was bad enough, I can tell you.

And whilst this may sound exceptionally greedy, in a few days time we're off to Minorca for a week in the sun. Whilst out there DH celebrates a very significant birthday. We'll also be celebrating said birthday in advance this Saturday evening when the six of us go out for a meal. Looking forward to that.

Last but not least, on the 31st youngest DS gets the results of his accountancy exams - three long years of hard work finished at last.

So, it's all go, it seems, and just in case you thought I'd been sitting around doing nothing in-between, I've made a start on planning my new book. No title as yet, but this time my hero is Greek and if I do say so myself, more than a little handsome.

See you in September.

Until next time

Kim x

No more food. PLEASE.

I had a very busy weekend. Not that every weekend isn't busy in some way, but I felt this particular one was especially so.

AND FILLED WITH FOOD.

Saturday started off with a belly-busting breakfast for me and DH. It was so big and so filling I had to pass on the toast and hash-browns. No, really, I did.

Saturday afternoon found me at the cinema in Bolton. Oh, how those places have changed since I was a girl! Number One cinema where my son had booked tickets has only plush, reclining, push-button electric seats with a foot-rest that you adjust to your requirements. As I lay there in luxury still replete from my breakfast, not one of the Maltesers or Revels offered to me passed my lips. Well, maybe just one.

When we got home to the sight of a freshly lit barbecue fired up by DH my eyes lit up too. And, yes, this is the same man who had taken me for the belly-busting breakfast earlier.

Chicken, Pork, Sausages all lay prepared, ready to be thrown on the barbecue, with new potatoes, fresh bread, salads, coleslaw, etc etc to accompany the meat.

Phew.

Sunday morning came, and now ravenously hungry, we booked Sunday lunch in the cosy little gastro-pub just around the corner. Youngest son was out walking in the hills with his girlfriend, so it was just me, DH and eldest son. His girlfriend had been invited to a colleague's wedding and from her pictures on Instagram, there was plenty of food on offer there, too.

We'd talked about what we were going to have, and that surely we couldn't fit anything large in our tummies after the orgy of eating over the weekend, so then why did we find ourselves ordering our favourite dish - steamed steak suet pudding with chips and mushy peas?

Believe me we've eaten this many times. It is simply not possible to eat this main course having had a starter first, because we've tried.

So we were very good, or so we thought - we ordered our main course only. Whilst eldest son (who has a huge appetite) was tucking into some other three course menu, we struggled with the pudding. And struggled.

But we managed. We came out on top, and almost managed to finish, which is why it is now 10.30 pm on Sunday evening and not another morsel has touched my lips.

Bread and water all this week. It has to be. Although I could need sustenance whilst planning my new novel, I reckon.

Until next time

Kim xx