So long Fliss

We said goodbye to our black Labrador Fliss on Friday, the hardest thing to do.

She was 13 and had been ill for a while, but was still wagging. This time we think she had a stroke or similar and it would have been cruel to let her go on. We are both very upset and so are our children, after all she was around for half of their lives.

She was only 10 weeks old when we got her, she chose us, while we were looking at the litter she came over and said hello.

as an aside, you can tell how much better digital cameras have got over the last 13 years as well.

She got on well with our other dogs, first Winnie,

and then Tizer, who is still here today, looking sad and lost on his own.

She loved it in Devon and although she didn't like the sea too much, would have a paddle.

But mostly she just chilled.

There's nothing more to say this week I'm afraid, so long Fliss, until we meet again.

News

I have my first gig as a published author!!!!

On November 3rd from 10am until 2pm I will be in Millie and Me in King Street, Brixham.

selling signed copies of Ribbonworld at a special price. 

So come along and say hello.

Picnic on the Moor.

On Wednesday, we went out to Shipley Bridge, near South Brent. There's a really good walk by the side of the River Avon, you can go all the way up to Avon Dam if you're feeling energetic.

We didn't go all the way up to the dam this time, but still had a beautiful morning stroll, as these pictures show.

I do love running water

Picnic Spot.

I managed to catch a few crepuscular rays as well.

The tenacity of Nature.

There were two Magpies sitting in a tree.

Autumn colours are spectacular, the last bright celebration before winter. But on Dartmoor, winter has its own beauty, as you will see if you follow me over the seasons.

After two years my book has finally made it into physical form, three boxes arrived on Thursday.

It feels like the end of a journey, almost two years to the day since I had the idea and started writing. The story grew from that idea; a 'what if'. When I typed the first words I actually had no clue where it would go, it just seemed like an event that could have significance. Anyway my fingers seemed to know what was going to happen and I found that I could see the story, like a film on a screen, all I had to do was write what I saw. 

Yvonne has been a marvel, putting up with the intrusion of a load of people she has never met (and don't exist!) and all their petty squabbles. I couldn't have done it without her.

Now I just have to market it and hopefully sell some, it's live on Amazon for pre-order as a paperback and an e-book, look here, or you can order the paperback from my website using PayPal at a discount, look here,


My talk at Oats is looming, only 10 days to go and I have practised several times to get the practical aspect sorted. 

Now I just have to perfect the patter, I can't use notes as my hands will be covered in flour so I will just have to make it up as I go along. What can possibly go wrong?    

Pre-order

Ribbonworld will be on sale in three weeks, I will be accepting early-bird orders on my website from Wednesday October 15th. 

The RRP is £ 9.99 but for a limited time you can order it direct, using PayPal for the sum of £ 8.99 POST FREE.

Unfortunately this applies to addresses in the U.K. only.

The link is here.

Here's what one of my advance readers said about the story.

“Don’t start Ribbonworld if you’ve got lots to do. Once you read that first page everything else will be forgotten... as page-turners go, this thrilling sci-fi murder-mystery can’t be page-turned quick enough!”

Happy reading.

Thank you

This week has been a big thank you to the flu vaccination. You have given us a week where not much has been done because we have both felt ill.

Yvonne had the pneumonia jab as well as she is in the 'at risk' group (and had pneumonia a while ago) so she felt doubly ill.

I know its a different strain of vaccination each year so the reaction varies, last year we were both fine and other years we've been worse but there is no comparison to actually 'having' proper flu, we both had it one Yule with three children under 5 who didn't. That was torture.

Before all that started we spent last Saturday at Powderham Castle Food Festival, which was a chance to get some great food, meet up with a few foodie friends and enjoy the beautiful location.

It was really busy and I didn't manage to get many pictures. (too busy tasting and talking)
We bought a few goodies, some liqueurs for Yule and a decent lunch then had a leisurely drive home along the coast, through Dawlish and Teignmouth.

Bread wise, I made a couple of new loaves, both Sourdough. A Walnut and Green Pesto loaf and a Chilli loaf, using dried Chilli that I grew in 2013.
There are more details on my bread blog but here are some pictures.

Walnut and Green Pesto.

Walnut and Green Pesto.

Chilli Bread.

Chilli Bread

The Walnut was delicious with Goats Cheese and rather surprisingly the Chilli tasted wonderful with butter and Marmalade. I left all the chilli seeds in the mix and they provided a warm tingle, just enough to know it was there. It also made good cheese on toast. (Grilled Cheese in USA)

In book news, I have decided to rewrite 'The Rocks of Aserol', my Steampunk adventure. I had nearly finished Part two and intended to publish it as a separate volume to Part one, which is already on sale. But after thinking it over I have pulled it from sale and will now combine the two parts, giving you the complete story in one. 

 After a foggy start, yesterday turned out to be a very nice day, as you can see from my walk at Sharkham. It was really warm as well, no coat needed. Long may the weather continue like this.

 

The wrong burger.

Warning, Non vegetarian post.

I had some leftover Pork mince in the freezer and I thought that it would be nice to make Pork and Apple burgers. I chopped the Apple up small and mixed it in with the mince, forming it into burgers.

These were grilled for 20 minutes and we had them with Falafel and salad.

They were very nice but there was a problem. IT WAS LAMB MINCE.

So I can draw two things from that;

1) Lamb and Apple burgers are really nice 

2) I must label bags that I put into the freezer.

Oh and one more thing, I must find the Pork mince, I know it's in there somewhere.