Since we're coming up to Valentine's Day, it's not surprising that today's Sunday Snippet shows off one of my all-time favourite scenes: Jack and Gareth's first Valentine's Day and all the pitfalls that come with the pink holiday. Not that the two of them ever do things the easy way. Jack is …
Pre-orders (almost) like buses
I'm knee-deep in preparing Hiding Place for release and had got as far as setting release dates for March when I got a lovely surprise. Sous Couverture, the French translation of House Hunt, is also ready for pre-orders, and will release, as luck will have it, just a day before the first copies of …
The time of year for comfort food
Whether Blue Monday is real or a marketing ploy to make you think about travelling to sunnier climes, I admit that I find January and February - winter not yet over and spring still a ways away - the dreariest part of the year. These are the weeks when my weight goes up, my motivation for anything …
Needles, Yarn and Gingerbread #4
Sweet treats have a place all year round, but they seem especially prominent during the darker, colder months and around big celebrations. And since I don't have the sweetest sweet tooth, I often turn to my spice rack to temper the sweet. I'm also a card-carrying cinnamon addict, but that's an …
Needles, Yarn and Gingerbread #3
I love my knitting, and picked it back up big time during last year's lockdown. Blankets, cushions, scarves, jumpers and - most of all - socks. Knitting socks is soothing. It's straightforward and doesn't need much brain power, which makes it ideal for when I'm editing. The idea for Needles, Yarn …
Needles, Yarn and Gingerbread #2
Today, we have the second part of Needles, Yarn and Gingerbread. Daniel and Nico, the boys Jack and Gareth have adopted, have a school project involving teamwork. And after discovering Nico with knitting needles, Jack wants to hear all about it. Part #2 "Okay, you got me," Jack …
Cooking with Gareth: Sugar, Spice & Memories
When it's cold out and rain is lashing the windows, there are few things more comforting than the smells of something baking. Especially when that something contains my favourite spice: cinnamon. I just can't get enough of that warm, dark scent. I throw it into a lot of things: bread, shortbread, …
#LifeonLockdown – Week 11
It's been another busy week, filled with headaches, meetings, and attempts to lower the suddenly spiking stress levels. My wonderful osteopath, to whom I turned for advice, told me that stress is very much like a bucket. You can carry it around brimful for a long time and feel okay. One drop too …
#LifeonLockdown – Week 10
Very slowly, activity is ramping up around here. It's still mostly delivery vehicles and the farmers with their enormous wheeled gadgets who make up most of the traffic, but motorbikes and cars are beginning to add to the growing trickle. I find it surprising how quickly we'd gotten used to the …
#LifeonLockdown – Week 8
We've gotten through another week. The government eased lockdown restrictions a fraction this week, causing a lot of confusion in the process. Especially since the new rules only apply to England, while Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland continue under the stricter rules. The arguments make my …
#LifeonLockdown – Week 7
Another week of staying home, watching the news, writing drabbles, and braving the weekly shop. On the positive side, we're healthy, reasonably well supplied, and far from bored. For me, work is showing signs of picking up as retail clients begin to think about re-opening. On the negative side, …
#LifeonLockdown – Week 6
It's been a bit of a worrisome week for me, as I've started reading again - not so much news, but stats and analytics about the outbreak. And with that comes, invariably, worry and fear. According to the government, we're over the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. The worry now is that we'll end up …