Exhausted today. Woke up with a blinding headache, high blood pressure methinks, badgered by siblings to order a blood pressure machine from Amazon, done. The headache shifted after sleeping in later but I couldn’t shift the exhaustion.
Finished the formats on A Boy from the Streets which I can do currently, sent a request to my cover designer for some internal graphics which I will have to wait for as she is currently working exceptionally hard to keep her husband’s business open. But that’s okay, because I’ve done my thing and it’s all good to go as and when required. I started typing up some more of Illicit Love which is book two in The English Love Series. Most of the first draft of this already written but I do need to write the finish and do a lot of polishing on this one. This will be my main focus now.
Didn’t really do much of anything else today and I’m struggling now to keep my eyes open, so will say goodnight.
It’s been a day like no other, no sorry let me edit that, it’s been a day like all the others. But hey, I’m not complaining, chilled at home and working on my books is a good dilemma to have. Another day of staying in, popped out into the garden for five minutes between downpours to check something and pulled a few weeds in passing. Realised the roof of the shed, which my dad and I put together for my son a number of years ago, has gaping holes and the whole thing needs to be taken apart. Well then, that’s another job I should get done if I’m off for the next couple of weeks.
Finished the re-edit of A Boy from the Streets and plan to start the formatting soon so I can crack on with actual writing, book two in The English Love Series is calling my name – but then so are about 50 other books. I don’t have enough time off, do you think my company would be happy to pay me indefinitely at 80% to stay at home and write, or until such time as I can make a living from it? No, I don’t either.
Started back on the healthy eating/lifestyle plan of Team RH again today, didn’t quite hit my protein and fibre targets but I’m getting back into the swing and not eating tons of shite, so that’s a plus. Weighed myself, so I know the worst case scenario and no I will not be sharing that with you! Spent forty minutes on the treadmill today and by the time I go to bed I will have hit my ten thousand step target.
I haven’t attacked my photo sorting yet for the day, but hey, there’s time yet.
Anyway, that’s me for the day. Catch up again tomorrow. Until then, stay safe.
This is starting to feel like the big brother house but without all the people as I do my daily update. I didn’t leave the house today, with the exception of walking about twenty steps to put my rubbish/recycling in the bins.
Another day of sorting out the stuff in my house, which has built up through the years, it’s feeling very cathartic and I listened to a Bon Jovi CD, off-hand I can’t remember which one. I plan to listen to all the CDs in my collection and throw out any that no longer interest me.
My photo sorting is going apace, and I’m taking some trips down memory lane as I organise them into categories. Found a lovely one of my son Mark and his carer Liam who I mentioned a couple of days ago, who sadly took him life a year ago.
I’m now up to page 116/157 of my edit on A Boy from the Streets as I attempt to tighten it up.
My TalkTalk TV box has now got more storage available as I’m catching up on programmes which have sat there for an age.
I’m still sane, my days may not be the height of excitement but I’m content.
I’m at the point where every day feels the same, this is the weekend, it’s Saturday and should feel that relief of finishing the working week and getting things ready for the next working week, shopping, washing clothes etc… except every day is a Saturday at the moment and I, for one, am not complaining.
I didn’t leave the house today, not even into the garden as it was colder today and instead of pottering away at the weeds in the garden (I have lots of those) I did a spring clean of my bedroom with the music playing, today’s selection was an eclectic mix of Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction, Bon Jovi, 7800 Fahrenheit and Meghan Trainor, Title. Music is such a great mood lifter, it even inspires me to do housework and that is saying something.
A bit more editing was done today but not much as my plan is to go full steam ahead on Monday.
And there you have it, my Saturday which will no be followed by the Sunday dread feeling.
Keep safe everyone and once again thank you to all the key-workers who are keeping this country running.
It’s not only the third day of isolation but it’s a year’s anniversary that my friend Liam Jordan took his life after life became too much for him. Liam had a unique take on life and a fantastic sense of humour, I wish I could have seen the posts he would have put on Facebook about the madness we’re living in. Never forgotten, Liam.
Today I needed to pick up some food shopping, so I went to Tesco’s Feltham where they have introduced a limit on how many people can enter and we had to queue with two metres between us. The queue went all the way down the back of the supermarket and looped around three times, but it only took twenty-five minutes to get to the front. Some people still don’t understand social distancing, the woman behind me had her trolley turned sideways and inched closer and closer. In front of me was an elderly man with a walking stick, the security guard offered to get him to the front of the queue but he refused.
A woman with a walking stick approached the security guard and asked if there was a better time to come when the queue wasn’t so long as she had her son with a disability in the car. The security guard offered for her to go straight in but she also refused as she said that it wasn’t fair on other people and then she walked off. The women behind me decided to pass judgement on her, making comments like “Who does she think she is? What’s wrong with her? The man in front can stand in the queue so why does she think she’s something special.” Needless to say, I set them straight. It doesn’t fail to annoy me that people jump to conclusions about people and are so quick to judge. Times like this bring out the best and the worst in people.
Back home, happy to shut the door I finished the washing I had to do and was grateful to be able to hang them out in the sunshine.
I continued with my quest to get all my photos onto the portable backup device, going through memory cards and CDs. Imagine my joy when I found pictures of my visit to Paris with my mum in 2004 which I’d been looking for, for a number of years. Result!
A little bit more editing done, but not much. I did think I need to sort out some kind of routine, I’ll hopefully start from Monday.
So, we found out that our PM, Boris Johnson has been diagnosed with Covid-19, this virus likes to hit every walk of life, what with Prince Charles also being diagnosed.
I’m going to head off and see if I can do some more editing.
Coming to the close of day two of isolation and the only time I stepped out of my front door was at 8pm when I joined many of my neighbours and the nation by applauding the NHS workers. I would estimate that a quarter of our road came out but the round of applause was loud as were the cheers. I’m not going to lie, it may me emotional and brought a tear to my eye.
So, my day – don’t expect anything exciting – more weeding in the garden, pottering around the house sorting paperwork and clothes, oh and a snooze in the afternoon after another sleepless night.
I did, on the upside get a bit of editing done. I am currently making a few minor changes to book one in The Children from the Streets series. I plan to change the print size of this book to keep it in line with the rest of the books in the series.
And that, I’m afraid is the extent of my day. Once more, I am grateful that during this time of uncertainty and fear that I am safe.
Today was my first day of lockdown after finishing work yesterday. It was also the second night of virtually no sleep, this has now become real for me. It wasn’t that I was under-estimating the horror of this virus and the utter destruction it is wreaking on the world, but suddenly the fear crept inside my head and heart and this is keeping me awake at night. But I’m lucky, as far as I know I don’t have the virus, I’m not a key-worker so I don’t have to put myself in harm’s way. I can only imagine what strength of will it takes to get up each morning and throw yourself into the thick of it and the fears that these inspiring people must be experiencing. So, I threw my big girl’s pants on and got on with my day.
A quick phone call to my mum identified that she and Dad wanted a few items from the shops and I needed a few items too, so I set off on my motorbike and rode to Tesco’s Osterley down fairly empty roads. There was no limiting of the amount of people allowed in the store, they had set up a table with disposable cloths and a spray to wipe down your trolley before entering should you want to. I considered it, but the people who were waiting to wipe theirs seemed to have no concept of social distancing so I walked on by. Inside the shop, Tesco have set out spacing for the queues at the check outs and had a security guard managing it. Nice one Tesco’s. However, the shoppers still have no concept of giving each other space whilst shopping as people congregated in some aisles and someone squeezed in around me to grab an item from the shelf. It took all my willpower not to say something.
Placing the bag down on my mum and dad’s doorstep, I knocked on the door and retreated to behind the gate. It was lovely to see my parents, even if it was from a distance and I couldn’t hug or kiss them, but their well-being means more than anything else.
Once home, I pottered around the house and garden doing bits and pieces. I have a list longer than my arm of things I want to do and suddenly I have the time to do them. As I said, I’m one of the lucky ones. The sun was shining and it seemed the perfect opportunity to wash my motorbike clothing and to weed the garden (a small amount – I have time!).
One of the things I’ve wanted to do for ages is get all my digital photos onto a portable hard-drive so was able to do some of that, it will take a long time to do but I made a good start today.
My plan was to start eating healthily again today and exercise as I went off the rails at the beginning of March, that didn’t happen. Oh well, there is time.
One of the key things I want to achieve during this time is to spend time writing my books and am excited at the prospect of being able to find time to do something I love and which calms my brain. I didn’t start today, but have plans for tomorrow.
Keep safe everyone, stay inside if you can and don’t risk the lives of your loved ones. Big shout out to all the key-workers, you know who you are.
I’ll check back in tomorrow for the next instalment.
Distracted by the everyday routine of raising children, being a wife, and keeping a home, Lorraine Morrissey let life pass her by. Her wake up call comes when she realizes that with their children gone, her husband Richard is rarely home, and she’s filling her solitary days with trivial tasks. A crazy idea to save her marriage leads to a summer beach vacation unlike any she’s ever taken; one that involves unknowingly buying a haunted house.
5***** I read this book a few months ago and have been very lax in writing a review. However, it has stayed in my head and this author was spot on with drawing me into this story, of a brave and fearless Octopus and an intrepid dragon who form a bond and together help each other and their communities. This author clearly has a lot of knowledge of the creatures under the sea and brings them to life. I will be picking up the next book in the near future. There is a moral inside this book and it is woven inside the story beautifully. You should read it and see if you can find it for yourself.
Rio, Brasil has always been split in half. Marcos Martinez is from the half where homelessness and poverty is the norm. The son of a man who lived on the streets until he was adopted at the age of twelve, Marcos has made it his mission to defy the norm and make something of his life. Gio Silvas knows only the lifestyle of the other side. A billionaire’s son, he’s a selfish, weak, narcissistic bully who thrives on hedonism, vibrant carnivals, and untold wealth—a lifestyle where the word “no” is not part of his vocabulary. When Gio falls for Marcos’ twin sister Caro, a hard life lesson is heading his way. Will he see the error of his ways and change, or will his love for Caro push him and her family past the point of no return? Familiar characters await, along with new, to both entrance and appall in this third instalment of the Children from the Streets series. Come. It’s time. Carnival is upon us. Are you ready to return to the streets?
If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, you can pick them up below:
Two babies abandoned at birth—one grows up in a life of privilege, the other in poverty.
On the 12th of September, 1981, twin boys are born in a Brasilian hospital and left to their fate as orphans. Jose is adopted by a couple who takes him to England, but the other isn’t so lucky. Pedro ends up on the streets of Rio, left to fend for himself in a harsh and unforgiving world.
Love and betrayal.
Twelve years later Jose’s family returns to Brasil, where he learns the truth about his adoption and his twin. Thinking his adoptive parents no longer want him, he runs away to find his brother. What follows will shake Jose to the core and shape the rest of his life—if he can survive.
Murder.
Jose isn’t the only one whose life will change. Pedro is offered an opportunity beyond any of his wildest dreams, but to keep it will mean the betrayal of someone he loves. This proves to be a far greater challenge than he anticipated when the orphan finds himself suddenly surrounded by family who, unfortunately, don’t all have good intentions.
Hopes and dreams.
A Boy from the Streets will tug at your heart-strings and have you rooting for the little guy as you follow the twists and turns this multi-continental tale takes.
Having seen first-hand the results of starvation, abuse, and murder, Carlos Suarez knows all too well that the streets of Rio are no place for a child to grow up.
Because of his own history and subsequent rescue from that poverty at the age of fifteen, he makes it his life’s work to ensure opportunities are available to the future generations of Brasil’s homeless children—but no matter how many kids Carlos saves, it’s never enough for him.
Almost to the point of obsession.
Dedicated to his work, and haunted by his past, Carlos has never considered an intimate relationship with anyone, let alone another man, especially after that night. But when Fate throws him a curve ball, and his past comes screaming back threatening to destroy his future, Carlos will discover that redemption can be found in the most unexpected of places.
Guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings, Sins of the Father is a story you won’t be able to put down.
![The Dragon Dreamer by [Burke, J. S.]](https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Is9SZ68cL.jpg)
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