Tag: London

Books, Life, Self-publishing

Round-up of the week 26th May 2019

gibbsdream

World:

Rescued hiker: ‘It came down to life and death and I had to choose’

A hiker found alive more than two weeks after she went missing on Maui, Hawaii, has spoken from her hospital bed. Amanda Eller said she faced a choice between “life and death”.

Ms Eller, 35, was last seen on 8 May. Family and friends had launched an intense search effort and offered a cash reward for her safe return.

London:

World War Two bomb found near Kingston University
A controlled explosion has been carried out on a World War Two bomb found near Kingston University, the Metropolitan Police said.
The unexploded device was found on a building site on Thursday morning.
Nearly 1,500 homes were also evacuated and the Met warned some may be without gas and electricity while surveyors carried out checks.
Police cordons in the Kingston area will remain in place while the site is assessed, the Met added
The controlled explosion was carried out by the armed forces’ specialist Explosive Ordinance Disposal team.
On Thursday, Kingston Council confirmed two polling stations being used for the European elections had to be shut while the bomb was being dealt with.
Students and staff from Kingston University’s Penrhyn Road and Knights Park campuses, as well as the University’s nursery and some student halls, have been affected by the cordon.

My World:

Three and a half months at my ‘new’ job and had my probation review and I’m pleased to say I’m still there. LOL
The WWII bomb that was found in Kingston was just down the road from where I work in Surbiton and many of the roads around me were closed off. I went out to do a property visit on Thursday but was stopped by a police cordon and the policeman explained that an unexploded bomb had been found, the road I wanted to go to was being evacuated at the time. My colleagues heard the controlled explosion on Friday, although I must be hard of hearing because despite being right next to them I heard nothing.
Still decorating, the wallpaper is almost halfway up and I’m going stir crazy, want my home back to normal.
A lovely day spent with my mum, dad, sister and niece Sophie who turned twenty on Wednesday.

My Word:
Started the final edit on book three and hope to have that released very soon. Watch this space!

Have a lovely week.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the week – 7 April 2019

gibbsdream

World news:

A ferryboat has crashed into a bridge in Pará, in Brazil’s northern state, plunging a 200m section into the Moju River.
After the ship crashed into one of the pillars, witnesses said they saw two cars fall into the water.
Scuba divers are searching the river, and it is unclear how many people have been hurt yet.

London news:

A charity in charge of mental health home is being investigated after a 19 year-old girl took her life in Lancaster lodge in Richmond in May 2016. The teenager hanged herself, one year after being admitted to the home.

The Charity Commission has now opened an inquiry into the management of the home. An inquest into the girl’s death in February found the facility’s leadership “grossly inadequate”.


Pão de Queijo

My news:
Completed two months at my new job and guess I have to stop thinking of it as my new job now. Still loving it although the workload is intense. The director at my work introduced me to Pão de Queijo, Brazilian cheese bread which is made, without wheat. I’ve included Pão de Queijo in my Children from the Streets series but never tasted it until Wednesday. It was so nice, that I decided to make it myself on Saturday (see photo.)

My writing:
Still working frantically on the edits of Trial & Retribution, book five in The Children of the Streets series.

Books, Life, Self-publishing

Round-up of the week 24/2/2019

gibbsdream

Round up of the week

World

A forty-seven-year-old woman who was told her tissue was too similar to her husband’s had to be made allergic to his sperm in order to have a successful pregnancy.

Kathryn, a laboratory manager from Derbyshire who’d had four miscarriages turned to the help of her colleagues when normal channels came up blank. The couple was found to be tissue type matched which meant her body wasn’t seeing the sperm part of the embryo as foreign so as a result the pregnancies weren’t being nurtured.

After injecting her with her partner’s white blood cells, her body was able to recognise it as a foreign body. The couple now have a beautiful baby girl

My thoughts: After looking at many depressing news stories this week, I found this and thought I would spread this beautiful story of hope.

London

There was chaos on the streets of Hounslow on Thursday 21 February after a what is described as a severe accident closed off the A4 westbound road from Sutton Lane to Vicarage farm road.

My thoughts: I was told about this by a friend who’d sat in this traffic and said that everyone was executing crazy and dangerous manoeuvres in an attempt to access other routes. This kind of thing can be very frustrating for us having to deal with in our daily lives but I tried to consider how much worse it could be, there but for the grace of God and all that.

Me

Week 2 successfully completed in my new job and still really enjoying it. To complement the fantastic training I went to the office I’ll be mainly based at and was able to start helping my new manager. The team is so supportive and I feel like—fingers crossed, touch wood and all that—I have found the place I want to be.

I woke up Saturday morning with a stinking cold/sinus infection like I didn’t have enough of those last year to last a lifetime!!!!

Every year my friend Jules and I make each other Christmas presents which could be something simple which hasn’t taken long or a long and complicated craft project—this year I’ve plumped for the complicated one and this is going to take me a long time. The supplies I needed arrived this week so I will be starting today. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything about it as she might read this blog!

I got up early (ish) Sunday morning so that I could take my slot in the online book event “Our books are not free” which is the second of its kind. It’s a great event aimed at promoting the value of paying for books which as an author is something I am very passionate about. Check it out. A whole bunch of awesome authors who are not giving away the products that they’ve laboured hard on and paid much for.

https://www.facebook.com/events/565616523906689/

https://www.facebook.com/events/565616523906689/577292512739090/?notif_t=admin_plan_mall_activity&notif_id=1551019190416927

Writing

I have to admit I haven’t reached my writing targets this week. Need to crack on my April deadline is fast approaching to get this book to the editor.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the week

gibbsdream

Chuckles-3

 

World

Gary Martin, 45 from Illinois who was being fired from his job of 15 years, shot dead five people and injured several others at his workplace. He was then killed during an exchange of fire with police officers. Five officers were shot and wounded.

My thoughts: “How sad that someone who has worked all those years for a company is pushed to such terrible and tragic actions. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of his victims and his own. We can never know what hell a person is going through, even someone we know well. Be kind to each other. ” Maria

London

The police were called to Tesco’s in Osterley, West London on Sunday at midnight after reports of forced entry into the store. Brazen thieves carried out a ram raid on the store, making off with the safe from the bureau de change. Police are still looking for the culprits who left disarray in their wake.

My thoughts: “This is a little close to home for me, being less than four miles from my home and the place where my parents shop each week.” Maria

My week

I started a new job this week after being out of work for 6 weeks. It’s early days yet but my first impressions are favourable. The training schedule is better than any other role I’ve been in and the team has been warm and welcoming, making me feel as though I’ve been there for ages as I’m so comfortable. The role is varied and will take a lot to learn but it has captured my imagination and I’m excited at the prospect.

Watch this space!

Saturday was spent riding about on my motorbike and catching up on chores & Sunday writing and family meal.

I’ve also been extremely fortunate to be allowed to beta read for one of my favourite authors Sherri A Wingler for her new book which will be released soon.

My writing

So, I’m working on book 5 of a 6 book series. Children from the Streets has tugged at many a heart string for both books 1 & 2 which have been published and the feedback on books 3 & 4 from editor and beta reader is that they will cause the same reaction. However, for book 5 I’ve had to take a detour and get my evil on, which I’ve found myself enjoying immensely.

I’ve set myself some tight deadlines so I have held books 3 & 4 back and will finish the edits on them at a later stage to enable me to do a rapid release on the rest of the series.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up​ of the Week.

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Chuckles-3

 

globe-1290378_640News from around the world

Parents of a young man with Downs-Syndrome in Delhi were told when he was a child that he wouldn’t be able to do anything. Now years on he can drive and has a pottery studio which he set up with his mum.

Truly inspirational

Check this young man out for yourself:

 

LondonNews from London

A teenager has been charged with the murder of an 18-year-old man who was stabbed to death in east London. A 17-year-old male appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court, charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon, he will be appearing at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

 

Me.1

My News

Another busy week at work.

The weekend started well, a busy day yesterday but woke up with a raw throat this morning, struggling to swallow and pain in my ears so will be off work for a while until this viral infection clears.

 

 

Me.2

Writing News

Sins of the Father went back to the editor and I started book three of the series set in Brazil which has a working title of ‘The Other Side of the Streets.’

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the Week

gibbsdream

Chuckles-3

 

 

 

 

 

News from around the world

Bono, U2 singer has apologised after claims of bullying and abuse emerged at One, the charity he co-founded.

An allegation was made that one female worker was demoted after refusing to become intimate with a foreign governmental official.

News from London

Liz Hurley’s 21-year-old nephew is in hospital after being stabbed repeatedly in the back in a brutal attack in south-west London. Police were called on Thursday to a street, near Battersea Park.

My News

Another busy week has seen me moving from site to site and seeing different views and meeting a diverse spectrum of people.

My living room is a step closer to being finished as the new carpet was laid yesterday. It’s looking fabulous and is so silky that I make any excuse to get my socks off and walk across it.

Twenty-one years ago today my nephew and Godson Joseph was born so we had a civilised family get together. For his present we’ll be going to a gig, not sure which one yet. Many years ago I started a tradition, which became known as Auntie Mia days, so instead of a present we go somewhere, my nieces and nephew have always known they can opt out and go back to presents. So far, Joseph still wants quality time with me and because of his interest in music, it is always a gig.

Started reading Sugar and Spice by RE Hargrave and so far, I’m loving it.

Writing News

Again another pitiful amount of writing done. I’m feeling very drained at the moment which is killing my creative streak. Sins of the Father is still with the editor and so far so good.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the Week

gibbsdream

Chuckles-3

News from around the world

Mexican authorities have launched criminal proceedings against four police officers over the disappearance of three Italian men. The men were last seen at the end of January in Tecalitlán, in the western state of Jalisco. The officers had allegedly arrested them at a petrol station and they have confessed to handing the Italians over to a local criminal gang.

Makes me glad I live in the UK.

News from London

A gas explosion at a property in north-east London forced about 100 people to have to leave their homes. No injuries have been reported.

My News

We saw snow this week, not major amounts here in London but enough to ensure that I wasn’t going to risk riding my motorbike so I trudged through the snow, ice and slush to get to work. Tuesday saw me viewing the snow from central London and the next day from the cab of an 18-tonne truck as I waited for the driver to offload 5 pallets of salt on site. I did end up with black marks all over my tights lol.

On Thursday I was supposed to see my son who was due to come down from Lincolnshire for his birthday but he was snowed in.

I’ve almost finished decorating my living room and picked out a new carpet and sofa over the weekend. I also put my old sofa up for sale on Gumtree and had someone attempt to scam me with a fake Paypal payment.

Today I met up with the family for a meal to celebrate my parents’ 53rd wedding anniversary. We went to a local restaurant where we proceeded to take pano pictures on our phones of the family making each other look horrendous into the bargain, my sister ended up looking like Nanny McPhee without warts. Needless to say, she reciprocated with an equally unflattering one of me.

I finished reading Christmas in Holly Springs by Rose Castro this week, a lovely short story. Watch out for the review, coming shortly.

Writing News

My editor has started work on Sins of the Father and I’ve heard from her that she is liking it so far. Phew.

I’ve been working on Illicit Love again and getting very excited about where it’s going.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the Week

gibbsdream

Chuckles-3

News from around the world

China’s governing Communist Party has proposed removing a clause in the constitution which limits presidencies to two five-year terms. This is in an attempt to allow the current President Xi Jinping to remain as leader after he is due to step down.

News from London

A Letter containing a substance sent to St. James’s Palace is being treated as a ‘racist hate crime”. The substance was tested by the Met Police and was found not to be harmful. The letter is said to have been addressed to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

My News

I have finally finished decoration my living room at home, which has taken quite a while being a weekend only job. I now need to replace the carpet and furniture but really pleased with how it’s looking so far.

Writing News

This week I’ve focused on the last minute tighten up of Sins of the Father which is due to head to the editor on Thursday which will be a nail-biting experience. I even managed to get a newsletter out for the first time in about 5 months.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round up of the Week

gibbsdream

Round up of the Week

World

Australian counter-terrorism police have stopped a suspected plot to bring down an aeroplane. They seized materials in the raid that could have been used to make an improvised explosive device.

Extra security has been put in place at domestic and international airports.

Although it is frightening to think of another terror attack it is heartening to know that this one was foiled and no harm came to anyone.

London

The family of a man who died after being apprehended by police has appealed for peace after violent protests in the wake of his death. Twenty-year old Rashan Charles was wrestled to the ground in East London, on 22nd July and died about an hour later. He became ill after trying to swallow an object.

Clashes broke out on Friday night as protesters blocked part of Kingsland Road and set mattresses alight.

A spokesman for the family called for “dignified” protest, adding “Burning down homes will not give justice.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Rashan’s family.

My World

This week started out tough as I teetered on the edge of a breakdown. I won’t go into any real detail but after some tough words, amazing support and love I managed to turn it around and take back the power in my life. Until the issue, which is causing me distress has been resolved I will be doing the bare minimum.

Had a nice time with my good friend and her son last night as we devoured a curry and watched “Daddy’s Back.”

My Word

Mainly only editing done this week, I’m about half way through before I return it to my editor for the second round.

The winner of the author of the month prize went to Pamela Dykes Jones who has yet to claim her copy of one of Rose English’s books.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round up of the week

gibbsdream

Round up of the Week

World

Builders in the Canadian city of Quebec have unearthed a live cannonball fired by the British in 1759 when they besieged Quebec while fighting the French at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. The builders posed for photos with the 90kg shot unaware that it was still potentially explosive. Archaeologist Serge Rouleau, who examined the munition before the army noticed that it still contained a charge and said it was more of an incendiary bomb than a cannonball. A Senior munitions technician was quoted as saying, “The ball would break and the powder would ignite, setting fire to the building.

Seems as though the builders had a lucky escape.

London

A 31-year-old man has been stabbed to death by two attackers on a moped during an early-morning altercation in south-east London, police said.

The victim was fatally wounded during a clash in which shots were also fired in King William Walk in the centre of Greenwich

The assailants, both male, then fled the scene on the moped and emergency services arrived to find the man with stab injuries. Paramedics tried to revive the man but he was declared dead at the scene.

We seem to be seeing more crime from people on scooters/mopeds/bikes including an epidemic of bike theft with the perpetrators going out with machetes and other weapons. Every morning the first thing I do is check that my bike is where I parked it.

My world

This week my cousin’s 23-year-old daughter came from Wolverhampton to stay with me in London for a few days. Despite the big age gap, we get on incredibly well but then maybe that’s because I don’t act my age. Unfortunately, I had to work but Kat was able to go off and explore the city without me and we caught up in the evenings for pizza and prosecco.

Last week I mentioned that there was something potentially on the horizon for me which I couldn’t discuss this is still on the down low.

I’m ending the week with a family meal as we all catch up for my mum’s birthday.

My Word

I’ve been anxiously waiting while the editor slashes my book with her red pen but I should be out of my misery by the middle of next week as she returns the first edit. Or will I be in more misery lol.

I’ve been working on the spin off from ‘A Boy from the Streets’

I’ve also been thinking a bit more are a follow on from ‘As Dreams are Made on’ and after seeing a picture I wanted have had JC Clarke from The Graphics Shed design me a cover that has left me speechless. (I know right! Me speechless LOL)