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Round-up of the week 10 March 2019

World:

An Ethiopian Airlines jet with 149 passengers and eight crew members onboard a flight from the Ethiopian capital and bound fro Nairobi in Kenya, has crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing all on board.


It is reported that 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, eight Americans and seven Brits were among the passengers. The crash happened six minutes after the Boeing 737 Max-8 took off.

An eyewitness at the scene reported an intense fire as the aircraft hit the ground. “The blast and the fire were so strong that we couldn’t get near it,” he said. “Everything is burnt down.”

The cause of the crash is not yet clear, however, the pilot had advised of difficulties and requested a return.

My thoughts:

What a terrible tragedy, my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.
We never know when our time is up and should make the most of what we have in the here and now.

London:
A woman jailed for four-and-a-half years for fraud after posing as a Grenfell Tower fire survivor lost a challenge against her conviction.
The 48 year old watched via a video link from prison as three Court of Appeal judges in London threw her case out.
The woman claimed to have escaped from the horrific fire in west London in 2017, where her husband and sister-in-law had died. But she was in fact, single and living miles away in Sutton, south London.
Msokeri claimed about £19,000 in cash donations, goods and hotel costs.

My thoughts:

I still remember the cold that seeped into my body as I watched the horror of Grenfell Tower unfold, the horrendous loss of life, a community scarred for life and to think that an unscrupulous individual would try to take advantage of this tragedy for personal gains is beyond comprehension. Personally, I think her sentence was too light. If she can be so heartless as to wish to benefit from the loss of others what else is she capable of?

My World:

I can’t believe that I’ve now been in my new job for a month, each day is different, interesting and with scope for many challenges. I’m loving it!
This weekend has been another one where I’ve had quality family time, a meal at the local Nepalese restaurant with my sister, nineteen-year-old niece and long-term friend on Saturday night.
Sunday we took Mum and Dad out for a meal to celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary.

My Writing:
This weekend I’ve seriously hit the writing as I’ve realised that I have so much to write and so little time as it’s booked in with the editor for April 15th and I’m still on the first draft. The plot thickens as the story takes another twist that I hadn’t expected. I’m really loving getting into the head of this narcissistic character.

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

Round-up of the week

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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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globe-1290378_640News from around the world

Large bushfire hits Australia, hundreds of firefighters are tackling a blaze that has reportedly affected homes in the southern suburbs of Sydney. Some residents have been instructed to seek shelter as evacuation is now too dangerous. The fire service is concerned that flying embers could spark new blazes ahead of the advancing fire front.

 

LondonNews from London

A man has died in hospital, just two days after a suspected hit-and-run in Cricklewood Broadway on Wednesday 5am. The police are appealing for any information about what happened to the 67-year-old.

 

Me.1My News

I’ve been off work all week with what started out as a viral infection in my throat and progressed to a bacterial infection, so I have spent the week relaxing. My sister and niece came over on Saturday and we went for a meal with Mum and Dad although the exertion did take it out of me!

 

Me.2Writing News

Sins of the Father came back from the editor and I’m working on the edits. I also typed up the beginning of book three which has a working name of ‘The other side of the Streets.’ I also typed up a children’s book which I wrote a while back, ‘When Tommy Tiger Lost his Stripes.’

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My Review of ‘The Baby & the Bride’ by Laura Barnard

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After devouring book one, I nosedived straight into this book and have to say I loved it too although it became a little samey and predictable but fun reading none the less and I’m glad I read it. The characterisations are great and I love the friendships within this book. My only real criticism though is that there were quite a few mistakes in here that were missed. It didn’t spoil it for me but did bring me out of the story a few times more than I’d have liked.

Pick up your copy here:

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

Round-up of the week:

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globe-1290378_640News from around the world

A couple in Kuwait was sentenced to death for killing a Filipina maid. A Lebanese man and his Syrian wife were convicted in absentia. The body of the maid was dumped in a freezer in their abandoned apartment and it was discovered over a year after the murder.


London.jpgNews from London

A paralysed man is hoping to become the first paraplegic male to walk the London Marathon. Simon Kindleysides, 34, from Norwich, was diagnosed with a brain rumour which left him paralysed from the waist down. It will take Simon, 37 hours to complete the course wearing an exoskeleton suit.

What an inspirational man.


Me.1.jpgMy News

Work has been busy and has seen me at two different sites with two different sets of challenges.

My son came home for Easter on Good Friday and will be going home Easter Monday. We went out for a meal with my parents and my sister and niece on Saturday and on Sunday went to Mum and Dad’s for dinner, spending some time with my brother and nephew.

It has been a lovely chilled out weekend.

My sister and I have finally signed up for the half-marathon that we’ve been talking about for the last couple of months. Training to start in earnest now. It won’t be until September, so enough time to do this sensibly.

I’ve been working at challenging a particular fear of mine this week. I have a fear of going around the Hammersmith Roundabout and this week I did it, twice. I won’t say I’m not scared still but I did feel an amazement sense of achievement and if I continue to do it this will be one fear I can say goodbye to.


Me.2Writing News

Sent out March’s newsletter with a sneak preview of my new cover for Sins of the Father which everyone else can see shortly.

I’ve spent my free time working on the edits on Sins, I have reached 68/122.


 

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Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

My review of Bankers Town by Joel Hames

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This is the second book I’ve read by Joel Hames and once again I devoured it. The story does dip in and out of the present and the past and if you don’t like that style of writing then this book is now for you, but I love it. I like to see how the threads of the story weave together, and this book did that well. I love the author’s tone of voice, it’s an open and honest dialogue which you can relate to.

If you’re looking for a fast pace of action, this book doesn’t have it but it builds layer upon layer of information, drawing you in with each new nugget. It’s cleverly written, the characters are strong. I will be reading more by Joel Hames.

Pick up your copy of Bankers Town here

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

Round-up of the Week

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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

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News from around the world

A helicopter crashed in Mexico killing at least 14 including a baby, two senior officials who were on board were unharmed. The pilot lost control as it was coming into land. They had been up assessing the damage from the earthquake which occurred on Friday. The military helicopter is said to have crashed on top of several vans carrying earthquake survivors.

This is heart-rending, to live through the earthquake and be killed by the team sent out to assess the damage beggars belief.

 

News from London

Ride-by moped thefts on London’s main shopping streets have increased six-fold over the last two years. Oxford Street is the worst hit with 291 offences in a year.

These moped thieves aren’t just resorting to bag snatching and the like but any biker in the London area will tell you that bike theft is now off the scale. At least three people I know have had their bikes stolen in the last couple of years. The ped scum are going out tooled up so they can deal with disgruntled bike owners trying to protect their property.

 

My News

Another busy working week which has kept me extremely busy and terribly tired at the end of the day. This weekend I planned on finishing decorating my living room but was disrupted today when I had to take my motorbike to the garage to get my front brake fixed. I managed to squeeze in a visit to my lovely Mum and Dad and saw my brother too which is always a pleasure. I have managed to get on with some wallpapering but don’t think I’ll finish it this weekend.

 

Writing News

Another quiet writing week but have managed to work through a little bit more of Illicit Love and I’m quite excited about where it’s going. I’m also doing my last read through of Sins of the Father before it goes to the editor.

Books · Life · Self-publishing · Uncategorized

Round-up​ of the Week

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News from around the world

Something a bit lighter today.

North and South Korea joined together to compete under the same flag as the women’s ice hockey team competed against the Swedish team. The Swedish team beat them 3-1.


News from London

Serial sex attacker John Worboys is believed to have been moved back to HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire prison having been moved from HMP Belmarsh in south-east London.

Worboys was jailed for a minimum term of eight years in 2009, convicted of 19 offences. Police believe that he may have committed over 100 rapes and sexual assaults. The parole board announced last month that Worboys would be released from prison. Sir Brian Leveson and Mr Justice Garnham will consider whether to allow the mayor of London and two of the victims’ to apply for a judicial review.

I’m a believer that when someone has served their sentence they should be allowed to re-enter society, however 9 years for 19 confirmed assaults, really? Crimes of this magnitude, on this scale, should not allow the perpetrator to see the light of day ever again. That equates to about half a year per victim – or at least all those he was convicted of. When the victims get to live with the effects of the abuse forever then so should the perpetrator.


My News

It’s been another busy working week which has taken up most of my energy and concentration, so much so that I forgot to take my disk lock off my motorbike when I left work on Monday. Needless to say, I ended up lying on the floor in the carpark and my bike suffered a broken mirror. We were both ok though despite the “lovely” gentleman who pulled up in front of us, looked at me and then drove off without even ascertaining whether I was alright.

Managed to get a gym session in, need to step these sessions up though in order to start my training for the half marathon.

I have started redecorating my living room, this is going to be a slow process with so little available time, I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed doing this.

I’m currently reading, and enjoying, “Banker’s Town.” by Joel Hames.


Writing News

This week hasn’t seen too much writing but I have added a little bit more to Illicit Love and I’m getting very excited about where it’s going. If you want to find out a bit more about this series.

Click here to pick up a copy of Is this Love?

Books · Life · Self-publishing

Round up of the Week

Round up of the Week

 

World

Thousands of people in Hong Kong marched through the streets in protest at the jailing of three pro-democracy activists last week. The men were initially given non-custodial sentences for their involvement in mass protests in 2014. The court of appeal gave the activists jail terms of between six and eight months on Thursday. Their supporters believe the process was politically motivated. On Sunday, protesters marched to the Court of Final Appeal, where the three men are expected to take their case.

London

The Paddington to Penzance, Great Western Railway train partially left the track as it departed the station, passengers had to be evacuated but due to the low speed, no injuries were reported.

My World

I’ve had another rollercoaster ride of emotions this week –  unfortunately, I can’t go into specifics here but suffice it to say I triumphed over an extremely stressful situation and have been able to walk away with my head held high. I have also been able to see this as an opportunity to one day use the characterisation and emotions of what happened in a story, I wouldn’t write the actual story as people would probably think it is too far-fetched. lol

My Word

Due to personal circumstances I haven’t been able to write but my editor has sent me back the final proof of “Is This Love?’ and I am working through this now. I have also sent out my second newsletter.