(Written 22nd March but not posted until 23rd due to lack of internet).
Well, today marks a week since I arrived. As always, I look around and think “Where has a week gone?” but at least I can say I’ve made great inroads into HOLIDAY READS 2, which will be out in May.
I also try to take time just to enjoy being here and not beat myself up if I don’t spend every moment of every waking day writing. On Thursday afternoon I decided to take myself out for a while, having been home all day writing. I drove to Fort James, which overlooks the entrance to St John’s Harbour. I took my notebook with me and before I knew it, this wonderful spot had been such an inspiration that I had plotted the rest of the stories and completed the back-stories to the main characters. of course, the won
Baby mangos!
derful rum punch helped! So I thought I’d have another one.
BIG MISTAKE!
Wow! I know that I am the biggest lightweight in the world when it comes to alcohol, but I felt giddy when I was less than halfway down the second one. Now, I’d driven there, so I knew I had to be responsible. So, I slowly drank the rest of it, while watching the most spectacular sunset. There were no clouds in the way so I had an amazing view of the sun, this huge orange orb, disappearing behind the sea. Magic! Absolute Magic! And then, I enjoyed the post sunset sky which was glorious. And just before it got dark, my ‘giddiness’ has passed and I drove home. Wonderful afternoon. My only regret is that I didn’t have my iPad with me to capture it on camera – allbeit wonkily due to the rum punches! My UK phone gets put away as soon as I arrive as the roaming charges are outrageous and the little Samsung payg I use here is so ancient it has no camera. So no photographic evidence to show you but there will be others I’m sure before I leave. Meanwhile, I share with you the photos of the budding mangoes on one of my trees! *Does happy dance round the garden*.
Unfortunately, I don’t think they’ll be big enough by the time I leave. I wish it were mango season all year round. Together with papaya they are my favourite fruit, not least because they are anti-inflammatory. TFWFA** arrived for breakfast a couple of mornings ago and presented me with a huge papaya (titter ye not!!) as he knows I love them. De-lish-us! He’s had man-flu for a couple of days. How he’s suffered, yet he’s been sooo brave!
It’s been lovely seeing other friends again, too – and I have some more ‘dates’ I’m looking forward to this week very much and especially looking forward to the big Maisie and Em production meeting we’re having as soon as the Producer arrives. 🙂
I’m sleeping very well here, until the little dog opposite gets let out for a wee at 6 and he becomes my own alarm clock. But I brought some gorgeous 400 thread sheets with me – from Wilkos’s of all places! Absolutely gorgeous and luxurious. Second only to silk. And I’m sure they are playing a huge part in my restful nights.
The Daughter is in her final 24 hours in Thailand now. I know she has had an absolute blast. The last week or so she’s been in places where the wi-fi has been on and off and it’s been its usual erratic self here so we haven’t been able to Skype. I can’t wait to hear all about it first hand. It’s been a real holiday of a lifetime. In the pgotos she looks so happy, and that’s all we want for our kids, isn’t it?
