I had a really lovely day on Tuesday – an away-day to Birmingham. Using the excuse of a business meeting I had lunch with the lovely Kim Nash who had booked us a table in Turtle Bay, just behind New Street Station. It’s a fabulous Caribbean restaurant, serving delicious food, wow cocktails and offering great service in great surroundings. When I left Euston it was drizzling; that awful damp almost-rain that has ruined the life of people like me with wavy hair, turning it frizzy.
But! In Birmingham the sun was shining. It was a beautiful day – and if the temperature had been a few degrees warmer we could have been in Antigua. Well, almost…… Kim, as always, was on top form – bubbling over with ideas to bring my wonderful books to readers the world over who have not found them yet. Here we are enjoying ourselves in the photo.
Knocking back the cocktails in Turtle Bay
The food was beyond yummy – we both had the Caribbean Chicken Curry – and the time absolutely flew by.
Before Kim left for Hednesford she accompanied me to the Bull, where I was meeting my dear old friend Lyn – or Brain as I’ve always affectionately called her. We went for coffee in Waterstones and then, later, our tongues not having stopped since we both squealed “Hello!” and hugged in front of the Bull, we went along to Jamie’s for a spot of dinner before I got the train back to Euston again. But not before having a stroll through the Christmas Market, It was bright, colourful atmospheric – everything a Christmas Market should be and a great end to my lovely day out. Great cocktails, to-die-for food, sunny weather, Christmas Market, making business plans, catching up and spending time with two of my dearest friends. No wonder I felt as if I was on my holidays!
Tennis, usually fairly uncontroversial and conservative, has been in the news over the weekend. First of all, a reported fall-out between Federer and Stan Wawrinka over remarks Federer’s wife – who spends her life sitting watching him playing tennis – made about Wawrinka during their ATP Finals semi-final match on Saturday night. Federer has since insisted that he and Stan are on good terms and that the press ‘made something of it’. Then, we hear of dissent and ill-feeling in Spain, where a woman, Gala Leon, has just been appointed Davis Cup captain. Toni Nadal, uncle and coach of the gorgeous Rafa, had asked how much a woman could know about men’s tennis. Leon responded by saying she wasn’t going to apologise for being a woman, leading to Rafa wading in, accusing her of starting a ‘false and absurd debate on feminism’. Rafa – I love you to death, you are my favourite player – but didn’t your uncle throw the first stone?
As I’m still not allowed to drive for another two weeks, I am going everywhere on public transport. Not always pleasant, but I had to stifle a giggle yesterday as I overheard the following on the 193:
Old Lady One: She reckons he’s gay.
Old Lady Two: Does she? Is he?
Old Lady One: I think he is. My John said to me once that he thought he was probably OCDC.
And finally – I want you all to know that I’m bringing out a Christmas Book as a gift for all my loyal readers. Details of how you can get it coming shortly!
