Author Archives: Elaine Spires

Hastings Rocks

Posted on by
2

This post has nothing to do with the coastal town. It. Does. Not. Rather, it is about – and to the letter I might add – the unlikely sex symbol Superintendent Ted Hastings, leader of AC12 in the BBC’s terribly good series Line of Duty, which ended on Sunday night.

When I first saw it, halfway through Series Two, I didn’t like him much because with his once-red-now-grey hair, rather large nose and certain awkwardness, he looked like the ex-Principal of the sixth form college where I once had the misfortune of working. He was a complete, misogynist, too, although … Read the rest »

Bubbly on Arrival

Posted on by
Reply

On the night she won the French Open in 2015, her 20th Gran Slam Singles title, the incredible Serena Williams celebrated by having a Chinese takeaway and then watching the Little Mermaid on her laptop in bed. Now not many people know that! I only do because I watched the documentary “Serena” on my flight back to Antigua. And have you heard the news? She is apparently twenty weeks pregnant. Which means she won the Australian Open back in January without dropping a set while pregnant! I flew back in Economy, as it was a Virgin flight and I don’t … Read the rest »

Island Girls

Posted on by
Reply

What a wonderful week it was when the Daughter settled into her new life on Ibiza. This photo was taken at Cala Conta on a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon. We’d had a lovely weekend exploring all corners and coasts of the White Island as the Daughter refreshed her knowledge of the place where she spent her early childhood; where she’s chosen to settle down.

I was full of admiration for her, the way she hit the ground running, starting her new job just fifteen hours after our plane touched down. She’s taken to it all like a duck to water … Read the rest »

Private Jet? Almost!

Posted on by
1

What a difference thirty years made! Regular readers will remember my post from last year- The Great Escape – https://www.elainespires.co.uk/journal/2016/06/the-great-escape/ in which I shared what happened on 18th June 1986 when I left Ibiza with my four-year-old.

In that post I explained we had one battered, loaned suitcase containing a change of clothes for the Daughter and a clean pair of knickers for myself.

Yesterday, we came back.

The Daughter is moving back to her roots and I came along to help. As you can see, we have slightly more than one case this time- but only the little, red … Read the rest »

Ginger Is My New Chocolate

Posted on by
Reply

Oh, yes!
If ginger were a man I’d want to marry him and have his babies! I am hopelessly, madly, deeply, drunkenly in luuurve with ginger; with the look of it, the feel of it, the taste of it and the smell of it. I find myself sneaking a peek at it and then reaching out to touch it and then inhaling its rich, uniqueness. I add it to just about everything – especially smoothies: banana, papaya, coconut water and ginger. Heaven in a glass! This could be the end of my lifelong love affair with chocolate…

It’s been a … Read the rest »

Ev’ry Little Ting

Posted on by
Reply

It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster week; certainly one that’s sped by. I mean, how can today be 4th February 2017? What happened to January? And Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday?

I psyched myself up for my dentist’s visit on Wednesday morning but I needn’t have worried. I didn’t feel a thing and recovered amazingly well – no bleeding, no pain once the anaesthetic wore off, no need to take any painkillers. Magic! And I know that this speedy recovery is down to my little yellow pills. 🙂

I’m suffering with severe writer’s block. It’s not been … Read the rest »

In Pain!

Posted on by
Reply

Ouch!   Ouch!  Ouch!  Ouch!  Ouch!

I’ve had toothache for several days; one of the big ones right at the back 🙁 and it’s sending a throbbing pain all up my jaw.  Oh, woe is me!!   I have a pain-threshold that is about minus fifteen on a scale of one to ten, so I’ve been taking loads of pain-killers resulting in me floating through the week and seeing the world through a haze.  Finally, this morning I went along to see the dentist only for her to tell me she couldn’t extract it as it’s infected. 😭😭😭 So it’s a week … Read the rest »

My Inner Fanny Craddock

Posted on by
Reply

A couple of days ago I took the decision to cook as many of my meals as possible from scratch, thus avoiding additives, nasty chemicals and hidden sugar. I have to say, I’m really enjoying the planning, shopping, chopping, peeling and other prep, and not least of all, the eating! I’m following recipes by the wonderful Eat2Win website and have so far made avocado eggs, overnight oats and lime and coriander chicken with 50-50 mash (and have portions of it in the freezer, too). Want to see?
Overnight Oats. Avocadoeggs and Lime and Coriander Chicken with 50-50 Mash Overnight Oats.

IMG_1944

IMG_1945

They all tasted much better than they looked. Delicious!! Tomorrow I’m … Read the rest »

Finally – A Post!

Posted on by
Reply

So, I’m starting off 2017 with a HUGE apology for being so absent at the end of last year and the beginning of this one. A very belated

The couple of weeks before I left Antigua to spend Christmas and New Year in England just flew by and with the best will in the world I couldn’t find much time to update you all on my activities. Enough to say, I finally published SINGLES AT SEA – Hooray! Hooray! And it’s available on Kindle only at the moment – sorry but it will be out in paperback very soon. Meanwhile, … Read the rest »

Singles at Sea Sets Sail

Posted on by
2

Excited much! Singles at Sea, the fourth book in my Singles’ Series is now available on Kindle. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Singles-At-Sea-Book-ebook/dp/B01N9MZSH4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1483174256&sr=8-4&keywords=singles+at+sea

Eve takes her group of singles on a cruise to Amsterdam and the Norwegian Fjords.

I look forward to your feedback. Enjoy!… Read the rest »