Encounters of the Bovine Kind

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Elaine Spires

Last Thursday afternoon I needed to go into St John’s to get a few odds and ends. I walked down the lane and sat on the little wall under the huge tamarind tree to wait for the bus. It was a glorious afternoon, hot and sunny, the sky the brightest of blues with billows of white cloud here and there but the breeze was minimal. So I sat under the tree, fanning myself with my hand to try and cool down, while clutching my new shopping, free bags.

Aren’t they nice? Antigua went plastic-bag-free on lst July and the supermarkets … Read the rest »

Career Change

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Elaine Spires

I said he’d do it in four, but it only took Andy Murray three sets to win Wimbledon again. Yay! And what a day it was for British tennis! (Never thought I’d be typing that!!) Not only did Andy win the Men’s Singles, Heather Watson, with dishy Finn Henri Kontinen beside her, won the Mixed Doubles. And, Jordanne Wiley won the Ladies Wheelchair Doubles, with Yui Kamiji of Japan. AND, Gordon Reid won not only the Men’s Wheelchair Singles but the Doubles as well! What an achievement!

I’m at a bit of a loose end this morning as it’s all … Read the rest »

Mangoes, Middle Sunday and the Daughter Goes Viral

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Elaine Spires

Yes, what a thing! The Daughter stopped in her tracks on Friday as she was whizzing through Waterloo Station at her usual pace when she saw the Ghost Soldiers – each one representing a soldier who actually died at the Battle of the Somme, 1st July 1916. She was so moved, she took a photo of them.

And it actually went viral – more than 2.1million views. As she said herself #anythingKimcando These are the kind of pictures that should “break” the internet, in my opinion. Not Kim Kardashian’s bum. Which is actually smaller than mine, by the way!

Well, … Read the rest »

Broadway Babe

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Elaine Spires

Regular readers will have heard me sing Julie Barker’s praises before. I have written about her talents as a choreographer (in Melabeau Productions’ Cinderella) and actress (in Melabeau Productions’ Vagina Monologues) and she shared her Hot Holidays! with us last year. Well, as well as working as a choreographer and actress, Julie is also the principal of a large stage school – Tip Toes.

Julie has always been supportive to all her students and has actively encouraged them to audition for professional productions in Essex and the West End. For years she has put troupes into professional and charity shows. … Read the rest »

Super, Satisfying Saturday

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Elaine Spires

When I got Saturday mornings back a couple of weeks ago, I decided not to waste them. After all, one of the reasons that influenced my decision was the fact that if I used the time productively on my writing, that I could write another book in a short space of time. So, I got up early this morning and spent two hours working on my next novel, which has the working title, The Banjo. Then I went and got the paper, prepared my vegetable smoothie and took my place in the armchair, from which I have had to be … Read the rest »

Fingers and Newly Pedicured Toes Crossed

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Elaine Spires

My iPad has been playing up, hence my silence on the blog. It’s thrown out my hotmail and is taking slow to another level. Two nights ago I fell asleep as it was buffering so long while I was waiting to comment on someone’s post on Facebook. So, if you’ve e-mailed me or messaged me and I haven’t replied, my apologies, and this is the reason why. It’s also messed up my Skype. I’ve Skyped the Daughter several times and can see it’s ringing on the screen, yet she tells me it’s not ringing and her Skype has no record … Read the rest »

Mature Professional Lady

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Elaine Spires

I sometimes forget I’m a qualified aromatherapist. Because I haven’t practised for a number of years I’ve, lamentable, got out of the habit of using aromatherapy oils, which is such a shame as their power and influence is benignly wonderful. This week I’ve been feeling really down. Several factors have influenced this, not least of all the loss of Martine. But besides that I feel as if someone’s taken my life and thrown it up in the air and all I can do is wait for the pieces to fall into place, which I don’t like!!

First of all, I … Read the rest »

Credit Where Credit’s Due

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Elaine Spires

I woke up this morning to the disappointing news that Andy Murray has gone out of the US Open in the quarter-finals. Boo! Boo! I would have like to see him defend his title – and so would he, I’m sure. Never mind, he’s done so well this year taking the Wimbledon title and there’s still the Masters at the O2 in November. Meanwhile my only cry can now be – VAMOS RAFA!

One thing I was glad for on waking was the drop in temperature. I’m all heated-out. The flat I’m living in is like an oven. It has … Read the rest »

Saturday is Special

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Elaine Spires

I like Saturdays. When I was young I used to think it was a magical day. The day was one that you could spend doing whatever you liked free from the restraints of school and Saturday night was Big Night Out. A dance at St Elizabeth’s Church Hall and I thought I’d died and gone to Heaven. And yesterday was another magical Saturday; an emotional roller coaster…

I had a fabulous class with my Junior Dramas at Stages Studios. The youngsters are so talented and I love teaching them and seeing what they’re capable of. Magic.

And then a private … Read the rest »

Research, Wobbly Girl and a Train Ride to Nowhere

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Elaine Spires

I’ve been forging ahead with Singles in India over the last couple of days, you’ll be pleased to hear. I spent two hours yesterday afternoon researching wines of India. It was quite fascinating and what I’d intended to be a quick look-up on the internet, turned into an in-depth read. And what’s also interesting – well, to me at least! – is how fond I’m becoming of my characters. Singles in India includes four characters my regular readers will already know from two of my previous books, plus a group of new ones. I’d intended to have a couple of … Read the rest »

The Journal of Elaine Spires

Novelist, playwright and actress

Tag Archives: Andy Murray