Tag Archives: Avocado Cottage

Something In Your Soul Dies

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There’s a very moving Spanish song – I think it’s a Sevillana – which says “When a friend leaves, something in your soul dies.’  Now as much as I enjoyed the song, I never really thought about the words; never really took in their English translation.  Until 21st August.

On that day one of my oldest and closest friends died.  We met on our first day at grammar school.  She was a lively girl, smart and popular.  We were both good swimmers and were selected to go to special training at the South East Essex Technical College pool (later University … Read the rest »

Signed, Sealed and Bittersweet

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We. Have. Completed.

Finally.

The story of the Sale of Avocado Cottage is a book in itself, spread over possibly the longest, most stressful year of my life. I have written about some of what happened – much of which you couldn’t make up. And many things went on that made this possibly the longest sale of property in history!

For example; when the buyers went to the Loans Officer at CUB to apply for a mortgage in December she told them they don’t usually do mortgages in December, only car loans. And this certainly seemed to be the case … Read the rest »

Plot Twist!

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I was hoping – convinced rather – that this post would be full of joy and happiness, telling you how the sale of Avocado Cottage was going through and that shortly I’d be grabbing the cash and moving onto the next stage of my life’s journey.

But it hasn’t worked out like that…

The buyers have disappeared.  Yes, quite literally.  Here’s what happened:  Angele, the buyer, an Antiguan who lives in Canada, said they’d be in Antigua in June to go ahead with the sale.  I asked if she could be sending details so that my solicitor could be getting … Read the rest »

Ev’ry Little Ting

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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 »

Encounters of the Bovine Kind

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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 »

Rollercoaster

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January is turning out to be a bit of a rollercoaster ride.  And like most rollercoasters, it’s fast and furious.  Today it is already 20th; eleven more days and it will be February.  Scary or what?  As Einstein said, ‘Time is an illusion.’ (I tell myself that every birthday.)  But is it an illusion that it definitely speeds up as one becomes older, or does it actually speed up?

So, ‘what’s made it a rollercoaster ride?’ I hear you ask.  The answer is that loads is going on and it’s all sooooooo exciting!  Professionally I’m involved with four projects now, … Read the rest »

Releasing Holiday Reads….Two-handed!

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Well!  It is my great pleasure to tell you that HOLIDAY READS is now available on Kindle!  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00L4K4R40?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

It contains seven quirky little stories that I hope will keep you entertained on your sun-lounger, or wherever you might be spending your summer hols, even if it’s lying on the sofa in your own living-room or sitting in your back garden.  Pour yourself a nice glass of your favourite tipple, put your feet up and …ENJOY!!

And I was actually able to publish it using BOTH hands.  Because my operation was cancelled.  I was being prepped on Tuesday when told that … Read the rest »

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

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So – I’m back in Blighty!  The last few days in Antigua passed in a blur of activity. There was filming; the pilot episode of the Amazing Adventures of Maisie and Em.  We shot right up until 3pm on Sunday and I had to be at the airport for 6!!  Great fun, though, and kudos to all concerned.  So laidback!!  I’ve never been on a shoot where the actors are the first ones there – but hey! – there’s a first time for everything!  And I have to say, that once everyone arrived it all went so well.  Apart from … Read the rest »

Credit Where Credit’s Due

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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 »

Island Life

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Me chilled!

Although it’s been (yet another!) flying visit, which is rapidly racing towards its end when I board BA 2156 tomorrow evening to head back to Gatwick, I can say I feel much more relaxed now that when I arrived. Even with the bit of racing around I’ve had to do, I do feel as if I’ve had a break, which is the whole point of having Avocado Cottage, nuh?

I’ve had a couple of lovely social events; dinner with B & C on their water-front veranda under a full moon.  Perfect!  This is one of the loveliest spots … Read the rest »