Celebrate the small things ...

I'm celebrating a busy and productive writing week. 

• I have outlined and planned a new writing project.
• Written about 10,000 words of said project
• And set up a new writing space in the spare bedroom. I think this is going to really help me over the coming weeks as I return to the day job after the summer holidays. I can leave all my things out and know they are going to be there when I return! It is quieter and away from the general hustle and bustle of the rest of the house and with a nice view from the window. Only problem now is what to do when guests want to stay!

This post is part of the weekly celebrations hop.

Thanks to Lexa and her lovely co-hosts

 L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge 

Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog

Happy weekend

Celebrate the small things ...

Hello lovely followers. Sorry I disappeared again for a while, it's that time of year for family, friends and of course writing!

I have also spent a fabulous few days in Oxford with hubby. It was a bit of a spur of the moment thing after we had been visiting family and we decided to detour for a couple of days. I have only visited this lovely city once before, and that was for about two hours in the freezing cold, so I have been wanting to go back for a longer visit for ages.

It is full of all sorts of history, and some amazing building and architecture . . .

A couple of pictures taken around the Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe. The eagle eyed amongst you may recognise just a glimpse of a Harry Potter movie set. Whilst some filming did take place here, the films were so successful, purpose built sets were later used as it was much less restrictive.

Hertford Bridge (often referred to as the Bridge of Sighs due to its similarity to the Venetian bridge).

Blenheim Palace (just a few miles outside Oxford). Home of the 12th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winstan Churchill. 

And some famous literary haunts . . . 

The Eagle and Child public house was a frequent meeting place for an Oxford writing group called The Inklings, whose members included none other than C.S Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien! We had lunch here so I could soak up some writerly vibes!

Not the best photo but the quote reads :

"My happiest hours are spent with 3 or 4 old friends in old clothes tramping together and putting up in small pubs." C.S. Lewis

A couple of other notable literary connections include, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898) better known as Lewis Carroll author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and the sequel, Through the Looking-Glass (1872). He came to Oxford as an undergraduate student and later became a tutor. He remained there for the rest of his life.

Philip Pullman, award wining author of the His Dark Materials Trilogy, (The Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) studied and made his home in the area. The Northern Lights was made into the film, The Golden Compass. 

Just a few names here, but I could go on!

I have recently treated myself to this . . . 

 I fell in love with this cute bag!

This post is part of the weekly celebrations hop.

Thanks to Lexa and her lovely co-hosts

 L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge 

Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog

Happy weekend

A mid summer check in .....

Thought I would drop by the blog and let you know what I've been up to recently.  I'm still likely to be a bit sporadic around these parts for another week or so as I am taking every opportunity to focus on my writing at the moment. I even have the germ of a new idea fizzing about my head and a new character that just won't go away! I want to sit down and make some notes and see if it can lead somewhere. I think it could be interesting.

Anyway, outside of writing and continuing with some submissions what else have I been doing on my summer break so far?

Well, I went away for a week with the family to Menorca. We had a great week, relaxing, sightseeing and generally re-charging the batteries. Here are a few pics.

The little cove was beautiful and the sea so clear it was almost like swimming in an aquarium. The down side was that there were about 180 steps back up! In the heat we certainly got some exercise, which was probably a good job as we fell in love with this delicious local cake and ate far too much of it!

 Ensaimada is a traditional product of the Balearic Islands. A dough mixture of flour, eggs, sugar, yeast, milk and lard. We particularly liked the one filled with a creamy custard. It is surprising light and easy to eat! My daughter is actually trying to recreate this in the kitchen as I type! I wonder what it will taste like?

I am looking forward to catching up with some old friends at the weekend. Old in the sense I have known them like .... forever not that they are past it or anything! (Just in case any of you happen to read this!)

Finally for today, I would just like to officially wish my blog buddy Helen Maslin huge congratulations and lots of luck on the recent release of her debut novel Darkmere. A YA ghost story published by Chicken House. Helen is a wonderfully supportive lady and her success is well deserved. I'm sure she is headed for great things. Check it out on Amazon or goodreads