This year has gone past even quicker than usual. I can’t believe it’s October already. In September I went to Bordeaux with a very good friend and we spent two wonderful days there before going on to a writing retreat. This wasn’t what we’d expected and we both decided we’d have written a lot more if we’d stayed at home. The fact that I was unwell more than half of the time I was there certainly didn’t help.
I think when I catch a virus it triggers a relapse of Long Covid which isn’t fun. I’ve also had an infected ingrowing toenail – it sounds amusing but I can assure you that it isn’t – and had the surgery last Monday. All seemed to be going well until yesterday when it became really painful and I’ve got to go back and see my podiatrist tomorrow. I really want to feel well again but my immune system appears to be compromised and I catch one thing after another. Thank goodness most of the time I can still write, see my family and friends and have my wonderful, mischievous adorable cat Loki to keep me company.
My friend and I decided that holidays abroad are no longer something we want to do so in future any breaks I take will be in the UK where I can get home or see a doctor without any problems. I’ll be going to Bath for a few days next summer and to London for a couple of days in May, but apart from that I have nothing planned. I intend to let my passport will expire and not renew it.
The first of my backlist books,The Land Girl’s Secret, previously called Hannah’s War, is out today and I hope there are still sufficient readers who haven’t already seen this book to make it successful. It’s certainly got a wonderful cover. I handed in the second book in my new The Army Girls, series but I’ve yet to hear from my editor if she likes it. I think she will as it’s more romantic than the last one. Today is the day I should start writing the third book in the series but, fortunately, I’ve already written ten thousand words so there’s no panic for a few days if I don’t get on with it. The first book, The Army Girls Report for Duty, is on pre order and will be out on November 2.
The fifty over cricket World Cup starts in a few days and that will keep me busy – fortunately it’s in India so the time difference isn’t so extreme as when it’s in Australia or New Zealand. We’re the current holders of the cup and I really think we can win it again – I’m going to enjoy watching as long as England do well. I’ve also been watching, binge watching, Madam Secretary and think this is the best thing I’ve seen this year. I just wish that American politics was really like this.
My garden has been fantastic and I know will be even better next year when the plants are more established. My ornamental gourds were too successful, I had to give more than half of them away. Some of them were the size of pumpkins – I’d no idea I’d got such different seeds. I’ll definitely grow them again but not so many next time. Despite the weather insisting it’s still late summer it’s actually autumn and the flowers are fading and at the end of the month the landscapers will be back to trim, tidy and plant so it’s even better next spring and it was this year.
The shops are full of Christmas items and even my grandson thinks this is far too early. Someone told me that shops do this so those that are on a tight budget can buy a few extras every month and not have to By everything in December. If that’s actually the reason then I approve. I usually buy everything online this year I’m going to go to the only decent department store we have in the area –Fenwicks in Colchester– and buy all my gifts there. I won’t be doing that until next month and usually I finished my Christmas shopping by October.
Until next month
Fenella J Miller
is recovering, and a friend died suddenly. At my age you go to more funerals than weddings.
