OCTOBER ….

This post, although written well before 31st October, has become like a sticky toffee paper on the bottom of my shoe. It’s reluctant to be dislodged, keen to stay where it is. It seems to me that since I left the workplace behind, the endless amount of time I thought I would have, meaning I’d get so much more done, has not, in fact materialised. Instead, I always seem to have quite a lengthy ‘to do’ list. What is worse, because unlike work any urgency to get a piece of work out (i.e. my monthly update) is all down to me and doesn’t affect anyone if it’s late. However, I am now finishing up and today (10th November) it will be published.

29th October, 2023

It seems that 2023 is now on some sort of toboggan run as October has simply flown by. It’s been a really strange few weeks. Returning from an amazing holiday in the Italian Lakes – clear blue skies and 34 degrees for seven whole days – both of us went down with a virus the day after landing at Bristol Airport. Was it Covid’s latest offering? Well not according to the rapid flow test we both took. Whatever it was, we spent three weeks trying to shake it off, the first ten days indoors and avoiding everyone. It felt as if we were going back to the good old days of 2020. A week after we stepped out into the world again, we had our Covid and Flu shots at our local medical centre. Just as last year, it was well organised, with minimum waiting time and thankfully not much in the way of side effects other than hot, aching upper arms for 24 hours.

Since then, life has got back to normal. I’ve written a Christmas gift list and am now working out what to buy – a complete headache, but I hate copping out and giving everyone gift vouchers. The predictable envelope isn’t half as much fun as a festively wrapped package. I’ve also bought my cards which are tucked away ready for another dose of writer’s cramp as I sign and seal, ready to post. I’ve cut down the number this year as the postal rates are simply crazy. I remember back in the 80s when the Boy Scouts were allowed to issue a specially reduced priced postage stamp which would enable them to deliver local Christmas cards. Sadly, those days are long gone. For Christmas shopping we usually alternate between Salisbury and Winchester. This year it’s Winchester’s turn. The huge open area surrounding the cathedral enables the city to set its Christmas market well away from the main shopping area. Although crowded, it gives good access and isn’t such a crush as many other markets are.

Writing is progressing slowly. I have a few other plans which have taken my attention away, but I hope to be back on course soon.

Of course the monthly news wouldn’t be complete without listing my reading for the month. Of particular mention are Wendy Dranfield’s Her Lonely Bones – the sixth in her Detective Madison Harper series and yet another unputdownable read. Then Jenny O’Brien, The Puppet Maker and Alex Pine’s The Night before Christmas, both of which are addictive reads and highly recommended.

So that’s all for now until the end of November. Since our return from Italy in mid-September, the weather going into autumn has given us brief glimpses of sunshine amongst the wind and rain. However, I always choose a background image on my PC to remind me that the winter will eventually end and the better weather will be with us once again. On this occasion, I’ve chosen one of the shots from our Italian holiday. It reminds me of that afternoon when after a two hour ferry journey, we disembarked in Garda town for a wander and some lunch. Great holiday memories and looking forward to more in 2024.