It’s Advent! For gals like me, who get into a right froth of excitement about Christmas, this is one of the best times of the year. The tree is up, as are most of the decorations round the house, the meat is ordered, the booze is chilling in the garage and I’m contemplating opening the yuletide sherry. If this newsletter descends into incoherence ( Read more... )

Well, it didn’t come home, but I did. And if that makes no sense, the first part refers to the football world cup, although the England lads did much better than expected, while the second part refers to our return after our trip around parts of the east of Scotland. Oh, I do like a holiday, but you can’t beat coming home.

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Forgive me if I’ ( Read more... )

Well, we had summer last weekend! Now the heating is back on an I look out of the window wondering if it’s next autumn already.

Looking for a winner

Are you the person I’m looking for? I picked the winner at my autism blog hop post, but they haven’t responded. If you commented a fortnight ago, can you just check if you won, please?

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I’m starting with one apology looking back and another looking forwards. I’m sorry that the usual every-other-Friday newsletter due last week is delayed until today. I’ve been struggling with a respiratory tract infection that’s still here after ten days so nothing very useful is getting done. Looking ahead, we’re about to embark on a cruise, so ( Read more... )

It is the best of times it is the worst of times. By which I mean the Six Nations rugby tournaments - men’s, women’s and under-20s - starts this weekend. So I have the bliss of wall-to-wall rugby and the agony of wondering if England can win overall in any of the three categories. “Swing low, sweet chariot…”

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Top story this week is that I’ ( Read more... )

A happy new year to one and all! (I checked with someone today and they reckoned you can wish people all the best for the year ahead right up until March. I won’t test that out, though.) I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are fit and raring to go for 2018

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Monday sees the release of the third Lindenshaw mysteries book, “Two Feet Under” ( Read more... )

If you could see me, you'd notice me grinning like a grinny thing because since the last newsletter I’ve done one of the things on my bucket list. Mr. C and I have been to a talk given by (and we were able to meet!) one of my heroes, the rugby referee Nigel Owens. He was absolutely hilarious and the whole evening was great ( Read more... )

Now, I hate to depress or excite you, depending upon how you view these things, but it’s one month to Christmas Eve. I’m in the excited camp, and I have to confess that this week I’ve been getting out my Christmas playlists. Before I get all mistletoe and wine, though, I’d like to wish (slightly belatedly) a happy Thanksgiving to those of you who ( Read more... )

A conversation in my garden (although mainly in my head):
Me: It’s November. There have been frosts. Isn’t it time to stop growing/flowering?
Roses, lobelia, sweet peas, etc: La, la, la, not listening.
Welcome to the topsy turvey world of Cochrane central.

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Lots to report again.  Call to Arms is out from Manifold and - with my reader’s hat on ( Read more... )

St. Luke is certainly giving us a wonderful “little summer” this year. Still mild here (almost like real summer a couple of times this week) even if the autumn colours are starting to come into their own. I’m hoping that October is ending as gloriously where you are.

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It’s been an incredibly busy few weeks, with an equally busy time ahead. ( Read more... )