Day of Rest

Bless - Thank you. I think I am going to have to speak to a doctor if it doesn't clear up soon. 

Sharon - I don't think it's Covid and they aren't currently testing for it unless in particular circumstances, but I'm taking precautions now. Even if it's just a cold, I have to be considerate. No-one would want this lurgy!

Eileen - Thank you.

Cherie - Thank you! A whole leg from a roast ox should keep you going for a bit!

I feel like rubbish. I'm not sure that I'm poorly anymore. I think that I'm just tired and feeling the end of the virus. DH had it earlier and it really wiped him out, so I suppose I can expect to drag on for a while yet. Bear has a cough but doesn't seem ill in himself. In fact, he seems fine. 

I am going to get an early night, and after drop off tomorrow come straight home to avoid spreading any of this (though I think it's pretty much over apart from the after effects), and then spend some time working out a self-care strategy. 

Hugs and good health to all. 

Self Pity Continues

Sharon - thank you! There is just something about a candle that is a psychological warm!

Bless - thank you.

Cherie - I've enough candles in to roast an ox! And I'm seriously considering what sort of food I can serve cold. 

Eileen - We have another week of term and fingers crossed bear is fine so far. 

My stomach is now affected. No-one needs the details. I am still coughing a lot and I'm making a conscious choice to avoid shops as much as possible in case I'm spreading something gruesome. I am also feeling quite run down. 

Writing stuff - I'm still a little off balance about how well the free book went, but quite proud. I hope that I can keep up the momentum. And speaking of which, the last piece for the October Frights Blog Hop is here. Three Furies press have published the last instalment of the pieces I did on research here as well. I had such a blast writing it.

Image from Unsplash, taken by Alexander Grey

Hugs and good health to all. 

Pull Myself Together

Eileen - thank you so much! I know that it's a small thing in the grand scheme of things, but it's a big deal to me.

Bless - thank you! I'm still feeling a little under the weather, but improving.

This cold/cough has seriously taken it out of me. At least I was able to pick up bear this evening and I was glad to do so. The poor kid was falling asleep in the car! And I also managed to pick up bear's trousers which have been at the Click and Collect point for nearly a week. I'm starting to make plans for tomorrow. I'm still wearing a mask and a load of sanitiser if I go into a shop. I do not want to spread this!

I need to be more aware and not buy random stuff. I bought bear school trousers from Marks and Spencers as they had the best combo of long leg and skinny waist. While I was there I sort of accidentally bought another candle. It was £7.50 and advertised as up to 75 hours burning so it could be worse. I'm sure that we will get the benefit. I just don't need another dratted candle. 

Writing stuff - Today is Day Three of October Frights Blog Hop. I missed an installment yesterday, but here's the start of a horror story - Rat

Hugs and good health to all. 

Lots and Lots of Writing Stuff

Bless - thank you. I wonder if it would be too warm for virginia creeper in your garden. I'm considering sneaking a cutting next spring (if I can work out how) and see if I can stealthily plant it against the laurels and the fence facing us. 

I'm feeling a lot better, though still sniffly. I've had something of a surprise. You see, it's October Frights and I put Dinner at Dark free until 14th October as a sort of promotion. 

It has got as far as Number 3 in the Sci Fi and Fantasy short reads section for free books. I took a screen shot to prove it to myself.

I'm technically a best seller. It's not a proper best seller because it's free, but it's done quite well. I feel all giddy about it! I have to say, I am not being flooded with offers or contacts or anything. It's not best seller like that. But it's giving me a glow and leaving me somewhat dazed. I put a post of it on my writing blog here.

I'll catch up tomorrow when I hope that I've not only floated back to earth but also got rid of the last of this cold!

Hugs and good health to all. 

Fed Up But With Extra Writing Stuff

Cherie - I'll have plenty of practice getting the waffles warm. For some reason I bought boxes of the things!

Bless - thank you - I feel hugged.

Yesterday I fell apart because I couldn't find bear's school trousers (he'd taken them and put them away). Today I fell apart because it took me ten minutes to find the sauce that DH likes for the pasta bake (it was where it should be in the cupboard!) I drove bear to school, but was worried on the way home. I took an easy route, and it was before 8am so not the busiest, but I found myself losing concentration as I queued and I have been feeling very low. In the end, I told bear to get the bus home. DH is going to have to take bear to his violin lesson. I don't feel safe to drive. I wish I could nap - that would really help, but it just isn't happening. I'm considering upgrading this to a mild flu. 

In added news, the microwaved didn't heat the falafel at lunch, which was not only a waste and made me feel worse, but makes me suspect that we need a new microwave. It seems hardly any time since we got this one, but I remember that I got it extremely cheap. 

There is always lovely things to see, though. As I parked up, I saw this. I may have posted a pic of similar before, as it happens every year. The virginia creeper on the school fence turns the most amazing shade of scarlet and crimson and then the rising sun hits it.

That is not paint on the leaves or photo shop. The shadows look odd, but it's a genuine pic. It made me smile. I'll see if I can get another shot tomorrow.

Writing stuff - Today I finally got the last instalment of Under Dark Hills finished here. Be warned, it's quite long. It's also the first day of the October Frights Blog Hop so Dinner at Dark ebook is once again free on Amazon. I think I set it to be free everywhere, but I'm not brilliant at the whole Amazon thing. It seemed the obvious choice as it's the story before Under Dark Hills. There are links to other authors taking part in the blog hop, so feel free to check them out. If you are reading it, Please let me know if you are interested in seeing more of the characters from Under Dark Hills, I'd love to know know what you think. And now I am going away as I need to get tomorrow's post set up and I'm feeling like some steampunk horror. I can more or less find the keyboard, so let's see if I can get some writing done!

Tired

Eileen and Bless - thank you!

Today I have failed at writing. However I got enough done so that tomorrow should see the end of the 'Under Dark Hills' story and the first part of the October Frights Blog Hop. 

I'm hit and miss at the moment. I can do well for hours and then I'm collapsing. It's not fun. I suspect I have a few more days of it left, but I'll see how it goes. The cough is wearing me down.

At least I managed dinner. I got a delivery and we had fresh chicken fried up with curry sauce, onions and peas served over frozen potato waffles. It hit the spot. I have also eaten a ridiculous amount of ice cream. I've managed to make sure bear has clean clothes for tomorrow, and that we are all more or less in one piece. 

I will have to stick to writing tomorrow if I'm going to hit any goals. I'll share if I manage anything else.

Hugs and good health to all.

Stories coming soon...

Could Be Worse

 Bless - thank you.

Eileen - I get whta I call 'sick headaches' which are usually better if I am sick but can be fairly foul until I do. I suspect it's currently sinuses but I'm so unimpressed.

This morning, I went to the bin and noticed some new leaves on the honeysuckle.

If it thinks that it's spring, it's out of luck.

I'm dotting between watching Strictly Come Dancing, reading the original version of Dracula, researching Victorian London and coughing a lot. I'm sure that I'll be better tomorrow. 

Hugs and good health to all.