Tomorrow

 

I’m in Spain again for a few days. A last minute decision, an unexpected surprise, and although this turned out to be a fruitful trip, the weather could have been a bit kinder. I have not seen any sunshine yet and I’m fed up with this rain. In fact, I can’t remember when I last had such awful weather in Spain. It is cold and damp and, as I type this blog, the thunderous applaud above just startled me so much that I had to go outside and see if everything around me was still standing. The dogs on the local farm are clearly not happy; the evidence of which, the dog’s chorus, the heavy rain pounding down on the rooftops, and the flashes of lightening and jolts of thunder, leave me just slightly home sick. Let’s just hope the power doesn’t go off again, a common occurrence in these parts, not to mention the roads are not ‘proper’ roads but country lanes, so there will be a fine mud bath when I dare to venture out. Strange how we soon get out of our comfort zone, but yes, take me back to Yorkshire please.

As I seem to be commuting more and more these days in many ways the timing was perfect as I dropped on some amazingly cheap flights. Wish I could do that more often!

I managed to fit in some social time as well as attend several business meetings, the trip beginning last Friday with a good old English breakfast on the coast, whilst listening to the music of Dave Bilbrough, the guy who wrote the song Abba Father, which heralded him into an almost instant global success. Now with over three decades in Christian music and several albums later, he is recognised as one of the Britain’s foremost Christian song writers. It was great to meet both him and his wife and listen to his story about his music career and his faith walk with Jesus.

I then went on to spend the rest of the day listening to Spanish gypsy music in a local tavern in an area about 35 minutes’ drive from the coast where, British ex-pats are still having trouble with the aftermath of illegal building. A good friend of mine appears to be one of the victims and is waiting for news as a local ex-Mayor was recently imprisoned and heavy fines imposed on the presiding council.  The Judge ordered the demolition of the properties, regardless of the fact that several contracts exist for the sale and purchase of the houses to third parties. Will this saga ever end and why should these people who put all their life savings into buying a property in Spain, trusting in their advisors and the legal system be penalised, whilst some of the very scoundrels and builders behind the projects seem to have done a runner? My friend now waits with baited breath.

http://www.costa-news.com/costa-almeria-news/item/926-prison-sentence-for-ex-zurgena-mayor

Just prior to leaving for the airport I was in the vicinity of that terrible crash on the M62 near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, involving the Hen party on the minibus. It makes you think about your faith; well it does me, because tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us, is it?

And I’m moaning about the weather. Get a grip Anna.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4904702/19-women-injured-in-minibus-horror-crash-with-lorry-on-M62.html

 

On that note I have a wedding this weekend which I am looking forward to and, I will be taking my fab little granddaughter who has never ever been to one. She is so excited. Bless!

So best wishes to the bride to be, and my prayers go out for the girls on the mini bus and their families.

Looking forward to seeing my family in a couple of days.

Anna

Homeward Bound

02 April 2013 09:00AM

Home is where the heart is and my heart is in Spain at the moment. Having said that, my first week over, I have escaped the desperately cold weather in the UK to enjoy some Spanish sunshine and celebrate Easter with friends old and new.  Feeling relaxed and refreshed, I can even boast about having done heaps of writing and still several days to go.

The fact is when I am not out socialising and dining with friends I really am in a perfect writing environment with nothing to distract me but a few chickens, the barking of the farmer’s dog and the occasional mewing of the peacocks next door. Yes I really am in rural Spain and loving it. Such a complete contrast from my busy life in the UK! Does it compare to the Yorkshire Dales? Well, maybe not quite but, it is beautiful in such a different way. This region is very mountainous, and not so green of course, but nevertheless special. The only slightly annoying factor being the strong winds since I have arrived here, which are all too common in this part of Spain. Pleasantly cooling during the hot summer months but, annoyingly they are apt to cause temporary power cuts. I can live with that. I have to live with that! Plenty of candles at hand, I hadn’t planned to waste my time on movies and soaps, so a mad dash to make a cup of tea between the cuts – Yorkshire tea of course – became fun after a while.

Seriously, it was not so bad. Yes the power did seem to go on and off a few times every night but only for short intervals.

Waking up this morning to sunshine I am still surprisingly looking forward to returning to Yorkshire, though I’m even more looking forward to returning to Spain at the beginning of May.  Meanwhile, London bound it seems I have been invited to the Actor’s Church – St Pauls – in Covent Garden, to what sounds to be an exciting evening of music from the great West End Shows.

Check it out.

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/5691202540#

Then back to the office in Yorkshire, writing retreat over and business to attend to. Naturally, I’m looking forward to seeing the family and not least, Butler and Gracie. Love you guys!

 

Will let you know what I thought of the Sunday night concert and just discovered that the West End Gospel Choir will also be there. How exciting is that?

Meanwhile still lots of writing to do. I will finish that book before I get that flight. That’s faith!

Chat soon.

 Anna

Sunshine and Snow

Actually, this blog doesn’t sound very exciting but in fact it is as it’s speaking of exciting things to come. I have to confess that I have left all you Yorkies behind and sped off to Spain. Fortunately for me, in between the chaos caused by the snow at Leeds-Bradford airport, there was a window of opportunity and I was able to fly without a huge delay. Seems I was one of the lucky ones, as the day before the early morning flights didn’t get airborne until late afternoon and, an eight hour delay is horrendously testing!

Sadly, due to circumstances beyond my control I was not able to do the planned visit to Bristol but things in life usually happen for a reason. I found that I was involved in other projects which were essential prior to my leaving for Spain. Sorry kids, apologies.

So, as you would expect the weather is lovely here and I am looking forward to catching up with friends old and new, whilst attending some business meetings. Of course one of the main reasons for the visit is a much needed chill out (does that mean I should have stayed in the UK? No thanks!) There comes a time when we all reach that point of fatigue where we know that if we don’t take a break, WE will break. Understanding what our body is saying to us is so important and thankfully I am finally starting to listen to mine. I have also affirmed that I will not be back until I have finished my third book, plus the dialogue and overall planning for the stage production that I am happily working on. Uhm! Now there lies a challenge. Does that mean that if I suffer from writer’s block I could be gone for a long time? Ha ha ha! We will see. But judging by yesterday’s performance I am doing just good. Is that bad grammar? Who cares… I can say what I like in my blog! And I’m doing just good. I was writing at 2am actually….on a flow…..you can’t plan inspiration…

So yesterday I was working on the music and although I’m not a musician I know exactly what I need. Obviously! Fortunately I’m in discussion with several great musical minds who can produce. Watch this space, all will be revealed in time.

It looks like I will be able to add script writer/producer to my CV soon. Now I never imagined that!  

Determined to have some fun whilst here, relax and refresh, I’m coming back with two completed manuscripts. Just you believe it, and with a pending trip to London on the 15^th April to the International Book Fair at Earl’s Court – as it’s also my birthday week – I intend to see Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre. I have a great contact and friend who has promised to take me. Better make sure he did get the tickets. Men? Oops being sexist!

So on that point I will say, treat yourself to some time out when you know you need it. Come back refreshed with new vigour and follow that dream.  Meanwhile enjoy Easter and remember the real meaning please. It is not all about chocolate although that’s very nice.

Regards

Anna

Bucket List

09 December 2012 09:00PM

I saw something on twitter recently when the question was raised. Did you do a bucket list and what was left, yet to be fulfilled for this year?

So I searched out my old journal and eagerly checked my 2012 list. Yes I do one and have for the past few years and it’s quite good fun to look back and see what you have accomplished. Remarkably, only a handful left out of a total list of 50. Didn’t she do well!

Then I was prompted to look for my 2011 list and found a few more not ticked.  Oops! Should I have carried them forward?  Actually no, because with the passing of time I didn’t really care about those things anymore.  Change of views, priorities, new heart desires.  Whatever! Making a bucket list is fun and as the year is nearly out I’ll be making another soon.

So what is left over for 2012? Let’s see…

1)      I had planned to go to the theatre more often so, just booked Cinderella with the granddaughters and a couple of other theatrical delights before Christmas. But, must get to see Matilda in London too.

2)      I wanted to walk along the sea-front with someone special.

3)      Re visit my friends and some old haunts on the Costa Del Sol

4)      Stay at the Ritz and have afternoon tea at the Dorchester.

5)      Complete at least one more book.

6)      Have a day at Whitby and eat fish and chips whilst strolling along.

7)      Walk the city walls in York, again!

8)      Explore Lorca, Cartagena and a few more Spanish cities.

9)      Visit at least 2 institutions working with kids on the streets of London.

10)   Get 500 followers on Twitter.

11)   Do a picture blog of a couple of weeks in my life.

S-o-o-o, just sorting out my pictures for my ‘picture blog.’  I will put them on tomorrow. Promise!

www.wordpress.com.

The other things on the list, we will see. Running out of time!

Anna

 

Is he on my Bucket list?

Little Angels

21 August 2012 12:00AM

 

I have just returned from a lovely holiday in Spain with my little granddaughter to hear about a schoolgirl fighting for her life in hospital after being mown down by a hit-and-run driver, in Leeds our local city. If that wasn’t horrendous enough she was trying to save her two-year-old brother who was also badly injured in the incident. Detectives have released an image of the car involved. Another 10 year old who witnessed the incident described the bravery of her friend as she tried to protect her little brother.

Officers said the driver slowed down to see what had happened, then sped away from the scene. Apparently the little boy is no longer in a critical condition but his sister is fighting for her life.

Oh My Gosh! How can anyone leave two little children in the road like this? This morning, I seem to have picked up the paper, turned on the TV and all I am hearing is bad news!!!!!!!!

Then, no-one is meeting their dead-lines and so many people at the moment seem to be disappointing me. Well, that is putting it mildly. Letting me down…BADLY!!!!

Sounds like I’m not a happy bunny this morning. Actually I was till I met the world. S-o-o-o being positive and believing the day will end better than it started, I pulled out a few snap-shots from my holiday to sheer me up.

Memories of a fab holiday and a thought and a prayer goes out today to all those little children who are less fortunate.

 

Stay safe

Anna

Graffiti .2

Graffiti

26 July 2012 12:00AM

 

A few days ago I blogged a picture on http://www.wordpress of some graffiti photographed in Mexico City when I was there a couple of weeks ago. So, while I’m thinking about graffiti I thought I would blog another one of the most interesting property that I found, in Granada Spain, a few years ago. How does that relate to what I’m doing today?

Well actually, I have written two novels in the Chavos series to date.

Chavos – The kids of Distrito Federal, selling now. Chavos – The Quest is at the printers and awaiting launch later this year. And although Chavos 3 is roughly outlined, my next book is Pablo’s Diary. A street kid who just so happens to be a graffiti artist.

The house that I discovered in Granada gave me the inspiration for what has now become the Molina House, Pablo being one of the Molina Brothers. I am very excited about this book. Although a spin-off from the main Chavos novels, it is actually quite different. Nearly finished, I’m just adding some interesting tweaks, and then I need all the graffiti and illustrations to finalise. I would really like someone about Pablo’s age, a school kid or street kid – early teens to work with me on this project.

You know, I never imagined a few years ago that I would start writing children’s literature and be having so much fun. There are quite simply not enough hours in the day as I am so full of books; I need to empty my head.

That just makes me think of something that was emailed to me last night and it brought tears to my eyes, so I’m passing it on.

Here goes; – next blog….

Contrasts

09 June 2012 12:00PM

 

Ok. It’s mid-day, 9^th of June and I’m in London, just about to leave for King’s Cross and head back to Yorkshire. I had a great week in Spain though the temperatures were rising to uncomfortable proportions when I left and then, I was suddenly thrust into winter weather with rain and 55 mph gales as I arrived at Gatwick. Unbelievable! I thought it was June!

 

Last night I had a great evening with tasty food as always, at Lupita, my favourite Mexican restaurant in Villiers Street. We enjoyed the best of tacos and sampled some of their new dishes before a mad scramble to an art exhibition at the Commonwealth Rooms in Northumberland Street, hosted by Lady Sandra Bates.

It was great to meet one or two of the artists particularly Jean Pickton, well known for her beautiful colours and poppy paintings. I just adore her work which I find very girlie and, having met the lady, I adore her too. What a sweet person, very chatty, very pleasant and she looked fab in her little flowery hat. It’s good to dare to be different, don’t you think? We did of course exchange business cards and she is certainly one of the many people that I have met recently in London and earmarked for the London Chavos Ball. Yes folks, it’s in the planning stages for Spring 2013. And I think we may also have a Chavos Ball on the Costa Del Sol too. Well why not?  I’m on roll and think I’m going to have you all Chavosing soon.

 

Meanwhile, whilst waiting for a colleague to join me on my trip to Yorkshire I watched a little TV ; something I rarely  do and don’t want to repeat. The Jeremy Kyle show and New York City Wives…Oh My gosh… I have to ask the question… Are these people for real?

I rest my case.

 

Chat soon.

Anna

#proudtobebritish

05 June 2012 08:00PM

 

Well! Well! Well!

Look what’s been trending on twitter. #proudtobebritish … and so we should be after those Jubilee spectacular events. Quite frankly I hadn’t intended to watch any of the celebrations and I just so happened to be out of the country anyway. In Spain actually, now there’s a surprise! It seems I spend more time here these days than in the UK so I decided to change my facebook status to read location, Spain. And there’s a very good reason why I keep coming to Spain and everyone automatically thinks, it’s a man so I’ll keep you in suspense;- not telling!

Now! About the celebrations… I’ve been there, done that!

I remember when I blogged about the wedding of William and Kate, saying that I had camped out on the streets of London when Diana married Charles. What a spectacular event that was. So I’m not an anti-Royalist, but just wasn’t that interested this time. Seemingly I have been forced to eat humble pie and say this was one occasion when yet again, I felt proud to be British. Sadly there are NOT too many such occasions these days with the decisions that our recent governments have made. And I’m saying no more, but what’s that song?  ‘If I ruled the world.’ Uhm now there’s a thought. I liked it when the cameras went out asking the public what they would do if they were Queen for a day!!!!!!!!!!

OK. I have to admit that I was left speechless after the concert at Buckingham Palace and well done to Gary Barlow and team for producing one of the most entertaining schedules I have ever seen. What a fabulous opening by Robbie Williams and with the Queen’ guards and trumpeters too, how awesome was that? Cliff was great fun and reminded us that he has always been there singing songs from the six decades of Her Majesty’s reign. Tom Jones, well what a performance. Fantastic! Tom I still love you… The Jubilee song; ‘Sing’ was breath-taking. Shirley Bassey was phenomenal as were our opera singers Renee Fleming and Alfie Boe, and the whole thing just got better and better and better.  That is one dvd that I will buy if available.  Surely there will be one, wont there?

As for our Queen, she did look beautiful and must have found the whole thing, whilst entertaining, difficult wither husband in hospital. I think I would have been in hospital if I had stood all that time on a barge sailing down the Thames on a cold rainy afternoon, and I’m a lot younger than them.

You know sometimes we don’t give our Royals enough credit do we? Out Queen is 86 years old after all. God Bless her. And glad all you visitors to London had such a fab time. I’m just pleased that I chose to watch the whole thing on my TV in the comfort of my own home and being in Spain was an added bonus. The weather is beautiful here.

Chat soon

Anna

 

 

Memory Lane

27 May 2012 10:15AM

Did you ever take a trip down Memory Lane and wonder what is happening in your life? Of course you did…if not in reality I’m sure your mind has been there. Well I am here on the Andalucía Coast in a pretty little Spanish town called La Cala. I know this place so well and walked these streets with regularity 10 years ago. Now that sounds rather ominous doesn’t it? But what I meant is I used to have a holiday home here and frequented the bars and coffee shops. Ha! Now it sounds like I’m an alcoholic, or was. Uhm! Not so, but I have fond memories of family holidays here and nights out with the girls. I do remember actually, one day when I was trundling up the hill towards our apartment – both me and my children laden with shopping bags – and one of the flimsy plastic bags burst. I didn’t care about the eggs nor the ketchup, but I was furious when my bottle of martini smashed and screamed furiously because the diet coke was still intact and all the martini gone.

This little town has changed somewhat, as of course you would expect, but in many ways it remains unchanged. I see they now boast one of the best Spanish markets ever and a new hotel has sprung up on the coastline, but in many ways it still has the same unspoilt ambience. The town is clearly a favourite spot for the Spanish holiday makers and though the sixty plus brigade seem to be here in full force I’m pleased that I scheduled this visit before the real holiday season has begun. Thankfully it is not too busy as no doubt it will be in July and August.

So why the trip down Memory Lane? Well I had to see a few people on this coast – one or two potential business contacts –sounds exciting eh? And I am making the most of the opportunity to catch up with old friends. ‘Less of the old’, I can almost hear them say.

So here for a few days the leading question is;- do I want to swim?  Quite frankly, no! Delightful as it may be, I’m no water baby. Do I want to walk for miles along this prettiest of coastlines early morning? Yes, absolutely. Wish Butler and Gracie were here to walk with me.  Am I glad the school holidays have not started yet and there are very few kids?  Most certainly! Oh My Gosh! What did I say? I thought children were my life? Yes indeed, but how lovely to have that quiet time to think, to plan and to enjoy those trips down Memory Lane.  Our lives are like the pages of a book and as each page turns, each chapter concludes, it’s almost essential I think to see what we have learnt along the way. Most importantly we need to take time out as we contemplate our direction for the future. What do they say about decisions made in haste?

I will enjoy the sunshine, so hope it is nice where you are.

Besos

Anna

War on Drugs

18 May 2012 12:00AM

 

Having just returned from Spain and now ready to go back, then off to Mexico what a quick turnaround. I never did add up my expenditure on air fares and quite frankly I dare not, but needs must!

With the news coming out of Mexico which always seems to be bad these days, I am both saddened and horrified to hear further reports of drug related violence bringing the death toll now, to around 48.000, since 2006. We are told that violence between these criminal groups is a battle for supremacy and turf and is not an attack on the civilian population. If it were that simple! The civilian population are becoming a little afraid. Many tourists don’t want to go to Mexico and some people are hesitant about doing business there.  Even I am a bit uncomfortable about my forthcoming trip because sometimes it’s just about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Such a shame when a country with so much beauty, colour and culture is getting nothing but negative publicity. Mexico has such potential and has been predicted to emerge as a world power over the next 10–15 years and it is rapidly overtaking other team leaders actually in spite of the dark cloud of drug related violence which has overshadowed it.

We are told that employment and industry exports are increasing rapidly and Mexico is so well positioned to export to other parts of Latin America, the Unites States and other world markets. I wonder what will happen in the next few months if this drug war is not resolved.  With Presidential elections due on 1^st July the Mexicans wait with baited breath to see what will become of the country of which they are so proud. As for me I will continue to write and develop my children’s stories about this beautiful country which holds a little piece of my heart.

Besos

Anna