It’s been busy

It’s Friday evening here in Fielding Towers. It began with a hard frost but it was sunny enough to go out to lunch – crispy beef salad and a large glass of Merlot – with just a jacket although I was very happy to be wearing the new scarf I bought this week.

I have a huge scarf collection, but no matter how many I have there is always a time when I’m looking for a colour and it’s not there.

Shopping

On Tuesday my daughter and I went on a shopping trip to Tunbridge Wells. I didn’t need anything but my daughter and her family are going somewhere exotic during the Easter holidays and she had a list.

We did the ecological thing and caught the bus. It’s about an hour but it’s a ride through the prettiest countryside. There were signs of spring everywhere. Catkins in the hedgerows, a touch of green appearing here and there and lambs…

First tea…

The first thing we did when we arrived at the shopping centre was go for a cup of tea in Fenwick, which is a really lovely department store.

Fully restored we wandered through the store. I saw a lamp that would look perfect on a small table… Too big to carry, but I will be looking it up online.

There was a lot of cooing over clothes and gasping at the prices — it’s that sort of store. My daughter was seduced by a very lovely jacket and I bought – you’ve guessed it – a scarf.

This one, because, honestly, I really needed just that shade of pink. It’s from 100 stars, one of my favourite shopping hangouts. I love their kimonos.

I also have a new t-shirt in the shade of peach that is my go-to colour.

More shopping Crimefest panel with from left to right, Liz Fielding, Alex Stone, Felix Francis, Alex Shaw, Michael Stanley

The rest of the week has mostly been about buying books. I’m on an author panel at CRIMEfest in Bristol in May (this is me last year) and I’ve been downloading books by my fellow panellists to read before the event.

Alison O’Leary, J M Hall, and Leigh Russell  – subject, The Gifted Amateur: When Murder is Your Hobby.

T E Kinsey is the panel moderator. His latest Lady Hardcastle mystery isn’t published until after the conference so he kindly sent me an ARC.

And yet more books

I spotted Helena Dixon’s new series and pre-ordered The Secret Detective Agency. and a book by Australian, Dave Warner, After the Flood.

On a roll I added One Deadly Take by D B Borton, A Lively Midwinter Murder by Katy Watson and I still have Elly Griffiths new book, The Frozen People which I’m desperate to start.

Then there’s gardening

Indoor gardening in this case.

When I arrived home after my Friday lunch date I found a box of baby plants I’d ordered waiting for me. These are a few of additions to my African Violet collection.

They (and some Begonia Rex plants) needed instant potting, so that was the rest of my afternoon taken care of.

And, finally, books

I have been getting words down on paper, if rather more slowly than I’d like. (It’s been a busy week!) Murder in the Vineyard is progressing….

In the meantime a couple of my romances are now available in audio on Apple Books  That’s the US link but they are available in the UK and Australia.