I started Friday morning with a plan. Early rise, write, have my nails done, write, go out to lunch with a friend, write.

The alarm went off at six am. I lingered in the comfort of my bed until 6.30 but then forced myself into the shower, made tea and fired up the laptop. There was, inevitably, a delay while I checked emails, book sales and wasted time messing about on the internet. But not too much time because…nails.

I edited the scene I’d written the day before, havered over a plot point then – because the lovely lady who used to do my nails deserted me to have baby, I set off to grab an early spot at the nail bar.

A last minute decision to take my umbrella proved sensible. I was only a couple of hundred yards up the road (yes it’s a hill) when it started to rain. And the nail bar was packed. There wasn’t even waiting room.

Clearly 9.30 on a Friday morning was when, having dropped off their infants at school, the mummies arrived en masse to have their nails gussied up for the weekend.

It was raining heavily by then and there was only one thing to do. Cross the road to The Bookshop – all nooks and crannies and ancient oak beams – for a cup of their very good coffee. They have delicious brownies and shortbread, too, but Saturday is weigh-in day at Slimming World so, with great strength of mind, I resisted.

John, the proprietor and a huge supporter of my books, brought across his mug of tea to join me for a chat.

We talked about publishing, books and the author events he holds regularly. The next one is Marian Boswell and her book, The Kindest Garden – here’s the link should you be around East Grinstead on June 18.

He mentioned Jane Thynne (who also writes at C J Carey) who is coming to The Bookshop in September to talk about her latest Clara Vine WW11 set spy thriller

By this time the table was covered in books and John picked up a copy of her dystopian thriller, Widowland.

This is London in 1953. Thirteen years have passed since the Grand Alliance between Great Britain and Germany and the Coronation is for Edward VIII.

There are outbreaks of insurgency and suspicion has fallen on Widowland, the run-down slums to which, childless women over fifty have been banished.

Before for Leader arrives in England for the Coronation, Rose Ransom has been tasked with infiltrating Widowland to find the source of the rebellion and ensure that it is quashed.

Reader, I bought it… I am desperate to get started  but first I have to finish my book club choice for this month, The Glass Maker, bought when Tracy Chevalier came to the The Bookshop a couple of months ago.

An hour later, with the sun finally making an appearance I went back to the nail bar. The pack had thinned, I took a seat and a little while later the job was done.

I’m ready for my trip into London week.