If you read yesterday’s blog you might ask  ‘What music now?’ Well. I’m playing a compilation of Easy Listening that I made a couple of years ago. It’s soothing all the thoughts weaving in my mind – my new novel, English cricket not doing too well, the car is ten years old and looking a bit worse for wear but still going well; what should its future be? Middlesbrough F.C had better start scoring goals, must watch Master Chef later tonight – getting near the final, so I’ll have to video The Bill to see how my favourite characters are getting on in Sunhill; I’ve dozens of books to read – I’ll have to find time from somewhere because many of them are for a review column I run in my local weekly paper; oh, and what should I cook for my daughters coming this weekend? They’ll help but I’ll have to consider what eatables to provide, so shopping tomorrow. These thoughts and more keep pushing their way to the front. So many of them; so much to do. How can anyone be bored?

Had a good day’s writing today. Getting to grips with the new novel. Worked on chapter two. The main characters are making themselves known. Had a guiding chat with two of them today that helped to shape the chapter. Now relaxing on the computer 10.30 pm. Playing music while I write this. Chose Solveig Slettahjell – a jazz singer from the Norwegian Academy of Music. Gentle jazz for this time of night. Music tastes are wide. Played Beethoven’s Pastorale while working on the novel this afternnoon.

Just had a phone call from one of my daughters to say she was safely home. She had met up with her two sisters and they had visited the exhibiton at the Royal Academy in London. Enjoyed it and no doubt had a good chat.

My visit to Whitby on Valentine’s Day went well. Moor roads all clear. Snow lingered on the moorland but didn’t look attractive. No snow in Whitby. Because of timing I took a picnic which I had in the car.  Quick shopping, then took 27 photos to put on my Whitby archive. You’ll see some eventually. Signing session at The Whitby Bookshop went well. Nice to talk to fans as well as sign books. A good journey home. Enjoyed the drive.

No more snow since late afternoon yesterday. Rang police about roads across the moors to Whitby. Very helpful. All roads passable at the moment. Weather forecast is OK for tomorrow – hope it is correct. We have had a lot of sunshine today. If we get the same tomorrow my camera will be clicking, though the prime purpose of my visit to Whitby is a book signing session at The Whitby Bookshop.

Valentine’s Day !  I’m off to Whitby – hopefully. It is snowing here 40 miles from the coast. There are wild moors to cross. The road can get blocked very quickly. Hope the snow soon turns to rain. Valentine’s Day deserves sun.  I’m going to sign my latest books at the Whitby Bookshop 1pm to 3 pm. STAY WITH ME (hardback) and WINGS OF SORROW (paperback) have just come out. My visit makes a nice tie-in with the publisher’s (PIATKUS) website on which I was asked to write a piece connecting the books for the day for lovers. You might like to look it up. (www.piakus.co.uk)

10th February  

I have just recovered from a nasty cold – made me stay in the house for a week. But all is well now and I hope I get no more colds – ever! Mind you it was a good excuse to have a night-cap of whisky in hot milk in the luxury of a comfortable bed. But another catastrophe struck – when I came down last Saturday morning the AGA was not functioning. The kitchen was so coooooooold. Fortunately the good old microwave came to the resue as far as cooking was concerned. Central heating was OK – separate boiler. Domestic water usually supplied by the Aga was dealt with by the immersion heater. So life was not too bad. The Aga engineer has just gone 2.30 so all is well and I am happy again.  I had little inconvenience but it did make me think of how our ancestors coped without what we now regard as essentials.

My cold brought my writing to a standstill but yesterday I got going on the novel again. How my characters welcomed me back. It was like meeting old friends again. What adventures await us!