It’s cold and windy today. I’ve just been up the village with two recipes for my friends Rhoda and Peter Walker. I had them to a meal a couple of nights ago and they liked what I had made. I was flattered. Never had cause to cook until I was on my own. So it was cook or starve ! Now I quite enjoy it. Maybe it’s the creativity and because of that it relates to the creativity of writing. News on the writing front – yesterday I was commissioned to do another novel for my publisher Piatkus. So now much of my time will be dedicated to writing that. Work? Well, I suppose it is but it isn’t a chore if you enjoy it and I do. Always nice to meet with writers – Peter is the person whose books sparked off Heartbeat – we had a good natter. All being well I’ll be meeting more writers next Thursday – RNA meeting near Harrogate. Looking forward to that and also to the ride in my newly purchased car. Keep warm everyone. 

Today’s newspaper tells me that the suggestion has been made at a Medical Conference to tax chocolate to halt obesity epidemic.  Did you ever hear such nonsense?  What else that causes obesity would they tax?  Parents for not leading by example or supervising their children’s eating habits? The list could be never ending. Food, as it was meant to be,  is one of the joys of this life while providing the necessary ingredients to susstain it. And food will do us a lot more good if we enjoy it; if we do it will give us a mental lift as well, which must be good for us, especially if we enjoy it with family or friends.  I am not advocating over indulgence. Be sensible. Killjoys would have recipes put out by TV cooks and writers modified, regarding the fat content. Don’t they realise that would spoil the final product and the joy of eating it. Let’s get everything in proportion and stop being silly about our eating habits. Enjoy but let moderation into the equation.

The cover for my latest hardback, published in February by Piatkus. The story is set in the 19th century commercial and shipping worlds of Whitby and Hull. It tells of the conflict between Lena Carnforth and her step-brother after their parents are killed in the Tay Bridge disaster of 1879. Ambition and the desire for revenge stalk lives with disasterous results that shape futures.

Read and enjoy. 

Thought you might like to see the cover of my Western that came out in February. Published by Magna Large Print in their Dales Large Print imprint. It originally came out in hardback in 1961 The drawing is by Gordon Crabb and I reckon he has captured a great deal of atmosphere especially through the sheriff’s eyes and also his stance. Makes you want to know who he is facing in what must be a coming shoot-out  !!! 

Thursday I have to go to York.  Friday – well, my present car is 10 years old!  I’ve kept them all 10 years – how many of them? Well that would be telling and revealing. With MOT, service, licencing all coming up I thought that cash could go towards another car so Friday sees me collect one I got my eyes on ten days ago. Sorry to part with an old friend that is running nicely but body getting a bit worn – something rather like me ! So Friday will no doubt be spent getting to know a new friend – hopefully that friend will take to me too and then we’ll have fun together. I like my cars. During all this I’ll have to plan a menu for two friends coming to lunch on Saturday.  And I’ll have to get on with a novel – writing it. Time? I’ll find it somewhere. If you are keen enough about something you’ll always find time no matter how busy you are.