This year's Chelsea

 Regular readers will know my weakness for gardens. So a trip to the Chelsea Flower Show is high on my list of desirable things to do. I treated myself to an expensive all day ticket for the first Members' day - the one after the royals and the celebs go - and this year I was there before nine a.m. I didn't make it so early last year as the RNA Awards ceremony was the night before! This year there was no book and no short listing, so I was able to give the flowers my full attention. Even at that time in the morning the place was crowded and the show gardens were five or six deep in spectators. I had a hit list though, so was able to find my way to the things I wanted to see and view them reasonably well. I had a good time. It was a glorious day and I managed to get around with numerous stops to sit for a few minutes and rest my hip problem. And of course, I took pictures. My favourite garden was from Jewellers Boodles, inspired by their Raindance diamond collection. I liked the diamonds too, but they are way out of my price range! I liked the garden because it was so pretty, with pastel planting that I hope to eventually use for inspiration in mine. The design won a gold medal, but I didn't see it featured in any of the TV broadcasts, but perhaps I missed it. The TV I saw seemed to be more interested in displays featuring rust and weeds - but everyone to their own taste. I go for the plants. I can grow my own weeds, thanks. 

Detail of the planting from the garden -
I took it to remind me what I want to emulate. 

Roses were high on my list of things I wanted to see.
I picked the brains of the stall holders in the Pavilion over what would do well in pots. 

Clematis. Triumph of hope over experience as I have never managed to keep one alive.
I am going to have another go. Wish me luck. 

Lilies. I bought bulbs - I think they are the same ones as last year. I will find out, as last years have come up. For once the slugs didn't get them. 

Climbers. I bought myself a plumbago - the blue one in the middle, as I had never seen one before. It made it home with me and has new flowers, so I have my fingers crossed. 

Peonies. At some stage I have to have one of these beauties, although I have heard they are not easy to grow.

Peonies. At some stage I have to have one of these beauties,
although I have heard they are not easy to grow. 

I've been there.

 At this time of the year publishers are promoting books that feature holiday destinations . It seems that we like to take books like that on holiday with us. Or maybe, if the bank balance is looking a bit thin, enjoy a bit of vicarious travel, or do a little gentle research to places we would like to visit or to revisit places we have enjoyed. My Riviera books come into that category - currently £2.99 for a three box set on Amazon. Writer friends Eva Glyn and Jan Baynham have new books, both set in glorious Greek locations, due out in the next few week. I'm currently reading Murder in Tuscany by T A Williams, which is cosy crime and holiday vibes.  

Holiday books to read in the sunshine, or in the rain, are fine, but I have recently been reading two thrillers that lean into their city location - Harlen Coben's Nobody's Fool and (a re-read) Robert Goddard's Beyond Recall - one set in New York and the other in various UK locations but particularly London for a key scene. In the case of the Harlen Coben the front end paper is actually a photo of New York. Both cities can of course be holiday destinations, but there is a very different feel. Having read them back to back I was struck by how both authors use the details of the city to add colour to the story. I assume you can drive the routes that Sami takes through New York (I've never driven in New York and am never going to in this lifetime) and see the buildings - although the Locke Horne building which is mentioned does not actually exist, outside the author's books.

I was especially interested in that scene from the Goddard. It takes place at Baker Street tube station where two characters 'meet' on separate platforms, one the up line and the other the down, and converse across the track. I've always wanted to write a 'London' book - still on the bucket list - and I can remember standing on that tube platform and envisaging exactly the same sort of scene. I can't recall now whether this was before or after reading Beyond Recall - I think it was before, but I can't do it now, as it would look like plagiarism. It's a striking scene that resonates if you happen to know Baker Street station well, which I do, and it certainly adds texture to the book. 

Now I have to find another location I can use - if the London book ever gets off the bucket list.  

Where have you been?

 I began this blog in 2011, when I had just won a publishing contract for Never Coming Home. Since then I have blogged every week, without fail, whatever was happening in my life - my publishing life or my life as a human being - and there have been many ups and downs, highs and lows over the years. In all that time, whatever the situation, I managed to show up. Until the beginning of April this year, when my wi-fi connection - and my land line phone - disappeared, and stayed gone until this week. I managed to hold on to my e-mails (just) via my mobile phone and a few trips to the library, but I could not get into the blog or my social media, and didn't want to risk losing it all by a ham fisted effort that shut me out for good. So - no posts. 

We were told that the problem was in the telegraph pole and that a new one was needed. It was promised on 1st May. Not sure if that was meant to be a joke - Maypole? Anyway, it didn't happen and then a few days ago there was suddenly an announcement that connection had been restored, without having to have a new pole at all. 

I'm glad to be back, but very annoyed that my record for the blog has been broken and that I have missed a lot of news from friends and colleague who probably thought I was ghosting them! I am now working hard to catch up.

In the hiatus the kitchen is finished, bar some painting, and I am now laboriously cleaning brick dust off everything. I went to Aberystwyth and had a great time at Crime Cymru. I am working to get the house back in some sort of order - slow but steady. And provided my internet does not disappear again, I will be blogging every Wednesday, as usual.