Glorious Paddington
The opening set for Paddington the Musical.
August was all about the bear really… I booked tickets for Paddington at the Savoy Theatre, London last December and even then the first ones available were for mid August. It was definitely worth the wait. The performances were all pitch perfect.
While we were in London, my daughter who loves food, booked us into a Georgian restaurant in Barnes. Even though it was explained to me the food was from that region, I still kept expecting everyone to be in frock coats and wigs!
We also saw a brilliant exhibition at the Iconic Images Gallery, set up by the photographer Terry O’Neil, near Piccadilly. There were so many fantastic portraits of rock stars, film stars and celebrities. I particularly liked this one of Jimmy Hendrix, taken for an album cover.
Jimmy Hendrix’s portrait at the Iconic Images Gallery, London
The journey home to the North East was eventful. Our train doors got stuck shut and wouldn’t open at Peterborough. The solution, after half an hour, was found to be … and I’m not joking… to switch the whole system on and off again. There was a warning not to use the toilet at that point. Thank goodness!
I’d read The 10:12 by Anna Maloney about a hijacked high speed train and the whole situation, with the book in my head, was very unsettling. The novel was great by the way, even if the journey wasn’t. I heard Anna speak about the inspiration for it at the Harrogate Crime Festival. It was due to one of her elderly neighbours saying she was in trouble with her husband, who was cross with her, as she’d disarmed a man in the town centre. Older women, of which I’m one, are quite a force to reckon with.
The news on my own book The Allotment Sisterhood is positive, which is lovely. I’m getting steady reviews from people, including friends, who seem to be enjoying the women’s journeys and the gardening world.
If anyone wants to buy a copy it is sold in all three Forum Bookshop branches in Whitley Bay, Alnwick and Corbridge as well as the cover artist Joanne Wishart’s Cullercoats Gallery and Chapter 13 books in Sunderland. I’ve restocked each of them and had to do another print run so that’s all a first for me. It is also available on Amazon, as is my first book, The Stand-Up Mam.
I’m not writing much at present but did go to a very chilled writing session at the Collected bookshop in Durham. This is a fantastic place with books primarily by women. Look at the view from the window where I was writing!
The gorgeous view from Collected’s shop window.
As my own work hasn’t been as busy I’ve had time to read some great novels over the summer. One of them was by my friend Bill, who writes as William Prince. His second book, Border of Lies, was a real page-turner and excellent adventure, set in Tudor times.
I’m doing an event with Bill next Thursday, 10 September at Forest Hall library at 6.30pm, where we will be interviewed by Bay Tales director, Vic Watson. There are tickets left if you fancy it.
Next month I’ve got another event to promote The Allotment Sisterhood. It’s at Port Independent, Sunderland and I’m being interviewed by award-winning podcaster Jay Sykes, of ArtyParti from 7-9, Friday, 30 October. My novel starts on Halloween so I’m looking forward to talking about it at that time of year. Tickets are free and more info is here
Hope you’ve enjoyed reading this.