Nearly Spring!

After what seems like the longest January on record, we’re now hurtling towards the end of February. If the meteorological calendar is anything to go by, Spring is due to start on the 1 March; ending on 31 May, so, yes, we’re almost at the end of the abomination that is winter.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s spent the last few months moaning about the cold weather, or maybe I am? Ha ha! Living in the North-West means we also receive our fair share of rain, rain and more rain. Grey skies? Yes, those as well. In abundance. I kid you not.

Twice this month I’ve accompanied my other half on the long journey South to Stevenage in Hertfordshire for work (32 miles North of London) where the weather appears to be milder, and according to my friend who lives in that neck of the woods, receives a lot less rain.

But despite my moaning, and apart from the eighteen months I spent in Saudi Arabia, I would never up sticks and leave Lancashire on a permanent basis just for better weather. Living in the Ribble Valley is a pleasure (see the photo below of beautiful Stonyhurst College, not far away from me). We also get some fantastic sunsets from our window when the weather allows.

I love my home county. I love the rolling hills, the beautiful countryside, how near we are to the coast, and at the end of the day, it’s where I was born, and where my family remains, so that, as you say, is that.

The writing? Well, I’m still plodding along. I’m 34,000 words into a new book, which I hope is progressing well. It feels like it might be. Only time will tell. I’m enjoying retirement, and love not having to go out to work anymore. Next month, we’re off to Malaga for two whole weeks where we’re hoping for a bit more warmth on our bones. I’ll tell you all about it on my next blog.

Until next time.

Kim x

How life turns on a sixpence

It’s been quite a few months since I updated my blog. Six, in fact. And what a long, six months it has been. For everyone, I mean – not just me. None of us envisaged how life would turn out. How so many people would lose their lives earlier this year to this horrible virus, or how families would be separated for months on end. The restrictions. The not being able to meet up. The not being able to put our arms around the people who mean the most. We hadn’t seen our two sons since February. Understandably, because of the pandemic, Saudi Arabia had stopped international flights. However, there were some exceptional flights being offered (one way) so, on the 2 July I hopped on one, and flew back to the UK.

I stayed in the UK for six weeks. Then my husband joined me for two weeks. Then we returned to KSA, and came to a decision, and, then, to cut a long story short, on the 13 September (our Ruby wedding anniversary) we flew back for good.

So, here we are. Back in sunny Lancashire (where the sun does shine sometimes). And, in some respects, it feels as if we have never been away, but we did stay away, and for eighteen months. Doesn’t time fly? Of course, since we got back, the COVID crisis has reared its ugly head again. Lancashire was placed in tier two initially, and then, in no time at all, in the highest tier of all – three. There’s also talk of a two week circuit breaker on the cards. So frustrating, and downright annoying. Will all this uncertainty ever end?

Hopefully, by the time Christmas arrives, life might be back to some sort of normality. Here’s wishing. And keeping everything crossed.

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Until next time. Keep safe everyone.

Kim x

The new kind of normal

Okay, so I’m full of false promises. This year, I promised myself, in particular, that I would be much better on my blog, but yesterday when I saw that my last blog post was actually 13 January 2020, I haven’t done better at all.

I’m not beating myself up. A lot has happened since then. 13 January 2020 was just after Christmas when the world still felt normal – well relatively so. Now we’re living in a world that feels alien and unnerving and frightening. It’s understandable to feel frightened – I know I do – but we will get through this. You have no idea how much I long to be back in the UK with my boys, but what I also realise is being the age we are, we’re much better off in Saudi Arabia, even though life has changed so much.

This country has done everything right. KSA closed down the schools, the malls, the mosques – everything – weeks and weeks ago. No flights – domestic or international – in or out. We now have a curfew in Riyadh between 3.00 pm in the afternoon until 06.00 am each morning. No ifs, no buts, just do it. And we can’t leave Riyadh either. The supermarkets are open during those times and temperatures are taken at the entrance. One person only to a trolley, plastic gloves given, and trolleys disinfected. On re-entering the compound, one’s temperature is taken again.

It seems unbelievable that in the middle of February we flew out of Saudi Arabia for our holiday in Spain. For two wonderful weeks, we sat with people, we talked to people, we walked the streets freely, and all the while  this COVID-19 thing was hovering in the background stopping people in their tracks. Waiting to do its worst. Luckily we got back into KSA by the skin of our teeth because then they stopped all flights. After that we were forced into isolation because we had holidayed in Spain and stopped over in the UK.

I swear, that when all this is over, never again will I take for granted my freedom. I long for the day when I can leave the house freely,  take a flight, meet friends for coffee, hug and kiss new-born babies again.

Here’s a couple of photographs I took whilst in Spain. And one of my dear boys, too. Happy times will come again, but until then, you all take care. #stayhome #staysafe #socialdistancing

Kim xx

 

 

 

 

Hopelessly behind

I noticed today that my last blog on here was September of last year, so I just had to do something about it. Here I am, trying to get up to date, and wishing you all a Happy New Year.

We’ve just got back from our first trip back home, where we had a fabulous festive season with our two sons. I did wonder how I might feel after nine months in Saudi, but I needn’t have worried, as we slotted back in like we’d never been away. Unfortunately for us, those two weeks in the UK passed by in a flash, especially as for seven of those days I was suffering from the same winter bug that – when we returned to the compound – almost everybody else seemed to be suffering from. Oh dear.

On our return flight, we snapped a great photo from the aircraft. Riyadh at night. You can see how large it is, and how it’s laid out. Believe me, we’ve been lost many a time on those long highways!

The weather in the UK was mixed, but now we’re back, and in the middle of the Saudi winter, the weather here in Riyadh is also being a little temperamental. Rain, cold temperatures, frost – we’ve had it all over the last few days. Ground frost – can you believe it? I certainly couldn’t when I saw it this morning.

And now we’re back, I’m determined to keep the festivities going a little longer by trimming up my Yucca and adding my lovely robins from home. Pretty, aren’t they? They’ve definitely given me some cheer this week when I’ve been missing my boys and feeling a bit morose. Anyway, yoga, tomorrow. That should put me right.

Until next time.

Kim x

Celebrations …

So, what am I celebrating?

Well, I’ve been trying to get ready for an afternoon tea I’m hosting tomorrow for eight of my friends. So, with the help of my trusty dishwasher, the glassware in the photograph is now clean and gleaming with not a speck of sand or dust in sight. The sand in Riyadh, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, gets everywhere, and especially in my cupboards.

I’ve also been out shopping. The Saudi National day that’s coming up over the weekend is a cause for celebration in Saudi Arabia, with all sorts of wonderful events going on. With lots of fireworks, too, it should be an exciting weekend in Riyadh, and Andy, I’m sure, will be wearing the brand new tee-shirt I bought for him. He’d better.

We also celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary this week. Who’d have thought when we got married back in 1980 that we’d now be living in Saudi Arabia! Our celebratory meal was really tasty. The lovely restaurant we chose gave us own personal dining room and a chef who cooked all our food in front of us.

Last, but not least, I’ve also had a haircut.

Hope you’ve all had a good week, too.

Until next time

Kim x

This, that and more.

So, apart from a short coffee interlude with a friend in Costa this morning, I’ve spent most of the day fiddling around on social media. I’ve been trying to link my secret group (now a closed group) to my facebook group (confusing – yes – not sure if I’ve succeeded fully) and was originally my task for last night, but as the internet went down in Riyadh, and didn’t come back on until after we’d gone to bed, I couldn’t do it. That’s the trouble with being two hours ahead.

Anyway, it’s been so long since I posted on here, I thought I’d better get my act together. The weeks now seem to be flying by (day 130 already in the land of sand) and the weather doesn’t seem to be getting any cooler, BUT according to the BBC, change is on the way, so hopefully in a few weeks time, I’ll be able to sit in my lovely garden and write my stories without my laptop having a tantrum, and me coming out in a complete muck sweat. By the way, the beautiful bird below (seen in our garden) (photo courtesy of DH) is a white cheeked bulbul. You can see it chirping in the picture. Ha ha – just like me, it likes to natter with its mates.

Now, we drove back quite recently from a great weekend in Bahrain for DH’s birthday. It took us around four hours to drive down there, and four hours back, of course, but the roads are great, and it is really worth it to lie on the beach and swim in the sea. So, thank you to the Sofitel Bahrain

Some writerly news – after getting through the Harlequin Presents blitz, where I was asked to submit either a partial or a full, I submitted another two chapters (because that was all I had written). Lots of bitten fingernails, I can tell you. I will let you all know if I hear anything, good or bad. Eeek!

Finally, There’s only three weeks left until we fly off for our annual sojourn to Menorca. A bit of a different holiday this year, as our two sons are joining us for part of the time.  Looking forward to seeing them so much, Good company, tasty food, warm seas and and lots of walking. Bliss.

Until next time

Kim  xx

 

It’s time to come clean.

Okay, so here I am, (behind with my blog posts as ever), but it’s probably time to tell you that I now live in Saudi Arabia. Some you know already, but most of you don’t.

We arrived on the 28 April, so we’ve been here for almost eight weeks now, and as you can imagine, living in the middle of a desert is rather different to living in the UK. We’re still getting used to the heat (which is intense), the sandstorms that blow across on a regular basis coating everything in red dust, the insects, the food, and the culture.

But I like it, I really do. I’ve met some amazing people so far, and apart from the roads (which are manic but with very little road rage) life seems to move at a much slower pace. Apart from missing my dear boys (that goes without saying) and all of my friends, on the plus side I have lots more time to write (although I am sad to be missing the RNA Conference this year). I have also just heard that I’ve got through the Harlequin Presents blitz as they’ve asked to see more! Wow. I couldn’t believe it!

Finally, it’s so big and flat and spread out where I live, that I need to ride around on my trike. Ha, ha – don’t laugh. One thing I do know, I won’t be taking it back to the UK in three years time. Imagine me trying to get up those the hills in the Ribble Valley. That would see me off for sure.

Until next time.

Kim xxx

 

Lucky,lucky,lucky.

Happy New Year! Am I allowed to say that to you seven days in? I hope so.

It’s a funny time of year because once the decorations are down, and the tree is packed away, the house looks so drab. Well, I think it does, and for the last couple of years I’ve held on to some pretty twinkling white lights that I keep out all year. Oh, I’ve had quite a few comments from visitors, but I won’t be persuaded otherwise. They cheer me up, and why not have a bit of bling to brighten up those dark, winter days? And, in a fit of madness, I’ve also decided to keep out my cute little robins that I had clipped on our tree. They add a splash of colour to our living space, which, all of a sudden, looks quite beige.

 

So, with that over and done with, I had a look just now, and discovered I’ve been writing my blog for four years. Yes, four years. This will be my 43rd post. I wrote the first post a couple of months after our eldest son was diagnosed with testicular cancer. At the time of writing, he was still getting over his orchidectomy, and attempting to get his head around the fact that this had even happened to him.

Our son is still cancer-free. Thank goodness. Our prayers were answered. The twice-yearly check-ups he’s given by the marvellous Oncologists at Burnley hospital in Lancashire will carry on for ten years. We don’t care about the twenty mile round trip over there, as it’s a small price to pay for the reassurance those tests bring. He was lucky – lucky it was testicular – and according to his Oncologist, if you’re going to get cancer, then testicular cancer is one of the best ones to get.

And that’s what we think about every day – how very lucky we are – not just at New Year, although that’s quite poignant, too.

Until next time

Kim x

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season’s Greetings and all that!

So, how’s it all going? Have you all finished your Christmas shopping, or have you still to start?

Apart from the food shopping (we did order our turkey this morning) ours is pretty much done (and wrapped) but what we have been doing this weekend is wrestling with the trimmings. Glory be! What a trauma! Or, is it just us? We keep our decorations and a lot more besides in a room just off a bedroom (our house is peculiar) where the head height is limited. Me – I can almost stand up in there, but not quite. Poor DH is almost bent double, and has to crawl on his hands and knees on an old piece of carpet, so it’s a pretty stressful experience. And, when you’ve been married for as long as we have, we have boxes and boxes of the things – in every colour conceivable – enough, I think, to trim at least four trees! In fact, we have four trees, three of which are redundant. We never buy a real tree anymore, since I persuaded DH a couple of years ago to part with a few hundred pounds of his hard-earned cash to buy a ‘real-looking’ specimen, which, actually, if I do say so myself, looks pretty authentic. For years before that, we alternated between buying a real tree and using an artificial one (hence the three other boxed trees). After a couple of false starts we now have a lovely tree that should last us for the rest of our lives, and, according to DH, it most definitely will.

 

Then there’s the lights. Oh dear. Don’t mention those. I counted over twenty sets yesterday and that doesn’t include the ones with batteries where you pre-set them and they come on and go off everyday at that time. It’s a lot less faffy, I think, and instead of having to unplug them every night, I can forget all about them. Until the batteries die, that is. And that’s another sore point with DH, because tomorrow, we’re probably going to have to go out and spend at least thirty quid on Duracell (because if you buy cheap, you buy twice) to power the four sets of lights on our tree, plus the two wreaths on our doors (oh, it’s never ending, I tell you).

This is where I stop. I’ve wittered on long enough (even I know that) so this is my last blog post of 2018. It’s the time of year (for me, anyway) to sign off social media for a couple of weeks (until the New Year) to spend time quality time with my family. I’ll also be fitting in some writing on my current WIP, which touch wood, is going quite well.

I wish you all a wonderful and peaceful festive season, where precious memories are made. Hopefully, you’ll recharge your batteries (heh, heh) – and enjoy lots of lovely time with your loved ones.

But, before I go, I promised you some snaps of the The Ivy, Manchester. DH and I had a wonderful lunch there, and need to return to this place in the very near future. Food delicious, ambience super and very attentive staff. We even saw Sinead Tinker from Corrie on our way out, and guess what – we had a much better table than hers, because ours had a wonderful view over Spinningfields! So there!

Until next time, Kim xx

 

Let the frenzy begin!

What a busy couple of days!

Last Friday saw me meet up again with four very dear friends that I worked with in the seventies. Back then we worked in a local government office, and now, a couple of times a year we reunite for lunch, laughs and drinks, where we soon fall back in to the easy relationship we had. Where have 38 years gone, ladies?

On Saturday I had a little trip out with my three sisters to one of our very favourite places. The winter wonderland that is the Barton Grange Garden Centre has certainly done itself proud. It has, in fact, just been awarded the Best Christmas Displays in the UK award by the Garden Centre Association (GCA). I’m not surprised. It really is fantastic. If you live anywhere in the vicinity you should go and have a look, but its massive popularity means it is constantly packed to the doors at this time of year so plan your visit well.

  After fighting through the crowds, the brunch in the restaurant definitely restored our sanity, but before I pause for too long, today (Monday) DH and I are off to the Ivy in Manchester for another little Christmas treat. This is a brand new restaurant that opened only last week, so we’re taking the train (using our senior railcards, of course) to see how it’s measuring up against the competition. Pics on here soon.

Until next time

Kim x