Cornish wedding and pup’s first sleep over….

by | Dec 19, 2014 | Uncategorized |

Well we managed to keep it a secret – apart from our two good friends who we asked to be our witnesses.

On a sunny early December day – my birthday as it happens – we finally tied the knot after over 25 years of living together. ‘We’ being yours truly and my other half Paul.

Our chosen venue was the Guildhall in St Ives, in the ‘Mayor’s Parlour’ room. It has only been a wedding venue since this summer but judging from our experience, I think it will be a popular choice. Sarah, the Guildhall wedding organiser, was extremely helpful and friendly. Exactly the sort of person you want to have at the end of a phone when you need to check on things.

The ‘Mayor’s Parlour’ was just the right size for an intimate ceremony and I don’t suppose this can always be guaranteed, but the Mayoress herself even popped in to congratulate us. The Cornish blessing suggested by one of our witnesses was lovely and in the end we had the perfect ceremony for us – simple and low key.

We’ll be celebrating with friends and family over the coming weeks and months but to answer the frequent question we’ve faced, ‘why get married after all those years living together?’ the response is simple. Sometimes the time and place just feels right. It’s really as uncomplicated as that.

Our day was made even better when the St Ives Harbour hotel ungraded our room to a magnificent suite and I suspect one of our witnesses had something to do with that! The hotel restaurant comes highly recommended as well – we opted for the local produce menu and we weren’t disappointed. If you haven’t already tried it, give it a whirl.

Now over to pup Bonnie, who had her first sleep over at ‘Dog Collars’ dog sitter’s in Marazion, run by Dom and Hannah.

‘Hi folks,

I didn’t know what to make of it all at first. I mean I knew there was something up – my rents were spending a bit more time getting ready, perfume being sprayed, packages lying around. Something was definitely in the air and boy was I right.

Next thing I know, the rent Paul is plonking me at another house, with other mutts living there as well.

I recognised the place because I’d visited there a few weeks ago and liked the relaxed vibe – Dom the head honcho seemed like a cool dude with a dog collar. (He’s actually a real life vicar you know and that why the place is called ‘Dog Collars’ – get it?).

Anyway, I needn’t have worried. I made myself at home and even had a piccy taken with me chilling out watching TV with my temporary rents Dom and Hannah.

Don’t get me wrong, it was nice to see my real folks the next day but once I got used to things, it wasn’t a bad home from home.

The other mutts were friendly too and I even got to walk with Dom on his Christmas card round. I’ve now been roped into delivering my own festive cards – see photo of me getting ready to set off on a card run. Woof and out…’

Xmas card

NEW BOOK PLANS AND BONNIE THE BRIGHTEST COCKAPOO….

by | Dec 2, 2014 | Uncategorized |

What is the best time of year to publish a new book? Some swear by the run up to Christmas but then you are hitting a crowded market, all competing for publicity.

When I published my debut novel in November 2012, I used my own journalistic skills to get some great press coverage. It’s all about knowing how to write a press release that actually gets noticed. Whether the publicity turns into sales is another matter but it certainly puts you out there on the author map.

Now that I’ve finished writing the second novel, (strictly speaking a shorter ‘novella’), I’m toying with the idea of publishing in February. The new book is one of a three part series – collectively called the ‘Dilemma Novellas’ – and I’ll need to get the follow-up out as quickly as possible. This means that I have to be a good way into writing the second novella before launching the first one. Yikes, what have I let myself in for?

As with the debut novel, I’m going straight onto Amazon, despite having good contacts in the conventional publishing world. A few years ago, I was in talks with several large publishers about a factual book and got to know some key people.

Why then go the direct Amazon route?

Well it is speedy, you can get book borrowers alongside buyers and it is relatively user friendly. What you don’t get is the marketing – that is down to you alone. Like before, there will be a physical book as well as an e-book and this time I have gone for a stand-out professionally designed cover from the talented Cornish based Spencer Smart.

So it’s looking like the new novella, ‘Dear Mr DJ’, will be launched in February and it deals with a hot ‘talking point’ subject. Watch this space….and now over to Bonnie the very Cornish cockapoo pup for her latest news.

‘Hi folks,

Let’s face it, we cockapoos are known for our brains, cute looks and personality – we’re the doggy breed that has it all. (Me, big headed? No, just telling it like it is).

Anyway, my rents were reading about a new doggy intelligence test, a sort of IQ for mutts. Next thing, I’m being tested – the cheek of it. My male rent, Paul, put one of my biscuits in an upturned cup. Apparently if you are high up on the mutt IQ scale, you work out how to get to the treat in 8 seconds.

What, 8 seconds?! Yours truly flipped that cup over and snaffled that biccy in less than 3 – the rent was actually timing it, the saddo.

It looks like there are other stupid tests but no way is this girl going through all that rubbish. Bonnie knows where she stands on the brain front and trust me, it’s up there off the doggy scale.

That’s why I’ve managed to bag a new coat this week after doing an Oscar worthy act of shivering and looking hang dog. Nice shade of red, don’t you think?

Woof and out….’

New coat