A Doughnut Warmed For a Little Something More

Every now and then

When feeling especially decadent

I’ll get myself a good doughnut

And enact a process with precedent

A short time in the microwave

To make it lovely and warm

A very sweet treat with my evening tea

A sporadic, but special reward!

In 2023, I was walking past the Krispy Kreme shop near Tottenham Court Road in Central London. I decided to get myself an original glazed doughnut as a treat and was asked a question that would shift my perspective forever:

‘And would you like that warmed up, sir?’

Warmed up?

I had never imagined such a delight until that very moment but immediately, it made perfect sense! Does it make the doughnut feel twice as sugary? Of course, but I was hardly wanting a doughnut for anything else! Since then, it’s a treat I return to rarely but with great happiness each time. This week, it gave me a much-wanted lift at the end of a long day. Sweet, warm doughnuts, what a treat you are!

In other news:

Where Would I Be, Without Post-Dinner Tea!

After dinner, a unwitting ritual

Has become a part of my routine

Some kind of tea to close the affair

Is, nowadays, essential to me!

After dinner with a friend this week

The tea of choice was mint!

It was hot, it was fresh, it was truly the best

Just as satisfying as you would think!

I start every day with a glass of warm water and, now, finish the evening with some kind of tea. There is little that compares to the comfort I feel from the literal and metaphorical warmth of drinking something that warms me inside and out. MY younger brother is a consistent tea-drinker throughout the day and is never without a flask, as I wrote about in my March 22nd newsletter - I am soon to ascend to his level, methinks!

And finally…

An Elephant Framed with Blossoms - Awesome!

I happened across this statue

I do not know its significance

An elephant in such a smiley style

Could hold nothing less than magnificence!

Its framing in front of a blooming tree

Felt truly perfect, meant to be

At that time, as I passed by

Its little smile felt meant for me!

One of many things I love about London is its details. There are always pieces of artwork, works of nature or random occurrences of interesting things to draw the attention. My eyes are always open to all of these and this week, were rewarded with what I decided to call the condensed elephant! This statue smiled at me and I could only smile back, of course!

Going into this week:

I had another difficult week last week, compounded by an injury that will require rest and recovery over the coming days. Even in this, however, I am grateful for the time for reflection and the piece I wrote from said place of reflection on Thursday, probably my favourite of this year so far. Even in the bad there is good, and good means that it can’t be all bad. As ever, the good is what I shall be looking towards and leaning into this week!

Thank you for being here.

Whatever you’re doing this week, I hope you have a wonderful one.

How Good it Feels to be Part of a Deal!

Selling a book as an author

Can be a true uphill climb

I know there are people who would love my book

They sometimes feel hard to find!

Thus, being included in promotions

Especially when it’s unexpected

Is a welcome boost, to tell the truth

For me and each person who gets it!

I received an excited message from a friend this week, saying “I’m sure you know this but your book is 99p on Kindle! Amazing!” I did not, in fact, know this! It transpired that my book has been chosen as a Kindle monthly deal title, making it 99p for the month of April. After a tough week, this was a huge boost for me. I do all I can to share and promote my work in my own but it undoubtedly makes a huge difference when it included in promotions such as this - truly a moment to celebrate! Especially after my book tour earlier this year, I feel more than ever that my book reaching new people is a truly positive thing. You can get a copy here!

In other news:

Going Where there are Accented Stairs!

Going down stairs of stone

Make me feel like I’m on an adventure

If water is also within sight

It feels more exciting than ever!

That is how I felt this week

On the way to Shakespeare’s Globe

As my map took me on this journey

Downstairs from the busy main road!

The image of these stairs in central London, framed by the turquoise lamp and railing, was too lovely to pass through unacknowledged! Every adventure film I watched as a child involved steps of stone at some point, which is exactly how I felt as I descended these. I was on my way to take a picture of the Globe theatre before reaching my ultimate destination of the Tate Modern museum, but this moment unexpectedly provided happiness of its own!

And finally…

A Spring Birthday, the Trees Sing Hooray!

I came across a fresh new plant

Much welcomed in its youth

By nature’s confetti, the blossoms above

Showering the little shoot!

It’s a very first birthday party

For a plant only starting its life!

Many such celebrations are happening

It is making spring gloriously bright!

I was stopped in my tracks by this little shoot, taken root and growing leaves! I was delighted by how it seemed the blossoms from the tree it grew next to, had decorated its earth as if in welcome. Spring is just so beautiful! Every day, I see something that makes me smile!

Going into this week:

I am crossing my fingers that the days will be warmer! I am already enjoying the longer daylight hours and truly trying to make the most. I also am in need of great focus; I want to write several things and I am at the stage where further planning would only be procrastination, so action is the only course!

Thank you for being here.

Whatever you’re doing this week, I hope you have a wonderful one.

The Flowers I Meet Whilst Taking a Seat!

I saw a bench I thought looked good

To take a rest upon

Only to get closer and see

I most certainly was not wrong!

A flower had the selfsame idea

…

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Orange, Not Lemon, but still St Clements!

At a breakfast event, was offered to me

A cup of warming breakfast tea

The name of one tea drew my eye

Therefore, I simply had to try!

It remind…

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Flower Buds, a Sight I Love!

These tulips are awaiting

A true lesson in patience

They will not show until the time is right

I wait for them, excited

Returning, they remind me

That after c…

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A Surprise Treat from a Human So Sweet!

At a coffee shop I frequent

On the occasions that I pass by

A sweet treat and a hot drink

Will always catch my eye!

There is where I met lovely Ma…

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A Dryer and a Good Read, Makes a Happy Man Indeed!

A long-awaited hair appointment, plus

A new book from mum and sister

Made for giggles that would have been audible

To any interested …

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I’ll Always Get Out of Bed for Good Banana Bread!

A cafe named The Fields Beneath

Situated in Kentish Town

Gave me the afternoon gift

Of the finest banana bread around!

It was toasted to…

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Rain on the Train til a Rainbow Came!

The train from Glasgow to London

Has some truly beautiful views

Valleys and hills, rivers and plains

Whatever you see, you can’t lose!

The scenery w…

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Hip Hip Hooray! My First Display!

On the first day of book tour, we stopped in Bath

And I saw, for the very first time

A display of my book for all to see

In a city that is not even min…

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My book, Frequently Happy, is Waterstones’ February Nonfiction…

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An Author Like Me on the BBC!

On Monday afternoon, I was emailed

An invitation that could have been a hoax

It turned out to be most real indeed

The furthest possible thing from a joke!

I…

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A Lovely Keepsake from My First Tour Date!

A lovely attendee at my London show

Made me this delightful bracelet

So tremendously nice, she was equally polite

In asking if I wanted to tak…

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Our headline news:

The End of December, and a Birthday to Remember!

My birthday is on the 30th of December

A most busy time for m…

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A Foraging Friend, Searching Once Again!

It’s always extremely enchanting to me

To see a squirrel in a tree!

As soon as the colds of winter come

They scavenge around for berries and nu…

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It’s Even More Fun than it Looks, Signing Books!

I went to one of my favourite independent bookshops

That goes by the name of West End Lane

In West Hampstead, they welcomed me

To scribb…

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A Sinking Boat, and Birds that Float!

I happened across a sinking boat

Abandoned, clearly, a while ago

Around it’s frame were a trio of swans

Making it look very easy to float!

They were…

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The Elements One Needs, For a Warming Cup of Tea!

I spent the week writing from cafes

As I do when I need something different

Friday’s cup of breakfast tea

Was served in a manner most …

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My First Book Events, Across the US!

On this beautiful subject

There is not much to say

Other than that I had my first book events

Taking place in the USA!

I met beautiful people in Atla…

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