It is some time since I last wrote a blog – just over a month I think. Sorry for that but there have been four reasons – or excuses if you prefer.

The first is that Marcia has been very busy finishing off the last book and at that stage this involved me quite a bit. Anyway, it has now been accepted by Transworld and will come out under the title ‘The Sea Garden’. It is based mainly in Tavistock and down on the River Tamar. Old readers will be happy to welcome back Cass and Tom, Kate, Guy and Gemma, their twins and Oliver.

The second reason is tied up with the first. We have been so busy that we haven’t done anything for me to talk about. That sounds boring but it hasn’t been. If I kept a diary it would read (on an almost daily basis) ‘Marcia writing and I am reading and making notes for her plus doing my own thing’.

Third: it is usual that at this time of the year a book comes out which means the usual stuff about which I chat. That hasn’t happened. The reason is simple: the next book is called ‘The Christmas Angel’ and to bring that out in May or June would have been nonsensical. As you would expect it hits the shelves at the end of October in good time to be stuffed into lots and lots of Christmas stockings.  

The fourth is, as I expect you have guessed, that I have been very limited in what I can do thanks to the problems in the eyes. I have been popping in and out of the eye clinic. I say ‘popping’ but it is actually forty-seven miles away and Marcia has to do all the driving. Anyway, the last time was a couple of days ago and that was for a pre-operation assessment. Essentially it was to measure my right eye so that they can make a suitable plastic lens to replace the rubbish in there at the moment. So, we are on the way after all this time. There will definitely be two operations and there is the possibility of it being four. Obviously that will take time but each one should improve my vision and make life a lot easier.

With any luck I shall be able to put up another blog fairly soon.