Winter 2008
Happy New Year to everyone, and welcome to all newcomers.
David and I had a fabulous time in London, even if it was only for four days. We thoroughly enjoyed the Romantic Novelist Association Winter Party where we chatted to Judith Lennox, Katie Fford, Trisha Ashley, Catherine King, and Sarah Craven, among others. (Just doing a bit of name dropping here.) We saw Billy Elliot at the theatre. It is absolutely amazing that this show depends upon the skills of one thirteen year old boy. Watching his feet fly was a delight, not to mention his back flips and somersaults. Wonderful! At the cinema we saw The Duchess (Keira Knightly and Ralph Fienes) This is the story of an earlier Spencer lady, a Duchess of Devonshire who also had three in her marriage. Beautifully filmed, stylishly acted, I cannot rate it highly enough. The book, by Amanda Foreman is also well worth reading. Excellent. Our other treat was the film Easy Virtue. This was a rewrite of a Noel Coward comedy. Delicious fun with Kristin Scott Thomas as the bitchy mother-in-law, Colin Firth as the couldn’t-give-a-toss husband, and the American daughter-in-law magnificently portrayed by Jessica Biel. Don’t miss it.
Back home in Spain we have the olive harvest to bring in, not so good this year unfortunately, thanks to the long drought and the rain not coming at just right time in the spring. There is also much talk among the farmers here of a poor tomato and potato harvest, so watch out for a rise in prices with vegetables, as if we don’t all have enough problems with the huge price in oil. Not that I’m planning any more trips for a while. I’m looking forward with some excitement to spending a quiet winter writing a new book. Can’t wait to get started on this one.