On our way again

 Just a short message to say we have spent some days in Milan (Italy) and in a few minutes will be leasing to take the plane to Zürich (Switzerland). From there we will travel on to Scuol in Untengadin.

This is the mountain resort where we used to go skiing with our parents. We know people there, and the know us.

And the new year is coming up. 2023 will be pretty busy for us, as we'll be away to some place abroad every couple of weeks. I suppose, when we had lots of money, we wouldn't be home anymore!

Nearly Christmas

We are nearing the end of the year. How fast time flies by! Before we know it, it will be 2023 and then 2024.

At the moment it's pretty cold out here. We have a bout of freezing - something that hasn't happened for a couple of years at least. The temperature during the day barely reaches the zero Celsius and at night it goes below. I am wearing thermal underwear to keep warm. I don't have any fat anymore to derive warmth from, and that without a diet. I eat normally and even eat chips, sweets and chocolate without gaining one gram. At the hospital they say I shouldn't bother as long as my energy stays up level - which it does.

This afternoon there is a winter happening in the town center. It's named Walking Winter. They do the same thing in summer, too. The local shopkeepers and horeca exploitants organise to build stalls and sell all kind of delightful things. All the main shops are open as well. We'll make a walk and afterwards go dining at Barley's.

Next Tuesday then, we head to Heist to sign the  sales deed with the sollicitor. Then it's official the end of our stay at the coast. Christine will receive her money and give the keys to the new buyer. 

The end of the year we'll be spending in Italy and Switzerland. We head to Milan and Scuol. Milan is one of the Italian places we wanted to visit (and have had to postpone a couple of times) and Scuol is the beautitul village in Unterengadin (part of the province Graubünden) where we used to vacation with our parents. The hotel where we always used to stay is still there and that's where we are staying. Curious to see if the owner still recognizes us?

From then on, the year will be one big series of trips and city breaks. We go to Iceland, Egypt, Great Britain, Holland, Albania, Morocco, Singapore and Australia. And the year afterwards we make a big trip to South America and consequently a cruise to Antartica. Most likely we'll also head to Japan.

Our goal was always to visit all the continents of the earth. If we can do all we planned, we'll have reached that goal. North and South Pole, North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. 

(Last) weekend at the coast

We won't be spending as much time at the coast as we used to. The past weekend we undertook the last task to free the flat of all our personal stuff. Our cousin William and his mate came to pick up all the gear that was heading to the container park. A blessing, having two strong men to fetch and carry!

The week before, Christine's work colleague Stijn came with his small van to load all the boxes of household stuff and some small items of furniture (like two outdoor relax seats, a small cupboard made by our father, and a table that can be folded). By now we have given everything a place in our house here in Dendermonde.

Having help on Saturday morning, it left the afternoon free to do as we pleased. We enjoyed a great lunch at a bistro and made a nice walk along the beach and the promenade afterwards. Later, we met William and his wife Fabienne, plus their granddaughter Nora, to enjoy waffles and pancakes. 

It was a nice weekend - the last one in Heist, at least this year. Probably we'll spend a couple of days per year at the coast in the future. There are enough places you can rent for a weekend or midweek, even with hotel service. 

Another productive weekend

The past long weekend was used to finish our work in the flat at the coast. Now all the stuff is divided in two parts: the things that go to the container park (last weekend of November) and those (boxed) which need to be taken home (next Sunday).

My sister's co-worker offered to help us moving these boxes. He has a pickup truck which is roomy enough to stow all the different boxes and packs of clothing. We also need to take along two relax chairs which we used to sun into. 

The only problem is where to put all the stuff once it arrives in Dendermonde. The objective is that everything will get a place, but before that we need to make some major changes in the downstairs of the house. The interior will be completely changed. These things need time. Nowadays, it has become difficult to obtain certain materials. For instance, for high-end isolating glass in windows you need to wait at least 6 months. The other renovations have to wait until the new doors and windows have been placed. Then will probably come isolation of the outer walls, then a renovation of the bathroom. Later on, it will depend on the pricing what can also be done. Sun panels would be great, and a new floor in the living room. We'll see what will be possible!

Nearly completed

Apart from the weekend in Antwerp (which was, btw, as always wonderful, with a great concert as special treat) we spent the rest of the autumn break at the coast. Our main goal was to empty the flat of the stuff that needs to be removed for the new owner.

We worked hard. All the clothing was sorted out - one heap for taking along to Dendermonde, the other for throwing away. We filled quite a few sacks for the clothing containers. Some household items were taken to the recycle shop which is not far away from where our flat is situated. People there are thankful for nearly unused stuff, like saws, drilling machine, new bedlinen, etc. What needs to come to Dendermonde was put in boxes: some clothes, towels, our dvd collection and our bunch of cd's. Plus all the little items we bring along from our trips abroad.

We did not work all the time, though. We took time to go and have a Brussels waffle with whipped cream in a tearoom  once and on Friday night we went dining at @Sea.

Next weekend we go again to to the last things. Then we'll have to load all the boxes and transport them to our house here. At the end of the month our cousin William is going to help us bringing bigger objects to the container park. We have booked a B&B for that weekend.

We'll be glad when all is done! 

In the meantime I'm waiting for the estimate for putting in new windows and doors in the house. We have already ordered work in the kitchen. Next will be an estimate for isolation of walls and roof and then for renovation of the bathroom. We'd like to make our nearly century-old house ready for the new times. Nowadays new built houses and blocks of flat need to have an energy label A (there is a grade from A: totally in order  to F: not isolated). Our house fetches E in the best case. With what we intend we'd like to go to at least C. More won't be possible in an house that old. 

Busy weeks ahead

We're in for some busy weeks in November. Fact is, we have found a buyer for the flat in Heist (happened rather quickly, someone took a keen interest and the price they offered was well beyond our expectations). The buyer is a young woman who studies to be a doctor in medicine. She wants to take over some of the furniture, but of course there are things that need to be brought to Dendermonde.

Our main problem is, we don't have a car. I contacted a moving business, but they only have big vans and work with at least wo people. Great when you want to move furniture and the like, but not practical for only some boxes of stuff. Our cousin William is going to take some of the old stuff to the container park, but we don't want to ask him to bring the rest to Dendermonde as well. That would be imposing too much.

When we don't find a person (there is someone who'd do it, but we don't have his telephone number and the latest time we haven't seen him when going into town) we have to bring home the clothes, little figurines, dvd's and cd's in large suitcases... 

By December all should be finished, as by then the offical deal at the sollicitor's will have happened. And that's a chapter closed. We have had the flat for 30 years, and have enjoyed it a lot. 

With the money of the sale, we intend to do some travelling and spend the rest on renovations of our home here in Dendermonde. 

Only positive news

We're already in the middle of October! By now, I finally seem to be recovered from my surgery early in August.

Although it was a minor surgery (I went in around noon and was back home early in the evening), it took some time for every wound to heal and every function return to normal. I was forbidden to move a lot the first days, could not lift things or help around the house. 

I only began to resume my normal day schedule at the end of September. From then on, I could leave the hosue to do some shopping (nothing heavy). I resumed cleaning two weeks ago. Moving around furniture and such takes some energy, which I did not possess before.

For the rest, I took my second booster shot last week (so did Christine) and am now protected against covid. 

We haven't been away after Newbury, due to my surgery, but now we are looking forward to a whole series of upcoming trips. At the end of this month, we are spending a weekend in Antwerp, mostly to see a concert in Het Sportpaleis. Then, during the Christmas holidays, we are going to Milan and from there to Scuol in Switzerland. In 2023 we begin the year with a trip to Iceland, then comes a trip to Egypt, afterwards one to the Netherlands and to England, another one to Albania and Morocco. And most likely, we'll be travelling to Australia at the end of the year.

Decision taken

A bit sooner than expected, we finally decided to sell the flat at the coast. In the course of the past two weeks, we got several phone calls from a real estate agency, who seemed very much interested in acquiring our flat to sell it. This is quite unusual. Normally it's the person selling who goes to the agency. 

We suspect something else is going on, and when we are right, the flat will soon be sold. Let me explain: in March, during the general meeting of owners (which is an obligation) a new owner suggested to 'top up' the building. It is now 7 stories high, but can go up to 10. When the general meeting agreed, they would not only build three new layers of flats, but also isolate the roof and the outside walls, and fix up the corridors and the hall. Remember, this building is from the 1960s. There was a lot of discussion and nothing was decided.

Since March, several flats in the building have been sold (and in a short time). We suspect that the ones who want to top up (who own a building company) are silently buying up as much as they can and thus raise their say-so in the general meeting. When you own half of the building, no one can stop you. 

So we finally decided to go ahead with the plans. If someone pays the asking (which is a lot higher than Christine has dreamed) we'll have a tidy sum to spend on travels and renovations at home. Because that's what's going to happen next. We'll fix up our house in Dendermonde as good as possible, so that we can live comfortably for the rest of our lives. 

We need new furniture in the living room and dining room, want to make dressings in the bedrooms, need to place new doors and windows in a material that needs practically no upkeep (pvc or aluminium), need to paint the outside walls front and back, want to change the bathroom... Also could use a new terrace.

So we heve some pretty exciting times ahead! And by the way, I'm feeling bit by bit better after my surgery and hope to be as before before the end of October.

Death of an icon

Yesterday afternoon we heard the news of Queen Elizabeth's passing away. She was the longest reigning queen in the world, and only Louis IX of France reigned a bit longer than she. 

I must admit I was not all that surprised. When Prince Philip died last year, I expected her to follow not much longer. They'd been together for ages, and it often happens with older couples that when one spouse dies, the other will soon follow. I remember seeing her so lost at the funeral, sitting there all on her own in the pew. And when I saw the last picture of the queen, meeting Liz Truss, I noticed how blue her hands were and how much weight she had lost. Not a good sign.

(Mind, if losing weight means coming death, I'm not in a good situation either. I need to gain weight urgently - but all my functions are still allright and I still have my strenght.)

Now the world has to get used to King Charles III. And Queen Camilla. The man is already 73, so he won't reign for ages, like his mother. I expect that the crown will be handed over to Prince William, just like it happened here in Belgium. When King Baudouin died, his brother Albert took the throne, but after some years he abdicated and handed over the crown to his son Filip 

All of us grew up with Elizabeth being the Queen of England and we learned how to sing 'God Save the Queen' at school, during our lessons of English. I know that song better (and also France's La Marseillaise) than our own 'O dierbaar België'. It will be getting used to having a king now. 

Slowly recovering

Yesterday was the first day after my surgery that I was able to leave the house for a walk. I must admit I felt a bit tired afterwards, though. Today, I've gone outside as well, doing some light shopping. I am forbidden to lift heavy objects for a while and also to exercise too much. 

It's now three weeks since the op. The surgeon said I should give it at least 6 weeks to make a full recovery. I'll be happy when that happens!

Curious, though, that a relative small op causes more problems than a major one! Five years ago, I underwent surgery because my right kidney (along with a big tumor) had to be removed. All went well, I spent a short week in the hospital, and when I went home I felt fine. 

Now I could go home the same day, but the aftereffects take a lot longer. 

It makes me less fit, quicker tired. That's the reason why I'm slacking up here in my blog. Hopefully all will get better in a week or two!

The Madness of Mercury

Let's welcome Connie di Marco today. Connie is doing a Virtual Book Blast Tour for The Madness of Mercury, a Contemporary Mystery available now from Suspense Publishing. The Book Blast Tour will take place August 22 - 26, 2022. 

 

Connie di Marco will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4339/

Blurb

The Zodiac Mysteries feature San Francisco astrologer, Julia Bonatti, who never thought murder would be part of her practice. In The Madness of Mercury, Julia’s outspoken advice in her newspaper column, AskZodia, makes her the target of a recently-arrived cult preacher who advocates love and compassion to those less fortunate. But the power-hungry preacher is waging war on sin and his Army of the Prophet will stop at nothing to silence those who would stand in his way. Julia is at the top of his list.

Excerpt

“Thank God you’re there.”  Gale sounded very shaky. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“I’m at the Mystic Eye.  Something very strange just happened.  I heard a knock at the back door.  I thought it might be you.” 

“Are you alone?” 

“Yes.  I closed up and sent Cheryl home.  When I opened the door . . . oh God, Julia.  Someone left a dead cat on the doorstep.” 

I cringed.  “I’ll be right there.” 

“I’m sorry.  You don’t need to come.  I wrapped it up and put it in plastic in the dumpster.  It looked like its neck had been broken.” 

“Don’t argue.  I’ll be there in twenty minutes.  Less than that.” 

I drove the length of California Street as fast as I could, slowing at each red light.  Once I was sure no other cars were crossing I ran through several intersections.  When I reached the Eye the shop was closed but the display lights were on in the front windows.  I pulled down the alleyway and parked next to Gale’s car.  I tapped on the door.  “Gale, it’s me.”  She opened the door immediately.  The storeroom was dark.  A stack of empty boxes and packing materials stood against the wall.  Inside, the only light was a small desk lamp in the office. 

Gale is tall and self-assured with a regal bearing.  Tonight she was completely shaken.  She hugged her arms, more from fright than from cold.  “I feel bad now that I’ve called you.  I was just so freaked out.  I recognized the cat, it was the little gray one that hangs out behind the apartment building next door.  I think it’s a stray.  Everyone around here feeds it, even the restaurant people, and it’s such a friendly little thing.  Some sick bastard probably gave it some food and then snapped its neck.  God, I think I’m going to be sick.” 

“Shouldn’t you call the cops?” 

“And tell them what?  I found a dead cat?  Please.  Like they’d listen.  Even if they thought someone had killed it, what could they do?” 

“It shows a pattern of harassment.  Might be worth making a report.” 

She sighed.  “Yeah.  You’re probably right.  I just wasn’t thinking straight.  I was so upset.”  She collapsed in the chair behind her desk. 

I shrugged out of my coat.  “Why are you here so late?” 

“We just got a huge shipment of books and supplies in.  Cheryl’s been working late every night so I sent her home.  I had just finished stacking the boxes in the storeroom.”  Gale shivered involuntarily.  “Look, let’s get out of here.  Have you eaten?  Why don’t we go up the block and grab some food?  Actually a drink sounds even better.”

“Okay.” 

“Get your coat.  We can leave the cars here and walk.  I’ll just get my purse.” 

I headed to the front door and checked that the locks were all in place.  The drapes separating the display windows from the shop were drawn for privacy.  Gale left the desk lamp on in the office and walked out to the front counter.  As she reached under the counter for her purse, we heard glass breaking.  Then I saw a flash of flame through the doorway to the back storeroom.  I screamed.  The empty boxes and packing materials had caught fire in an explosive flash.  The smoke alarm started to ring, filling the shop with earsplitting sound.  Using my coat like a blanket, I dropped it over the center of the flaming pile.  It wasn’t going to be enough, but I had to do something before the entire storeroom went up, if not the building.  

Author bio and links

Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries featuring Julia Bonatti, a San Francisco astrologer who never thought murder would be part of her practice:  The Madness of Mercury is the first in the series.  Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the national bestselling Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Penguin Random House.  You can find her excerpts and recipes in The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook.  Connie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, The Crime Writers Association and Sisters in Crime.

 

Website: http://www.conniedimarco.com

BookBub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/connie-di-marco

Blog: http://www.conniedimarco.com/blog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zodiacmysteries/(ConniediMarcoAuthor)

Twitter: https://twitter.com/askzodia

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1r4fl4U

 

Links for The Madness of Mercury:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Jq5j7r 

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1UapU0B

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1SBPKeq

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1ou4EXV

An update

Several things have been happening the past 10 days or so. First of all, Chris and I made a trip to Bratislava (the capital city of Slovakia). It was a nice trip, interesting places to see, things to do. We had a great stay there. We returned on Wednesday evening, and the day after we took the Eurostar to London and then on to Newbury, in West Berkshire. Our main aim of going there was that the musical Whistle Down the Wind (Andrew LLoyd Webber and Jim Steinman) was being performed there - more than 20 years after the original run in the Westend. We both loved this musical and this was a great chance to see it once more - and at a very low price in a small theatre.

The only minus is that I returned with a medical problem. I went to see my general practitioner yesterday and this morning had to consult a specialist at the hospital. Most likely I'll have to undergo an operation tomorrow. When I get the operation, I'll need a while of aftercare in the coming weeks.

This disturbs our plans of spending the rest of August at the coast. It's especially a problem for Christine, as we had thought to return there, and her work computer and files are at the flat. Also our fridge is full of stuff. Don't know how we are going to solve this. The best way would be to go by car in the evening (there is a heatwave going on) and load everything in it.... but we don't have a car anymore. When there are two of us, it's no problem to bring all the stuff home, but I won't be able to leave the house for some time.

Worries, worries! At least, my problem has nothing to do with my cancer. That's something positive. 

Halfway through

How fast time flies by! Before you know it, summer is halfway through and September is not far off anymore.

This will be the last schoolyear my sister is working. At the end of June 2023 she'll go into a well-earned pension! Both of us are very much looking forward to this, as it will allow us to do whatever we like. For instance, we can travel in those periods when it's less costly (airlines, hotels and such take advantage of the fact that schools are closed and raise their prices). Or we can do some chores in the house, like painting front and back of the house. That's an undertaking that takes several days, and you can't do it on your own. And in an old house like ours, there is always something in need to repair/renovation.

And we have some nice prospects for when Christine's pension arrives. We are planning a trip to Australia in the autumn of 2023. That's a destination that is still on our list of places to see. We are gong to try and see a good part of Downunder, going from Perth to Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin. Definite reservations we'll make later this year, about a year in advance, as then you get the best fares on flighs. 

Next to this, we have already trips planned to Iceland in February, to Egypt in April and to Albania in July. Plus of course a couple of weekends either in Antwerp or Brussels. As I mentioned, good prospects.

And the weather is still co-operating. These past July days have been fine days with not a lot of rain (and then it was overnight). A big difference from the summer we had last year!

July 21st

Quite a coincidence, but lots of national holidays are in the month of July. The Americans celebrate 4th July, the French 14th July. And we Belgians have 21st July. Not that there really is a national feeling in Belgium. For that, the two main groups of residents are way too different.

There are the Flemish (65% of the population) on one side, and the Walloons (35%) on the other one. The rest, 5%, are German-speaking and don't count for anything.

If you go back in time, to the Middle Ages, Flanders was a force on its own, while the other region was also independent. In 1830 the state of Belgium was created. In those days, the level of welfare came mainly from the southern provinces, because they had steel factories and coal mines. French was the language spoken - and the poor Flemish were considered ignorant peasants.

But times change. The ignorant peasants got their own universitiy, developed special skills and slowly the balance changed. Now we are the rich part of the country, and a lot of our tax money is shifted to the poorer part. Here in Flanders there are a couple of political parties that strive for independence. I don't know if it's ever going to happen.

Brussels is a case apart. It doesn't belong to Flanders or to Wallony. Neither part would want it to be their capital in case of two seperate states. The Flemish capital would be Antwerp or Ghent, and Namur of Liege could be the one of Wallony. In Brussels you have a mix of nationalities, it's the base for the European Parliament and there's a big center of NATO.

Around noon today there will be a national defile, attented by the royal family: King Filip and his wife Mathilde, their sons and daughters (Elisabeth, Gabriel, Elionore and Emmanuel), his brother and wife, his sister Astrid and her husband - and their new sister, princess Delphine (the bastard daughter of former king Albert II).

Tomorrowland 2022

For a consecutive three weekends, De Schorre in Boom (Flanders) is the absolute center of the world. After two years of corona, Tomorrowland is back and has added an extra weekend to the event.

Young (and older) people from all around the world gather in Boom to have the time of their life. That is, if you like techno! I must honestly confess that I'm not a fan of it. I like the songs from the 70s and 80s, beside country, rock 'n roll, opera and classical music. Enough, but it doesn't include boem-boem-boem. 

I have the impression that the general population has gone a bit crazy after more than two years of corona restrictions. Everybody wants to amuse him/herself, go out, travel - despite the increasing number of infections with the latest version of corona. When we travelled to Malta, there were more people than usual at the airport. And when we returned on a Sunday evening, it was still very busy at the airport. Right now, here at the coast, there are also a lot of tourists present - although the weather will be responsible for it as well. A heatwave is coming on, and then it's best at the coast!

Vacation in Malta

The past week, my sister and I spent on the Maltese islands. We had our hotel in St. Julian's (Portomaso) and it was wonderful there. For starters, the weather was more than beautiful - temperatures above 30° Celsius and always sun.

We were not entirely lazy (the hotel had different pools and relaxation area's) but did some exploring too. With our private guide Joseph we discovered the isle of Malta one day, and on another trip the isle of Gozo. On our own we headed to Valetta, the capital city of Malta.

We had a great time there, and I'll be writing about it in my travel blog as soon as all the pictures have been uploaded (might take a while, because I have a new pc at the coast and it needs to be installed yet).

We returned yesterday evening and today after noon we'll be heading to our flat at the coast. The weather forecast is positive as well, looks like we'll be having nice weather for the rest of the week!

Now the vacation is really starting

My sister is finishing her last hour of work for this schoolyear - people in administration need to work a couple of days in July and August, in preparation of the new schoolyear. Then in September she'll begin het last schoolyear before her pension. We are both looking forward to this!

But now the vacation is really starting for us. 7 weeks of not having to do anything, unless you want to. As of July 2023, this will always be the case. A time for being lazy, spending time at the coast or making trips abroad, now that most countries have abolished corona measures. 

Hopefully the weather will co-operate somewhat. Up to now it's not really bad - sun and clouds - but not really fine either. We were at the coast the past weekend and we were able to sit outside on the roof terrace, but not in bathing suit. Got some tan on my white skin, though. Since I have begun taking pills for my cancer, my skin (plus hair) have turned completely white and it's difficult to get some color on it. Plus my hair is not very manageable. When it grows, it sticks out and I look like a mad professor. So the only solution is keeping it short.

Wishing you all a great summer!

Pride of Lyon's

Let's say hello to Jenna Jaxon today. Jenna's doing a Virtual Book Blast Tour for Pride of Lyon's, a Historical Romance available June 29, 2022 from Dragonblade Publishing. The Book Blast Tour will take place June 27, 2022 to July 1, 2022. 

 

Jenna Jaxon will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4271/

Blurb

Enter the world of the most notorious gambling den in London, where matches are made... unusually. Welcome to the world of THE LYON'S DEN: The Black Widow of Whitehall Connected World, where the underground of Regency London thrives... and loves.

 

What’s a young lady to do when a powerful lord tries to abscond with her and make her his mistress?

 

When you’re Miss Honoria Quinn, you leap from his carriage and run like the wind to find some place to hide. Trouble is, Honoria mistakenly chooses The Lyon’s Den, a disreputable gambling house as her sanctuary, a move that ends up with her having to make another choice at the hands of the Den’s match-making proprietor Mrs. Dove-Lyons: wed a complete stranger or become the lord’s mistress.

 

No good deed goes unpunished…

 

Thomas, Lord Braeton agrees to attend a wager at The Lyon’s Den only to keep his brother-in-law out of trouble. What he doesn’t count on is becoming embroiled in one of Mrs. Dove-Lyons’s schemes to marry him off. But when he tries to come to the aid of another peer, Thomas finds the only honorable thing he can do to save Miss Quinn’s reputation is put aside his hopes for a love match for himself and instead offer to marry her.

 

As Thomas and Honoria set out on a wary journey to matrimony, can they learn to live together and hope love will grow between them? Or are they doomed to a loveless marriage of convenience from which one or both will want to escape?

Excerpt

“I can be very generous with you if you are equally generous with me.”

Then, quicker than a striking snake, he sank his mouth onto hers. 

Completely shocked, Honoria couldn’t think what to do, leaving Lord Danford to take full advantage of her paralyzed body. Thrusting his tongue into her mouth, he plundered here and there, then pushed incredibly deeply into her throat until she almost gagged. Meanwhile, he slid his hands up onto her breasts, squeezing them until they ached, even through her clothing. At last, he released her right breast and that hand suddenly tried to worm its way underneath her skirts, his fingers brushing her knee, her thigh…

That touch, on her most intimate flesh, acted as a bucket of cold water thrown in Honoria’s face. She gasped as though coming up for air and was suddenly free of the deadly paralysis. Rearing back, she brought her arms up between them, planted her hands squarely on his chest, and heaved him across the carriage into the opposite corner. His head hit the windowpane with a crack, eliciting a groan from the man.

Lord Danford slowly sat up rubbing the back of his head. He cocked his head and frowned, like a puzzled hound. Without hesitation, Honoria grabbed the door handle, wrenched it downward, and threw it open.

The cobbled pavement flew by with dizzying speed, but she had no other choice. Taking a deep breath, and sending up a fervent prayer, she jumped.

Author bio and links

Jenna Jaxon is a best-selling author of historical romance, writing in a variety of time periods because she believes that passion is timeless. She has been reading and writing historical romance since she was a teenager. A romantic herself, Jenna has always loved a dark side to the genre, a twist, suspense, a surprise. She tries to incorporate all of these elements into her own stories.

She lives in Virginia with her family and a small menagerie of pets--including two vocal cats, one almost silent cat, two curious bunnies, and a Shar-pei mix named Frenchie.

Blog:  www.jennajaxon.wordpress.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jenna.jaxon

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Jenna_Jaxon

Instagram: passionistimeless

TicTok: @jennajaxon1

BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B2B8KLB3

 

A little scare

 On the first day of this month, I had my 4-monthly CT scan, to check out how the medication is working. After some hours, the oncologist told me she'd seen a 5 mm spot on my liver. The rest of the scan was good: the metastases on my pancreas and lungs are almost gone. 

The news was a bit scary, but dr. Bambust told me not to panic. She'd ask for a MRI scan to get a clearer picture. The dark spot could be a cyste or a metastasis. Unfortunately, the MRI scanner in our hospital is fully booked day and night (it's a new model and it services a broad area, not only Dendermonde) and getting an appointment could take some time. I got one for June 23rd, last week Thursday. Three weeks of not being fully at ease...

The scan took place in the late afternoon, so I could only contact dr. Bambust the day after. On Friday afternoon I heard that everything is ok. No metastasis! Needless to say I had a very good weekend. My sister was relieved as well. 

Tomorrow I'll have to go to the day clinic to have my regular bloods check, and then I'll hear a bit more from the doctor.

The Chasm

Today we welcome author Branwen OShea. Branwen is doing a virtual book blast tour for The Chasm,  a YA Science Fantasy Hope Punk available June 24, 2022 from Sigma Orionis Publishing. The Book Blast Tour will take place June 24 - 30, 2022. 

 

Branwen OShea will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4253/

Blurb

They thought the biggest problem they faced was each other.

 

After Bleu, Rana, and their new friends narrowly prevent war between the star beings and humans, they hope the upcoming negotiation will secure the peace. Newly emerged from their subterranean haven, the Northern Haven humans are clearly not suited to Earth’s ice age, and require assistance from the enlightened star beings to survive long term on the Surface. But Commander Savas doesn’t trust the suspiciously kind star beings and their unexplainable abilities. When both sides reluctantly negotiate a joint mission to find the other Havens, Bleu must somehow cooperate with the manipulative commander to keep his friends safe.

 

As their team confronts unexpected dangers, Bleu and his teammates begin to suspect the star beings don’t know as much about the Surface as they claimed, while Rana is torn between remaining true to her nonviolent ways or becoming more human to survive. When an unnatural predator attacks, even the nearly all-knowing Kalakanya can’t explain it. Now the team must pull together or their new discovery will pull them apart, limb by limb.

Excerpt

Neviah gaze narrowed. “You do know you’re doing a good job, right?”

He snorted. “So far, we’ve managed not to kill each other.”

“Considering Savas tried to nuke them a few weeks ago, that’s a huge accomplishment.”

He laughed, but she was right. It was amazing they hadn’t yet attacked each other. “Okay, let’s hope we can all continue to stay alive.” He turned to leave, then spun back. “Listen, if the choco doesn’t work to keep you awake while piloting, call back to me, and I’ll come entertain you. All right? 

Her smile was radiant. “Entertain me? Hmm. That sounds good. A whole lot better than stressing about flying across an ocean that hasn’t been crossed in centuries. Perhaps I should just give the choco back to Savas now? 

“Noooo. Choco is too amazing to lose.”

“Oh, so now we’re sharing it, eh?” She poked him with her stylus. “You want some of my choco?”

“Only a fool would say no to that.”

“Hmm. To the choco or to sharing it with me?” She lifted an eyebrow expectantly.

He shrugged and looked away, too riffled by her mood to answer properly. Her persistent flirting embarrassed him, and she always interpreted that to mean he liked her back. “I need to help pack up.” He left before she saw him blushing. Ugh.

Author bio and links

As a young girl, Branwen wanted to become an ambassador for aliens. Since the aliens never hired her, she now writes about them.

 

Branwen OShea has a Bachelors in Biology from Colgate University, a Bachelors in Psychology, and a Masters in Social Work. She lives in Connecticut with her family and a menagerie of pets, and enjoys hiking, meditating, and star-gazing. Her published works include Silence of the Song Trees, The Calling, The Cords That Bind, and The Chasm.

 

 

Website: www.branwenoshea.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/branwenoshea

Instagram: www.instagram.com/branwenoshea

Facebook: www.facebook.com/branwenoshea

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/branwenoshea

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/branwenoshea 

The Chasm (Book 2) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QFPHQVN

The Calling (Book 1) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735915998

The Cords That Bind (Book 1.1) on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CSK4813

Last weeks of June

The schoolyear - next year's will be the last we have to reckon with school holidays - nears its ending. The kids are into their end of year exams and the schools will officially close on June 30th. Then come two months of vacation.

In the French-speaking part of Belgium, Wallony, the vacation will last not so long. The Walloons have chosen another holiday planning. They'll start the new schoolyear half August, but then have a longer autumn break (two weeks instead of one in Flanders) and an equally long spring break. 

Flanders will probably never launch this scheme. Most people here like their two months of holidays (I remember, as a kid, I was quite fond of it) - teachers need it to reload their batteries and kids want to forget school for a while.

The past week the weather was extremely hot and on Friday we experienced the hottest June 17th ever, since they began marking the temperatures in the 1830's. The temperature rose well over 30° Celsius. We got a thunderstorm on Sunday, which broke the heat, but now the weather is improving once more and it looks as if more warm days are coming our way. I won't commplain!!!

Visit to Antwerp

 A couple of times a year we spend a weekend in Antwerp. This was the city where our  maternal grandmother was born, and from early on we we headed to '''t Stad" when we needed something that could not be attained in Dendermonde.

This habit has stayed on all these years. We just love Antwerp. It's a big town with a beautiful historic center. It offers history, old mansions and musea, entertainment (Antwerp Philharmonic, opera, theater, musical theater, lots of shops (from cheap ones to high end ones like Philippe Patek, Delvaux, etc.), has lots of hotels, restaurants and cafés.

We always stay at the Hilton Old Town near the Groenplaats, right in the medieval center of town. We have a couple of restaurants there which we frequent, and a cafe (De Post) at the square where we like to linger with something cool (or warm) to drink. 

We spent the previous weekend once more in Antwerp. The occasion? We attended a concert with the Royal Philharmonic which played the music of Bond. And of course, I did a lot of shopping! I urgently needed some sun tops and a couple of dresses. I found what I was looking for, and even some more... Well, you have to spend your money on something, right?

It was a spendid weekend. The weather was great, sunny all the time and the temperature still moderate. The stay at the hotel was also great, no noise from other rooms so we could sleep well. And everything back to normal, as if corona never existed.

Rose Hawthorne : The Irish Wanderers

Let's say hello to Shannon O'Gorman today. Shannon is doing a virtual book blast tour for Rose Hawthorne; The Irish Wanderers, a mystery available now. This book blast tour will take place between June 6th-10th, 2022. 

The author will be awarding a $40 Amazon or Barnes&Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4226/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="28e4345f4226" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_6f4ebn6k">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>

Blurb

Rose Hawthorne: The Irish Wanders follows Rose, a celebrity author in her early seventies, who dislikes the limelight but does like Hermes scarfs, round violet sunglasses, and old colonial hotels. One day, she receives a letter asking her to visit Newgrange, Ireland and discover something that has been hidden there for a thousand years.

 

She asks her granddaughter Samantha to accompany her, but she hadn’t expected her to continually post photos of their progress on her Instagram account. An encounter with an old love and an unexpected discovery leads Rose deeper into the past, where she finds she must make a hard decision about her future.

Excerpt

Sam glanced at her grandmother’s well-lined face. It was flushed and her green eyes were shining. It was nice to see her so excited and not worrying about books or people following her around Toronto.

Rose turned to her large floral Louis Vuitton bag, snapped it open and reached her hand inside.

“Let’s take a look, shall we.”

“This is so exciting!” said Sam peering inside.

“KNOCK. KNOCK.”

Sam gasped involuntarily, turned her gaze away from the bag and looked to her left. The guide from Newgrange was standing under an umbrella and banging on her window. What did she want? Had she realized that her grandmother had taken something?

It was a good thing the windows had fogged up a little; the woman couldn’t see inside very well.

Rose snapped her bag shut, and Sam carefully rubbed her hand on the steamy window. A woman’s grim ruddy face and large nose pushed up against the window.

Sam rolled down the window a little. “Um, what can I do for you?” she asked stiffly, feeling the first stirring of panic start to bubble up down in the pit of her stomach.

“I was wondering if I could have a word with you,” the woman said.

Sam gulped and glanced at Rose, who gave her a look that said it wasn’t time to explain anything.

“About what?” Sam said to the woman cautiously. 

“It’s about something that was found in Newgrange. I’m glad I caught you before you drove off.”

Author bio and links

Shannon O’Gorman is a retired ESL teacher who has recently completed  her second walk on the Camino de Santiago. She is currently training her dog to accompany her on a Camino one day.  She lives in California with her husband and daughter when university is not in session.

 

https://www.shannonogorman.com/ 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60653477-the-irish-wanders

https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Hawthorne-Book-Irish-Wanders-ebook/dp/B09VSCWKDL

https://www.instagram.com/ogoreads/ 

https://www.facebook.com/shannonogormanbooks

 

Long weekend at Versailles

These are pretty busy tides for us. We've been (or are going to) abroad for every week now. The past (long) weekend we spent in Versailles, France. We stayed at the Trianon palace Hilton hotel, right in the middle of the former royal domain. I was able to exchange saved up Hilton Honors points to book the room for free for 3 nights - otherwise the price would have been a bit too steep!

Although - the palace of Versailles was a bit of a disappointment. I had thought it would be grander, more imposing. Only the Hall of Mirrors was up to standard. Chris and I have seen more beautiful palaces in other countries, like Schönbrunn in Wien, Austria or Hampton Court in the UK.  Only the gardens came up to our expectations.

Nevertheless, we had a nice stay. I can get used to some luxury! When I'd win the lottery, I'd use my money to travel first class all the time. But I'm never going to win a lottery, I'm not a lucky person. And the most important thing, health, can't be bought. Last Thursday I got some unexpected and a little worrying news concerning my cancer treatment. I have to undergo more scans to know more. So as long as I don't know how long I still have, I'm going to enjoy every day to the best of my ability. I still feel more or less healthy (always wake up with hurting feet, but that can be helped by paracetamol, and needing a toilet every now and then) but have lost all of my fat and am little more than a walking skeleton. 

Murderous Interruptions

Today we welcome C.J. Carson. The author is doing a virtual book blast tour for Murderous Interruptions, a paranormal mystery available now from Rustic Barn Publishing. This book blast tour will take place between May 30th and June 3rd.

                                     

C.J. Carson will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please use the following link to place your comment:

<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f4186/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="28e4345f4186" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_ms9cqle7">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>

Blurb

The paranormal mystery The Veils of Parallel Times continues with “Murderous Interruptions”. Allie Callahan’s nemesis is a challenging and formidable adversary.

Travel with Allie as she finally accepts and embraces her ancestral gifts to stop her archenemy who would have her destroyed for his own lust of power. Explore the depths of her relationship with this rival in this life and beyond the veil.

Excerpt

I wasn’t traveling long when darkness settled over the woods, and the air became chilled and damp. I was getting nervous that I might not find my way back out of the woods in the dark. I stopped at a brook to give my horse a quick break and a cool drink. As I raked my fingers through his mane, something caught his attention. Nodding his head, he whinnied. When I looked up, I spotted a campfire in the distance. As I walked him in that direction, I found a heavyset elderly woman with long dark braids sitting at, and stoking the fire. Moving in for a closer look, she wore a dress made of brown suede and was wrapped in an animal skin blanket, shielding her from the cold.

I didn’t recognize her, but somehow, she was oddly familiar to me. Without speaking a word, she reached out, beckoning me. I could feel a connection that drew me in as I slid down from my horse and joined her. She opened the blanket and, as I sat down, she held me in her arms to warm me by the fire. I was suddenly in my youth again, swept up in warmth and safety I hadn’t felt for a very long time.

Raising her arm, the woman drew my attention to the flames, and as I stared into the blazing fire, I couldn’t pull my eyes away. It was as if it was speaking to me, its warmth drawing me in.

“This is your truth, my daughter of my daughter’s son. You are at your best and can do your work in this lifetime when you accept that you are one with the earth, fire, water, and elements. Only when you embrace them, can you move toward your true destiny. You are a rare spirit in that you are blessed with many gifts that you are yet to discover and recognize. Yours is not an easy path unless you embrace it. I am always here; you have only to think of me, and I will be in your thoughts to help you, as are all your ancestors.

“Little Bird, you have traveled and lived in many times and dimensions. Think of time as a path that runs horizontally, but many paths are layered, one on top of the other, in a horizontal pattern.

“You have the ability to move through them, not only in time, but from one dimension to another. It was the element of water in the stream that brought you to me. Keep your routes planted firmly into the earth, for that will ground you and keep you balanced. Tonight, I want you to look into the dancing flames and listen to them speak to you. It is past the time for you to begin to understand your truth, my dear. You do not have the luxury of putting it off any longer.”

Gazing into the flames, I saw visions of a young woman riding my white horse. As the horse moved up a hill and into a green meadow, the young girl was now a young woman. As I studied her, she looked nothing like me, but I felt like I was watching my memory unfold. She was riding on a horse with a knight that looked like he was from medieval times. As the horse reached the top of the meadow, I knew the woman in the vision was an image of me, and when the valiant knight turned to me, a chill coursed through my entire body. Although his face was unfamiliar, his deep blue eyes caught me off guard. Those eyes, those beautiful eyes. I would know them anywhere.

 

Author bio and links

CJ Carson was inspired by a great story from a very early age. What brought her to this juncture in life and encouraged her to put pen to paper are the many rich experiences and opportunities of her life's journey. 

While working in the medical field, she explored energy work and became a Polarity Therapist and Reiki Therapist.

Exploring acting brought her into the theatre world both on the stage and behind the scenes.

Painting introduced her to a group of artists that shared her passion for bringing a scene to canvas.

Her love of singing allowed her to travel twice to Europe as a soloist with conductor Sonja Dahlgren Prior, who inspired her to do something, she never dreamed possible. 

CJ Carson has always wanted to write. Now she is introducing to the world her second published book, "Murderous Interruptions," from her trilogy, Veils of Parallel Times.

 

https://www.cjcarsonauthor.com/  

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Murderous-Interruptions-Audiobook/B09W8PH9JH

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Murderous-Interruptions-Veils-Parallel-Times-ebook/dp/B09F6VLM48

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murderous-interruptions-cj-carson/1140201732