Somebody mentioned today that the Coronovirus lives longest on plastics, steel and glass. Three days they said.
Goodness I thought, that’s a bug that loves bars.

I can hardly believe it, the first draft of Working for Josh, the fifth novel in the JP Associates series, is done! And so am I, nearly.
But not quite. 168 pages, or 64,000 words if you prefer, to be rewritten, edited, proofed and rewritten.
I can hear you from here, better get on with it then!
Phew.

If this lockdown has proved anything to me it is that love abounds in many ways in the UK and I have witnessed and experienced this first hand on my doorstep, on TV and social media.
It has also shown me however that arrogance remains, even in these dire times, and those in that category are as dangerous as ever. One arrogant step can and may lead to the destruction of our society and the death of thousands of people.
Now that is blind arrogance in my book.

Tried phoning friends and family from the wee garden tonight, but they all complained they couldnae hear me for the noise.
It’s Pavarotti and it outdoes all others.
What has he taught me this far, that I should listen more carefully.

Is no easy job, but here I am with only three chapters to go. That moment when those pesky, persistent characters do not let one rest and continually pull one’s mind off all other subjects, other than food.
So all being well, those chapters should be written next week and then it’s the long process of editing and proofing, that red pen moment!!!
ARE YOU LISTENING EDITOR?

Sitting in a wee square of garden listening to the sound of the birds reminds me of last spring. I ended up wie a flegling seagull, which I suspect might have come tae grief via old fox on the wall. At the minute, I’ve a blackbird singing like Pavarotti fae the top of some tree, or other.
To the tale. Last spring a magpie was attacked by its ain kind and it too ended up in my wee space. It looked worse than me on my worst night out. And like the grey mare Meg in Tam o Shanter, had lost its tail.
Well yesterday a magpie landed on my feeder, and it didnae have a tail.

Watching an episode of Montalbano, my favourite detective, last night, it dawned on me that food plays as much of an important role in the stories as it does in my novels. Their preference of course is pasta where my characters prefer a sausage roll or occassion Scotch pie.
Interesting I thought.

“My mind is all over the place, I can’t sleep, I worry constantly, I no longer see the good in anything. I used to be such a positive person but now, I truly feel as if I am going OUT OF MY MIND!”

“Do you really believe that, that there is nothing left?”

“Yes, I do!”

“What about your heart? You have a heart. Put your hand to your chest. Feel it beating. You are not merely alive, that precious thing you hold in your hand drives you, INSTINCTIVELY! And it feeds on love, on kindness, on giving and receiving. There is a world in need. STAND UP! And get that mind in order. You are in charge now!”