It's just a word...

 But a word that gives someone very unpleasant shivers.

What word?

Well that depends on who's talking (or writing)

There are certain words that are a real turn off—teeth gritters—to some people and not to others.

For me it's the word 'gotten'. I hate it with a vengeance and would write twenty words instead of using it. Got? That's fine, but gotten?

(source: pinterest)

No, no and no!

It gives me goosebumps. horrible ones. no reason, it just (another no, no it appears) does.

While we're at it, evidently horrible is another word that some people detest.

I did a straw poll amongst friends, and asked for words that they detest. That might stop them reading something or make them shudder.

It was funny just what repels some people and other's think are fine.

Just as well we're all different or the world would be a very limited and boring place.

So (that was one of the words on the no, no list) in no particular order, here's some people's bugbears.

Starting a sentence or paragraph with, and, so, when, that and why. Oh and just.

Using words that no one understands. I quite like that because then I need to look it up and I discover a new word.

Using words not in general usage like perchance in a Regency story. (Oops, I was guilty of that years ago.)

Myriad, moist, and actually.

Slang that you only understand if you're a certain age...

The list could be endless, but I decided to stop researching. I did wonder if some words could be used in specific circumstances, but generally (another no go to a couple of people) the answer was no. Find an alternative.

Therefore, no moist sponge cakes, or myriad of colours.

Duly noted.

What do you think?

Happy reading (and word avoiding)

love, Raven xxx

To Tea or not to Tea?

 As opposed to coffee, hot chocolate, cocoa or soda.

Not that I honestly know what counts as soda these days. to me (aged) it's soda water. Like fizzy water but more fizzy. 

(source: pinterest)

I know to other people it's cola or stuff like that.

All of which has nothing to do with my did I want a cup of tea question.

And why most people look at it and say hot water, slightly—very slightly—coloured.

It's been like that since I was advised, years ago to try and cut down on my dairy intake, and cutting out milk in tea was the easiest way, for me, to do it. But then I had to cut down on the strength of it as well.

Not that any of this bothers me, unless someone offers to make me a cuppa (or I'm on a plane) and trying to explain that in a mug of tea, a half a tablespoon of unmilked tea from someone else's mugful before its touched, is perfect. And it seems wasteful to use a tea bag for my hot coloured water!

Of course I can (and sometimes do) use loose leaf tea in a pot, but it's really much easier just to siphon off that one half-tablespoonful.

It's funny (or maybe not) just how everyone had their own ideas on how tea should be drunk.

Milk in first or last.

Teabag in mug—or pot.

(source : pinterest. My t-pots are in the dishwasher or the back of the cupboard)

Maybe you think it should be loose leaf only.

Assam, darjeeling, jasmine, Earl Grey? The options are endless.

(Source : Pinterest)

Then of course we have milk, lemon or just hot—or is it boiling—water.

It's a minefield.

But it is fun when I have to offer a character in one of my books a drink and work out what they will choose.

Cheers everyone

Happy drinking,

Love Raven xxx

If I put it in a book, you'd say it was too far fetched.

 What would?

Are you sitting comfortably?

Then I'll begin.

For a couple of weeks or so we were in Gran Canaria, getting some warm ( and hot) and dry weather.

Glorious sunrises 

Fabulous views

Great weather

even some egrets

So all in all lovely.

That bit would be ok in a book I reckon.

Then it was time to come home.

When we come to the Canaries, now we've 'moved south' (from Scotland)  we fly from Leeds Bradford Airport. The highest in the UK at 208 metres above sea level. 

So often the weather can be a bit dodgy, to say the least.

But we flew out on the one non windy day of the week. And landed early.

Perfect.

Anyway we set off home.

Snow, ice wind in UK.

But we notice our plane set off on time. All seems to be well. Flight sets off only ten minutes or so late. Good gluten-free food, smooth(ish) flight.

Then over the intercom...

"This is your pilot speaking. They are clearing the runway. We'll circle."

And the lovely husband and I puzzled as we couldn't feel the plane banking.

Then...

"Sorry we've got to divert to Birmingham. there will be buses to take you to LB. About two and a half hours."

Concerted groans around the plane, but safety first.

I read a book.

We land... get luggage, given snacks and water, get on the bus with wet feet

(It's pouring. Have to walk a few hundred yards to coach. Deep puddles.)

We wait... and wait.

Then set off...turn off motorway...

Into suburbs. Er what?

Coach stops. At a bus stop. Somewhere. Ten minutes later another driver gets on.

We set off.

He'd not been given the key for the loo.

Hmm.

We are told it will be about a three hour journey.

Half hour later...

We stop. No one seems to know why.

A few people get off and on.

Why did we stop?

Someone needed the loo, but the driver didn't bother to let people know anyone could nip to the loo

Cue grumbles.

Hot air... toasty. Someone moans.

Then freezing air. Through the speakers!

Lots of moaning.

We appear to be going the long way round.

Feels like the driver is lost. Round a city ring road the long way. Which is the wrong way!

Is it a wind up? Will someone get on the coach and go 'gotcha'?

We have to cross the pennines. Where it is still snowing...

That three hours is somewhat ambitious.

Flashing lights.

Oh, a rolling road block. No idea how long for.

Then we stop.

On the motorway.

For half an hour. No idea what the reason is.

We set off. 

Why have we gone past the turn off we need?

Yeah, you guess it. Missed the turn.

Driver takes the next one which is a smaller not so snow-ploughed road. We drive through less than salubrious suburbs.

Let's hope we don't get a flat tyre.

Almost five hours after we got on the coach, we get to LB airport.

Luckily the coach to our car park is waiting.

Eight inches of snow on car, but luckily only (hahaha only) raining.

We drive home through lots of deep and big puddles.

Almost seven hours from getting off the plane we get home!

And the irony of it all?

The plane which was due to land fifteen minutes before us at LB, did so. As did the one half an hour after ours.

Sods law eh?

Well as I said if I put all that in a book...

Happy Reading,

love Raven xxx

Where my trumpet is definitely blown

 This blog wasn't going to be about me jumping up and down with glee and having a celebratory glass of fizz.

I've been on holiday and written very little, but oh boy did it make me want to get writing again. The blog was going to revolve around recharging my (or your) batteries.

But then I got news of a book being accepted for publication and realised that I've got another book out on Tuesday 20th, and that's only a couple of weeks away

Which is even more reason to celebrate.

So I decided to say, yee ha look...

Romansa Castle where love is all around—if you dare take a chance on it.

 

When Lois McDonald discovers just what sort of person she has become, it makes her take a long, hard look at herself. She doesn’t like what she discovers and resolves to change. However, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

Now she has to do her best to create a new person and stick to it, even though many people are sceptical and it would be oh-so easy to be snappy and catty.

Zac Moncrieff is one of those people who doubts what he sees and hears. Nevertheless he is intrigued by this new Lois and wants to get to know her better.

They have to decide if it is worth putting aside past differences and seeing if the spark of interest between them will grow stronger. And if so whether they decide to become a couple.

https://www.totallybound.com/book/the-match-up

https://amzn.to/48XSGfF (UK)

https://cutt.ly/dwXWdA9r (.com)

This is the third book in the Happy Ever after at Romansa Castle series and I think it will be the last. so far anyway, I have no more stories in mind that are set there. But you never know.

(The other two are The Fix Up and the Match Up, and all three are available from Totally Bound— https://www.totallybound.com/ and Amazon. And all three are, or will be available in eBook and paperback.)

So that of course is one reason I'm happy. I will of course be even happier if someone preorders it or buys it.

Then I got the great news that an old and long gone out of print book which has been revised and updated has been accepted for publication by a new, and I think one that will be a fabulous publishing company, Bastet's Quill Publishing, 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555201065631

I've been lucky enough to work with the publisher before and know that my book will be in good hands. Can't wait to see what we do with it.

And on that note, with recharged batteries and an urge to get this short story I am nearly at the end of finished, tidied up and sent away,

I'll just add,

happy reading, 

love, Raven xxx