or is it just fantasy?

So here we are again, the midweek posting here at BC from yours truly, Madeline Anafrid Bell. It's been a 'funny' few days, some very mixed weather for sure, yesterday for example saw inches of hail, torrential rain, warm sunshine and stiff winds - yep its England!

Conversing with #1 daughter last night, the grandson is sprouting as quick as the broad beans in the garden and the parents will both get their first vaccine jabs on Saturday. I certainly will be happier when they have some 'protection', Leeds is a real blackspot for infection and their age band is badly affected. I'm planning on a trip to GOC next month, i'm feeling happier about that now.

We've been busy in the 'lot' this week, we finally got the anti pigeon cage finished for the cabbage patch and today I've planted out the white cabbage and cauliflower seedlings. If everything comes up with the goods we'll have a ton of brassicas, the broad beans are looking good, the beetroot is a bit slow, the onions are doing really well and the early potato's are poking their heads up. The cherry tree is laden and there's a good chance we'll have raspberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants too - its nice to see actual food growing!

The next job is getting the 'lawn' sorted out - oh and plant out the Bugs Bunny's, from a brick strewn building site to productive and pleasant garden has taken @ a year - you can't hurry these things!

In other stuff - well after a damp start, on Monday I went for a fairly decent walk, not huge but it kept me out of trouble for a couple of hours!

And so to Tuesday. The forecast was for sunny with showers and indeed my departure was delayed by the first of several hail 'events' to hit Brizzle during the day, however just a mile away everything was dry and I headed along the bike path down to Bath where I took the next path through the Old Down tunnels. I dropped back into the Avon valley then followed the 'cut', the Kennet and Avon, into Bradford where i took a sandwich break by the huge tythe barn.

With the sun shining and pleasant surroundings I was loath to depart and get going again but needs must and I started the afternoon session with a loop through Trowbridge and around Melksham before we returning to the lanes. And it was quiet lanes for almost the rest of the ride, up to Corsham then on northwards past Chippenham before starting the journey west back to Brizzle. I got within thirty minutes ride of my destination when it started to wet, by the time I got back to Bev's gaff I was fairly well damped! What I hadn't been expecting was a welcoming commitee - apparently my phone had been randomly phoning people all afternoon and with no reply on my end, a search party was about to be launched! Note to self - make sure the phone is off in my pocket!

I have been gardening this morning, the washing is done and this afternoon I'll go for a bit of a walk - nothing too strenuous but an hour or so should get the engine ticking over nicely.

Today's Gaby is from The Visitors, Cross Season finds a good Samaritan come to the hapless youths aid at Arbor Low, the tryouts for the cheer squad and an unexpected gift from his godmother sees Gaby revealed once more. Well you wouldn't want hi-er having a quiet life now would you?

The first Gaby chapter was released on an unsuspecting world in 2003, since then I've spewed out several million words of not just Gaby but Nena, Peaches, Trixie and many more which have, for the most part, received, if not a huge following, at least a fairly loyal one for my efforts. When i started to publicly publish my wares, I'll admit it was initially a vanity thing so it came as a bit of a shock to find others actually bought my scribbles! I've now been almost entirely reliant on those purchases for my income for a little over five years now - I don't live extravagantly, far from it, but it keeps me fed and in bike chains.

I know I've said this before and I'm sure I will again, I really do appreciate all those purchases, they literally keep the wolf from the door which allows me time to write, ride my bike and pursue other things that may or may not be good for my sanity! So a huge thank you to you all and especially Erin and crew here at BC who provide such a priceless resource for wannabee writers, they really do deserve your support - I give, so should you, a little regularly will not only ease your consciences but give BC a more stable financial footing.

Well that's it from me today, I'll have more from Gaby for you at the weekend,
Wiedersehn,
Madeline Anafrid