Peer-Pressured by Belgium...

Now, don't have a go at me. It's not my fault. If it hadn't been for my Bruges trip last week, I'd have held out for longer. They were all over the place, you see. Every outdoor restaurant, every window... the whole of Bruges was covered. What in? I hear you cry. Why, fairy lights, of course. Everywhere was a-glimmer. How can I have experienced all that twinkle, then come back home to boring old  grey?

It's Bruges' fault

That's why, as of Friday 14th November, the landing fairy lights have been on. A soft glowing white, but bold as brass. My mood went from 'not bad really' to 'FULL OF THE JOYS' at the flick of the switch.

Writing News

We're at the point where multiple people have got involved! Here's what's happening. 

The next Leeza McAuliffe book has been edited. It's been sent to beta readers, it's been sent to a couple of high school youngsters, and I've set the cover plans in motion. My next job is to contact some sensitivity readers - I think that'll be all bases covered. This is the time when it starts to get exciting and/or scary. People are reading my words! Hurrah! People are reading my words! Oh heck! It's all part of the process, though. We know this by now, don't we.

Culture

Another series of Taskmaster is over. I love how each series introduces me to comedians I'd have never come across otherwise. This time it was Phil Ellis and Ania Magliano. Providing many pmsl moments, I look forward to loads more in the future. 

Film wise, it's been an eclectic bag. After watching the 40th anniversary showing of Back to the Future at the cinema, I completed the trilogy at home. It's much more disconcerting in the current climate to watch Biff's transition into Tr*mp, than it presumably was in the late eighties. 

In other news, does anyone remember the 1991 mini-series, Brides of Christ? A young Russell Crowe played Dominic Maloney; the older brother of one of our Catholic school girl protagonists. Her best mate had a huge crush on him, and managed to seduce him the night before he was sent to Vietnam. He was young, scared, horny, and then scared some more. His eyes conveyed the sexy boyishness that our heroine had fallen for, whilst glazing with fear whenever he considered his immediate future. It's a small, but memorable, performance. That was in my head when I watched Russell Crowe in Nuremberg. He plays Hermann Göring and is utterly chilling. Occasionally, his eyes crinkle just like Dominic Maloney's, but most of the time he's dead behind them. I'm not sure whether this film does much more than remind a present day audience that any country can fall prey to fascism, but despite that, Russell Crowe's performance is outstanding.

Food and Drink

Bonfire Night came and went, but happily I've got gingerbread left from the evening. I made it that day - it's basically treacle toffee sponge cake - and is the squidgiest, spiciest, most comforting cake ever. Here's the recipe that includes a proper picture. My own photo featured here, is clearly terrible. I can only hope it conveys the outdoor bonfire fun that was happening at the time.

Out and About

After my exciting Bruges jaunt last week, I've been hibernating. What's more, over the weekend, I had the house to myself - win! It meant I got to live up to my full ferrel potential; working in bed, eating in bed, and taking a chilled bottle of white wine in an ice bucket to bed whilst binging Netflix. LITERALLY living my best life right there.

I hope your own best lives are in easy reach this week, and if not, they'll be reachable another time soon. How exciting's that!

Have a lovely week, folks.