Brace yourselves but I did something spontaneous. Woohoo! Mere weeks after reflecting on my need for thinking time and build up, I made a quick decision.
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| Steady now |
Last Monday, I looked at my diary for the week ahead and saw it was empty. I'm currently waiting for people to get back to me, so book wise, I'm in limbo. Plus, it was half term and my sisters with kids were all over the family WhatsApp doing stuff. I wanted to do stuff too. What about me?! Wha wha wha, boo hoo!
Fast forward to a couple of days later and I arrived at one of my happy places. I hit Aberystwyth for a few days of bleakly beautiful beachy fun and had a marvellous time. Who am I?
Is there a lesson to learn here? In hindsight, I don't think so. This isn't the start of a whole new me. A me that throws a bag into the boot and heads off on adventures willy nilly. Nah, it's not that simple. But, if in the future, the serendipitous event of cancelled plans, waiting on book stuff, the good time in my menstrual cycle, and spare rooms in affordable accommodation simultaneously occur once again, I'll happily consider another last minute break.
Something fab happened. My sister-in-law sent me a photo. She'd taken it in her local book swap shop - about half an hour away from where I live. I've added it here to see if you can spot it. Can you? Can you SEE? Among all the other books on the shelf was my very first novel. Carry the Beautiful had been spotted IN THE WILD.
I loved seeing that photo. It's rare that I hear of anyone reading/buying the book that isn't directly linked to me. Family, friends, and friends of friends is as far a reach as I know. But now, in a place I don't live, there's a copy of my book on a shelf that has the potential to be picked up by anyone. EXCITING.
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| The fictional hockey players who made me watch the real ones. |
Culture
It was always going to happen. You can't devour Heated Rivalry - the Queer love story set in the world of ice hockey - without actually giving a shit about the subsequent Winter Olympic ice hockey being broadcast a few weeks later.
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| 1984 - the last time I remember caring about winter sports. |
For many people, this wouldn't be weird. Many people actively look forward to the Olympics - winter AND summer - and wouldn't see anything odd about my interest in it. I am not many people. You see, I hate the Olympics. Sorry (genuinely! Sorry to the people who love it and are gutted it's over ) but I find wall to wall coverage of sports I don't know, dull. Yeah, I said it. I never bother with any of it, and apart from happy childhood memories of Torvill and Dean (we all recreated Bolero in our ballet leotards, right) I've never bothered since.
Until now. Every day I've found myself checking the schedules for the ice hockey, pressing the red button, and getting thoroughly behind Team Canada. I've read the rules, followed the NHL on Insta, and can recognise and name at least four whole players. I know what a power play is, that the goalie is called the goaltender, and that a clean sheet is called a shutout. Once again, who am I? 2026 has ushered in a whole new me! Yesterday's final between Canada and USA was a real nailbiter. Commiserations to Canada, who were pipped by the USA in overtime. You were an absolute pleasure to watch.
Food and Drink
It's unfortunate when your favourite tapas place is a three hour drive from your home but this is something I live with daily.
Ultracomida is a deli in Aber with a little restaurant at the back. It's cosy but chatty, and serves beautiful food and the best wine. I manage to visit maybe once a year. What's great is that, despite the student nature of the workforce with staff changing with every visit, everyone knows their stuff. They're knowledgeable about wine, can make decent recommendations, and the occasionally changing menu is always delicious. Anyway, I had a lovely meal and I'll be back next time.
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| Bracing! |
Out and About
While I was away, I did a couple of seafront walks. The weather is what can only be described as bracing. I also spent a happy afternoon in the Pier Amusements playing shuffleboard. I lost, natch, but enjoyed playing a game where energetic movement is not required. (I enjoy darts and archery for the same reason.)
This week, my diary is not empty. I've got stuff to do and can hopefully move forward with the book. Do you remember the title? Leeza McAuliffe is Brancing Out. Say it. Roll it over your tongue. Now commit it to memory. Soon, I'll be asking you to pre-order it and I don't want it to be a surprise when that happens.
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