Here’s my Sunday sum up. Can you sum up your week in 25 words or less?
Bank Holiday volunteering
Meeting friends
New book underway
Characters light up
The page
Sum up Sunday
Flaunt it Friday
After a busy time last week planning events for my children’s book, The Clocker, this week has been one of catching up. I’m sounding a fanfare for getting the house cleaned and tidied. It may not be exciting but it certainly feels good when it’s done.
What have you achieved this week? I’d love to hear from you.
Wordy Wednesday
Last weekend we went over to Birmingham to drop off my daughter’s birthday presents and go out for a pre-birthday lunch. She wanted to try a Colombian café in Bearwood that she’d heard about called Colombian Picada Mix. As well as wanting to try the café, my daughter was keen to practise her Spanish, which she’s been learning for a while.
As we perused the menu, all in Spanish, we got to discussing burritos – even though they were not on the menu as they’re more associated with Mexico. What piqued my interest was discovering that the direct translation of burritos is little donkey. Curious; how did a little donkey become a food wrap?
My son-in-law, speculated that it might refer to the bags carried by donkeys on their backs. Turns out he’s probably right. Though there are a number of possible explanations for the word burrito, one is that it refers to the resemblance of a burrito wrap to the rolled up packs carried by donkeys.
What a wonderful time we had immersing ourselves in language and meanings. This is why I love words; there’s always something new to discover.
We also had a fantastic meal with exceptional hospitality at https://columbiapicadamix.co.uk
Sum up Sunday
Here’s my weekly summary of-up. Please share yours in 25 words or less.
Children’s book published
Flowers, biscuits and encouragement
Miss mum, dad and Auntie Jean
They’d have been so proud.
Flaunt it Friday
I admit that I find it really hard to push myself ‘out there’ in terms of promoting my children’s book. I’m feeling really pleased with myself that I have not one but two bookings at local libraries in the summer. I’ll be reading from my book and getting the children who come along to do some drawing and writing. It feels like a massive achievement.
What are you feeling pleased about this week? I’d love to hear from you.
Wordy Wednesday
We are all familiar with the use of a ‘smith’ meaning a craftsperson, for example a blacksmith or silversmith. My word for today is wordsmith, simply meaning ‘a skilled user of words’ (New Oxford English Dictionary of English).
It is a very timely word, my debut children’s book, The Clocker, having been published yesterday. I like the idea of being a wordsmith. It is a craft shared by many around the world, in different languages, styles and genres. Where would we be without wordsmiths?
A special shoutout to all my fellow bloggers and to the Let’s Write group at The Writers Bureau.
https://www.writersbureaucourse.com/courses/let-us-write
Publication Day
The day has arrived. Today, 28th April 2026 my children’s book, The Clocker, is officially published. There were times when I nearly gave up, days when I didn’t believe it would ever happen, struggles and challenges along the way but I couldn’t be happier that I’ve made it. I am a published children’s author.
I have already had some very positive reviews and it’s an amazing feeling to read that others enjoy what you’ve written. Although writing a book involves a lot of time being shut away, tapping the keys on your PC, the help of others can often go unnoticed. I’ve found Troubador Publishing to be an incredibly supportive, knowledgeable and helpful team. My partner, my daughter, wider family, friends, and writing group, Let’s Write, have all played a part. Without turning this into an Oscar speech (!) thank you to everyone.
As well as now having a box of my own copies of the book, Troubador distribute to bookshops around the UK. The Clocker is on Amazon in paperback and kindle formats, and on Apple Books for those with Apple devices. If you do purchase and read the book, please do write a review.
I am available around The Midlands for author events and to visit schools to read extracts and talk about my book. Please contact me via my Contact page Contact me
Sum up Sunday
What have you been doing this week and can you sum it up in 25 words or less? I’d love to hear from you. Here’s my week preparing for the publication of my children’s book, The Clocker.
Free Apple Books codes
For readers and reviewers
Email, WhatsApp, message, call
My first book review
Warms my heart.
Flaunt it Friday
My Flaunt it Friday this week is a small achievement but one I’d been putting off. Each year, as Spring arrives, I think about the vegetables I might grow in the garden. We now have 2 large raised beds for this purpose, our garden being small. This year, though, we’d made the decision to completely empty the beds. One was bulging underneath, the other we wanted to move to a different place. The reason I’d been holding back is that my right hand and wrist have been very painful; rheumatoid arthritis has taken its toll. I don’t like to give up though so, on a day I felt okay-ish, I put on my wrist support, took some painkillers and we got to it.
Sometimes, the small things give the greatest satisfaction. Now I can get planting, which is much easier.
What have you achieved this week, however big or small? I’d love to hear from you.
Wordy Wednesday
To pootle or to poodle, that is the question. It’s been an ongoing debate between my partner and myself for some time now, whose family used to go for a poodle in the car at the weekend. My family, however, went for a pootle, definitely not a poodle.
I finally decided to settle this friendly feud and looked it up. What I discovered is that pootle is a variant of poodle, although, of course, poodle also refers to a breed of dog. To pootle, or poodle, means to travel or go around in a relaxed manner, as in, “I think I’ll have a pootle round the shops”.
Debate settled, now we’ll have to find another word to disagree on.
Do you poodle or pootle, or do you have an entirely different word for a leisurely stroll or run out in the car?
mywordshare 