Thursday 26th June 2014

When I got back from visiting visiting Karl yesterday I tried to put Amatore's Restaurant onto Kindle; got so frustrated that I had to take a break and go out for a beer. Managed to get to the village in the car, despite the clunking sound - seems to be getting louder.

The bar was packed out, of course I hadn't realised France were playing Ecuador. Put up with some good natured teasing from Pascal about Les Anglais and the state of the England team. Jean-Luc was there, drinking on his own, eyes glued to the television screen. I bought him a beer and went along with him when he mentioned l'oie. I'm going to have to tell him Gertrude has escaped, or maybe I'll have to buy a ready prepared goose for the dinner and pass it off as Gertrude.

I was thinking about Laura's visit quite a lot today. She's coming over on the boat from Portsmouth. Checked the distance from here to St Malo on the internet: 158 km which works out at about 98 miles. But not sure the car will make it that far. I could ask that guy, Michel, at the garage in Lorient to take a look, but I've got a feeling it's going to cost a bit.

Can't work out how to get my Amatore's Restaurant contents page from OpenOffice onto Kindle. I managed it with the Five Interludes - can't see what the problem is? (There's no way I can afford Microsoft Office). It's driving me crazy! 

Wednesday 18th June 2014

Woke up to hissing sounds this morning. Then I remembered -- Gertrude! I got up and looked out the bedroom window and there she was, strutting around the front garden with Coco meowing and watching from a safe distance. I can't ask Jean-Luc to take her back. I never thought he'd bring me a live goose for the dinner.

Last night when he arrived dragging the thing along on one of Bruno's old leads, I was stunned. I've never seen Jean-Luc so pleased with himself. Like a complete idiot, I ended up taking the bird and thanking him. Didn't have the heart to refuse.

Still trying to think of a title for my anthology. Laura's sent me a few suggestions. Sitting out in my little garden with the geraniums thinking about her suggestions.

So hot today, hope it cools down tonight. Gertrude drove me mad this afternoon honking and hissing. Maybe I'll be forced to assassinate her if she carries on. Hope she doesn't bother my landlords too much. Must remember to ask Solange if I can borrow her vacuum cleaner before Laura arrives. 

Had two slices of my chocolate and coffee cake. Excellent! 

Monday 16th June 2014

Not sure about the cover illustration for my short anthology. I need something which has the right colour tone and style. Laura's revisions have arrived, not too much to alter. Her main point concerned the chronology in one of the stories (Neighbours). She pointed out that two of them are ghost stories and wrote to ask if this is a subject which particularly interests me. I can't deny that the whole subject of the supernatural does interest me, but so do many other subjects. Right now, I've been thinking more about writing a story from the point of view of a psychopath.

Took the Peugeot out this afternoon. Went to the village, got some bread and rolls from the boulangerie and then stopped for an espresso in the café-bar. The television was on as usual. The Pascal and his daughter were cooking and serving. So hungry, I ordered a croque monsieur which was very good. I didn't talk much to Pascal (he speaks too fast), just made a few comments about the weather.

The Peugeot's developed a new noise; a sort of clunk-clunk sound. Just hope it holds out for Laura's visit.