Let's move there, it's perfect
Move where?
Oh! Yes, that does look near as dammit perfect. Are those wee things in the distance sheep? Because if so, that means I could knit things there. And as we all know, this writer loves to knit.
Where is there, by the way?
Ah. It’s the hamlet of Hushnow, but that has to go on an overlay onto that green sign to the left of the cat in her Aquascutum raincoat and fetching cobalt spectacle frames. The cat is Dr Purr, GP, recently retired. Still clutching her retirement gift box of dark Belgian chocolates ( she’s not that keen on those boxes of oversweet seashell chocolates1 and always drop-kicks gifts of the ambassador’s balls into the long grass, but anything above 70% cocoa solids and she’s yours for life) and her bouquet of flowers.
Take a breath, Gliori. It’s only chocolate, ffs. Back to Dr Purr. She’s pointing across the valley to where Hushnow nestles, all the way across to her new house.
Ooooh. Show, not tell.
That’s the one. With the SOLD sign out front. And the thatched roof. Hope she knows a good thatcher, unlike the thatcher who - STOP. It’s a children’s book, Debi. Hope she’s got a good pension, unlike many of us in the creative sector who are feeling the chill winds of how the heck are we supposed to survive/heat/eat when we’re too old to work? With that AI gale blowing, this question keeps some of us awake at night. Anyway - let’s not go there because we’re HERE. In Hushnow, marvelling at the size of Dr Purr’s cactus in her greenhouse and hoping it’s an aloe vera, because no home should be without one. Second only to lavender oil for burns, both from sun and hot pans. Are you wondering if Dr Purr bought her new house for a bargain price because she appears to be neighbours with Cthulhu-in-pond? And who’s that waving - is she waving or drow-
On with the show…
Phew! Not drowning. Waving a welcome to Dr Purr. Maybe they’ll become fast friends. In the next book. But focus, Gliori. One image at a time. What else is going on here besides wavy mermaids? Who’s in that pond? I wish I was…
I love a village pond. Frozen over in winter, great for paddling and swimming in summer. And check out the boats! Moored in the Venetian style, although that yellow rubber dinghy has a distinct whiff of toddler bath time.
And a frog prince! A frog prince! The pond’s a fine and public place, but none I guess do HRH embrace. Not any more. And therein lies another tale. Moving swiftly along, walking briskly round the pond’s shorefront and ridding our thoughts of horrible doomscrolly gubbins from the adult Real World. Breathe, Debi. You’re safe. Yes, you did meet the oleaginous ex-royal once upon a time but that’s another story, for another time. As for now? You’re in Hushnow.
Five ducklings swanning around. Or are they five swans waiting for two siblings? One of whom is an expert needlewoman. Needleswan? Needleduck? Needlechild? Needlesister? Anyhoo, whatever manner of creature they are, they could not meet the sewing deadline on time and thus are responsible for a wonky wing. My deadline won’t result in a wonky wing because I’m not going to miss it as long as I don’t spend too long here, extolling the virtues of Hushnow like an estate agent from Mother Goose and Daughters, Enchanted Housefinders Inc.
Oh! So many stories piling up one on top of the next like a fairytale millefeuille. I have to say, Hushnow looks exactly like my kind of place. Never run out of ideas there. Let’s move now. Start packing, just as soon as we’ve had a little snack to tide us through till lunch.
Let them eat cake. Cake! In my WIP, mention is made of cake. To wit:
Dr Purr discovers that Hushnow has everything a village should have, and a very good cake shop.
Look! Here’s the very good cake shop. Straight out of my dreams - it has a Battenburg vibe, and when we go in closer and see what it’s like inside-
It does not disappoint. OMG is that a Charlotte Russe on the first shelf? And chocolate eclairs below? Bring them ON. Apologies for the awkward crop here, but I don’t want to give too much away. It is my WIP, after all.
With a deadline. Rapidly approaching. AAAAARGH! Must fly, but here, here’s the full Hushnow should you wish to join me in moving there.
Is that Rapunzel in the very distant tower? And there’s my bike leaning against the straw house. What a relief. I wondered where I’d left it. If you’re looking for Hushnow in your dreams, its What3Words locator should be something like ///puss.perfect.peace. Or maybe it’s ///buy.more.books or even ///eff.off.datacentres.
Right. More next week. For now, I have an urgent appointment with Slartiblartfast to discuss designing a stretch of coastline. Although Hushnow is tucked in a wooded dell, there’s no reason we couldn’t have the sea just over the hill. Rapunzel’s tower could double as a lookout/lighthouse. And of course, that distant castle would have lawns running down to the sea. Actually, it does. Stripy lawns, no less. And a new owner.
Yes! We’re delighted. They accepted our offer. Bargain, actually. Why? Yes, we did wonder about that too. No doubt time ( and a few more books in the series) will tell. Once we get settled in, you’re all invited. For now, I have a new mortgage to earn.
You know the ones - I mean they’re ok and I happily hoover them down, but they’re so, so, so sweet. The ambassador’s balls are Ferrero Rocher. Ugh. I swear the same box of those things has been doing the rounds at dinner parties up and down the UK since 1989. They never go off. Mainly because they never were “on” in the first place. I’m with Dr Purr. 70% cocoa solids and upwards is our sweet spot.
Oh it looks gorgeous! Is there a wool shop in the village? Even a small one would do. Or a wool-swap old phone box, like those book swap ones it with wool. Hushnow does have a touch of the St Mary Mead about it though…
I am ready to move there! Once I can play in the pond with the mermaid, work with my hands, bake, cook, and read in a cosy spot, and ramble with the doggies 🥰