MY FIRST BLOG..........

Saturday 14th March 2026 - So... here I am with my debut blog. A blog virgin, I guess you could call me! I Googled "blog" to see what the rules are for posts, only to discover that there are really no rules. Therefore, I thought I would document some of my thoughts and activities for today.

What have I done today? The main thing I have done is to complete a complete revamp of my website. The existing one was out of date, too wordy, and in dire need of modernisation. However, that could not have been achieved without a Saturday morning bacon butty - and I am a brown sauce person - and copious quantities of fresh coffee!

I was thrilled to have my latest book, "We Were There...and other wartime poems", published last week. You can find details about the book and a link to purchase it on this website. Completing the book felt like a real achievement for me, as it had taken me into previously uncharted territory. I never imagined I would be able to write poetry. But, unless you try, you never know. I'm really pleased with the result.

I am currently deep editing a novel for a good friend of mine, Les King. I have known him since we both joined the police force as cadets over 50 years ago. I am not going to steal his thunder - he will publish it in due course, but it's a great read.

This afternoon I shall be starting the first draft of a biography of a lady who lives in my Devon village, and who has lived her whole life here - she is over 70 years old and has lots of stories to tell.

All this, and waiting for three o'clock when Birmingham City kick off against Sheffield United!