To read the first chapter of Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator go to the Carina Press home page, click on the widget’s ‘books’ button then click on my cover.

The Hound has left my yard and returned home. Sum total of destruction:

1 gardening fork

1 soccer ball

1 dustpan and brush

2 pillows

4 pot-plants

Most of the lawn

My sanity.

Okay I miss The Hound. He’s very affectionate and a bit of a sweety. But I’m sure I’ll be doggysitting again. Just have to remember to hide anything chewable.

So now to the second part of this post the Hunter, as in Hunter Valley. The Bloke and I needed a reward after doggysitting so we headed north to wine country. We stayed at Peppers Guesthouse doing nothing much but enjoying the wine and food. I swam in the nicely heated guesthouse pool and in the late afternoons we watched a couple of wallabies graze on the lawn. The Bloke tried to make contact with them but they wouldn’t let him get too close.

We dined at several places but the restaurant worth mentioning is Chez Pok. The food was flawlessly presented and tasted great. The chef is certainly a person who takes great pride in their work. Can’t wait to return.

After two days and a massage each we’d recovered from doggysitting and were ready to get back to work.

The Hound spent last night chewing up anything he could reach. The plastic handles of garden tools, a hose nozzle, the pillows he was sleeping on. He didn’t even bother to hide the evidence! It was all around his bed like he was saying a massive “up yours” to us doggysitters. My only consolation is that he was outside, and the house is still standing. Lucky he doesn’t enjoy chewing bricks, so far. I’d put him in the doghouse but – well, he’s already there.

He’s big and strong and playful.

He’s a cross American Staffy/bull arab.

Unfortunately he hasn’t quite got the concept of walking on a lead.

Right now he’s sleeping. Sshh. Let sleeping dogs lie.

I volunteered to doggysit The Hound for a whole week. He arrives on May 12th. Will I survive? More importantly, will he? Looks like we’ll both need our guardian angels.

Interview with Allegra Fairweather

Janni Nell: You’ve been avoiding my phone calls for the last few days. What have you been doing?

Allegra Fairweather: I’ve been working on a case.

JN: Sounds intriguing. Go on.

AF: You know I can’t discuss my cases. They’re confidential.

JN: Right. I forgot. So, getting personal for a moment… Your hair is an unusual colour. Is it natural?

AF: Absolutely. Is yours?

JN: (sarcastically) No, I dye it this shade of mousy brown with grey highlights.

AF: (innocently) You should rethink that.

JN: Moving right along. You have your own guardian angel –

AF: I thought we agreed not to discuss that.

JN: Hypothetically, if you had a guardian angel, and if I wanted to get one, how would I go about it?

AF: Oh, hypothetically. Well, hypothetically, I’d have to say I don’t know. Guardian angels just kind of appear when you need them. Hypothetically, that is.

JN: Your drink of choice is pina colada. Care to share your favourite recipe?

AF: It’s a work in progress but I’ll give you a tip. Use real coconut cream not that coconut flavoured liquor.

JN: How do you feel about Janni Nell telling the story of one of your cases?

AF: (snarkily) Do you always refer to yourself in the third person, Janni?

JN: (rolling eyes) Just answer the question.

AF: All I can say is – be careful who you talk to on planes! Okay, Janni Nell (see I can use third person too) looks unassuming but she plied me with pina coladas until I was putty in her evil hands. How did I know she was going to write down my story AND get it published!

JN: Will there be another Allegra book?

AF: Only if Janni does some major sucking up.

Shortly after this Allegra and Janni got into a heated discussion about distribution of royalties. (Allegra thinks she deserves a share.) When they start talking again, Janni will continue the interview.

Whose bright idea was it to spend the weekend ripping up pavers in our backyard? Not mine that’s for sure. The Bloke aka dear husband was responsible. We tackled two pathways, pool surrounds and the area under the BBQ, table and chairs. So I’m knackered/buggered/pooped/stuffed/worn out. I have blisters on my blisters, inflamed scratches and torn/twisted/strained/sprained/aching muscles. And one big bruise! The mini-mattock slipped and crashed into my foot. Hobbling in the new power-walking!

On the upside…

1. The Bloke is aching even more than me, which is only fair since the whole thing was his idea.
2. I’ve found lots of muscles I didn’t know I had. More muscles are good right?
3. I no longer have fingernails so I don’t have to worry about manicures, nail polish etc.
4. We got the job done!

Now I’m off for a good lie down.