Oh, my poor garden! The drought wreaked havoc. (Isn’t it satisfying when you can use a word you’ve seen in books but never managed to use yourself before?) The drought may have broken but my plants have not recovered as well as those at my daughter’s (she lives up North). There are some deaths to report. I have a forsythia in the back garden which has suddenly decided life’s not worth living. The bushes in the front garden are thriving, but those in the back . . . oh dear! Well, that’s gardening for you.

A new herb appeared overnight in my garden. I think it’s called coriander. Self-seeded from . . . where? I have no idea, but it’s rather charming and I allow it to stay. But, an ordinary lilac buddleia died whereas its neighbour – which is one of the deep purple ones – is still thriving! I thought buddleias are supposed to like hot summers. I used to call them ‘butterfly trees’ when I was little, because they seem to attract them. I would grieve if the deep purple buddleia died as I’ve grown it from a cutting taken from a plant in a car park in Cornwall maybe twenty years ago. Ah, memories. And then there’s a clematis opposite which my youngest sister gave me the year before she died, and a rose over there from one of my oldest friends with whom I have lost touch.

Ah well, the mysteries of gardening. I’ve been at it since I was a child and although I understand the usual rules, I have to accept that some things are a mystery. For instance, why do the neighbouring cats choose to lie around in my garden? Is it because I have evergreen bushes which can shelter them from the sun, and paving stones to stretch out on when they fancy some heat? I hasten to say that I like cats . . . so long as they don’t start fighting. So far, we’ve had lots of stand-offs and growling but no fights.

                                 Progress on Murder with Romance                          

I’ve been steadily working through the second draft of this next book and so far I’m happy with it. There’s still lots to do. At least one more run through for a start. Also I have to juggle the timing here and there. Is there really time for Ellie to do this visit here, and still manage to get home in time for supper there without causing my readers to start counting on their fingers?

                                     The next short story is . . .

A teaser for Murder for Profit. See it here. That was the last Ellie that was published. And yes, I am doing another now – see the paragraph above. I rather enjoyed writing the new characters in Murder for Profit and some of them have gone on to appear in the romance scam story that I’m writing now. So here’s a toast to the people who are always a part of Ellie’s life, such as Thomas and their neighbours, plus the grandchildren who are becoming such an important part of her life.                           

A special blessing this month on those in shops and cafes who serve me with a smile. It really makes a difference to my day.

Veronica Heley