DINNER

Monkfish sauteed in butter and olive oil with
Sweet red peppers
Pinenuts
Onion
Garlic
Fenugreek
Bayleaf

Sweet Potato
New Potatoes

Salad a la Moi

Got the new (new) Harry Potter film, Gobshite of Fire out on dvd for prandial viewing.

Tomorrow is, this is true, my birthday! Huzzah! Hip hip hurray!
We are: going for a slap up feast, just the two of us. Then drinks at 'Mozarts', a wine bar which is comfy, not too loud and spacious. These are all ingredients for a good place for drink and chat.
I find it annoying having to yell at friends and cup my ear to hear them at a pub when there's loud music that overwhelms all other sounds. There should be about 11 of us. We can cram into my Fiesta, no problem. I put the roof rack on yesterday.

Then we head to 'Monkey' a club on 3 levels, with a 'chill out' room upstairs. Brenda is d.j. for the first part of the evening, so we'll be wiggling our hips and shaking our booty to Salsa and African music.

Then, there is a housewarming party (less hassel to nick someone else's party on my birthday) which we'll head off to after soaking ourselves in perspiration.

That's the plan.

DINNER

Chicken Curry, not from a jar or a tin.
Onions
Green Pepper
Chickpeas
Fenugreek
Kashmiri Chillies
Fresh Corainder
Indian spices

Continental Lentil Daal or Dhal or Dhaal

Raita, homemade yoghurt, mint and cucumber

Basmati Rice with cardomoms

Garlic and Coriander Naans

Salad a la Moi

It has taken me ages to reply to comments as I've been away flying kites for a couple of days in this windy weather.
Unfortunately, with the rain, my kite became sodden and I had to climb a tree with a hairdrier (runs on batteries) to dry it out.
It was worth it though, as when my kite touched earth again there was a post-it note from a space station asking for 2 pints of milk tomorrow instead of just the one.

Mr A is back from a hard day's communting, so I must away and dish up the delicious fayre. Toodle pip!

I haven't visited friends' blogs yet, so you all have a chance to add a bit to make it especially scintillating for my delectation later.

I've tried to visit friends' blogs tonight but keep getting just the heading with no post!
Well, I managed to access about 3 blogs, so I don't know why some are there and others gone.

So, I wanted to visit, but you were out.

DINNER
Reheated Chicken Curry with added coriander and mushrooms
Basmati Rice with cardomoms
Home made chapatis
Salad with:
Tomatoes
Onions
Olives stuffed with sun dried tomatoes
Capers
Hot green peppers
Pine nuts
Coriander
Hot house lettuce.
Olive oil and cider vinegar dressing

Planted out some Primulas in the front garden, so there is instant colour! Surrounded them with stones, to break it up a bit.
Seeds in the propigator have sprouted in 3 days! Onions and beans have sprouted in the garden as well.
My dad lived in a flat and used to grow things on the windowsills, so anyone can pop seeds in a pot and bung it in some sunshine!
I rescued some flowers going cheap in Morrisons. A pot of Peace Lillies which needed repotting, and tulips where the bulbs were sitting on top of the compost.

It's nearly time to put the Yucca plant out. Thing is, it's getting so tall, that it may be too tall to come back in! It is now 2 meters (6ft 6in) and been with us for many years now from a little twiggy thing. I tried leaving it out one year and it didn't like it at all, the leaves went brown and dried up. It has fully recovered now, and has another yucca growing out of the bottom of it.

Birthday time on Saturday, so I thought maybe having a party at a club where Brenda is dj. I know there'll be great music to bop to!

I've just finished reading 'Cloud Atlas' by John Mitchell.
A brilliant book! I can only say what a fantastic read it was, one of the best books I've read from a modern author for a long time.
It's a series of short stories about different characters, all written in different styles. There are some threads that connect them all through time. It is set in the past, present and future, very cleverly tied together. It made me think about it after I'd finished it because there are things interwoven between the stories that are quite subtle. I now want to read his other 2 books.

DINNER
Chicken Curry
Basmati Rice with 2 Cardomoms
Home made Chapatis
Pataks Mixed Explosive Pickle
Sharwoods Mango Chutney
Tomato and Onion Salad

A fantastic time was had at Rhiannons 40th party last night.
Except for maybe the woman who got so drunk that she almost passed out and had to be escorted outside to recover a bit.
Musicians took turns to go on stage and sing a few numbers, most of them were women for a change. A good nights entertainment.

So, I missed the Archers because of the clocks GOING FORWARD.
I still can't wrap my brain around this concept easily and have to go through the 'is it forwards or back' debate till I get it right.

Mr A has been cutting trees, to manage woodland, in this drizzle. So we will have plenty of wood for next year, plus enough to sell.

No story tonight. We are going for an early dinner, dvd, then bed.

As I was watching our Adonis change the name plate outside our offices to 'Tyalskye and Pacey Detective Agency,' it only seemed like a couple of days ago he erected the new sign saying 'Tyalskye Detective Agency.'
In fact it was only a couple of days ago. So much has happened since then.

Macy put her inheritance into the firm and became a partner.
We employed a real secretary, with Macy's promotion leaving a gap.
We successfully tied up 2 cases, one of which saw Macy kidnapped. Not for long though, she managed to outwit them, escape and help jail them.

My gaze left Mr Adonis's back view for a moment and noticed a number of milk bottles on next door's step. There were also several newspapers sticking out of the letterbox.
This didn't look good.

"Have you seen Mrs Guiusaquid?" I asked Macy through the open doorway.
She was just inside, watching Mr Adonis from the front.
"No, not recently, why?" She said, not once taking her eyes of the figure on the ladder.
"Well, there's a few day's worth of papers and milk around her door which looks a bit suspicious." I said, coming through the doorway.

I felt a gentle splat on my head, to discover a blob of paint had landed from Mr Adonis's brush.
"I'm so sorry Celeste, can I clean it off for you?" He said with a heart melting smile.
"Urjy gurjy." I said smiling. My legs felt a bit wobbly, I felt such a fool not being able to string a sentence together. He was so gorgeous that he must be used to this effect on women .
"Ok." He said and went on painting.

Macy came out and together we looked at next door's evidence.
"Either she's gone away and forgot to cancel, or she's in there, unable to move." I said, starting to worry that that maybe the answer.

I poked out the papers from the letterbox and shouted through it.
"Are you ok Mrs Guiusaquid?" I turned to Macy.
She pushed me out of the way and hollered loud enough for passersby to stop and stare.
"Hey! Are you in there Nora!"
No answer.

We looked in the windows and could not see anyone in there. There was a slight gap in the downstairs sash window and I started to see if I could prise it open.
It eventually gave and I pushed it up.
"Give us a hand," I asked Macy who was standing there.
She cupped her hands together and I stood on them and managed to get my top half through the gap.
Unfortunately, my bottom half got stuck. It was the largest part of my body and wouldn't squeeze through the window gap.

As I started to yell for Macy to do something I heard a police car siren approach. It drew nearer, then came to a stop.
"Hello, hello, hello! I always wanted to say that!" Said a male voice from behind me.
"What's going on here then? Bit of daylight burglery is it?"
I couldn't see him but I could hear him smirking.
There must have been two of them because I could hear the other one say;
"Size 18, wouldn't you say sarge?" I could feel my face redden. At least they couldn't see that.

"Tell them, Macy." I yelled. There was no answer. She had deserted me! "I'm just checking that Mrs Guiusaquid is ok and that she's not lying in there hurt." Although I said this quite loudly, I don't think they could hear me over the traffic, which sounded like it was slowing down.

After what seemed like a very long time, I felt some give in the window, and someone opened it up so I could climb in through it. As Macy had gone I couldn't risk just jumping down outside as it was a bit of a drop.

I went through the house and came out of the front door. I had a quick look but couldn't see Mrs Guiusaquid lying anywhere. The house had an empty feel to it.
As I came out I saw Macy arrive, she had a piece of paper in her hand.

"Hello Sarg, Mrs Guiusaquid is staying at her daughters and forgot to cancel the papers and milk. Here's her address and phone number, I just spoke to her on the phone and explained what's happened."
She gave the sergeant one of her coy, innocent looks and I could see him wilt and soften.

"That's alright miss. I can see what's happened here. We had better secure this window first, otherwise someone could just break in, and they might be a smaller fit."
Oh, the shame of it! They were playing this stuck bottom card for all they were worth.

There was quite a crowd around, including Mr Adonis who had a wry smile on those glorious features. I recognised many neighbours and also Mr Patel from the shop over the road, with all his family.
There was a flash of light as my photograph got taken by a young man who then started to write on a pad as he approached me.
He asked my name and said he was a reporter from the local paper who just happened to be passing by when he noticed me stuck.
I just hoped he hadn't taken a photo from the back view.

The next morning I found Macy already in the office with our new secretary, Helen. They were looking at the newspaper. Both were smiling widely.
"'Ere she is! They must have had a slow day 'cos you're on the front page!" Macy said this as she handed the paper to me.

There it was, the photo I'd dreaded seeing. The shot taken from behind, with the heading: 'The Local Friendly Neighbourhood Watch.'
To cap it all, there was a vpl (visible panty line) and what possessed me to wear my old gym knickers that day, I'll never know.
They were clearly outlined for all to see.

Mr Adonis popped in with his tools in his hand. I automatically blushed when he came over to me, casually looking at the photo as he neared.
"Are you free to go for a coffee?" He asked with a smile.
"Urgly Gurgly." I replied, nodding my head.

I was rewarded with the sight of 2 open mouths, gaping in astonishment as I grabbed my bag, gave a wink and left.

LUNCH
Stilton, Watercress and Celery Soup
White Bread

DINNER
Pork Chops with Coriander and Garlic
New Potatoes
Brussel Sprouts
Organic Carrots

I am creatively thinking about the next plot for Tyalskye and Pacey. The Case of the............(missing after dinner speech?)

100g (4oz) butter
200g (7 oz)light brown or muscavado sugar
2 eggs
3-4 mashed bananas
1 tsp lemon juice
100g (4 oz) white flour
100g wholemeal flour
2 tsp baking powder
half tsp salt
Av's extras: small handful of pinenuts
ditto walnut pieces
3 chopped dates

Cream butter and sugar.
Beat eggs and add. Mix mashed bananas and lemon juice and add to creamed mix.
Sift flour, baking powder and salt together and mix into banana mix. Bake in a greased loaf tin for 1 1/4 hours or on a low shelf in a hotter oven for 3/4 hour.
Oven: 190c or 375 F
I find it can take longer, so after an hour, put a sharp knife in middle and if it comes out clean, the cake is done. If it comes out sticky then it needs longer.
As a rule of thumb, when you can smell the cake - really smell it, then it's usually done!

After my last blog on Sunday, this is the first time I've been able to catch up with you all. Here is what happened...

I took the my grandaughters back to their mum on Monday. They live on a farm in an out of the way place. The roads are bendy and full of trees, not many other houses around. This area has a wild sort of feeling to it, a place that has not seen much human activity.

I was driving along this deserted road when I spotted a gypsy barrel-topped wagon on the side of the road. There was an old woman sitting in front of a fire, and she waved at me as I approached.

There was a sign 'Fortune told by Genuine Gypsy.' Well, I couldn't ignore an omen like that!

I pulled in and called out greetings to the woman who was dressed as if she lived about 200 years ago. She had a woollen shawl, long skirt and a scarf over her head. She was smoking a pipe and had the most penetrating gaze I have ever come across. She seemed to look right into me, as if she knew everything about me.

'Hello. Come to find out about yourself?' She said with a broad smile.
'Well, yes, I suppose so.' I said stammering slightly. I must confess I was quite taken aback. This all seemed so surreal, the wildness of the trees, the lack of any other people around, and her knowing look. Strangely though, I did not feel unsafe. My inbuilt fear and suspicion of encountering such a weird situation didn't kick in.

She asked me to cross her palm with silver, so I looked in my purse and pulled out a note.
'No, silver.' She reiterated and looked meaningfully at the bracelet I had on. It was silver, and I had bought it many years ago. It wasn't anything really special, but I quite liked it.
I silently took it off and placed it in her palm.
She smiled again and took my hand, stretching it out to gaze at my palm.

'I see you have recently gotten many new friends, though you never see them.' She said. Spot on. I immediately thought of my new blogging career.
'You are at a crossroads in your life. The next 3 days are going to be very auspicious. A test will be made for you. If you pass it then many riches, some of the money kind, most of the soul kind will come to you.'

Her voice was low and had such a deep quality that it was almost hypnotic in its smoothness. I could have easily have gone to sleep just listening to it. She could have recited the phone book and it would be lovely to listen to.

She continued to tell me about my life, and it was all true, about having a son who had 3 daughters, about a marriage that had lasted such a long time. She even talked about my cat, 'that grey companion' that 'awaited me at home.'

She took my other hand and looked at that saying;
'This hand tells me what your task is to be.'
Then she proceeded to tell me that I had to fast for the next couple of days, not speak to anybody, although I could shop as usual, but not chat. I had to keep focussed and concentrate on particular thoughts, not dissipate them into idle chatter.
She knew I didn't have a tv but said I could not listen to the radio, or watch dvds.

I had to 'clear my airwaves' and 'await a message.'
'Will I meet someone who will give me this message?' I asked, not quite grasping exactly what she meant.
'You will know when you hear it. Only through silence and peace will you be able to hear it though.'

I didn't, for one moment, disbelieve her. Everything about her was larger than life, as if she were drawn from a clearer pencil from the rest of her surroundings. I must admit, I never doubted what she said, even though it all seemed so strange.

'Look to nature to give you guidance.' She said as she nodded to the tree next to her.
A bird flew down and landed on her shoulder! It was a tawny owl! It had a beautiful snowy chest and brown wings and a very knowing look, which was directed at me.
'This is Ariadne, and she wants me to tell you that you must gather your courage and think to the future if you want to succeed.'

'O dear,' I thought, that sounded a bit ominous.
'There is no testing if all is easy, but the testing will be within your will.'
With this last remark she got up and brushed off her skirt and turned to gather more wood for the fire. Ariadne flew back up into the tree. It seemed like time to be leaving.

'Will I see you again?' I asked, half afraid that the answer would be 'no.'
'Maybe,' she said with a smile that seemed to make her younger. As she smiled, her wrinkles seemed to fade and in the firelight her face took on an unearthly beauty, almost too beautiful to behold. Her hair glistened and her posture grew taller, stronger and a silvery mist seemed to circle around her. Within that mist I was almost sure I saw stars and galaxies as if she were suspended in space.
This all took place within a few seconds as I looked at her, then the glamour seemed to fade and she was once again an old gypsy woman.

'Take this with you for good luck.' She handed me a dried red berry.
'This is from the Sacred Rowan Tree. It will protect you, if you need protection.'
Again, this sounded a bit ominous to me, and she must have caught a whiff of my potential fear.
'There's no need for unnecessary fear. Fear can be good, it can make you more aware of what you need to focus on. You have it within you to triumph, never forget that.'

With that last sentence she abruptly turned and went into her barrel-topped wagon, closing the door.
I went to my car and drove home in deep thought.

As Mr Avrilo was away working this week, I had no one else to tell about this. The instructions were clear, no idle chatter, no phone calls or texts, no blogging.
By the time I got home it was quite late. There would be no Menu of the Day for the next 2 days, as all I could eat was a nourishing broth, Morrisons Finest.

On the Tuesday, the sun was shining, I broke my fast with a cupabroth and sat outside with pen and paper to record my thoughts.
I don't know if it was lack of food, but my vision seemed clearer, details stood out more as I sat and waited.
A song came into my head, the words seemed to just be there so I wrote them down. A tune that went with the words appeared and so I sang.

I don't know how long I sang that song but I noticed that dusk was creeping in so I started to organize the practicalities, like getting coal and wood in to keep warm. I cleaned the house and busied myself, with my song coming and going in my mind.

I slept really well Tuesday night, and had a dream in which the gypsy woman came to me as I saw her when she transformed into a 'starlit' woman. She told me I was doing well, and then she showed me another Rowan Berry that she had in her hand.
'They are the same Berry, this one I hold is the Spirit of the one you have.' She said, her smile glowing as she faded into a space that, once again, was occupied by small stars and galaxies glittering like diamonds.

Yesterday I again spent outside, singing my song and drinking plenty of water. The cupabroth sustained me well. I felt more alive than I had felt for a long time.
There were matters I had to deal with, appointments to be made on the phone, but once I had done them I could concentrate once more on my task.
'What was my task?' I asked myself. It was nothing specific, when it came down to it, it was all vagueness and hints. Maybe I was making all this up, and making a fool of myself for no good reason.
I became more convinced that I should stop this ridiculous quest and get on with some 'real' stuff, like texting my friends and having a chat.

As I was almost deciding to do this, I heard a fluttering in the trees near where I was sitting. The fluttering grew louder and a vision of white flew out at me! I saw the chest of Ariadne, as her wings were outstretched and she flew around my head. The sound of her wings were so loud, it was all I could hear.
As she flew off into the North, I realized that she came at the moment I had thought of giving up. I had to carry on now.
I had come so close to blowing it! If she hadn't come, would I have found my courage to carry on? I would like to think so, but was glad of the back up.

Again I dreamt of the gypsy woman. She told me that I had done well. The hardest part was over, I could start to communicate with others the next day, after my fast was broken.
She showed me again the Sacred Rowan Berry and said she would keep it safe and that I must keep mine safe too. The Berry was the link to her and I could access that link in dreams.

This morning I awoke refreshed and noticed that when I had a pee, my wee was the colour of a fine white wine. That had to be good.
I had my cupabroth first thing and then had lunch.

LUNCH
Quorn Cottage Pie with Peas and Carrots.

So now I have logged on again and caught up a bit with my blogging friends and thought I would share my 'missing' 3 days with you.

I still have the Berry, and I greet it by saying: 'Haile Berry!'
It is more precious than gold.

DINNER

Cauliflower Cheese Grills
Spicy Beanburgers
Oven Chips
Salad a la Moi
Homemade Pickled Beetroot

Have got my 2 grandaughters (vegetarians) and ex daughter in law (vegan) and her son (vegan) who is 4 over for the day. The girls will stay overnight and I'll take them back tomorrow.

Good to say that I have remained on really good terms with their mother, she still feels part of our family as I've known her for 17 years.

A really hot day, felt like early summer, the heat on my body was fantastic! Lots of outdoor work today. Mr A has put new handles on 4 axes, ranging from small hatchet to a felling axe, so we've been trying them out. I chopped more kindling and he split big logs. We might have invented a new saying, 'the family that chops together, stays together!'

LUNCH
Smoked Salmon sandwich with thinly sliced cucumber, freshly squeezed lemon juice and ground black pepper.

DINNER
Oven Chips
Parma Ham
Fried Eggs
Baked Beans

Ham and Eggs seems an American dish, and it's only in the past few years that I thought of putting the two together for a meal. The ham is cold, and goes really well with fried eggs and chips.

Dusky has settled into a pattern of sleeping in the lean to most of the time but comes into my room and has a few hours kip on top of the pile of boxes till she gets shown the door last thing at night.
She is waiting to come in first thing, has some food and milk then settles on the woolly jumper in the lean to and gets stuck into more serious sleeping.

When we were living in Ireland, quite a few years ago, we had a cat called Splinter. He used to come on walks with us, sometimes miles! Cats don't 'belong' to anybody, they own themselves, but dogs are bonded to one person. The only dog I've lived with was Mr Avrilo's black labrador, Chillum. He had him when we got together and lived till he was 12.
Once he went missing, and we asked the police to keep an eye out for him. We laughed to think of the police calling 'Chillum' whenever they saw a black dog. He used to go everywhere with Mr A. He worked as a carpenter in those days and all his clients got used to having Chillum around.
He had a lovely disposition, friendly and placid and totally devoted, listening out for him to come home on the rare occasions when I had him. He could hear him coming home, from a long way. We lived in a caravan in a field at that time, and footsteps were quiet, but Chillum would hear him approaching maybe 15 minutes before he appeared.

We looked after Sensi, my son's dog, a white lurcher when he went on holiday for a week.
I remember we had pizza one night, and there was some left in the box on the counter. I said to Sensi, 'you can have the leftovers tomorrow.'
In the morning we found she'd had the pizza, knocked it off the counter and ate it. The funny thing was, she never stole food! She was very well behaved, so I can only conclude that she understood me, and decided to have her food early!

Mr A loves dogs and at some point I'm sure we'll get another, and I know that dog, and me will both be devoted - to Mr A!

When I started blogging I used to sit down and write whatever came into my head. Now, I've got into the habit of just writing about Menu of the Day or Detective Story, with the latest Dusky update.

I'm becoming predictable!
I've lost regular comments from some of my friends but gained encouragement from others.
Quality not quantity counts with me!

After reading other blogs who wrote about certain memories they had I thought I'd do the same.

YOSSIL AND FLORENCE
Yossil was a mynah bird. Florence was a little parakeet. My mother got yossil first then Florence about a year later.

I must have been in my early teens, doing a lot of truanting from school hanging out with older kids. Yossil could repeat certain phrases in my mother's voice. 'Greta's in Chester' was a favourite. Greta was my sister who had moved there. 'Hello darling' was another.
and he would say his name with our last name with a whistle on the 's'. When he said Florence's name he'd say 'Florenssssse!' Whistling at the end of the word.

Florence was quiet, just sat there, very pretty green and yellow bird.

One day my mother came home and Florence was dead. She'd had a heart attack, there was a bang with the electrical wiring and a small fire started. Luckily it hadn't spread and fizzled out. She was quite fragile.

Yossil died a couple of years later and wasn't replaced. Everytime I see a mynah bird I think of him, he had such a personality.

Nowadays I wouldn't keep a bird in a cage, so I watch them using the bird feeder on the tree outside the front windows.

That's it! Nothing particularly outstanding, just a nice memory of 2 birds I grew up with.

Pets do give us some lovely memories to hold, helping recapture that time in our childhood when the future seemed so far away.........................

I can't be arsed to repeat yesterdays summary of the story so far, so you'll have to read that first if you want to know what's going on.
Meanwhile:

Macy had won 22,000 pounds at bingo. The next day she banked the cheque and it was business as usual. We had a potential secretary to interview now that Macy had moved up to investigating.

Helen McGraeme arrived dead on time. She was a medium built brunette, 24 and looked like she'd just left school. She had a wide eyed innocence about her. I looked at Macy to gauge her reaction. She looked thoughtful.

"Why do you want to work for us, Ms McGraeme?" I asked the standard opening line, with pencil and pad at ready to take notes. I thought it looked efficient even if I just doodled.
"I saw your ad and just felt a pull, as if I was meant to work for you. It was entirely emotional. I haven't really thought much about the work, though it does sound more interesting that what I'm doing at the moment."

Macy's eyes lit up. She bent over, with her low cut blouse she cut a page 3 picture.
"Do you 'ave premonitions. Are you psychic?" She asked with interest.
"Well, maybe. I'm not sure. My aunt came to me in a dream once, then I heard she'd died that very night. Maybe she came to say goodbye."
"Ooo! That's very interesting." said Macy.
"When can you start?" I looked at Macy, mouth open to protest, but shut it when I saw that her mind was made up.

We arranged for Helen to start in one week's time.
Macy was thinking along the lines of an added extra to our usual work, psychic investigations.
"It's gotta be worth a go, what with me having a Spirit Guide and Helen able to communicate with the dead." She said in a straight face.
I told her I wanted to think about it first.

I had to find out which twin was the one I photographed playing hopscotch, as it could ruin the case against Ruby Tuesday if it was her sister. She was claiming for a bad back, I had to be sure.

I drove out again to her address, seeing the hopscotch marked out by her house. I knocked, my cover story to hand.
"Hello. I am doing research into twins, and someone gave me your name and address and said you might help." I said this to the woman I had seen playing hopscotch - or was she?

Apparently her sister was living with her, damn! It could be either.
"Do you dress the same?" I asked thinking how I could tell them apart.
"Is your hair the same style?" I said with a forced grin.
"Come in and meet my sister. You've got my name, Ruby, so this is Pearl." She introduced me to her twin. Pearl had short hair, Ruby had long hair.

I shook Pearl's hand quickly and said thank you and left rather abruptly. I had the evidence and the right person. Case closed.

Macy and I had to go to the police station to give evidence about Phillipa Phipps and her boyfriend who had kidnapped Macy recently.
We met Detective Inspector Trout, a young man in his 30's, a moody looker, quite fanciable in a Nick Cave sort of way.
"You were very brave, Ms Pacey, to escape when you did." I could see the admiration in his look. It made a change, men usually just looked at Macy with lust.
"Nah! I just nipped out the door quick like. It weren't difficult. He was as thick as sh..I mean two planks."

Apparently Phillipa's boyfriend was on parole for burglary, he was a nasty piece of work. He was going to get locked up for this.
Phillipa hadn't been going out with him for long. It seemed it was his idea (so she said) to steal from the office. She did it because he asked her to. She made the phone call to me also because he asked her to.
"If he asked her to take a flying fu..er leap of a bridge, would she?" Macy asked quickly.

I put on my Doris Day headscarf and left. Macy stayed behind a moment chatting to the detective. They seemed to be getting on well.

As I started the sporty 2 seater, Macy dropped into the seat beside me. The top was still stuck down. I must get it fixed before it rained.
"You seemed to get on well with him." I said smiling.
"Yeh, I'm gonna see him Friday. We're gonna see Brokeback Mountain. I hope he's not gay, I don't think he is."

As we sped back to the office the sun came out. All was good. Two cases solved in the past two days. I might book a holiday soon.
"I've thought of a name." Said Macy.
"What name?" I said, not really knowing what she was on about.
"Tyalskye and Pacey Investigations. Psychic phenomenon a Speciality."

DINNER

Yesterdays Chicken Breasts in Schezuan Sauce
Quinoa - It says this on the packet:

'One of the most sacred foods of the ancient incas of South America was quinoa, a plant so nourishing, delicious and vital they called it chesiya mama, the Mother Grain.'

It's actually a seed, and when it's cooked goes into tiny spirals. It is tasty, in a vegan type of way.

I haven't felt like sacrificing Dusky to the Sun God, so it's influence is purely gastronomical.

Macy Pacey has just become a partner in the detective firm where she was a secretary to Celeste Tyalskye.

Celeste had just taken photos of Ruby Tuesday, who worked for a frozen fish finger firm, playing hopscotch. She was suing the firm for compensation for a bad back following a fish oil spill accident.

Macy had gone as a temp to investigate thefts at Millet, Willit and Billit, solicitors. A message told Celeste that Macy had been kidnapped and not to call the police. They would ring back at 2000hrs.

It was 10 to 8 and I still hadn't thought of a plan to save Macy. I had to play it by ear, wing it, impro, ad lib, make it up as I went along. Hopefully it would be enough.
At last the phone rang.
"Hello Margery?"
"There's no Margery here."
"Oh. Are you sure?" I had to get this old biddy off the line, it was time for the call.
"I haven't got any knickers on." I was gratified to hear the phone click as the old lady put it down. The phone went immediately.

"Is this the detective agency?" a woman's voice asked.
"Yes. Celeste Tyalskye speaking."
"Really? Is that your name?" As the voice asked, curiousity overcame the attempt to disguise it and suddenly she sounded quite young.

The gist of it was that Macy was being held somewhere and would be let go when I cancelled the case. I had to ring the partner of the law firm up and tell him we were dropping the case. If I went back on that then they would get Macy again.

"He won't be at work now." I said, pointing out the obvious.
"You can ring him at home. Make it convincing. I will ring you back in one hour to make arrangements for Macy to return."

So, my mind started to turn over like a oiled crankshaft, going through the possibilities as I put down the phone.
I needed coffee and I needed it fast. As I plugged the kettle in there was a bang as the outer door to the office banged.

"Macy!" I cried, for it was her, looking a bit worse for wear. Her lipstick had worn off and she had gloop in the corner of her eyes where her eyeliner had smudged. Things must have been bad.
"Quick! Let me at the bathroom, I've got to fix my face!" She said as she got out her cosmetic bag.

Apparently, she had been chloroformed and taken to a flat where she was held until a pizza delivery man came. She rushed out of the door as he was taking the money for the pizza and managed to get a taxi here.

"I found out the thief. She got her boyfriend to snatch me. It was one of the secretaries called Phillipa Phipps." Macy said in a strange voice, she was applying lipstick and talked out of the corner of her mouth.
"I rang the police on my way back, they are going to the flat to arrest them both. I took his mobile phone so he can't ring Phillipa who was using a phone box to call you."

I had to admire the cool calm way she talked, as if she hadn't been abducted and kidnapped.
"We can make statements tomorrow at the cop shop. I'm going to bingo now, as it is I must have missed the first session. I'd better hurry."
"Wait! Don't we need to talk about this?" I said, wanting her to stay because I felt like talking.
"Come along. We can talk at bingo, but not when they are calling out the numbers."
"Ok, I'll get my coat."

Like pilgims going to Mecca, we arrived and went in to a glitzy ballroom where there where tables and chairs for the punters who all had their eyes down.

As I scoured the room, I saw a familiar face. In fact there were 2 familiar faces, and they were the same! It was Ruby Tuesday, twice!
She was obviously a twin! So, which one did I photograph jumping and skipping at hopscotch?

"House!" Macy yelled, her face alight.
She's only gone and won the jackpot.

Chicken Breasts in Spicy Szechuan Tomato Sauce
Yellow Peppers
Red Onion
Garlic

Basmati Rice with 2 Cardomom Seeds

Tomato and Onion Salad with Capers

The next thrilling installment of TYALSKYE AND PACEY to follow later, after Menu of the Day has been scoffed.

So, following on my resolution of yesterday I put Dusky out last thing.
She seemed to have the equivalent of Doc Martin boots on her paws, because she hammered on the door non-stop. It was really loud!
So, yes, I let her back in.
Well, I thought she must be desperate to come in because she usually just trots off into the night.

She slept, like the Princess and the Pea, on her pile of boxes as usual.
This morning, I woke up to the sound of a thud, like a cat landing on the floor from a high jump. 'Aha!' I thought, I know that sound!

She was in the south west corner, her favoured direction just about to pee! I grabbed her and chucked her out. She didn't even ask to go out, so the battle lines are drawn.

Tonight she stays out!

p.s. Menu of the Day to Follow..

After 2 nights of being chucked out and sleeping outside, under the house, I have come to an alternative arrangement with Dusky.

Since she continues to pee in the same room if left in overnight, I cannot let her stay.
However, today when I let her in she shot over to a corner in the lean to. This is an extension where tools etc are kept which leads into the kitchen. This is her way of saying 'ok, if I have to stay out, I'll sleep in here.'
It is dry. I've put a woolly jumper down for her to lay on.
It's a good compromise.

Previous post is the first part of another Celeste Tyalskye Detective story.
The second thrilling episode will be tomorrow.
You may want to book the computer to make sure you can log on and read it without family members crowding you out.
You sure don't want to miss it!

The sign writer was a young man, wearing tight jeans and a tee shirt showing off honed muscles that rippled as he screwed in the new sign above our front door.
I was standing outside watching behind him.
Macy was watching from inside, through the large glass window.

The look we exchanged need no verbalisation, as our eyes met a sigh of longing, her from the front and me from the behind. This adonis had united us at last. We both lusted after him in vain.

He turned around giving a smile that made me feel the clench from my nether regions like an on button.

"That's screwed in nice and tight," he said half twisting from his ladder.
"Nice and tight," I agreed unable to tear my eyes away from that perfect behind.
"Shall we settle up? I'll come inside then."
"Come inside then." God! I couldn't help myself repeating the last of his sentences, which, in my fantasy state became invitations.

As I entered our offices Macy licked her lips at me and waggled her eyebrows. She was so forward, her front was in a different time zone.
The hussey! At least I was not so obvious.

Mr Adonis presented me with a bill and I wrote him a cheque. I resisted the urge to put a 'x' after my name on it. Then the man of my dreams collected his tools and left. The story of my life.

My name is Celeste Tyalskye, I am a private investigator.
In the right light a good natured liar might call me quite attractive.
I have dark hair with a few rogue grey ones in there, after all I am in my 40's. I've been doing this job for longer than I care to remember, taking on all sorts of investigations from kidnapping to lost purses.

Macy had been my secretary and assistant. In fact she became so useful that she had a hand in concluding several of my cases on her own.
She was a blousy blonde. Blousy because she favoured a low necked blouse most of the time. She was in her early 30's, and did I mention brassy? Loud and crude, quite often rude, I had to admit there was no one else I'd met quite like her. She grew on me, like lichen, or maybe mould. Underneath the crassness was a heart of copper.
We may be like chalk and cheese, myself being a tasty brie, but we seemed to work well together. Hence the new sign.
Instead of saying 'Momma's Investigation Agency,' it now said,
'Tyalskye and Pacey Investigation Agency' - a good start to a new partnership.

"Ooooo! He was really tasty!" Macy, as usual, went straight for crudeness. This time I had to agree with her.
"Yes, he was certainly dishy, too dishy for the likes of us."
"Talk for yerself, yer minger! He would've asked me out but I 'spect he's got someone already."
"If you say so Macy, now let's pop the champers and have a toast to our new partnership and future successes." I said popping the cork and pouring two teacups full of Waitroses's finest.

In the past, I deliberately maintained a distance from Macy as her boss. I didn't approve of her being over familiar when she was an employee. Staff morale and all that. Now that had changed, we were on equal footing.
The Agency had just kept afloat though bills and rent had soared. Macy had come into an inheritance, not a huge amount, but enough to put into the firm and make a difference.
With that financial input Macy had signed up to become a partner. We could now get another secretary and Macy could investigate full time now.

We went through the applications for the secretarial post. Many were school leavers with no skills. Others had worked in so many jobs that they didn't sound reliable.
There was one that seemed to stand out from the rest. It was refreshingly honest.
"This one sounds quite good." I said handing her the paper.
"Yeh, she don't try an' pull the biscuit."
I swear Macy made up her own similes.

Helene McGraeme was 24 and informed us that she was bored with her present job as a secretary for a firm that made spanners.
She was qualified and keen. She needed 2 weeks notice to hand in her resignation at her present job.
Macy rung her up to come for an interview the next day. We kept some of the other applications just in case Helene didn't cut the mustard.

Our present case was for investigating a series of thefts from a firm of solicitors, Millet, Willit and Billet. A huge amount of stationary and office equipment was going missing. They had 4 staff who could be the possible suspects.
They did not want to involve the police, so Macy was to start work with them, as a temp to try and find out who was taking the goods home.

As Macy left for Millet, Willit and Billet, I started to go through the other case we had.

Ruby Tuesday was claiming that she hurt her back while working for a frozen fish finger firm. She had hired a 'no win no fee' lawyer to take her employers to court. She claimed she slipped on fish oil that was spilt on the floor.

Taking my trusty digital camera I headed out towards her house, checking the street in the A-Z of Cardiff. I found the house, it was in the dock area, which had been revamped in the last few years and now sported new pavements and parks.

As I drew up near to her house I noticed some kids playing hopscotch on the new pavement. There was a woman who was playing with them. I though to myself that she was a bit old to be playing hopscotch. Maybe this woman was showing off that she could jump and skip with the best of them. That's when I realised. It was her. Ruby Tuesday.
She didn't have a bad back, judging by the way she was cavorting around with the energy of a teenager.

I took some photos of her. Got some good ones of her in mid leap, twisting around in the air and laughing away without a care in the world. Hallelujah. Case closed.

Got back to the office at the end of the day to find a message blinking on the answerphone.
"If you want to see Macy Pacey again then you had better await instructions which will come at 2000 hours. Do not call the police because that will mean your assistant will surely suffer greatly. You don't want that to happen now do you?"

My blood froze as cold as the fish fingers that Ruby Tuesday had packed. This was bad news indeed. What had happened at the solicitors? Had she even got there? I needed answers, and I needed them fast.
Time was running out, it was 7.30 already. Decisions had to be made.

TUNE IN AGAIN TOMORROW FOR THE NEXT THRILLING EPISODE OF TYALSKYE AND PACEY.

ROAST DINNER
Welsh Shoulder of Lamb
Mashed swede
Spinach
Leeks
Roast Potatoes

Gravy from Heaven
Homemade Bananana Cake - with added pine nuts, walnuts, 2 dates.

Yes, it was delicious, all cooked on the Rayburn.

Dusky update:
Found on the carpet a puddle and pile of poo this morning.
So, she's cooked her goose, and will be chucked out at night from now on.
Mind you, life 'aint that bad as she's on my lap as I type.

It has been suggested that an arch enemy could be introduced into the Celeste Tyalskye/Macy stories. Hmmm. I feel a villain could be making an appearance very soon.

Went for a walk on a beach today with a freezing wind. The stones on the beach were fantastic colours and shapes. I took 4, only 4 home to put in the front garden, and will build little areas for different plants. At the moment the front garden is undivided, on a slope, so it could have a bit of terracing and rockery in there.

A friend has started her own blog, hurrah! She hasn't actually written anything yet though. I expect that quite a few of you have people you know (Juzzz and Snail per example) as blogging chums.

The wind is howling outside, the loudest noise around.
'Where does the wind come from?' That's a question I heard a child ask. Anybody know the answer?

After Mr A driving right through the night to arrive home at 5.30am, it's going to be an early supper, dvd then bed. So:

SUPPER
Spaghetti Bolognese
Organic Spaghetti mixed with homemade pesto sauce (courtesy of Mr A)
Salad a la moi

Morrisons Walnut and Advocaat Ice Cream

A day of chopping wood for kindling, outside work and having my son's dog, Rocket, around. She is a mixture of alsation (the head) and corgi! She is a sweet little thing and no trouble to have around.

Dusky barely tolerates her, glaring distainfully before leaving the room. She is up on high again on the boxes, though she was banned from this room yesterday. Hmmm not really consistent with her am I.

Well, if I get time I'll pop back later and write a short story.
If not, have a lovely saturday night all.

Dinner:
Heated up last nights leftovers of
Sweet Chilli Chicken
Basmati Rice.

Green and Blacks Dark Chocolate - 8 small pieces.

After last nights mammoth live blog in I feel a sedate evening coming on. I could have gone to a gig. Helen Watson a fantastic singer/guitarist who performs soul type stuff with a great voice.
Well, I'm not in the mood.
I had an emotionally draining day with a phone call from an extended family member who had an angry rant at me. She didn't give me a chance to say anything, would not listen and came out with some nasty utterences.
It was a shock, since I don't meet many people who see the world through such dark dark glasses. It left me upset, which was the intention of the phone call.
Fortunately I have the support of people who know the situation and reach out a comforting hand.
Only time will sort this one out. So I'm trying to step back, not get caught up in someone else's web of manipulations and vindictiveness.

That's that out of the way. Fin. Move on and away, back into the reality I am used to.

I might have mentioned that Dusky had been good of late by not peeing in the paper box near the woodburner. she has been chucked out prior to bed for a quick one.
Well, when I was getting the logs out of the large basket next to the woodburner, I noticed some of the logs were wet.
The bugger! She's only gone and peed in the log basket now!
Luckily I had lined it in plastic to stop bits falling out of it onto the carpet so I could clean it.

I held her over it, told her off and chucked her out for a bit.
She has been banned from that room. So is now sitting on the table (she likes to be up high) in the Rayburn room. Now, she has been known to pee in there before, always in the same place, so she is going out tonight! It's not too cold, and she's got a fur coat.

So she either; can't hold it in time to ask to go out.
Can't be bothered to ask to go out.
Does it on purpose to annoy.

I am currently replying to comments, or is that commenting to replies to 4 people.
This is a first, I imagine many of you do this lots of the time.
So no time for me to be writing a blog then.

QUICK MENU OF THE DAY - DINNER

Chicken in Sweet Chilli Sauce
Basmati Rice
Bellini Peppers
Aubergine Pickle

Mango Sorbet

Dusky is on my lap as I type, occasionally putting out a paw to the space bar and giving it a tap.

We must be kind to Paddy now that he has come out of another closet.
I bet when I get back to my email they've all gone........

I have an unchecked lottery ticket from last Saturday waiting to be either thrown away or taken to a glitzy do with champaigne and, no doubt, caviar to celebrate my BIG WIN.
If I've won I will let you all know. If not, then this subject will never darken my computer doorstep again.

So, if a big celebration is on the cards, here's what I'd do with some of the money:

Buy this house, pay someone else to do it up, insulate, solar panels and new windows. The garden will remain as it is for us to do as it is a pleasure rather than a chore.

Give my family money to do with what they want. (I don't have a large family, one son, one sister, 3 grandaughters, one husband.)

Give some money to friends who haven't got much.

Think about which charities I will donate to. Now this may be to actual individuals who I don't know, but can see have had a hard time with not enough money. I might go to Women's Aid and help make a few women independent who could then move on in their lives to a new start. A children's charity will certainly get some money.

Open and fund a rehabilitation centre for people who want to come off drugs or drink with lots of support, physical and mental. A swimming pool and massagers would probably help.

Buy woodland and plant lots of trees.

Put money into conservation and natural areas of wildlife to maintain it.

I am sure there's much much more, but I need to get a cup of tea and have something to eat now. Oh yes,

Buy myself a non-petrol car with high mileage per gallon.

Get a decent haircut.