 I know it’s been a while since I posted anything to this blog. I have no excuses except to say I’ve been furiously working on two projects. The first is a small collection of short stories, Murder by Bear and Other Short Stories. This will be a free eBook, which I hope it will be ready within the next few months. My other work-in-progress is a novel entitled Sun Seeker. This is a contemporary romantic suspense set in present day Montana. Sun Seeker placed first in the romantic suspense category in the Pages from the Heart Contest. Unfortunately, as is the way with some creative projects it needs editing, polishing, and then more editing to make it fit for human consumption. I did take my nose away from the grindstone long enough to visit my Mum (That’s how the English spell it.) in England. I grew up in the small town of Ashford, Middlesex near Heathrow Airport. Actually as a young woman I worked as a check-in agent for British Airways. South of the town you will find the Queen Mary Reservoir. At over 700 acres it is one of the largest suppliers of fresh water for London and the surrounding areas. It is also home to the Queen Mary Sailing Club. An institution that was never open to me – a woman born to working class Irish parents.  Anyway, I thought it might be fun to share some photos of my hometown with you. You will notice that Ashford isn’t one of those historic picturesque towns you see in the movies. Like many towns in Europe it’s a combination of historical, and industrial. Although recent attempts have been made to preserve its history it has ultimately succumbed to the relentless urban sprawl, which is a symptom of its proximity to London. There has been a settlement in this location for over a thousand years and Ashford is mentioned in the doomsday book of 1066 AD under the name Echelford. There are still buildings and a school that pay homage to that ancient name. Here’s the link to the online Doomsday Book: http://opendomesday.org/place/TQ0771/ashford/ 
This is St. Matthew’s church, which is one of the oldest buildings in town. There has been a church on this site since 1293. The present structure was built in 1858.  This is St. Michael's Catholic church. It stands a few blocks away from St. Matthew’s. As a strict Catholic my mother forced us to go to mass every Sunday until I turned eighteen. Needless to say I spent a lot of time daydreaming in this building.  Ashford Antiques is situated in what used to be a pub, The Royal Hart. Built in the 19th century it is now a listed building. When I lived there The Royal Hart was a pretty rough establishment and was not my regular drinking hole. So now you’ve seen my hometown, the place where I grew up. What’s your hometown like? Is it picturesque, or rough and tumble? Do you have good memories or bad? I’d love to hear about
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