BELFAST 1963

I just found this lovely picture, and it's only one week now until I can put our tree up. Also, I don't want to jinx myself but I have just begun typing up EMILY'S WARDROBE after about five false starts. I'm aiming for 1,000 words a day (about 3-4 pages), and 100,000 words in all, so if I stick at it I could get the novel finished in 100 days. As if!!!

EMILY'S WARDROBE will be a gentle, romantic novel (as per my contract) but it will have some Tim Burton overtones. That's all I'm saying. And thank-you so much to my loyal fans for all their lovely messages of support in recent months, when my sister-in-law died and I subsequently suffered a serious bout of writer's block.

Best wishes,
Sharon
xxx

YANKEE CANDLE

I have just discovered these new candles from YANKEE CANDLE. They are called YANKEE CANDLE BEANSWAX SILVERY MOON CANDLES. They are non-toxic and smell divine. I bought six of them today in my local gift shop, WILLO, in Belfast. They were supposed to be gifts for friends but I think one or two may find their way onto my bedside table. I also bought some of these scrumptious gold and silver Christmas baubles. I am going to decorate my tree this year in the American style: that is, absolutely jammed with decorations so you can hardly see the branches. Then I had a Christmassy hot chocolate in my favourite cafe and it was served in a glass cup with pink marshmallows and chocolate powder on the top. Delicious day.

Today has reminded me of all the things I love about America: clapboard houses, fairy lights, Chevy Chase movies, Angela Lansbury, Thanksgiving, Nicolas Cage, vintage cookie jars, cheesy Christmas movies, Laurel & Hardy, candy canes, hot chocolate, pickles on a burger, McDonald's fries, Trick or treat, Monk, Seinfeld, King of Queens, rocking chairs and wooden floors. Little House on the Prairie, Tim Burton, pancakes and maple syrup, Christmas wreaths, Joan Rivers, James Stewart. And Yankee Candles.

Thanks to my hubby for taking these lovely photos, and my daughter for posting them.

SUSIE HOMEMAKER

I believe I am what the Americans used to call a Susie Homemaker? Or maybe they still use that term. But anyway I am a proud homemaker and this picture illustrates my favourite look perfectly: MODERN COUNTRY. White walls (matt) and white trim (satin) and plain carpets (white or biscuit) as a background to good solid pieces of furniture. With quirky or rustic accessories such as cranberry wreaths and wire card-holders. I think this is a very American look? Anyway I love it to bits. I am gradually re-decorating my entire home to look like this.

Today I was painting the hall trim. I thought it would be a dreary job but I used a sort of wire sponge to lightly sand the wood which was very quick. And then the satin paint went on like a dream and it's much nicer than the high-gloss paint which had gone a bit yellow in recent times. I got the ground floor trim done and I'll finish the upstairs tomorrow. The carpet and walls are also white. The curtains are cream and I've to finish hemming them one day soon.

Finally, I've a white hallstand and a nice gold mirror. All I need to finish it off is a rug or two for the floor and a gorgeous wreath (circle of twigs?) to hang above the stairs. Then the hallway will look nice for possibly the first time in 17 years. I am trying not to become neurotic about keeping my white carpet clean. I also have a wire card-holder for keeping letters on. Everything I buy is from the High Street but MODERN COUNTRY is an easy look to achieve on a budget, luckily.

I do enjoy pottering, I have to say. It's very soothing for the soul.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2

Just wanted to show you this cute picture Dermot took of a Tesco tealight. How cute is this little ghost???

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

We had a low-key Halloween this year: just a big pumpkin from Tesco, some lime tealights, and several bags of choccy sweets. I love giving out sweets to the Trick-or-treaters in my neighbourhood - they always wear such lovely costumes and say thank-you as well. Oh, at 3.15 this afternoon we had a short burst of thunder and lightning and torrential rain - then it dried up again and became very calm - spooky!!!

RETRO SANTA

I went to Homebase today for some paint to freshen up my hallway trim for Christmas - and saw a gorgeous vintage-look Santa decoration. And silver lametta. So now I have my theme for Christmas 2009: 1950s Retro.

I'm putting up my fake tree this year as watering the real one last year was a total faff. So it's back to the plastic fantastic tree. I'm having coloured lights in keeping with my retro look. And I'll use all my clear glass baubles and possibly the red plastic ones.

Then loads of silver lametta, my new retro decorations (I bought 4) and a fairy on the top!!! If I had enough room I'd have a tree in every room but my house has a big lounge-diner and a narrow hallway leading to a small kitchen so I can only have one tree on the ground floor, and maybe a tiny one in the hall window upstairs.

I used to put fairy lights on our bedstead but hubby said they might kill the pair of us someday if they got a fault, as the bedstead is made of metal!!! So that idea had to go as well - trust a man to be so practical. And I am not sticking things to the ceilings so it's just a big tree in the bay window and a few trinkets here and there.

Oh, to have a house like Sharon Osbourne's. Have you seen her house? It's GORGEOUS. All French/Gothic shabby chic sofas, glass chandeliers and pretty cushions. I wouldn't have all the dogs, though: far too much work.

We're staying at home this year, just the three of us, but maybe my dad, mum and sister will visit if they're up to the two-hour drive. We're too tired to do anything wild this Christmas as we haven't had a rest for about two years. Last Christmas we caught a flu that lasted three weeks, and then we had Alice's GCSEs to get through in April/May/June, and of course our beloved Carmel (my husband's sister) died in June. I still had to finish my sixth novel around that time, but I was glad of the work as it kept me busy. However now the three of us are exhausted so we're planning on spending the holidays sleeping, watching TV and well, sleeping...

Will post pics of my tree as soon as it goes up on December 1st.

THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT

Thankfully Morrissey seems to be on the mend again. Some people have been incredibly hurtful to Morrissey this week, saying he looks old and shouldn't be performing. I cannot believe anyone could be so hurtful about any performer. Have they any idea how hard it is, travelling and singing for years on end? My dad was in showbiz for fifty years and he says it's utterly exhausting singing at the top of your voice for 90 minutes. And if you don't believe it, then try it for yourself!!!

I saw Morrissey in May in Belfast's Waterfront Hall and he was fabulous. The atmosphere was electric, you could feel the air crackling with excitement. And Morrissey sounded great. His voice has grown even deeper, sexier and richer than it ever was. And his lyrics are funny and clever and poignant - and not miserable at all.

The band were amazing, the drumming world-class. I only wish I'd braved the crowds to hand Morrissey a fan letter. But I didn't. I just sat in my seat in the back row and let myself drift back to 1986 - student poverty, drinking pints of Red Witch in Lavery's bar, curry chips for supper and falling into bed, still fully dressed in a freezing bedsit, falling in love and paying my first phone bill...

I also thoroughly enjoyed the new material too. Very punky and very loud. YEARS OF REFUSAL - I'd like that written on my headstone some day.

Thank God for Morrissey. He's one of the few acts left in this world that isn't owned (and manipulated) by a greedy, tasteless, perma-tanned, smug and outrageously cruel man. I'll leave you to work that one out for yourself.

Morrissey saved my life once - or his music did - and anyone who cannot see Morrissey for the genius that he is - whether they like his music or not - just isn't worth bothering with, frankly.