Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Welcome 2014

               2014 Welcome


Grab a Glass of Champagne and Cheers to you all.

I will fill you in later this coming weekend on things. I have been ill and so busy.

This is just to wish a wonderful New Year and to say go make your dreams come true. I am going to try too!


Cheers!

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Happy December

Grab a cuppa and relax a minute, I know I need to.

Well, November was such a busy month for me I hope all my American friends had a lovely Thanksgiving.

I am still getting over mono and I did National Novel Writing Month 2013, yes I finished. I wrote a novel and now it must be edited and sorted out.

Well, it’s almost Christmas so you need books. I suggest any from the Coffin Hop and if you haven’t got Three That Haunt, try it. Also for you WWII readers how about My Dad’s Pictures from WWII.

See you later, I need a nap and Princess will have a cuddle with me.

Cheers for now.



Monday, November 11, 2013

Happy Veterans Day

To all the Veterans who so kindly follow me Thank you. Grab a cuppa and relax it's your day.

I wish all veterans and soon to be veterans, from all over the world, a life full of happiness and peace.

If you know a veteran who would enjoy a book of pictures from WWII, may I suggest "My Dad's Pictures from WWII" These pictures where taken at Orly, France at the end of WWII.

Now back to NaNo2013 for me.

Cheers for now.

  

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Guy Fawkes or Bonfire night?

Grab a cuppa, its time to burn Guy Fawkes. I am the only person I know who burns Guy Fawkes in America.

There are a few poems for him. So here is one for you, no I didn't write it. You can sing to God Save the Queen!











Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence he was catch'd (or by God's mercy*)
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holla boys, Holla boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
And what should we do with him? Burn him!


So here you go the burning of Guy Fawkes in Arizona, USA.










































I will see you soon I am busy writing for NaNo 2013. My word count is OK. I hope to improve this week and each week.
So I hope you are reading a Coffin Hop book, if so which one?
Cheers for now!




Thursday, October 31, 2013

Coffin Hop Winners

Grab a cuppa, put your feet up. I hope you had a wonderful Halloween. 

Princess loved picking the winners again this year. Her first pic was Joanne Ross and second was A.F. Stewart. She says congrats and the biscuits were great too. Just DM me and we will work out the details.


Thank everyone who so kindly visited and read the story. This November you will see little of me as I am signed up to National Novel Writing Month. Also, I hope to completely recover from mono.


Please go visit all the blogs on a regular basis they are such lovely people.










Cheers, until Guy Fawkes Day we shall burn him...Bahahahaha


Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween, grab a cuppa.
Prizes will be drawn at 9 pm my time by Princess. I wrap treats with the names of all who so kindly left a comment. She will grab the 1st and then the 2nd. I will announce winners here.

The Prizes are:
1st Prize

2nd Prize


Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Halloween eve.



Tomorrow is Halloween.

Grab a cuppa and visit all the blogs. So many Coffin Hoppers so little time.

Tis the day before Halloween and all through the internet Coffin Hop was in full swing. I hope you enjoyed this years blog and have visited all the blogs.

Well, Princess will draw the winners tomorrow October 31. Until then let me show you my Halloween Village.


bit.ly/1aGke7D

Monday, October 28, 2013

Coffin Hop Day 6

Day 6:

Go grab your cuppa and settle in for the last part of our tale. Welcome back, thank you ever so much for the kind words. Come back tomorrow please.


“Alice thank you for the food bag. What do I owe you?” I asked.

“Nothing. Can I go with you to let her out tomorrow?” She asked.

“Yes, I think we all should let her out about nine am,” I said.

“If that’s what you want, we can do that. I must warn you she could have you charged with kidnapping,” Matt said.

“I didn’t do that. She wanted in the shop I let her in.” 

“All right then. I will be back tomorrow and I have your other brothers number so I will see what I can do with him” Matt said as he left.

“We have two teenagers to fix dinner for, so tomorrow,” My brother said as he and his wife left.

I hugged Alice bye and walked home in cool crisp air. I stopped at the Mexican restaurant and grabbed dinner to take home. It was family owned the food was so good. It was a treat for me and I wanted one. Once home I had my feast.

The kitchen was spotless and the pots and pans were put up. I went to change into my pajamas to watch a movie on T.V. I fell asleep in front of the T.V. and slept soundly for the first time in ages.

In the morning I woke to a lovely fall day. I had a lovely breakfast and dressed for the day. It was a good feeling walking to the shop. I needed to stop at the Wong’s on my way.

As I walked down the street I saw both of my brothers and Matt were standing outside the restaurant. Alice waved at me from the upstairs window. The guys looked worried and Alice looked like the cat who ate the canary. I knew why she and I knew Mom spent the night with one older sister.

“Joy we are glad you got here,” Matt said.

“Problem?” I asked.

“Seems your sister is mad as hell at you. I stopped by the shop to check on her about seven PM. She said she was fine but she was ripping apart the place. She screamed at me that when she was done she would have your head. I asked was it because she locked you in. She said no she has something that should be mine. So expect a mess.” 

My brother who knew smiled. My oldest brother looked very uncomfortable. I think he wanted this over with now.

“Well, you just sign the papers Joy and she will be happy,” Sam said.

“Not until we all talk. I also want to see all ten pages of the sale. My lawyer here will let me know if I should sign,” I said.

“I see.” 

“Why do you care? You got your share and more when Mom died,” My younger John said.

“I don’t understand what you mean,” Sam said.

“Two million reasons for you to play dumb. We saw the accounts,” he said.

“Well, isn’t this nice family reunion. I will go let her nasty self out,” I said.

We walked in silence to the shop a block away. Alice and I hung back as my brothers and Matt were out front. I opened the metal door first and looked in the front window. The place was a mess, boxes empty and torn apart, the counter tipped over and glass broken and every spice drawer was pulled out and tossed on the floor. I unlocked the big carved wooden door slowly. It was hard to open so much was shoved against it. The guys pushed it open so we could get in.

“Lisa where are you?” I yelled, she was going to clean up this mess.

I got to the back room and there she was sleeping on the cot. She had spice dust all over her clothes. It looked like she ate most of the food. The back room was a mess too. The others all were in the front of the shop trying to make a path. Lisa snorted like a stuffed pig. I picked up a plastic cup and tossed it at her head. It was the first time I ever hit anyone in my life.

“What?” Lisa snarled.

“Time to get up and clean up this mess. You are a selfish pig.” 

“Me? Well that's rich. You tried to scare me with all that spice dust. Then the voices like Mom's. Where are my pearls?” 

“Your pearls? I don’t know about your pearls. Maybe you could tell me about my one and half million dollars and John's too.” 

“Joy, sign the paper. I will not call the police and tell them you tried to scare me to death. Also that you locked me inside and wouldn’t let me out.” 

“Lisa, I slept good last night. I was home you heard Mom.” 

“Lisa, just go home bing back the paper work so this can be settled,” John said.

“I will think about it.”

“Well, then we just wont sell the shop. I think we could reopen it,” I said.

“Yes, do that. You can say its haunted and do your voices.”

“Honestly I didn’t try to scare you. It was Mom.” 

As I said that a large crash came from the attic. Dust fell through the air on everything. Another huge bang and then in Chinese a voice said ‘Get the paper work, you have upset your Mother and I’.

“So you rigged up something in the attic too?” Lisa asked.

“No, I am not you. Please just clean up this mess, go home and bring the paper work back,” I said. 

We were all leaving the shop as Lisa stood in the middle with her hands on her hips. She was a mess. Matt tapped my shoulder and motioned for me to go.

Lisa stomped her foot and started screaming at us all.

“Get in here, I will not clean up this. You and your friends tried to scare me. Get back here now,” she screamed.

My brother Sam just went home. John called his wife and Matt and I stood staring at her.

“Joy, lets go. She is having a breakdown. Can we call her husband?” Matt asked.

“John can you call him?” I asked.

“Sure,” John said.

As we stood there we could hear her saying stop these cheap tricks. She was covered in more spice dust. The dust fell increasingly as she screamed at us to get in here and sign the papers.

After what seemed like hours we heard cracking and creaking. Lisa was shaking so angrily, she tossed things at the window at us. The door was open but she stood in the middle of the shop. All I could hear was her ordering to stop doing Dad and Mom's voices.

Her husband drove up just as she threw a large jar at the window. The window shattered. Then as if it were an earth quake the whole shop fell in on it self down. It fell in a neat little pile and spice dust flew out hundreds of feet from the shop. You could see spice dust across the street and the sidewalks were caked in spice dust.

“Joy, what happened?” Matt asked.

“Easy, Margret had enough and down it came” Alice said.

“I think so too.” 

I stood covered in spice dust. Alice, Matt, John just walked away. Matt called 911 to say the shop had fallen in and a woman was inside she had refused to leave it. 

When I looked back the spice dust was all over Lisa’s husbands car. I could see our footprints in the dust. It was like snowing spice dust as the wind picked up.
This weekend gave me something new to think about...

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Coffin Hop Day 5

Day 5:

Time to grab a cuppa and on with our tale. Welcome back and thank you for stopping by with those lovely comments.



I looked outside and the shop had spice dust coming from the bottom of the door. Alice and I stared at it. My sister started yelling for me to come out, open that door she kept screaming. Alice’s brother was standing behind us watching.

“Joy its good to see you,” He said. “I see your sister is still a flaming witch.”

“Yes, I suppose she is,” I said.

“I am your lawyer now. You will not sign a thing and she is going to be so pissed off.”

“Matt, are you sure you want to get involved with this?” I asked.

“Oh yes, I really want too,” Matt said he was smiling.

My sister was now pounding on the door screaming "let me in". Matt opened the door and we walked out together toward the shop.

“Can I help you?” 

She didn’t even turn around. She just ignored us. My brothers got out of the car and started to walk toward us. 

“Why are you pounding and screaming at the door?” I asked.

“What? How did you get out here?” She asked.

“You saw me lock up and walk away. Now where is the paper work?” 

Matt and I noticed she had spice dust all over her pant suit and shoes. I think some was in her hair too. She was so mad, she was red faced.

“Joy, sign this now. I have had enough of you and this spice dust you threw on me” She said.

“Joy was with me having a coffee. I am her lawyer, Matt Wong.”

“Whatever, just sign so I can get out of here,” she said.

“No, I asked you to please give me the details of the sale. I want to know what you got for this place.” I said I was standing my ground.

“I don’t have time to run home and get it. Just sign” She said.

“No, my client will not be signing until we read all the paper work. Joy please lock up the metal door. Then you and I can have our lunch.” 

“Fine with me,” I said. I pulled the metal door closed and locked it. I handed him the keys.

“You can bring the paper work to Wong’s restaurant, we will be there all afternoon. Goodbye guys, good to see you too.”

They stood there staring as we turned and walked arm in arm back to the restaurant. I could feel the nasty stare of my sister.

We heard her tell my brother thanks for nothing. You should have made her sign. They left as she stood there by her car. She soon drove off and I sat there scared for the first time in a very long time.

“Joy you come lay down in the guest room,” Alice said.

“Thank you. I am tired and scared. She always was mean,” I said.

“I know. That’s why when Alice called I came right over,” Matt said.

I laid down and fell asleep fast. I slept for three hours. When I woke up, I heard the sounds of a busy restaurant. I washed my face and headed down stairs. I heard my brother talking so I stopped to listen.

“Look Joy was right. My son was to put the spices and things on the web. The money was to go in the shops account my older sister set up. Well, super hacker son noticed that the account number looked off. He kept going and found it was his Aunt's personal account. She has ripped us off, Joy and I that is.” 

“How do you know?” Matt asked.

“My wife is an accountant and...we used her skills and figured it out. Joy and I were cheated out of at least a million each,” he said.

“Look, we printed it out. Joy needs to know I wouldn’t cheat her. She took care of Mom and Dad. The shop was run by her when they were sick and Dad died. She deserves the shop money.” 

“Thank you. I want to see the paper work. Also I would like to buy Liza lunch and dinner. I think she needs to spend the night in the shop.” 

“No problem. I can have Alice fix up a bag. Are you sure?” Matt asked.

“Yes, She wants in the shop, so she shall get in and stay,” I said.

“At last you got mean,” my brother John said.

“No, not mean just even. She is looking for the pearls,” I said.

“Mom's pearls, the antique ones?” 

“Same. I found them before she died. Remember she said who ever found them keeps them.”

My brother and his wife were laughing so hard. It was a relief laugh. They looked so relived.

“I am so glad you found them. So she is looking for them not just the money but the pearls. The pearls have to be worth a small fortune.” 

“Yes, I had them insured. I have one pair of the earrings on now see,” I pulled my hair back.

“Oh my god. I haven’t seen those in years. They look good on you. Well, good you have them. So why didn’t you tell us all?”

“Mom said not too. She said they were mine and to put them in a safe or bank box. I did that, I kept out the seven pair of earrings only.”

“Good for you,” he said smiling.

“So I will take her lunch let her in and leave. The shop's internet and phone are off but the electric goes off Monday.” 

“So you want to lock her in over night only?” 

“Yes, just one night. I think she needs to talk to Mom.” 

“You’re right Joy. I will make her scrumptious lunch and dinner.” 

“Thank you,” I said. I took the large paper bag and walked to the shop.

“You have come to your senses,” my sister said.

“Well, I still want to see the paper work. You need lunch so I brought it.” 

I opened the shop and my sister went in me behind her.

“I will set the food here. You can get what you want,” I said. I went out of the door and locked it up.

My sister didn’t notice, she went to the boxes and was searching them. As I pulled the metal door closed she just was looking around. She would be all right the back room had a cot, small fridge, electric tea kettle and a large bag of food. I felt like a heavy coat was taken off me. 

I walked back to the restaurant my brother, his wife and Matt were waiting on me. Alice was there smiling she knew why I did it. Not because of some pearls but for Mom.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Coffin Hop Day 4

Day 4:
Time to grab a cuppa. Welcome back to day 4 of Coffin Hop. Thank you for the lovely comments. Now on with your tale.


Alice and I grabbed each other and looked around nothing. We just sat there for a while looking around.

“Mom are you here?” I asked.

“Margret are you with us?” Alice asked.

Nothing but quiet. We sat there for an hour to nothing.

“Alice I am going home. Can you call me if this happens again please?” 

“I will call. This is weird. So what time will your family be at the shop?” 

“Nine, they are driving in. I think I a going to take a cab home.” I was shocked.


“No, I will have my son drive you. The cabs are expensive and well smell bad,” she said.

“Thank you, I think that would be nice,” I said.





When I got home it was quiet but the house was a mess. I was not a messy person maybe I was robbed. I turned on all the lights and looked around. Nothing was missing, the house was just tossed. I spent an hour putting everything back to normal. I set the boxes of books from the shop in my office. The spices I put away in the kitchen and made a cup of tea for myself.

I sat there tired and just wanted to cry. I had cleaned up too many messes today and had no answers. I finished my tea and went to bed it was just a weird day.

I was awaken at four am to a crash in the kitchen. I ran in to see all my pots on the floor and the back door open wide. I closed the door and stacked the pots up to put away in the morning. I then noticed spice dust on the door handles of my cabinets. It was a reddish yellow dust like paprika and saffron mixed up. The same spices I had brought home last night. I sat at the kitchen table and called out Mom. Nothing but silence. 

I went back to bed to sleep, but I just slept fitfully until six AM. I got up put a kettle on and cleaned the handles up and sweep the floor up from the spice dust. I got ready to meet my family at the shop. I feared it was a mess again.

I walked quickly to the shop so I could clean up any mess. I opened the metal door then the wood one. The shop was quiet and the dust cloths were where I had put them. Not a spot of dust on the pulls or drawers. I was glad of that. I made a cup of tea and sat to wait on them. I thought heard a soft voice say ‘stand up for yourself’.

Nine AM sharp two cars drove up and parked in the front. My brothers and sister looked unhappy about being here. They never came to the shop. They only came once before Mom died. I was tired and really didn’t want to do this today. 

My sister opened the door and said loudly, "Let's get this over with, I hate coming here."


“Well, hello to you too Liza,” I said.

“Joy sorry but I have a busy life and this is inconvenient for me,” she said. 

“This is hard for me. I have spent my life here the least you could do is be nice,” I said. I was going to stick up for my self.

“Oh poor you. Fine, we sold the building and you just have to sign here.” 

My brothers where there.


“I see. Where is the price and details of the sale?” 

“You don’t need to worry about it.”

“Well, then I wont sign it. I do worry about it and I am not a stupid kid I am the one who got the shop valued with the real-estate agent,” I said.

“So, that makes you an expert now. Just sign this they are taking everything here so we don’t have to sell this junk,” she said.

I had gotten estaminets on the value of everything. I wanted to see the final price. I was not going to get cheated by them. I keep hearing Mr. Wong say your Mom says stand up to them.

“Well, I don’t have that paper work here. Just sign it and I will mail it to you later,” she said.

“No” I said.

“What did you say?” My older brother Sam asked. He was mad.

“I said no. Have you lost your hearing?” I asked. It sounded like Mom, my voice sounded just like her.

“What has gotten in to you?” My Lisa asked.

“Nothing has gotten in to me. I have a right to know, this shop is part mine. You all have decided to sell it and you decided everything when it came to Mom's things. Well, no more. I have rights too. Should I get a lawyer to take care of my interest?” I asked.

I stood there with my arms crossed. I was tired and sick of nonsense from whoever was making messes and them. They stood there staring at me like I had grown horns. I could see that my sister was mad and my two brothers where annoyed mostly. They didn’t care but my sister she took what she wanted and damn the rest of us.

“You wouldn’t dare. Now sign this or else,” Liza said.

“No. I am going to lunch at the Wongs. When I return you have the paper work and I will read it and see if its acceptable to me,” I said. 

The three of them walked out the door with me. I locked up the shop. I had the only keys and I knew it. The keys had been changed six months ago because my one brother had lost them. I left the metal door open and walked away.

“Joy get back here now and sign this,” she was screaming. 

“Get the paper work.” 

I waved and kept walking.


I got to the restaurant before it was open but Alice was there and opened it up for me then locked it again.

“I am sorry I am here so early. They want me to sign papers but without the details of the sale.” 

“What, they are crazy. I will call my brother, he can go over the paper work with you here. If they get it.” 

“Alice thank you. I got so little sleep last night.” 

I told her what had happened last night and the whole screaming match with my sister. She understood and called her brother and told him. He was on his way over. 

“Where is your Dad?” I asked.

“Dad went to Tai Chi. He is acting like nothing is going on,” she said.

We could see the shop from the restaurant and watched as my sister screamed on her cell phone. My brothers tried to open the door and couldn’t. They sat in the car as my sister paced back and forth.

Then I heard a boom.