Are you okay? Newsletter.
I know you don’t all see or get my newsletter so I try to remember to always post it on my website as well.
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Hello,
It’s all a bit odd at the moment isn’t it? As a writer I’m pretty used to the social distancing scenario but I know for a lot of people this is going to be unpleasant, lonely or even scary. I’ve tried to think if there is anything I can do and I’ve come up with a few things.
I’ve made Dear Diary free across all platforms (Amazon is being slow to drop the price)
I live in the St Austell area of Cornwall and will happily take anyone’s dog for a walk if they can’t get out.
I will chat to anyone that needs to hear/read a friendly voice.
I have assembled a list of interesting things you can access for free online. Details below.
I also used to be a librarian so if you’ve run out of books to read and are looking for a new recommendation, give me a shout and I’ll make a few suggestions.
Finally, remember the reason they are trying to flatten the curve is so that the health services can deal with the numbers. There isn’t an infinite number of special care beds. If they are all blocked by covid-19 patients then other ailments can’t be treated, let alone the other covid-19 victims. The authorities across the world are trying for a slow trickle of the virus until a vaccine is developed. My cousin is currently in ICU, it’s not covid-19, thankfully, but she needs that bed right now. A month from now there may have been no beds available. The effects of this will knock on for months.
It’s hard to remain positive when everything feels like a Stephen King novel but switch the news off. That honestly will help. Chat to me. That might not, but I’ll try. Share your good news stories with me, silly things that you have done or achieved today and I’ll round them up and send them out as another newsletter.
Let’s make each other smile
Now, here is a round-up of some great resources. if you know of others let me know and I’ll add it to the next newsletter.
“Open” Museums
The following is a list of museums and art galleries that can be freely visited online in a virtual simulation.
Go to the theatre
The following performances can be watched for free from home.I suspect there will be more of these soon.
The following link is a total smorgasbord of free live streaming event – music, theatre, opera:
Learn something new
A MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course. Free college with people from all around the world. I love these and have taken many course. Often provided by the best universities in the land. My favourite platform provider is
I’ve studied underwater archaeology, oceanography, computer languages, fashion, all-sorts. Have a look you’ll be amazed by the scope.
Here’s a list of other platform providers
Listen to a story from outer space!
This is fabulous. Astronauts are doing story time for children. So cool.
What will I be doing?
For me this is business as usual. I sent off two manuscripts to my editors yesterday. Paddy, book two in the Hiverton series and a new action adventure story called the Quantum Curators and the Faberge Egg.
Today, I shall start on my cycle rides in Cornwall book and book two of my Quantum Curators series. I’ll also hopefully be replying to some of your e-mails.
And I’ll leave you with a smile and a post I put up on FB yesterday…
Steve is such a great husband. He knows me so well and he is always thinking of me. For instance, he knows how much I love puzzles, so whenever he does the washing up he leaves the draining rack looking like a Gordian knot and in tidying the kitchen he puts the next load of dirty washing into the empty sink.
I looked at the rack in delight, wondering what I should remove first in order to not spring this Machiavellian trap. I opted for the butter dish, no interlocking parts cleverly hiding a pan handle or pivotal cutlery. Like Ariadne, I approached carefully and gently attempted to slide out the lower half of the butter plate. But alas, I am not a Greek heroine, and in front of me tectonic plates started to shift, and shift at an alarming rate.
Before my eyes I saw two problems developing, a wine glass was heading toward the sink, as well as one of those tectonic plates, towards some rather lovely bone china cups that had been left in the sink as an extra test of doom. The second thing I noticed was the large, heavy, chopping knife sliding downhill. The human brain is a wonderful thing and I was able to track its trajectory all the way into my leg.
What to do? Glass, plate, cup or shin? I jumped but my moment of indecision meant that the tip of the knife, of course the tip, managed to land safely in my ankle rather than damaging the floor below. As my mind slowed down to assess the depth of the wound and the need for plasters or paramedics I processed the delicate sound of smashing glass and china.
I am now sitting here typing, having moped up blood and priceless heirlooms, and want to thank Steve for being so very special!
😀
Chat again soon,
Liz

Liz Hurley as well as being the owner of this blog, runs a bookshop in Cornwall, right by the sea and writes books. You can buy them in her shop (of course), Waterstones and other outlets, as well as Amazon.
When she’s not reading, she’s writing and when she’s not writing, she’s walking. And when she’s not doing any of that she’s binging on box sets and sleeping.
This website is for her fictional works. Her Cornish non-fiction titles and walking guides can be found at https://www.cornishwalks.com