MY OFFICE

 Before I had Gino, my cat who came from Critters in Crisis in Scarborough, I used to spend most of the day writing in coffee shops. I had a route I would take, along the seafront with its indie coffee shops and ending up at Costa in the town centre.

Come the pandemic and Gino, I had no choice but to make my own coffee at home. I dug out my battered old Bialetti kona coffee maker (which I inherited from an aunt who was a teas maid worked at the British High Commissioner) and ordered some Guatamalan beans online. I also bought a coffee grinder from LIDL. It's worth its weight in gold.

Afternoon coffee

Morning espresso

Once the lockdowns were over, I thought I would get back into my old Barista coffee habit, but something  had changed. I hated abandoning Gino and I preferred the solitude of my garden. That meant sorting out my office which up until then I had only used for admin. Over the years it had become a dumping ground for books and files.

It's not there yet, but look at that view!

When I was viewing properties last autumn, I wanted to make sure I had a proper office to write in. My old one felt a bit claustrophobic as it overlooked numerous flats across the street. It was a bit like living on the set of Hithcock's Rear Window.

My new office one looks on to a wide avenue with stately trees rising above a country house in the background. I think Gino and I are going to be very productive here, assuming he allows me to get to my writing chair, of course.

Gino the author!