April in the garden, again

April in the garden.  It's a riot of colour, vibrant green foliage and strong tulip red and pinks. 

Meanwhile, in the greenhouse, there are seedlings to be potted on.  These are carnations and will fill in any spare bits of soil that may need filling in the coming weeks. 

I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Scrapbooking

I've had a week unlike any other of my life.  This was the week when my first book was launched.

The book is "A Perfect Duet. The Diary of Roy and Hayley Cropper". With a foreword by Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper).  It is an unofficial Coronation Street companion.

And what a week it's been.  I've started a scrapbook to keep track of the clippings and cuttings.  The last time I kept a scrapbook it was to hold pictures of Donny Osmond and foreign stamps. I think the stamps were more interesting.

Anyway, here's the cuttings and clippings I've had so far this week:

TV Times magazine Facebook page - competition to win 5 copies of my book
Inside Soap magazine - competition to win 5 copies of my book
Sunderland University press release
Sunderland Echo
Newcastle Evening Chronicle
Newcastle Journal (story is not online)
Northern Echo
TV Times magazine (issue out Tuesday April 29) - competition to win 5 copies of my book

I was also interviewed on BBC Radio Newcastle.  Listen to it here, I'm on at 53 minutes in. 

And I've been interviewed by the Conversation Street podcast team too.

My publisher (I've always wanted to say that) keeps me updated with Amazon rankings and this week the book jumped in immediately at Number 18 in Books>Fiction>Biographical Fiction.

The book is available to buy at Amazon and Waterstones.  And if you buy it directly from the publisher - FBS Publishing - you receive these artwork goodies too...

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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Corrie Weekly Update - putting toothpaste back in the tube

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here

This week on Corrie, is Tracy going to have a marriage of convenience?
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Corrie Weekly Update - looking after the bananas

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here

This week on Corrie, we all yelled at the telly.
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Out this week - A Perfect Duet, The Diary of Roy and Hayley Cropper

Coming this week, my very own, new book!

A Perfect Duet. The Diary of Roy and Hayley Cropper. By Glenda Young
With a foreword by Julie Hesmondhalgh (who played Corrie's Hayley Cropper)

An Unofficial Coronation Street Companion book. 

Published 24th April 2014 and available for order now here

For Coronation Street fans everywhere, the amazing and touching story of Roy and Hayley Cropper, from Hayley's arrival in 'the street' through to her sad farewell.

Relive their story through the eyes of  lifelong Corrie fan, Glenda Young, editor of The Coronation Street Blog.

Rediscover all those magic moments, the gossip, the highs and lows of this brave and ground breaking story line in Britain's best loved soap opera.

Join the Facebook page for A Perfect Duet  
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Odd things I find while gardening

Unusual things I've found while digging in the garden I tend to keep, as the above pictures shows.  

They're plastic toys, or as the bottom picture shows, a plastic toy soldier's leg.

If I find anything else that's a bit odd, I'll be sure to let you know.
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake - again and again

To the theatre this weekend to see Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake.

It's the 5th time I've seen it since 1999 and it was just as good as ever this time around.  Every time I've seen it over the years, it's been changed and improved in tiny, subtle ways.  At the theatre this weekend, the stage was so small that the 'ballet within a ballet' scene had to be split in two.  On the stage was the ballet within the ballet, and instead of another set on the stage for the main characters to watch, and react to the ballet, they sat in a box next to our seats in the dress circle. It was quite a treat.

Each time I see this fantastic show it's included a different male dancer playing the lead swan.  Nothing and no-one will beat the amazing Adam Cooper, who played the male lead when the show was first launched.  But Jonathan Ollivier in the current tour of the ballet is fantastic, and the best lead swan I've seen since Adam Cooper.  Jonathan is taller, stockier, a bigger unit of a swan than ever before and is absolutely mesmerising to watch. 

See more blog posts about Matthew Bourne ballets - I've seen every single one.
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Corrie Weekly Update - Brie, boobs and kebabs

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here

This week on Corrie, Steve was caught out with Andrea.
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Corrie Weekly Update - baby news, booze and blokes in bed

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here

This week on Corrie, Peter fell off the wagon and into bed with Steve.
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Beautiful butterfly

In the garden this morning, this Red Admiral butterfly sat on the lawn for some minutes, unmoving, wings spread. 

It stayed still just long enough for me to take its photo and then it flew away. 
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora

Blowing a trumpet, playing all the wrong notes

I'm not good at blowing my own trumpet as I don't know the keys or the instrument well. So forgive me if any of the following sounds as awkward as I feel.

I'm extraordinarily happy and proud to announce my book will be out in the shops later this month. Here's the science bit from the publisher:

Coming Soon. A Perfect Duet. The Diary of Roy and Hayley Cropper. By Glenda Young
With a foreword by Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper)
An Unofficial Coronation Street Companion book. 
Published 24th April 2014 and available for pre-order now here


For Coronation Street fans everywhere, the amazing and touching story of Roy and Hayley Cropper, from Hayley's arrival in the Street through to her sad farewell.

Relive their story through the eyes of  lifelong Corrie fan, Glenda Young, editor of the Coronation Street Blog.

Rediscover all those magic moments, the gossip, the highs and lows of this brave and ground breaking story line in Britain's best loved soap opera.

Join the Facebook page for A Perfect Duet

Read my About the Author page here.
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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora