SALLY GAP - and a conundrum!

Last month, I visited one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Yes, I'm talking about Ireland!

I went to the County of Armagh ("sure, there's one fair county in Ireland, with memories so glorious and grand....") and I also went to Dublin to stay with the talented and occasionally hilarious Abby Green, whose books you will know and love.

Abby has worked (and sometimes still does) in the film industry and she took me to Sally Gap, just outside Dublin. It gives stunning views over the Wicklow mountains, which is why it is so beloved of film-makers.

Here I am, on a day so windy that I honestly thought I might fly away.

But I am left with one question.

Who was *Sally*?

BACK FROM MAGICAL TRIP....

to Ireland, where I wandered through Belfast, met up with the fabulous Lynne Graham, travelled to the tiny town of Clones and then caught the bus to Dublin, where I stayed with the lovely Abby Green. Whew!

Now I'm back and instead of the leisurely Christmas shopping I'd anticipated, I'm revising my book about the sexy Neapolitan Ciro D'Angelo. I shall deliver him into the hands of my editor next week, when I might have time to post some photos of Ireland. After all, it's not as if much else is happening at this time of year is it?!

And in the meantime, my book about Sheikh Zahid of Khayarzah and Frankie O'Hara will soon be hitting the bookshelves or floating through the aether in North America. If you want to get your hands on a copy, it's called MONARCH OF THE SANDS.

So are you also working or maybe doing something wonderfully indulgent (like making mince-pies while carols blare out)?

Or have you decided to brave the shops which currently look like Armageddon (Armageddon outta here!)