Life and work, including writing the new equestrian book, is pretty busy just now, and I’m cramming in what I can before I have to take a bit of downtime – I’m having my first hip replacement towards the end of April. I’m both anxious, and at the same time I can’t wait! I have two of these to get through this year, so I’m very much looking forward to getting the first one out of the way.
In the meantime, I promised to keep you updated on our building project, extending our lovely farmhouse in the Scottish Highlands. As it is a Victorian era building, there are NO storage spaces anywhere inside, so you’ll understand the excitement about the prospect of having places to put stuff!
Started in July, it was scheduled to take 3 months. Almost finished 7 months later, courtesy of Covid and the shortage of building materials that seems to be plaguing much of the world at the moment, it’s almost completed!
We have gone from this
To this
To this
And then the drains went in
And the interior is taking shape – the interior glass door leads to the kitchen, the doors ahead are a lovely, HUGE wardrobe for our many warm coats, and the door on the left is the dog room. On the right, where you can’t see, are the laundry room and toilet.
Dog room, with benches for the bigger dogs, and lots of underneath space for the smaller ones. Not to mention places for all their gear!
Laundry room, with space also for fridge, freezer and bins – a huge step forward in terms of keeping the bins safe from the dogs, many of whom are former Spanish street dogs who stayed alive by raiding bins.
Toilet opposite…
a fabulous butler’s sink, with shower over, for washing (small) dirty dogs
In addition to the light coming through all the glass doors, there are also a pair of huge skylights that went from this:
To this:
And yet to be completed, the spacious porch, which will have a bench seat on the right, to sit for putting boots on, with space beneath for short boots, and racks for tall boots on the left, with coat hanging above. Oh, and that fabulous view!
Today, the electricians are in to complete light fittings (including outdoor floodlights) and smoke detectors. It’s getting exciting…
BookBub Featured Ad update
I also promised to keep you updated on the continued effect of the BB ad. If you remember, before the ad on Christmas Day, I was selling in the region of one book a day.
Now, obviously things went a bit nuts during the promo – in a good way – but you always wonder what sort of tail there will be afterwards. A few years ago it used to be great – high sales for several months afterwards. Recent reports from many authors have shown little or no tail, with sales returning to the same level as before the sale period almost immediately.
Well, I’m very happy to announce that this hasn’t been the case for me. Throughout January, I have sold an average of FIVE books a day, all at full price, and although it is starting to tail off a little now, I have yet to drop back anywhere near my pre-sale figures.
So anyone thinking of having a go at scoring a BB featured ad, I still say – go for it!
deborahjay 
Looks great Deb. So happy for you on the house and the Bookbub. Sorry to hear about your hip, but at least you are having it tended to in this long Covid wait for so many medical issues left on the wayside. ❤
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Thanks Deb. I’ve had to accept this year will be a bit of a nothing year, with two surgeries to go through, and the cost is going to eat the remainder of my inheritance (much of which has gone on the building work), but with any luck by next year I’ll be a new woman!
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Yes! Keep that thought – brand new! ❤
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😀 I will be the Bionic woman!
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Loving the photos of the house renovations , looks amazing !! Enjoyed the latest book too
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Thanks Michaela, glad you enjoyed it – oh, and when you have a moment spare, be a darling and leave a review 😀
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I can see why your hips hurt, Deborah. I can’t believe how much work your new house is! I will be following the surgeries carefully as I’m headed the same direction myself. Hopefully not for a few years!
Good follow-up on the BookBub promotion. 5 books a day, from 1 a day–who wouldn’t consider that a success!
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I aim to keep you up to date on it all.
I’ve been on painkillers for seven years now. If I wait for our UK health service to do the surgeries it will be at least another 2 years, so expensive though it is to pay for it myself, I feel I’ve waited long enough!
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I’m on the pain killers, but not too bad yet. Just tamping things down! Luckily, when I do this, Medicare will take care of everything. I am thankful for that.
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I belong to a facebook group of riders who have had/are getting replacements from all over the world. This is one time I wish I had insurance instead of the NHS!
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Your renovations look great! Why do these things always take longer than expected? A friend just had her hips replaced and feels like a new woman!
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Lol, It was supposed to have started January 2021, so it’s been considerably longer than expected! Covid has a lot to answer for.
Lots of my friends have had their hips done, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for good results.
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Congrats on the building progress, Deborah. You’re getting there. And great news on the BB results. Thanks wonderful news.
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Thanks Diana, we are getting excited about the new build – electrics are now finished, just the decorating and the outdoor swathe of concrete for car parking left to go!
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