Ahem.

Went on a giant walk yesterday. Set off at 9.45, got back around 5.45. Terrain was challenging, a mix of bog, rock and rutted, grassy paths, lots of slithering, scrambling, stumbling and squelching. No rain though, and views magnificent when I gained height. Bit stiff today, but glad I did it.

#3goodthings 1. Went for a paddle after a long walk: the bliss of dipping hot, weary feet into cold sea water. Forgot snap, sorry. 2. Met Cork donkeys on the walk, fed them apple. Singsong heehaws. 3. Ordered coffee in a bar, got a bun thrown in.

Hugely looking forward to giving this workshop @dinglelit.bsky.social's brilliant festival in Dingle in November. It's a fabulous setting & there's a wonderful programme of events. Here's a link to book your place if you'd like to join us dinglelit.ie/news/event/h... #writingcommunity #spéirgorm

#3goodthings 1. Sheep's Head Penninsula, West Cork, in the sunshine. There are worse places to be. 2. Halfway through a pint of Arthur's. There are worse things I could be doing. 3. Cloudless blue sky. Can't beat it.

Ooo (Out Oct 16) #OnceAYear #bookpost #finishedcopies #booksky #Irish #books 📚 💙

#3goodthings 1. Late colour from the garden. Marigolds and Peruvian lilies. 2. Two bed buddies. Paddy purring in his sleep. 3. Walked the Bull Wall in Dublin earlier in sunshine, with a cousin. Heart lifter. Forgot to take snap, too much chatter.

#3goodthings 1. Perfect autumn morning here. Blue skies, bright sunshine, crisp air. Wonderful. 2. A day of decluttering. Such satisfaction - and I'm not finished yet. 3. Enjoying the quiet of the evening (and the decluttered greenhouse).

This should have posted last evening. Internet said no. I do not have Guinness in the morning. 🙈🙈🙈

Right, you lot. #3goodthings 1. Pears from brother's tree. Pulled down by wind, not quite ready for picking, so they're resting in newspaper. 2. Arthur. Sure you have to honour your Irish credentials. ☘️🇮🇪 3. Charlie, queen of all she surveys, from the comfort of her slave's lap.

So pleased to have been invited to give this workshop at the Dingle Literary Festival on Sat Nov 22nd. It's going to be a wonderful weekend. There's a link in the post if you'd like to book your ticket to join us dinglelit.ie/news/event/h... #Spéirgorm #books #writingcommunity #Irish #writing 📚💙

....and for afters I had a slice of Tunisian Almond and Orange cake, drenched in orange syrup while still warm and dolloped with creme fraiche. Culinarily speaking, it was a damn good day.

Tonight for dinner I dipped homemade bread into homemade soup. Something satisfying about creating meals from scratch. In case you're wondering, it was pea soup and brown soda bread. 😋 😋😋😋😋

Want to know why I'm not married? I'm holding out for this guy.

Ahem. 😎

Friends and neighbours, I'm taking a small social media break, so you won't be seeing my #3goodthings for a while. Please, if you don't already, scribble down your own every day, to remind yourself that despite the current madness, good can always be found, however humble. Stay safe, be kind. xx❤️❤️

#3goodthings 1. Breakfast. Gently stewed blackberries dolloped with Greek yogurt. 2. Spuds from my brother's garden. Come to Momma. #shkinanall (Have to be Irish for that hashtag.) 3. Only noticed today, one of the gladioli wrapping itself around the flamingo tree. Aaw.

#3goodthings 1. Lunch. Pitta, peppery leaves, tomato and mayo. 2. More blackberries. Seems rude to ignore them. 3. Moving On added to the paperback tower.

#3goodthings 1. New buds on the dead fuchsia that @bkates.bsky.social told me wasn't dead. Thanks B. 2. Bovine lunchtime. 3. Treat.

#3goodthings 1. Homemade jam from a pal, my first greengage. Tasty on a scone, and not too sweet. 2. The end of edits in my sights, hallelujah and hurrah. 3. Went on a walk, got soaked. Good because three hours later, I still feel virtuous. 😂😂😂 No snap, my phone would have drowned.

#3goodthings 1. Apricots. Can't remember the last time I ate one. 2. Superdog inspecting the garden for signs of CAT. 3. Mini dessert. #magnum

#3goodthings 1. The long unwinding road. 2. Publication day treat. Just the one🍷- more editing tomorrow. #MovingOnpaperback 3. The marigolds are up. I love their cheery orange, and the way they always refuse to let me get a decent shot of them. 😂😂

RIP Sean Rocks. Shocker.

#speirgorm #booksky 📚 #writingcommunity 📚

#3goodthings 1. Paperback publication day tomorrow. Thanks for the earlier reposts. 2. First translation offer from a Czech publisher. Lovely to be going into a new country. 3. Birds on a roof. I know they're only small but quite Hitchcockian on this grey day.

Paperback available from tomorrow (Thurs 31) in bookshops throughout Ireland and the UK. Please spread the word, take a snap if you spot it, and let me know the bookshop. Thank you! 🙂🙂 xx

#3goodthings 1. My bedroom companions. I won't die of the cold. 2. Blackberries waiting for cream. 3. Montbretia and Anemones, colours of summer.

#3goodthings 1. Busy day editing. Good because it's getting it done. Will be ready for a lie down when I hand it over. 2. Quick lunchtime walk. Forgot phone so no pic. 3. My current read. Lovely. Out in October.

#3goodthings 1. Trip to Limerick. Lunch with family. No snaps, not allowed. 😂😂 2. Evening refreshment. Forgot snap till I was halfway down. 3. Painting in my kitchen. Colour, colour, colour.

#3goodthings 1. The biscuit jar, aka the writer's friend. Tbh they wouldn't be my fave - bought specifically so they don't tempt me to overindulge. 2. George having a Saturday snooze. That little laddie likes his comfort. 3. Poppies popping, new ones every day. Only last a day or two, but so purty.

Lovely thread. Charlie would love it if she wasn't too busy sleeping.

#3goodthings 1. Spotties. 😋😋😋 2. Present from visitors who ate half while they were here. Wanted to point out that it had my name on it, but politeness forbade, so I told them I had to get back to the edits before they scoffed the lot. 3. Blackberry and apple crumble, few more weeks.

#3goodthings 1. Lovely emails from happy readers. Means a lot when you're wrestling alone with edits. 2. Lupins. Purple. A little tardy but let's forgive them. I'd say the fluffy poppies put it up to them. 😂😂😂😂 3. Laundry out, laundry in. Lovely summery day.

#3goodthings 1. Mother's loosestrife. 2. Two very different deliveries. 3. Irish plums and Greek yogurt.

This is so niche I can't believe I am asking, but does anyone know anyone who might be an expert in Protestantism in Italy during the Reformation? (Stranger things have happened). RTs welcome.

#3goodthings 1. Pizza for dinner. 2. Moo cow sculpture. 3. Plums from a friend's garden

#3goodthings 1. Montbretia. Blazing hedgerows. 2. Mini ice cream cone. I feel like Gulliver in Lilliput. 3. Apples coming on. Tarts and crumbles in September, if the birds don't beat me to them.

#3goodthings 1. Baa baa black sheep. Wonder if they know they're different? Buddies don't seem to mind. No discrimination in the ovine community. 2. Made it home from the walk before the rain. 3. Doorstep pots. Fuchsia and Flamingo.

3goodthings 1. A snail trail. Interesting pattern. 2. Delighted to see that a pal's lemon pip plant is still alive. Did nothing for months but recently started shooting out new leaves. Gonks monitoring. 3. Grand niece very busy opening grauntie's birthday present. Two years old yesterday.

#3goodthings 1. Pop went the poppy. I thought they were going to be white with a pink frill - turns out they're a glorious pink mop of fluffiness. 2. Butterfly. Seems to have set up home in the garden - often around. 3. Paddy, missing all morning, finally showed up mid afternoon. Big phew.

Bread out. Off to bed.

#3goodthings 1. Two brown sodas on the way to the oven. Been a long time. 2. Poppy on the way - and LOTS more to follow. 3. One of these things is not like the others....🍫

#3goodthings 1. 3-moth post-op check-up at Croom. All good, I'm where I should be. 🙏🙏 2. Lunch. Roast beef and pickled cucumber on olive focaccia panini. 3. New cage tree has found favour with the brothers. Madam hasn't deigned to look at it yet.

#3goodthings 1. A birthday party.... 2. Flowers. 3. Finally, the first sweet pea flower threatens to bloom. The spot is too shady - must plant elsewhere next year.

Wise words. For chicken, use whatever joy-bringer you're dithering about.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

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#3goodthings 1. New playground. George approves. Spoilt? No. Why do you ask? 2. Sneak peek copy of @fhayesmccoy.bsky.social's next. Delighted and looking forward. Out in October. 3. Sorely tempted in the local hardware shop. Resisted ... for now.

#3goodthings 1. Trip to Limerick with dinner for mother and brother. No photo evidence. 2. Early morning sky in West Clare. 3. Current fruit bowl status. Bananas approaching spottiness....