Cassiorbuy The Ancient Seat of the Earls of Essex

On Monday evening, at Café Cha Cha, in Cassiobury Park, I attended an interesting talk by Paul Rabbits, Head of Parks and Open Spaces for Watford Borough Council and Sarah Kerenza Priestly, Heritage and Arts Manager of Watford Museum.

The subject of the talk was Cassiobury, The Ancient Seat of the Earls of Essex.

"In 1916 the 7th Earl of Essex, aged only fifty-eight, died after being run down by a taxi. Six years later, his widow and his heir, the 8th Earl, put the house and the park up for sale."

Today, Cassiobury Park, is a 300 hectare site twice the size of Hyde Park. It is much loved by local people.

I have been considering setting a novel in or around Cassiobury House for a long time, so I was delighted by the talk, and am looking forward to reading Peter Rabbits and Sarah Kerenza Priestley's beautifully illustrated book Cassiobury The Ancient Seat of the Earls of Essex published by Amberley Publishing, www.amberley-books.com.

Broken Resolution

Oh dear, yesterday I decided how many words per day I need to write if I am going to finish my novel Monday's Child, the sequel to Sunday's Child in the shortest time possible, as well as dealing with other 'writerly' matters. I wrote 'oh dear' because I woke at 6 a.m. checked my e-mails, dealt with some business on line, and then hurried around to my daughter's house at 9 o'clock. I shall be looking after her three children until 5 or 5 30 p.m.

At 11 o'clock I shall take them to Cassiobury Park where they can ride their scooters, after which the boys may play football - what is it about two boys and a football that attracts other children who want to join in the fun? - and my granddaughter can play on the swings, slides, climbing frame etc.  We will lunch at Café Cha Cha (please God don't let it be closed because it's Sunday) or elsewhere.

Must go, my granddaughter needs attention.