Thirty-six years ago today Lesley Ann Baxter said 'I do'. The best two words I've ever heard. Where would I be without her? Happy Anniversary Lesley Brown - I love you.

Look, a place to write, after all these years of cafes, benches, pubs, beaches, planes, trains etc. Still wrote on my bed this morning, though. Francesca Riccardi

So, I open up the BBC website this monring and who should be staring back at me, but a certain Jonathan Whitelaw - beats a coffee for waking you up. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

Very soon! Join us if you can!

Happy P Day.

A new one from Lin. Happy P Day. Dig out those pennies, people.

Y’dancer.

My latest newsletter just landed - with an interview with Doug Johnstone and a few of my writing world 'rules'. If you want a copy - sign up here. eepurl.com/h0LCOj

Francesa is looking for new work. She’s great - check the wishlist and submit.

Clearing out books and stumbled on this from Karen Campbell. 2 things to note. I don’t remember being a runner up in a UNICEF competition in 2009. I found the story, don’t remember writing it. But I’ll take the almost win. Thanks to the judges; Karen and Helen Fitzgerald.

And tonight we are on Hunter and McMustard and Union Of Knives The Hug and Pint

My next newsletter is out on Monday. The content is simple, but compelling - a chat with Doug Johnstone and some of my literary 'rules'. To receive it straight to your inbox, sign up here - eepurl.com/h0LCOj
Francesca Riccardi Dawn Geddes

Seeking the truth about a murder that never was could prove lethal.
The sixth Rebecca Connolly thriller will be published on May 2.
Pre-order in your local bookstore or online.
Polygon Books Bell Lomax Moreton Jo Bell

*BARGAIN KLAXON* The Last Dance - the first Declan Miller novel, is only 99p on Kindle for the whole of this month. Cheap, chips etc. amazon.co.uk/Last-Dance-thr…

Road trip update. Crossed Portugal, raining, now crossing Spain, raining. 800km to do today, done 330 so far, in the rain. Now stopped in Santa Amalia for bocadillos y cafés con leche - oh, and it’s still raining.

The ‘still nae rain’ photos from just up the coast from a wee toon called Lisbon.

Zaire v Scotland 1974 - first major final game I remember. Hope has sprung eternal since. All the doom-mongers from last night will do one thing - keep moaning, but when (let’s not say if) we finally get out of round 1 - I’ll lift a glass to fifty years of hope.

The technical weather term for those interested in the meteorological situation in Lisbon this afternoon is ‘Pure Pishing It Doon’.

There’s a wee touch of irony in this photo.

Amazing opportunity and initiative for Scottish & Kiwi writers. Take a look Doug Johnstone Chris Brookmyre Douglas Skelton Lin Anderson caro ramsay Tariq Ashkanani Gordon J Brown (aka Morgan Cry) #MoMoreGames Michael Malone (The J is silent) Neil Broadfoot Abir Mukherjee Marion Todd is editing and may not see tweets Callum McSorley Ian Rankin Alex Gray et al