tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92018320498821947562024-03-14T00:01:25.454-07:00Go with JoGO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-3040241179949137472020-12-24T08:15:00.002-08:002020-12-24T08:21:28.729-08:006 THINGS YOU MUST DO IN 2021 (WAVE GOODBYE TO A HORRID 2020 FOR STARTERS!)<p>Well, as I look back at my last post which was shockingly long ago (nearly 8 months), I realize with horror that not much has changed since then! The UK and the world is still gripped by this awful Covid19 pandemic. If anything, the situation is WORSE now than back when I last wrote in April. It's winter in much of the world and because so many of us are now indoors for the majority of each day, this is helping the virus spread out of control. And out of control it is, with new variants and mutations of it popping up in the UK and in South Africa and with others probably lurking undiscovered in other countries. </p><p>How gloomy does all that look and feel? It's all rather depressing news which makes me feel heavy in the heart and head and is made harder by a new, tough lockdown in London where I live. Everything apart from supermarkets and chemists is shut; there's nothing to do; nowhere to go. Everyone is walking in the same parks because there's nothing else to do and it's actually so busy everywhere that it's impossible to socially distance from anyone. </p><p>And yet it isn't all gloomy. There is hope. There is now a vaccine being rolled out although it does feel like it will be a good long while before the majority of the population (including me) will be vaccinated. </p><p>But hope is powerful and I'd like to hold onto it, because I'm desperate for 2021 to be a much better year than 2020 and with that in mind I've been thinking about how to make that possible. </p><p>And I finally came up with a list of 6 things we must do in 2021 to make it a better year. And I'd like to share that with you. </p><p>This is my abbreviated list - the full version can be seen here on my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN9_7dW4ieQ&t=52s" target="_blank">YOUTUBE VIDEO</a>: </p><p>1. Book a holiday - have something in the diary to look forward to in the summer</p><p>2. Add something greener/eco into your life</p><p>3. Drink less alcohol - I don't know about you, but I have started drinking WAY more than I used to in lockdown</p><p>4. Exercise more</p><p>5. Learn something new/do something new/experience something new</p><p>6. BELIEVE - believe that the year will be better! There's nothing more powerful than positive thought...</p><p>If you've got any other ideas as to how we can make 2021 better, please do share them - they could help us all!</p><p>And in the meantime I wish you a very happy, safe Christmas and a healthy, prosperous and better New Year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeBWwvcW55dY5wPZALFgjzHi2IcKj6BeLUZ0v3MUXjAUWgtPNuyPswUYVgDOqA4XicHODo6GURJvhDZmKm0uodlMtFrbgqAVi8_IMbD9km_yi06yGT5AzDaI_i5_khePor5MX5JfWOl4/s320/IMG_7810.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeBWwvcW55dY5wPZALFgjzHi2IcKj6BeLUZ0v3MUXjAUWgtPNuyPswUYVgDOqA4XicHODo6GURJvhDZmKm0uodlMtFrbgqAVi8_IMbD9km_yi06yGT5AzDaI_i5_khePor5MX5JfWOl4/s0/IMG_7810.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>To return to Jo's website click on the link below: </p><p><a href="https://www.jokessel.com/" target="_blank">Jo's website </a><br /></p><p><br /></p>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-55134049709750163292020-04-29T09:01:00.001-07:002020-12-24T08:28:46.963-08:00HAD ENOUGH OF COVID19 / CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN? THIS FAMILY IN LONDON CERTAINLY HAS! Wow, I've just seen that the last blog I posted was shockingly long ago - more than a year! There are reasons for this. My father sadly passed away and last year (i.e. 2019) felt like my annus horribilis. Not only did I lose my dad (and my mum died ten years ago so now I am really 'alone') but I also had to clear out his house which was our childhood home. The emotional exhaustion of sifting and sorting through those memories was really hard. As well selling what had been such a happy house and moving on to the next chapter of our lives. I kept writing off 2019 and saying "next year will be better". If only I'd had a crystal ball!!<br />
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It started well enough. I took my kids on an amazing adventure to Chile in December. At the time I'd justified the expensive air tickets, thinking my twins (age 17) were getting older and might not come away with me for much longer and that we should make the most of it. Thank goodness I did that. Because now we can't go anywhere because of the lockdown and it's unlikely we'll be able to do much adventurous travel this summer...though I can still live in hope!<br />
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So, how are you all dealing with lockdown?<br />
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We're now entering our 6th week here in the UK and at first it wasn't too bad. We're some of the lucky ones with a garden and because we had amazing weather we were at least able to be outside enjoying the sunshine, which really helped. Plus in the UK (unlike in Italy or Spain) we're allowed to go out once a day for exercise, as long as we keep a 2 meter distance from people. So I've gone on great 1.5 hour walks which have been a godsend in terms of not feeling too cooped up.<br />
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Because this is such a once-in-a-generation contagion (well, at least I hope it is) that we're dealing with, I thought I'd try to diarise it in video form and I made a few 'lockdown' films for my YouTube channel which show how we're dealing with being cooped up and how the kids are faring with online education and not being able to see their friends or go out and socialise.<br />
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They weren't meant to be spoofs, but my family is so crazy that each mini film is pretty funny and feels like a spoof. Take a look:<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rLnS5JqQrM" target="_blank">LOCKDOWN WEEK ONE</a><br />
<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdSCcnuNJts" target="_blank">LOCKDOWN WEEK TWO</a><br />
<br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YqCSPvRo7o" target="_blank">LOCKDOWN WEEK THREE</a><br /><br /><br />
After this we spent a week doing our own family Come Dine with Me special (that film is also on my YouTube channel) where we all took turns cooking the family meal one night of the week and we voted for the winner. It was hotly contested and some delicious food was eaten that week and my kids proved very creative - preparing Mexican taco feasts, homemade brioches and homemade pasta even! I promise not to do any spoiler alerts here. You'll have to watch the film to decide who is the winner: </div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB_X7TXs-Tc&t=54s" target="_blank">OUR FAMILY COME DINE WITH ME</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Alas, the weather has now taken a turn for the worse and it's becoming tougher for us all. The kids aren't coping that well with an online education (some are faring better than others) and I'm not enjoying being their educator. I'm trying to fill in the gaps where I can, especially with languages, because it's hard teaching languages online.<br />
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Also, I'm used to traveling the whole time for work and now that I'm not going anywhere - and have no idea when that might change - I'm starting to suffer a bit from cabin fever. In those moments I remind myself how lucky we are. We have a garden, we have each other, we have food to put on the table and we have so far managed to stay healthy. And I keep trying to remind myself of that whenever I get in a minor funk...<br />
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Funny things still to happen: when we struggled to buy toilet paper/pasta and eggs at the beginning of the pandemic (when everyone was stockpiling and going crazy) my husband had the idea to build a chicken coop at the back of the garden so that we could provide our own eggs. The coop is built, as is the hen house - all that we're now waiting for are the chickens to arrive. I promise to keep you posted.<br />
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For the record: I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE CHICKENS AT THE BACK OF MY LONDON GARDEN!!!<br />
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Anyway, do let me know how you are coping with any restrictions you're experiencing wherever you are in the world? And whether you're scared of catching Covid19, or whether you've already had it or know someone who has?<br />
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And in the meantime, stay safe and be well and I promise to update you all sooner rather than later.<br />
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To return to Jo's website click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a><br />
<br /></div>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-91393827757280224902019-03-26T10:13:00.001-07:002019-03-26T10:13:59.754-07:00ANTARCTICA - WHY AND HOW TO VISIT THE SEVENTH CONTINENT!Back in November I went on one of the most exciting voyages I have ever been on - an expedition cruise to Antarctica. My children were so jealous I was going. Not only would I be able to see penguins in their natural habitat, I would also be visiting a continent very few people ever get to see.<br />
Stepping foot on land in Antarctica was a surreal moment and I've documented it in many videos I've recently posted to my YouTube channel Go with Jo: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Q28t30k-o99Ijzoiox11Q">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Q28t30k-o99Ijzoiox11Q</a><br />
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Some of the videos are about the penguins I saw:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4veaQbexy2ZGjbbjJ0WVua2Px5AKTNrsf4kuAiOdUM3sfROadS3necH1yjg_jokKjssuC0wGI7PnLXuyUQk_kRWqtkpTdqgOpA1rR3T0nd5dDeSFLkGBKWzS5KOXa6b46ECoLzkjR3A/s1600/Meet+the+penguins+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4veaQbexy2ZGjbbjJ0WVua2Px5AKTNrsf4kuAiOdUM3sfROadS3necH1yjg_jokKjssuC0wGI7PnLXuyUQk_kRWqtkpTdqgOpA1rR3T0nd5dDeSFLkGBKWzS5KOXa6b46ECoLzkjR3A/s320/Meet+the+penguins+pic+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcR1m3chr1wxOBU_dIhuIP79qgPiBBjQWPACsc4TadjHEvwls8ANPaT9DTdxwvqpzZBfNNC3aIxtrhktH5ZIn2jrd77v-m0h5U1_qyaPlY2tP6JkNFQI4SK2l3-j-THByJnSXXZ9sj48/s1600/meet+the+penguins+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcR1m3chr1wxOBU_dIhuIP79qgPiBBjQWPACsc4TadjHEvwls8ANPaT9DTdxwvqpzZBfNNC3aIxtrhktH5ZIn2jrd77v-m0h5U1_qyaPlY2tP6JkNFQI4SK2l3-j-THByJnSXXZ9sj48/s320/meet+the+penguins+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Other videos are about my mad attempt to try the polar plunge - yikes, that was COLD AND HURT!: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And some videos are general about the whole expedition cruise and Antarctic experience - I travelled with a Norwegian cruise liner called Hurtigruten which was awesome and the expedition team was awesome too: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdK5xFNPcvaQ9VR-q0hZvz9PC5w5rXteyu-2XoyHWbri5NeQZfe3XrUJrwFfc843SF7AKcr_xlN_EQcL7GsZ0Q-zsgsKGjli4TLn3plh-wGmi0ucNGX2lMhE7f3QoD6Urh9ac7TwX6C4/s1600/jo+and+expedition+team+member+Delphin+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdK5xFNPcvaQ9VR-q0hZvz9PC5w5rXteyu-2XoyHWbri5NeQZfe3XrUJrwFfc843SF7AKcr_xlN_EQcL7GsZ0Q-zsgsKGjli4TLn3plh-wGmi0ucNGX2lMhE7f3QoD6Urh9ac7TwX6C4/s320/jo+and+expedition+team+member+Delphin+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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When I came back I wrote a few articles for various worldwide publications about my trip. But I'd also written a diary whilst I was away and when I looked at the diary I realised that I had some great material which I didn't want to put to waste. And I saw a gap in the market. There are generic travel guides to Antarctica (like a Lonely Planet etc) but there isn't a guide which tells readers exactly what it's like, with top tips for what to do/what to pack/what to wear/how long to go for etc.<br />
And so I set about writing a unique travel guide, chronicling my expedition from beginning to end, including the highs (penguins/icebergs/extreme hiking/extreme kayaking) and the lows (sea sickness!) And at the end of each chapter are top tips for people about to go to Antarctica themselves or interested in either going or in the polar regions.<br />
I'm so proud of the book which is available from Amazon sites worldwide in kindle as well as in paperback - here's the cover:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFjEQh_WJTfllT_l9WgXzANEHYAZRJ6PziGWQOS7-RrvkCYjAF7A0cSXcdGobZOhozZzLc0t0pm__Ugr32WCd_btCfoTtPDFa8kQP1o769JXX1cToIwvgdZMppJef2d53ABNw3NvVrL0/s1600/Antarctica+book+thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDFjEQh_WJTfllT_l9WgXzANEHYAZRJ6PziGWQOS7-RrvkCYjAF7A0cSXcdGobZOhozZzLc0t0pm__Ugr32WCd_btCfoTtPDFa8kQP1o769JXX1cToIwvgdZMppJef2d53ABNw3NvVrL0/s320/Antarctica+book+thumbnail.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
So, if you're interested in adventure travel or polar regions or penguins, this book is a must-read - inspired by early explorer Ernest Shackleton's diary - Shackleton attempted to cross Antarctica from one side to the other in the early 1900s.<br />
It's available worldwide from Amazon, but here are the US and UK links:<br />
US: <a href="http://amzn.to/2TfTox3">amzn.to/2TfTox3</a><br />
UK: <a href="http://amzn.to/2Y4X1K1">amzn.to/2Y4X1K1</a><br />
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Happy exploring the world - at least you won't get as cold as I did in Antarctica just by looking at this book! And if you don't think you'll ever be able to make it to Antarctica yourself, you'll feel as if you have been there after you've read this...<br />
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To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-53328382318845979092019-03-13T05:32:00.003-07:002019-03-13T05:43:31.422-07:00WHAT I'D SAY TO THERESA MAYWHAT I'D SAY TO THERESA MAY<br />
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I don't like politicising my blog, but I'm so deeply incensed and embarrassed by this whole Brexit debacle that I've been thinking what I'd like to say to Theresa May if I had her in my living room over a cup of tea...and this is it...<br />
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Theresa: I don't dislike you - even though I've never voted Tory in my life - in fact, when you were elected leader of the Conservative party I was pleased for you. You felt safe; like a nice kind woman who would look after her country.<br />
However, you have no idea how to negotiate. Like you, I never wanted to leave the EU in the first place. I still don't. And I suspect you don't either. But a word of advice. If you're going to try to get a good deal for our country, your 'softly, softly' approach was never going to work. I don't like Boris Johnson particularly, but the one thing he got right in terms of Brexit was his bulldozing attitude. "They can whistle for it," he said, regarding the billions of pounds the EU expected us to give them for nothing in return.<br />
But look at your deal. I know you're in an impossible situation, but this deal can't possibly be good for us. It involves us as a country giving billions and billions to the EU for very little in return. How is that a good deal? How is that good negotiating? The EU must be laughing in our faces.<br />
It's complicated, I know. As I said before, you're in an impossible situation.<br />
The world might be laughing at you at this very moment, thinking what a poor job you're doing. I'm not laughing. I feel sorry for you. You've worked very hard and done you're very best...but whatever you do, you hit a brick wall. And I fear that's not going to change.<br />
The world might be laughing at you now, thinking that you're a weak leader and can't control your party or country. But you can change that. You could go down in history as doing something really wonderful - and something great for your country. And this is how:<br />
Have a press conference. Be strong. Admit something that you know, deep down, is the truth. Brexit cannot be done and it can't be done because of Ireland. And as long as we want peace in Ireland this will not change. Say this to the country and you can go down in history as somebody special, rather than a weak, but tenacious woman.<br />
Your speech can be short and sweet and say this:<br />
"Brexit is a bad idea, so for the sake of our country and our people I think we should stay in the EU. And if you don't want me to be the person to do this then I'll step down and hand over to somebody else who can..."<br />
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Do this, Theresa, and history might remember you as a strong woman who did what was best for her country and did what she truly believed in.<br />
<br />
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-21801953157993391792017-12-20T09:18:00.000-08:002017-12-20T09:18:15.509-08:00IT'S A MIRACLE - ONLY 99CENTS/99P - PRICE REDUCTION FOR CHRISTMAS SALE, SALE, SALE!Hello everyone,<br />
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Only five more sleeps to Christmas - are you ready for it?!<br />
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Great news this end. Christmas is a time for believing in miracles and if you'd like to read about one (with a dash of romance thrown in too) then the kindle version can be yours for only 99cents/99p over the festive season. It's cheaper than a glass of mulled wine and will bring you much more and longer-lasting pleasure too. Please help share and spread the word.<br />
<br />
US PURCHASE LINK: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Call-Heaven-Jo-Kessel/dp/1540490041/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1513767228&sr=8-3&keywords=a+call+to+heaven">https://www.amazon.com/Call-Heaven-Jo-Kessel/dp/1540490041/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1513767228&sr=8-3&keywords=a+call+to+heaven</a><br />
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UK PURCHASE LINK: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Call-Heaven-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B01MQU65MT/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513787102&sr=8-1&keywords=jo+kessel+a+call+to+heaven">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Call-Heaven-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B01MQU65MT/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513787102&sr=8-1&keywords=jo+kessel+a+call+to+heaven</a><br />
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This book is the most special to me out of all my novels and will fill you with hope - hope for the future; hope for the impossible to become possible; hope for love and hope for happy endings.<br />
Read it and you'll see what I mean.<br />
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Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year full of hope, miracles and possibilities.<br />
<br />
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a><br />
<br /><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-43671237860555960672017-12-05T06:29:00.001-08:002017-12-05T06:29:04.937-08:00HELP REQUIRED TO ANSWER MY DAUGHTER'S QUESTION!Sometimes a child asks a question which is an astonishingly good one and which I'd love to know the answer to, but haven't a clue!<br />
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Recently my twelve year old daughter asked one such question. It must have been driven by the fact that it was raining in London (where we live) yet again, and the question was this:<br />
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"Mummy, do you think that there's ever a time when it's not raining ANYWHERE in the world?"<br />
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I stopped, hesitating. Is it possible that at some point in time there isn't a droplet of water dripping from the sky anywhere across the entire globe? It seems unlikely, but perhaps this is even a frequent phenomenon - a dry world everywhere for sufficient chunks of time.<br />
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If you're a meteorologist or geologist or an expert in global weather, then please help me provide an answer. Or if you know anyone who you think might be able to answer my daughter's question then please share this question with others.<br />
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I hate not to be able to provide my daughter with an accurate answer, especially when I'm sure that somebody, somewhere out there must know it!<br />
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Happy thinking about it and here's hoping it's dry wherever you are.<br />
<br />
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-77230700270062093612017-11-14T09:02:00.002-08:002017-11-14T10:09:21.574-08:00IT'S NOT AN OSCAR OR A GRAMMY, BUT STILL - I WON AN AWARD!It's not every day that you win an award, so I thought it was news worth sharing! It might not be an Oscar or a Grammy or a Brit, but for me it was just as exciting. A travel article I wrote for the Telegraph newspaper in the UK was nominated in the 'Best Cruise Lifestyle Feature' category at the CLIA UK & IRELAND CRUISE MEDIA AWARDS 2017. The competition around me was very stiff - I was up against some awesome journalists and really didn't expect to hear my name called out. And when it was I was SO excited. <br />
Here's a pic: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9DJgfHwRwL_A0MEuPlu-wRq9mtZ0FMiUV6cs31Qc1lRRQgbbBF4pReBtVs2tv3RuE1efXhJBTrRXDH8cStdg6n0tlGvMwVuFQHmpvVnJI0EkEplpXQStEV6MnopcyCMxDgCafJykgxU/s1600/Jo+Clia+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9DJgfHwRwL_A0MEuPlu-wRq9mtZ0FMiUV6cs31Qc1lRRQgbbBF4pReBtVs2tv3RuE1efXhJBTrRXDH8cStdg6n0tlGvMwVuFQHmpvVnJI0EkEplpXQStEV6MnopcyCMxDgCafJykgxU/s320/Jo+Clia+pic.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Thank you so much for everyone who voted for me - it means such a lot. It's my first ever award and I will cherish it as if it was a BRIT, an Oscar or a Grammy!<br />
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To go back to Jo's website please click on the link below: <br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-15851386248702719822017-02-27T01:36:00.002-08:002017-02-27T01:36:36.884-08:00WHAT IF? NO REALLY...WHAT IF?<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.17px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few years ago a friend of mine who’s an author said: “What a novelist really needs to write is a ‘what if’ story.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He went on to explain that a novel which makes a reader sit up and take note and think ‘what if’ would be the type of book which would appeal to the masses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve never tried appealing to the masses, preferring to write what I wanted to write, as opposed to worrying about what might sell to a reader.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Call to Heaven was different though. Because I didn’t come up with the idea at all; my mother did. And seeing as my mother (who sadly died six years ago) wasn’t able to tell me the idea in person, she came to me in a dream. In that dream she gave me the title for the book as well as its premise and then she kept repeating over and over: “You must remember this when you wake up.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I did remember it when I woke up because it was an amazing idea and remembering that dream still gives me the shivers just thinking about it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Amy is A Call to Heaven’s heroine and she too has recently lost her mother. What Amy finds herself in possession of (unlike me) is a phone with supernatural powers – a phone which allows her to call her mother in Heaven. Of course it’s about a lot more than that too. It’s about her abusive husband; it’s about a hot (skeptical) doctor she comes to know; it’s about a challenge she’s set from Heaven; it’s about love – love for a man (the hot doctor) and love for lost loved ones. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I was writing the book I wished that my mother could teleport me a phone like Amy’s so that I could call her too. As I was working on the book, I realised that I’d finally written a ‘what if’ novel. I mean really…WHAT IF such a phone existed? WHAT IF we really could communicate with the deceased on the phone? WHAT IF we could prove there was a Heaven and we could connect with those in it? How amazing would that be? Or, if you were skeptical hot doctor Daniel, you might not think that would be so amazing after all…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is there anyone you’ve loved and lost and wish more than anything that you could speak to them again? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What if…? </span></div>
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Amazon US:<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Call-Heaven-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B01MQU65MT/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1481382801&sr=1-1&keywords=A+call+to+heaven+by+Jo+Kessel">https://www.amazon.com/Call-Heaven-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B01MQU65MT/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1481382801&sr=1-1&keywords=A+call+to+heaven+by+Jo+Kessel</a><br />
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Amazon UK: <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Call-Heaven-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B01MQU65MT/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1481382922&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Call+to+Heaven+by+Jo+Kesselhttp://amzn.to/2glZs3E">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Call-Heaven-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B01MQU65MT/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1481382922&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Call+to+Heaven+by+Jo+Kesselhttp://amzn.to/2glZs3E</a><br />
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To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:<br />
www.jokessel.comGO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-57614433566350314582017-02-24T07:37:00.000-08:002017-02-24T07:37:02.736-08:00WIN A PRIZE AS PART OF MY BOOK TOUR GIVEAWAYIt's been busy, busy, busy here with the release of my new novel A Call to Heaven.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwy4_VbTkUPNG1Z0uSuBlOJ9OTlP1Hj2JJ_NF-RYVhyphenhyphenK61kPuQzhggw9cZTt4KB1Klm_B58nEVO_TXZGX6Ox18tgnPbnz3msCC5cXGEHAk_yXKd5VbsmOlc4OTC7Hze9dWppIjKxonRI/s1600/big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwy4_VbTkUPNG1Z0uSuBlOJ9OTlP1Hj2JJ_NF-RYVhyphenhyphenK61kPuQzhggw9cZTt4KB1Klm_B58nEVO_TXZGX6Ox18tgnPbnz3msCC5cXGEHAk_yXKd5VbsmOlc4OTC7Hze9dWppIjKxonRI/s320/big.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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The reviews are coming in thick and fast and they are all FIVE STAR I'm thrilled to report.<br />
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This is what Shannon said on Amazon.com:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This book. Man.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have lost a lot of humans that are close to me. So, naturally I'm drawn to stuff like this. This particular book hit me in the guts. There were parts that made my heart pound, and rather than leisurely lay down to read, I was sitting and tapping my foot in anticipation of the scene unfolding. There's very specific scenes this happened with for me - but I don't want to ruin the book for those who haven't read it yet, so I'll just say - you'll know them when you get to them!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I enjoyed the story so very much, and felt sad that it ended. I guess for me that's how I know if a book is "great". I grieve the characters as the book comes to a close. I felt that with this one.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I sure wish I could get my hands on that phone. I have several people I'd like to hear it ring from. What a blessing that would be for all of us!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Highly recommend this one!</span><br />
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And this is what Laurie said on Goodreads:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">This a perfect read for anyone who ever has "wished" to have a last conversation with a loved one who has died. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The feelings of each character in the book as they struggle with their grief is so real. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The main character "Amy" who has to contend with an abusive home and an unexpected loss as she perseveres, picks herself up and puts one foot forward to regain her life and help others-with the help of an old phone. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">It left me thinking and wishing I had a phone like this very special one. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I loved this book.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">To find out more and to win a paperback copy of my book (there's only four days left so hurry) click on this link: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Lato, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://creativelygreen.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2017-02-07T03:00:00-05:00&max-results=25&start=6&by-date=false">http://creativelygreen.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-max=2017-02-07T03:00:00-05:00&max-results=25&start=6&by-date=false</a></span><br />
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Good luck and have a great weekend.<br />
<br />
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a><br />
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<br />GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-58728596011878969662017-02-01T03:38:00.000-08:002017-02-01T03:38:21.656-08:00MY PARANORMAL HAPPENINGS WITH SPOON-BENDER URI GELLER<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">
<span lang="EN-US">Have I always believed in the paranormal? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The answer is: 'no'. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">When I started out in my journalistic career I was a TV Researcher on a
paranormal show and as part of my research I had to interview psychics. I spoke
to three psychics (each one in private) and all three of them asked me the same question: “Do you have twins?” Two of them followed that question by
saying: “I’m seeing a boy and a girl.” I hadn't yet had any children at the time
and remember thinking that all these psychics weren't very psychic at all. BUT...forward-wind a few
years and I gave birth to my first child. Or should I say children. Because it
was twins – a boy and a girl! Do you think those psychics had actually been able to read my future?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I went on to work on several
paranormal TV shows over the years and witnessed quite a few weird and
unexplainable phenomenon – including being with the infamous Israeli spoon-bender
Uri Geller, who frequently bent spoons in my presence. In fact, spoons bent
whether he was holding them or not! It was the spookiest thing and, honestly, I didn't see any way/how any trickery/fraud was coming into play. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The spookiness was soon to become more personal, however. For part of my research I read all Uri Geller’s autobiographies. In one of them was a section entitled:
How you can bend a spoon with the power of your mind. It was a five-part
process, which included: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">a. getting the spoon </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">b. closing your eyes and holding
the end of the spoon between your thumb and index finger </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">c. thinking from your
head down to your fingers and demanding the metal spoon to bend </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">d. concentrating harder </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">e. concentrating even harder. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I did all those things. I
concentrated and then suddenly I felt the spoon burn between my fingers and
dropped it to the floor. When I went to pick it up I was MORE SHOCKED THAN I HAVE EVER BEEN BEFORE OR SINCE IN MY LIFE. The spoon had bent over double. And I was the one responsible for making it do so. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Ever since, not only do I believe in the paranormal, I believe that ALL of us possess some of these powers, only it's a power which is untapped. </span></div>
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The novel I've just written - A Call to Heaven - is also based on a paranormal premise, because sometimes it's nice to believe that the extraordinary really can happen...</div>
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Check it out:</div>
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UK: <a href="http://amzn.to/2kAe2XS">http://amzn.to/2kAe2XS</a></div>
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US: <a href="http://amzn.to/2jlmKs2">http://amzn.to/2jlmKs2</a></div>
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Please click on the link below to return to Jo's website:</div>
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<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a> </div>
GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-47669291295617382302017-01-27T05:35:00.002-08:002017-01-27T05:35:55.277-08:00Have you ever wished that you could make a call to Heaven?Well, now you can. My latest novel - A Call to Heaven - has finally come out. I'm really hoping this story touches readers and makes a difference. For an exclusive sneak preview, here's an excerpt from the book:<br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Everyone’s looking at me. I’ve got the yellow telephone in my hands
and I’m not sure what to do with it. I take a seat at the end of the table and
lay the phone down in front of me. Beth is to my left, Ben is to my right.
Daniel is opposite me. I look from one to the other and feel color flood my
cheeks. My gaze finishes on Daniel and stays there for a beat. He nods, his
eyes encouraging me. I return the nod, take a deep breath and count down from
three to one in my head. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“I’ve got to tell you all something.” My voice comes out as a thin
squeak, but actually I’m surprised I manage to articulate at all. I’m hot, so
hot. I lift the hair off the back of my neck, flapping it around to try to cool
my sticky, clammy skin. I can’t breathe, I need air. I unlock the patio doors,
flinging them wide open. The inside of my mouth feels rough as sandpaper. I’m
desperate for a tall glass of water packed with ice-cubes but, when I turn to
see six eyes staring at me, I dare not leave to fetch one. I feel like an
exhibit in a museum and in some ways I wish I were. I could hide behind a
Perspex box next to the yellow telephone with panel blurb doing the explaining
for me. I could be part of a new exhibition entitled ‘Incredible Discoveries’.
I would share the same hall as the dinosaurs and anything else which took aeons
for people to believe existed. I draw a deep breath and continue. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“You’re probably going to think I’m mad, but I’m going to tell you
anyway.” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A breeze blows through the open patio doors. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US">“What I wanted to tell you is this.” My voice is soft as a whisper.
I sense all their bodies leaning closer towards mine, straining to hear. “I’ve
recently started talking to my mother.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US">There, I’ve said it. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I feel a great sense of relief, both that I’ve said it and that I no
longer have to keep this to myself. Beth relaxes in her chair with a sigh,
leans across and takes my hand, patting it. She’s got wavy brown hair and a
kind, open face. She tilts her head sympathetically.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US">“Oh honey, you must have tried out that clairvoyant you mentioned.
Please tell us all about it.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US">I should have seen that one coming.
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US"> “No, you don’t get it.” I
lift up the yellow phone, as if to demonstrate how to use such a contraption.
In one hand I take the receiver, in the other the plug. “I don’t speak to her
through a medium. I speak to her on this telephone. I plug it into a socket in
my bathroom and I’m allowed to call heaven.” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">There, I’ve said it now. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US">Nobody moves. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Not a muscle. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Their mouths all open, Daniel’s is the widest. I don’t think any of
them even realize they’re doing it. As feared, they are looking at me like I’m
certifiably insane. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“I can see you all think I’m mad.” I actually manage to pull a small
smile. Now that I’ve started, I feel much calmer. “And, if I were in your
position, I would think I’m crazy too. But one night my mother came to me in a
dream and told me I could use this phone to call her in heaven and, bizarre
though it must sound, it turns out she was right. That’s why I stopped coming
to Grief Support Group every week. I wasn’t grieving so much because my mother
had come back into my life.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The three pairs of eyes grow wider and wider, as if I’m slowly
sprouting four serpent heads. I replace the receiver back into its cradle and
drop the plug, holding out my hands in submission. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“You can believe me or not. It doesn’t matter. But the reason I’ve
gathered you all here is because I’ve been asked to choose three other people
to call to heaven.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I sound like a fairy godmother or the good witch in the <i>Wizard of Oz. </i>I do not sound normal. I
pause. The effect is dramatic although it’s not intended to be. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“And I’ve picked you guys.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I look at them one by one.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Beth, I know how much it might mean to you to be able to speak to
your daughter and know that she is safe.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Beth nods. Her gaze turns glassy. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Ben, I’d do anything to be able to give you a chance to speak to
your brother again.”</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US">Ben nods, his mouth still formed in a perfect ‘O’. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Daniel is the hardest one for me to look at. He’s not nodding
anymore and his eyes are no longer urging me to continue. Instead he’s shaking
his head, a slow, subtle movement, but I catch it all the same. His full lips
have now formed a thin line. He’s the only one who looks like he still thinks
I’m certifiably insane. Hell, he’s a doctor; perhaps that shouldn’t come as a
surprise. Part of me wonders whether I should abort this whole escapade and
pretend it was all a joke. I’d do anything to not have Daniel stare at me in
this way. He looks ready to call the local sanatorium and send them round with
a straitjacket. But I can’t abort and I must continue. What happens next is up
to him. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“And Daniel, I thought that maybe you might like to speak to Katie.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">He opens his mouth as if he’s about to say something, but clamps it
shut again without speaking. Nobody else says anything either. They all shift
in their seats, pretending to take sips of coffee and look around the room.
Perhaps they’re checking out the photos on the mantelpiece above the fireplace,
trying to work out if I look like a madwoman in any of them. I pick up the
knife. Now I probably <i>do</i> look mad or,
at the very least, dangerous. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US">“Right, who’s for some more pie?”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">To buy UK: <a href="http://amzn.to/2kAe2XS">http://amzn.to/2kAe2XS</a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">To buy US: <a href="http://amzn.to/2jlmKs2">http://amzn.to/2jlmKs2</a></span></div>
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To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:</div>
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<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a></div>
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GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-6391108385660655012016-12-14T07:38:00.002-08:002017-01-26T07:19:23.290-08:00CHRISTMAS IN LONDON - IT'S THE STUFF OF FAIRYTALESThe countdown is on - only ten days to go until Christmas!<br />
I don't know about you, but even if I'm feeling miserable and low, tired or in pain, there's something about Christmas-time which lifts my spirits. It's the decorations; it's the buskers in the street collecting money for charity; it's the lights, the dazzle, the trees, the sparkle...It's hard not to feel uplifted when you see it all. And what about the shop window displays? I was on London's famous Oxford Street a few days ago and was incredulous at how creative the window displays were - think animatronics and singing Santas! I managed to capture some of the spirit of London at Christmas and turn it into a short, two-minute film, designed to make the viewer feel all warm inside and to make even the meanest of Scrooge's smile!<br />
Please do take a look: <a href="https://youtu.be/Wj551C_WEWQ">https://youtu.be/Wj551C_WEWQ</a><br />
<br />
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy 2017.<br />
<br />
With peace and love<br />
x<br />
<br />
<br />
Please click on the link below to return to Jo's website:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-82408468323579161322016-12-12T03:58:00.000-08:002017-01-26T07:20:04.405-08:00Do you believe in spirits? If not, take a look at this! Hello everyone<br />
<br />
I hope you are all well and not getting too tired/stressed in the run-up to Christmas.<br />
<br />
Christmas is always a difficult time of year if you've recently lost someone and find yourself lonely. I remember that after my mother died unexpectedly six years ago, the first Christmas without her being around was horribly painful. And then as the years pass it gets a little easier, but she is never forgotten and there is a constant sadness that she isn't around to watch her grandchildren (and children!)grow.<br />
Talking of my mother, despite passing away six years ago, she is very much present. In fact, it's her to thank for the book I have just written - A Call to Heaven - which is being released at the end of January, 2017.<br />
Find out why/how she inspired me to write the book here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qQLxZbVs50">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qQLxZbVs50</a>.<br />
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Whenever I tell people this story, they get goosebumps on their arms - and so do I whenever I think of it!<br />
I really DO feel that my mother is still around and this belief gives me a sense of peace.<br />
<br />
Be well and safe as you get ready for Christmas and speak very soon!<br />
<br />
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-51591143897527327382016-12-06T06:45:00.002-08:002017-01-26T07:20:29.611-08:00Why do they say you should never work with animals or children?!Hello everybody<br />
I'd like to talk about two things: animals and filming!<br />
Before I had children I used to work in television and within the world of TV there is a saying: NEVER WORK WITH ANIMALS OR CHILDREN!<br />
Why do they recommend this, I hear you ask?!<br />
Well, it's because neither animals or children can be relied upon to do what you want and when you want - however docile, amenable and perfect they might seem to be.<br />
I once made a film about babies and how much raising them into adulthood costs. I filmed a set of six month old twins. Did they do what I needed - i.e. smile for the camera/gurgle and look cute? No, they tried to sleep the whole time I was there with them! Did I get what I needed? Yes, eventually, but I had to stay much longer than planned. I can laugh now, but I nearly ended up missing my deadline!<br />
Now onto our furry friends. I once made a film about how much 'model' animals could make (that's to say the animals that appear in films or TV dramas, or adverts or on the covers of dog and cat food etc!) And for that film I went to meet several fabulous animals (all divine) who were 'top models'! Did they do what I wanted? No. Well, actually, yes, in the end, but the whole process took much longer than expected. <br />
So now I know to be prepared.<br />
At least, I thought I did, when I set about making a cute video with my kitten! Others have done it before me and it all looked like plain sailing, but whenever I wanted to film, my kitten showed no interest. Did I get what I wanted in the end? Yes, but I had to change my plans and film over a longer period of time than anticipated. However, I'm delighted with the end result - which is a short, fun, cute video about me doing yoga with my cat. Take a look and let me know what you think!<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btRAUQ-mMbA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btRAUQ-mMbA</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Happy viewing and if you want to return to Jo's website just click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-5347096035057683632016-12-05T07:49:00.002-08:002017-01-26T07:20:51.206-08:00WIN A COPY OF MY NEW NOVEL: A CALL TO HEAVEN!Hello everyone<br />
I've been busy beavering away writing my fourth novel. This one is a little different to the others, with a broader appeal. The storyline is utterly unique and guaranteed to make you laugh and cry and to wish for a universe where the impossible is possible. I really hope you like the look of the cover. Here it is:<br />
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To find out more and to enter a competition to win a paperback copy of it once it's published on January 27th, 2017, click on this link: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33120863-a-call-to-heaven">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33120863-a-call-to-heaven</a><br />
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In the meantime, be well and be safe!<br />
To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a><br />
<br />GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-56670434221241184472016-11-08T03:10:00.000-08:002017-01-26T07:21:16.134-08:00USAIN BOLT & SWIMMING WITH HORSES IN JAMAICAAbout two weeks ago I was in Jamaica for the day. I'd heard that the exclusive Half Moon Hotel in Montego Bay (whose concierge let slip that a certain Usain Bolt had been there just two days earlier) has an equestrian centre which offers something to the public which nowhere else (apparently) in the world does. And that activity is: swimming with horses.<br />
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My daughter and I snapped up the chance to have a go and booked up the Surf and Turf experience. First we rode the horses through fields towards the beach.</div>
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Then we stripped down to our bikinis. </div>
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Saddles were removed from the horses (big yikes - riding a horse bareback is petrifying!) and then we rode the horses out in the sea. When they got out of their depth and started swimming it was scary, exhilarating, surreal and darn hard to keep holding onto our horse by the mane. Eventually we were told to shimmy down the horse's back until we were holding onto their tails (they promised it didn't hurt) and they were tugging us along. It was amazing, unlike ANYTHING I'VE EVER DONE BEFORE! Yes, utterly memorable. </div>
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We came back, drank coconuts which had been picked straight from the trees and even did some acrobatics on the horses. I don't look at all scared, do I?!</div>
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Anyway, here's a video of the adventure, in case you can't quite believe what you are reading!</div>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/kzTIq0aNWR4">https://youtu.be/kzTIq0aNWR4</a></div>
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Happy viewing and if you ever go swimming with horses, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And I hope you get to see Usain Bolt at the Half Moon Hotel too - he lives not too far from Montego Bay. In fact, we passed his secondary school and the track he used to train on there en route to the hotel...</div>
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If you want to return to Jo's website then please click on the link below:</div>
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<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a></div>
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GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-46207281844871587702016-11-02T03:09:00.000-07:002017-01-26T07:21:35.367-08:0024 HOURS IN MIAMI - I FOUND A GREAT NEW FABULOUS AND CHEAP HOTEL!I travel so much for work, but this time I tagged a 24 hour stay in Miami onto the end of a working trip just for me and my pleasure/leisure!<br />
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And was I disappointed? NO! In fact, it's a resounding 'no'! I found a great new hotel - the Atton Brickell in a great up-and-coming neighbourhood - Brickell. The hotel was a steal - I only paid £120 (which is $150) for a fabulous double room for the night. Everything was brand new and the bed was DIVINE. It was the best night's sleep I'd had in ages.<br />
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The hotel doesn't look much from the outside:<br />
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But on the inside it's fabulous. And best of all, on the 12th floor there's a rooftop pool to die for: </div>
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Not only is there a huge (and nice) Publix supermarket literally opposite (to stock up on provisions for breakfast if you don't want to have it at the hotel etc) the hotel is also brilliantly situated for seeing Miami. It's close to the beach, to shopping, to Little Havana (famous for it's Cuban culture) and it's so much cheaper than its much pricier neighbour, Miami Beach. And no less vibrant for it. </div>
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I was so excited by this find that I had to share it with you - and if you want to see more about my trip then check out this short and colourful video: <a href="https://youtu.be/HXRIaHKISpI">https://youtu.be/HXRIaHKISpI</a></div>
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Happy viewing and if you go to Miami then happy travelling too!</div>
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To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:</div>
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<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a></div>
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GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-13406085699098475512016-10-13T05:00:00.001-07:002017-01-26T07:21:56.800-08:00INTRODUCING THE NEW MAN IN MY LIFE - JERALD, THE RAGDOLL CAT!Honestly, I never, EVER wanted any pet.<br />
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But this is how it happened. </div>
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My daughter wanted a pet. </div>
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I got her a hamster. </div>
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She loved and looked after that hamster beautifully, all by herself. </div>
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Then the hamster died. </div>
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So I bought her another one. </div>
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The same thing happened: she loved, she looked after and eventually the hamster died of old age. </div>
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Then she wanted another pet - but not a hamster. </div>
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Rabbits and guinea pigs are too hard to look after. </div>
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Dogs require too much walking and looking after. </div>
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And so we decided on a cat. </div>
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Why a ragdoll?</div>
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I heard that they love cuddles, people and being handled, all things that I knew my daughter would want in a pet. </div>
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I still didn't want one, but then I met Jerald. </div>
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And I fell in love. </div>
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Aren't ragdolls the just the cutest?! It's like having another baby in the house. </div>
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He's cheeky and fun and loves to play: </div>
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With empty boxes of any kind!</div>
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In the box below he's wondering if he's 'free range' or organic!!</div>
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He is officially the new man in my life and particularly likes my bed!</div>
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And recently he got in the way of my filming, but I didn't have the heart to cut him out because he looked so cute. So if you want to see him in action, check through to the end of this video to watch him make his first cameo appearance. Tell me if you can't take your eyes off him?!</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiAMnGuWhd8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiAMnGuWhd8</a></div>
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Happy viewing!</div>
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And if you want to return to Jo's website</div>
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Please click the link below: </div>
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<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a></div>
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GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-40517982119049910602016-10-09T12:16:00.000-07:002017-01-26T07:22:18.658-08:00MOTHER AND SON PERU ADVENTURE!<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry for my absence, but I've been busy travelling - this time to Peru! A film of this adventure can be seen on my new YouTube channel Go with Jo: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrkX6l6PvLI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrkX6l6PvLI</a></div>
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I’d been wanting to go there for ages, but because my husband had already
travelled there pre-me (he walked the Inca Trail) he kept choosing to explore
countries new to him. And so it was that I came up with another plan – to take
my adventurous thirteen-year-old son Gabriel with me there instead. Not only
was Gabriel up for it, he was ecstatic at the notion. </div>
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My dream was to visit Machu Picchu, but my son was keen to
explore the jungle and eventually we decided upon a week-long itinerary which
incorporated the two. A quick overnight in Lima staying at the J W Marriott Hotel
gave us enough time to explore the capital’s chic, trendy Miraflores district
before hopping on an internal flight to Puerto Madonaldo, gateway to the Amazon
jungle. </div>
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The thrill I experienced as we sailed in a motorboat along a
tributary of the Amazon towards our first hotel – the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica
– was huge. I kept pinching myself to believe I was really there, in the middle
of remote jungle, far, far away from civilisation as I know it. </div>
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We’d heard great reports about the boutique Inkaterra chain
of hotels in Peru and particularly loved their eco-friendly credentials. And if
you’re going to be in the jungle, you (or at least I) might prefer to do it in
style, which is something else that Inkaterra does well! </div>
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We loved our wooden cabana which overlooked the river, with
its beds draped in mosquito nets and its porch with two hammocks. Gabriel wasted
no time hopping into one of them. I imagine that he would have happily stayed glued
to his hammock for a whole week, but I pulled him out so that we could go on a
twilight river cruise. We spotted the world’s biggest rodent (a capybara) as
well as a posse of baby white spectacled caimans. Sailing along the river in
the dark, listening to the jungle’s sounds of the night was both eerie and
magical rolled into one.</div>
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Over the next two days one adventure followed another as we
packed in excursion after excursion, all included in the price. There was great
camaraderie and banter between fellow guests (we made a lot of friends) and wherever
we went we were accompanied by knowledgeable guides who took great delight in
having a joke at our expense. Their favourite line was: “Let’s go. The
tarantulas are waiting for you.” We trekked through the jungle day and night
and yes, we did see tarantulas – very scary for a woman that normally shrieks
when she spots a common house spider! The only thing which matched in terms of
scariness was seeing a toxic toad – their bites are fatal. Needless to say we
steered well clear. </div>
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The jungle floor was covered with creepy crawlies, including
an army of leaf-carrying ants. There were fire ants too, one of which bit poor
Gabriel. Their bites aren’t dangerous, but they REALLY hurt for ten minutes or
so. Higher up monkeys hopped from tree to tree, several different species, many
of them endangered. And way above the treetops (we followed Inkaterra’s canopy
walkway - a series of suspension bridges 30 metres high) countless exotic,
brightly –coloured birds soared overhead. </div>
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For two days we laughed, we shrieked and we lapped up every
second, with other highlights including paddling a native canoe along a lake as
the sun set. Oh, and the food. We expected little in terms of jungle
cuisine, so it was a pleasant surprise to eat so well. Everything’s made from local
produce and my favourite was paiche – a large white-meat fish – which comes
served either in a palm leaf or in a spicy stew. Delicious. </div>
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The jungle had been Gabriel’s choice, not mine, but I was so
pleased he insisted we go there because it was enthralling from beginning to
end. We transferred for our third night to Inkaterra’s smaller hotel in the
Amazon – the Hacienda Concepcion – where we slept in a cabana on stilts, went
piranha fishing (and caught one would you believe!) and found the plant that
viagara is made from in their botanical garden. </div>
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Then we were back on a plane, flying over the Andes to
Cusco. To acclimatise to the high altitude we stayed a night in nearby Sacred
Valley (which is en route to Machu Picchu) in what can only be described as a
dream hotel, the Hacienda Urubamba. Not only is its setting high in the Andes
spectacular, so are the hotel’s interiors – think log fires and leather sofas
draped with Peruvian rugs and cushions. </div>
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The next morning we breakfasted on sensational quinoa
pancakes and afterwards a guide from our tour operator Aracari drove us to
Ollantaytambo, where we boarded a train which took us to the town of Agua
Calientes, gateway to Machu Picchu. </div>
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We dropped our bags off at our hotel (more of which later)
and wasted no time in heading up to the ruins of the ancient citadel, otherwise
known as the lost Incan City. </div>
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Sometimes when you’ve dreamed of something for so long, when
it actually happens it can be an anti-climax. Seeing Machu Picchu for the first
time, however, was everything I hoped it would be. The magnificence and the
improbability of such an advanced city like this being built six hundred years
ago at the top of a jagged mountain 2,400 meters high, took our breath away. </div>
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The Incans were geniuses, building walls without cement
which endured several centuries and earthquakes. Our guide told us how they
worshiped the mountains and sacrificed girls as young as fourteen. Llamas roam
free around the ruins and Gabriel had great fun trying to take selfies with
them. Needless to say, the llamas did not behave! </div>
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The next day our breath was taken away quite literally…on a
hike from the ruins of the citadel up to the summit of Machu Picchu Mountain,
climbing the original steps carved out of the rock by the Incans. It took two
hours (less to get down) but the on-top-of-the world view was worth every ounce
of effort. </div>
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My only regret was not to have longer to enjoy all there was
on offer at our final Inkaterra hotel, the Machu Picchu Pueblo. It was set in
glorious cloud forest, with its own orchid garden, bear sanctuary (they rescue
the endangered spectacled Andean bears of Paddington Bear fame) and tea
plantation. </div>
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Oh well, it just gives us a great excuse to go back
again…very soon!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwLolDxPUd4CzoOfBk9BtQDUNo1khZN9auwaAWGLferYFRhyIz_k09ZhE_2Ab2n3oEAXTE72rmEZVny0C2FAx35fyXgMmMMFEDwY0xS8ES2z8B38vQxuiyMHa2y-r7UpZHqnSj-WAmsU/s1600/_DSC1518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwLolDxPUd4CzoOfBk9BtQDUNo1khZN9auwaAWGLferYFRhyIz_k09ZhE_2Ab2n3oEAXTE72rmEZVny0C2FAx35fyXgMmMMFEDwY0xS8ES2z8B38vQxuiyMHa2y-r7UpZHqnSj-WAmsU/s320/_DSC1518.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p> To see a film of our trip, click this link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrkX6l6PvLI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrkX6l6PvLI</a></o:p></div>
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To go back to Jo's website please click on the link below:</div>
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<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a></div>
GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-24468048790520194362016-06-23T02:22:00.001-07:002017-01-26T07:22:38.194-08:00WHY I PRAY THE UK VOTES TO REMAIN IN THE EU!OMG - I can't believe the day has finally arrived! Today the UK votes in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union. For me, the decision was easy. In fact, to date I have never been as politically passionate or motivated by something as I am by this. In fact, I couldn't wait to cast my vote!<br />
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After school I read Law with French at Sussex University. The reason I chose that course is because it combined the minimum of law together with European Studies, and it was the latter (and the French!) which was really enjoyable. I learned all about the EU - about why it was formed, which countries started it. And what makes me so sad is that the reasons for its beginnings are being forgotten in this whole heated debate. The European Union was created after the Second World War and the reason it was created was to provide a PEACEFUL union for all countries involved. It was to prevent a World War Three; it was to create a peaceful world; and in that respect it has been HUGELY SUCCESSFUL! </div>
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All the 'Leave' campaign's arguments (which I disagree with by the way) about an improved economy, more jobs etc don't even bother me. Even if they were right, it's irrelevant. What matters is that we stand together. United we are strong. Isolated we are weak. </div>
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I have told my children that I don't want to live in a UK that isn't part of the EU. I consider myself European. I have studied in Belgium. I have lived and worked in France. I travel constantly across Europe. I enjoy that freedom and don't want it to stop. I'm now just praying that the majority of my fellow countrymen and women feel the same way. I don't want to have to leave my country. I would like to stay here. But only if it's a Britain that stays in Europe. </div>
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Deep breath. </div>
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Fingers crossed. </div>
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GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-46603767916423475712015-12-19T09:47:00.005-08:002017-01-26T07:22:59.812-08:00A Special Christmas Giveaway!Hot legal romance <i>Lover in Law </i>is now on sale for the festive period, together with its companion novel <i>Now is our Time</i>: only 99 cents / 99 pence each.<br />
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Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a healthy, happy 2016.<br />
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US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lover-Law-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B009Y8AOE6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1450547067&sr=1-1&keywords=lover+in+law">http://www.amazon.com/Lover-Law-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B009Y8AOE6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1450547067&sr=1-1&keywords=lover+in+law</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Now-our-Time-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B00NH20XM8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410422557&sr=1-1&keywords=now+is+our+time+jo+kessel">http://www.amazon.com/Now-our-Time-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B00NH20XM8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410422557&sr=1-1&keywords=now+is+our+time+jo+kessel</a><br />
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UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lover-Law-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B009Y8AOE6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1450547163&sr=8-3">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lover-Law-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B009Y8AOE6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1450547163&sr=8-3</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-our-Time-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B00NH20XM8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410422296&sr=1-1&keywords=Jo+Kessel+now+is+our+time">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-our-Time-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B00NH20XM8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410422296&sr=1-1&keywords=Jo+Kessel+now+is+our+time</a><br />
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To return to Jo's website, please click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-45862033303041234942015-12-18T06:43:00.003-08:002017-01-26T07:23:20.238-08:00Snowy, sexy romance now on sale for 99 cents / 99 pence<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "lato" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.333332061767578px;">It's that Christmassey time of year, when there's something so romantic about snow and cuddling up in front of a raging log fire. Weak at the Knees is a sexy, snowy romance set in the French Alps which is now on sale for the Christmas holiday period. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "lato" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.333332061767578px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "lato" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.333332061767578px;">US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Weak-at-the-Knees-ebook/dp/B00E4VC70W/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1">http://www.amazon.com/Weak-at-the-Knees-ebook/dp/B00E4VC70W/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1</a></span><br />
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UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weak-at-the-Knees-ebook/dp/B00E4VC70W/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Weak-at-the-Knees-ebook/dp/B00E4VC70W/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1</a><br />
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Happy Christmas et Joyeux Noel to you all and wishing you a healthy, happy 2016!<br />
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Please click on the link below to return to Jo's website:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-22660681821779029412015-12-11T09:15:00.002-08:002017-01-26T07:23:46.225-08:00A STAR IS BORN!And no, this isn't a nativity story!<br />
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My thirteen year old daughter Nathalie has been composing songs since she picked up a guitar aged two. She performed the 'stripped down' version of her latest composition at a special Christmas concert last night and no matter how many times I hear it, the hairs on my arms stand to attention and my eyes moisten. <br />
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At the gig two teenagers were sitting behind me and after Nathalie's performance they were buzzing (and I was earwigging big time!) "How on earth did she write that, age 13?" one said. "I'd go out and buy that as a single now," her friend replied.<br />
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I am the proudest mum...EVER. And if you watch the video, I think you'll see why.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwvqIRDe-pDbSYFWCIuRuiqPvvQfnOxfINld4hh9oF0GXOvzKGhgRYRy_uYAHb0DkvRtsL0-KfcJrZhsZzi' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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To return to Jo's website click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a>GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-56742807874183951722015-09-18T11:29:00.002-07:002017-01-26T07:24:15.239-08:0048 HOURS IN SAN FRANCISCO - TOP TIPS!Well, actually, it was more like 72 hours in San Fran, but one day was spent out of town, taking my ten year old daughter to Palo Alto, near Stanford University, so that she could go to American Girl (a well-known US shop who's San Fran branch is in the Stanford Shopping Center) which sells over-sized and over-priced dolls that she loves!! Expensive though they are, I kind of don't mind it, because she plays with them endlessly, really good, constructive play (making them clothes, role-playing, fixing their hair etc) and it beats being on an electronic device! Here are two of her dolls (see photo below): Julie and Hannah.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfittc4zntia1cwRLdk8VyXkAhafGDR55Fm3SCDUYjIcuMMrByjTEsbVkEHv_f_lPUY3-9gJoOH-uRBX2MzdEz6fxTfF6And4Lor_ZiB81Ny8x1MfDRAtZ7IQNVLdy-oq8zfGelkC5fVM/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfittc4zntia1cwRLdk8VyXkAhafGDR55Fm3SCDUYjIcuMMrByjTEsbVkEHv_f_lPUY3-9gJoOH-uRBX2MzdEz6fxTfF6And4Lor_ZiB81Ny8x1MfDRAtZ7IQNVLdy-oq8zfGelkC5fVM/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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Right, back to San Fran itself. We booked an Alaska Cruise with Princess Cruises which left from San Fran and had a few days to kill before we set sail. We had an absolute blast. It's a great city, with a great vibe, which the kids all adored. It's not quite the San Fran of 20 years ago (it felt much more touristy than I remember and there was a noticeable problem with homeless people on the streets) but it was still a lot of fun and feels very European for an American city.<br />
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We stayed at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel (a Kimpton hotel) on Powell Street - brilliantly and centrally located near Union Square, with Beefeaters welcoming us on a red carpet (see pic of a jet-lagged me with a Beefeater below). The property oozed with character and was very olde worlde - with sweeping staircases and huge chandeliers inside. Better still, they had complimentary tea and coffee in the morning at reception as well as a drinks reception with nibbles at 5.30pm daily. You could drink unlimited wine which was a lovely touch. A great way to start your evening.<br />
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A GREAT HOTEL TIP FOR IN AMERICA: We are a family of five, but there are rarely rooms which sleep five. Instead we booked what's called a 'double double' (from £170.00 / $265.00) a night. It sleeps four, but we brought a cheap blow-up mattress with us and the hotel was happy to provide the bed-linen. I would absolutely do this again in an American hotel. It's so much cheaper than paying for two rooms and for a few nights we were fine all squeezing into one.<br />
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We arrived at the hotel mid-afternoon and to keep ourselves awake we walked to Chinatown (only ten minutes by foot) and mooched around its fabulous shops before finding a very cheap restaurant on the main strip (a huge plate of ribs, rice and vegetables only cost us $16 and was enough to feed a small army!)<br />
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DAY ONE PROPER:<br />
We started our day (we were awake very early thanks to jet lag) by taking a trip on San Fran's famous trolley cars (we call them 'trams' in the UK). The stop was right outside our hotel and because it was so early in the morning, there was nobody about and we got on to the trolley just fine. Wait until 10 am and there's a huge queue to get onto one.<br />
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We rode the trolley to Fisherman's Wharf and showed the children the sea lions lounging in the harbor and saw the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. We walked along the seafront, checking out the different piers and watched San Fran wake up. It was a lot of fun. From there we walked to Lombard Street (the crookedest street in the world!) famous for being the scene for a car chase in the movie Bullitt, starring Steve McQueen. It was then the children realized quite how hilly a city San Fran is! All the walking did our jet lag and thigh muscles a lot of good. We walked all the way to the Japan Center from there (again, to stay awake) and bought some incredible, cheap sushi from the Japanese supermarket which we ate al fresco in the Japan Center's park, complete with pagoda. That afternoon I wanted to do something my husband and I hadn't done on our previous trip to San Fran. So we took the train to the Golden Gate Park and chilled out there for a few hours. My children had brought their tennis rackets with and they played on the courts for free. Golden Gate Park is fantastic - a bit like London's Hyde Park - a vast yawning space for walking and lazing. We took a picnic dinner with (bought from Bristol Farm - an organic supermarket in Westfield Shopping Centre, a five minute walk from out hotel). Perfect. Talking about Westfield Shopping Centre - that's pretty perfect too, with an Abercrombie & Fitch and a host of other great shops everyone in the family will want to go to! Everything in the US costs a lot less than in the UK. At least that was the case at the time of writing this!</div>
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DAY TWO</div>
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It was the morning of day two that I took my daughter to American Girl (we took the Caltrain commuter train - the station was a 20 minute walk from our hotel) whilst my husband took the other two children to go shopping in Abercrombie & Fitch and also found a fun doughnut place! That afternoon we found another spot we'd never been to before. It was a lovely little beach very close to the Golden Gate Bridge. It's a secret haunt of locals and we were the only tourists there. It was heavenly. Lovely white sand, hot sun and an amazing view of 'that' bridge! That evening we ate at Westfield Shopping Centre. The basement is full of concessions offering different food and loads of tables to eat at. Some of my family picked take-out deli food from Bristol Farm. I got a gorgeous bowl of steaming hot noodle soup with vegetables from a Japanese stand. </div>
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DAY THREE</div>
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Lots of people kept telling us about the Exploratorium Museum and that we really should go. It's a hands-on sort of Science Museum with lots of exhibits that you can interact with, from magic demonstrations to being part of a hologram. It was just amazing. We only had two hours to spend there, but we could have spent all day. The highlight was the Blind Maze. You have to pay extra to do it, but it is so worth it. Basically, what the maze consists of is a space you enter where you can't see anything. It's completely dark. You have to climb through tubes and across mesh and work together as a team whilst doing it 'blind'. It's about sensory deprivation and scary and claustrophobic though it felt at first (these were very cramped spaces and sometimes you had to duck as an adult so that your head wouldn't hit the ceiling), it was a unique experience which I'll never forget. Second time round it feels much easier, because you know what you're doing. </div>
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After the Exploratorium Museum we had tickets to visit Alcatraz. </div>
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TOP TOURIST TIP: DO NOT ARRIVE IN SAN FRAN WITHOUT HAVING BOOKED UP TICKETS TO VISIT ALCATRAZ IN ADVANCE. YOU NEED TO RESERVE ABOUT 6 WEEKS AHEAD OF YOUR TRIP, OTHERWISE EVERYTHING WILL HAVE SOLD OUT. </div>
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This was the view of Alcatraz from the ferry which took us there. </div>
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And this was what we saw whilst we were enjoying the inspired new audio-tour. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqI9QEO2BOOA6AfTz5Upqp-CC2cMRl6YYzQPjIh_o5xkXc60ZyKk2Mlqe3PICfwbn7gJEg0eHkpRk1E_kcm_MJq3g_hELFUXlbGqSNfx19Muzhv8aeIVftJcNRmyDR1MOQn-l-ZVfAgc/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqI9QEO2BOOA6AfTz5Upqp-CC2cMRl6YYzQPjIh_o5xkXc60ZyKk2Mlqe3PICfwbn7gJEg0eHkpRk1E_kcm_MJq3g_hELFUXlbGqSNfx19Muzhv8aeIVftJcNRmyDR1MOQn-l-ZVfAgc/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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My son Gabriel, 12, thought Alcatraz was one of the best things he had ever seen. He was captivated from beginning to end, learning about the history of the prison island, about the prisoners themselves and about the attempted escapes. Be warned, there is no food which can be bought on the island, so you have to take anything you might want to eat with you, but food can only be eaten by the dock. It's to control the problems they have with gulls. </div>
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After Alcatraz we mooched to the Ferry Building which is along the esplanade, about a twenty minute walk from the Alcatraz pier. Here there's a whole lot of food stands and restaurants, some inside, some outside. We ended up in 'Gotts' which is a burger bar. We had a table out front in the sunshine and for a bargain $4.99 the kids each had a burger, fries and unlimited refills of their drinks. I sneaked out and treated myself to a clam chowder from a seafood stand within the building. Delicious. </div>
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It was an amazing three days in San Fran and the next morning we took a hire car and went to Napa............more on that in another post!</div>
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Please click on the link below to return to Jo's website:</div>
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<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a></div>
GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9201832049882194756.post-54904876579906215202015-07-02T02:46:00.001-07:002017-01-26T07:24:41.543-08:00What's it like to be the girlfriend/wife of Roger Federer?!I don't know about you, but for me there's romance surrounding tennis. Whenever I think about tennis I think about Wimbledon, strawberries and cream, triumphs and disasters and yes, this year, heatwaves in SW19 too! I'm mad about tennis and was lucky enough to go to the French Open in Paris earlier this year in June:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uWy34xI38lXQgXgNFJb1OOeSPQJ2la3iRYygISGF0hjdjcKFh8eosi-1ofxwLB3IIS1T45BREnAibELZK-gIOqIpbiD2CrFlABaQe3jbgDPwRLckANvEeWehK0ND9gEXyE7buCuT2nA/s1600/IMG_0909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uWy34xI38lXQgXgNFJb1OOeSPQJ2la3iRYygISGF0hjdjcKFh8eosi-1ofxwLB3IIS1T45BREnAibELZK-gIOqIpbiD2CrFlABaQe3jbgDPwRLckANvEeWehK0ND9gEXyE7buCuT2nA/s1600/IMG_0909.JPG" /></a></div>
Here I am, with Andy Murray (very small!) warming up behind me and just down below in the stand (although you can't see!) is Kim Sears - now otherwise known as Mrs Murray! She arrived along with Andy's coach, former French player Amelie Mauresmo, to take their seats and watch the match. Which Andy won incidentally....<br />
Anyway, I've often wondered what it would be like to be the girlfriend of a tennis superstar - yes, I have dreamed of being married to Roger Federer in another life, but shush, don't tell my husband! Traveling across the world, getting to watch all those matches from the special box, it looks like fun, although perhaps it isn't always so. I can barely watch Murray play out those key points and often cover my eyes - so goodness knows how it is to be a girlfriend, watching the good and the bad, experiencing the highs and the lows, unable to cover your eyes in the full view of the public!<br />
Anyway, if you're in the mood for a spot of tennis romance with a splash of strawberries&cream then check out these links:<br />
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UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-our-Time-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B00NH20XM8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410422296&sr=1-1&keywords=Jo+Kessel+now+is+our+time">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Now-our-Time-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B00NH20XM8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410422296&sr=1-1&keywords=Jo+Kessel+now+is+our+time</a><br />
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US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Now-our-Time-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B00NH20XM8/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1E9TDVF642426QNTAKN0">http://www.amazon.com/Now-our-Time-Jo-Kessel-ebook/dp/B00NH20XM8/ref=pd_sim_351_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=1E9TDVF642426QNTAKN0</a><br />
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As for me, I'm hoping to visit Wimbledon next Monday, where I'll hopefully get to see my secret hero Roger Federer, who, like me, has twins. See, we've so much in common - if only he knew!<br />
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To return to Jo's website please click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.jokessel.com/">www.jokessel.com</a><br />
<br />GO WITH JOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10647118813172904014noreply@blogger.com0