In my previous job I had to get up ridiculously early and I hated it. I am not a morning person in the slightest. So I was surprised to find that when it came to research for my novel I was willing to get up at 5.15am, having taken a days holiday from work. It is funny the affect that dreams and determination can have on you!

The first half (or so) of the book takes place around the area of Colliers Wood and Morden in South London. (Google Map). I had hoped to be there before sunrise on what would turn out to be a gloriously sunny day. However my wish didn’t come true. But as an eternal optimist I believe that every cloud has a silver lining. On this overcast day there were plenty of clouds and therefore an abundance of silver linings!

It did turn out that there was a benefit to the overcast weather, especially at this time of year when things are only just coming to life. My rose tinted glasses of the past (I used to live in the area) had edited out the not quite so beautiful aspects along the River Wandle. I furiously made notes and snapped away noticing all the small interesting details that I’d neglected to see in the past.

And there were some fascinating details. Not long after I arrived I spotted a bird gathering dead grass in its beak for nesting. It was quite happy to carry on its business and let me watch – until I got my camera out. Understandably we all have those moments we’d rather not be photographed!

There was also a stand off between a heron and a couple of canada geese. I say stand off, but what I mean is the heron stood on the bank absolutely still looking down on these two geese in the river who were getting increasingly agitated and making more and more noise when they couldn’t get a rise out of the heron. Eventually the geese gave up. One of them did insist on continuing to squawk loudly, whilst the other one swam up ahead (obviously trying to distance herself from the pain in the neck behind who wouldn’t shut up!)

I did make time to stop for tea and cake in my note making and photo taking frenzy. I headed to the National Trust café for a spot of tea and carrot cake. The cake was delicious and made up for missing Cake Friday at work (which had been a Red Nose Day special).

The end of the trip marked the end of the research phase of my book. Now it’s onto the writing of the novel. The first draft is the hardest. I have this amazing exciting story in my head and I have to do it justice in words. I really don’t want to let my imagination, and potential readers, down. Wish me luck!