Helen Grant - Ghostwriter

What a gorgeous day. It was like spring all over again. Sunny with a cool breeze. I spent the afternoon in Torquay, birth place of Agatha Christie. Renowned as the English Riviera, it’s easy to see why. A myriad of boats floating on the marina, surrounded by pavement cafes, street music, candy floss shops and kiss me quick hats.

I strolled along the seafront, alone with my thoughts, and sat by the harbour with a bowl of cockles and Enid Blyton’s biography, listening to a fantastic street musician sing My Way by Frank Sinatra. He had the most powerful voice. It sounded like he had a loudspeaker strapped to his chest. Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind, and that song gets me every time. Here it is for your benefit, courtesy of Robbie Williams.

This week I’m reading The Artist’s Way and listening to Carla Bruni.

For established creatives and anyone harbouring creative dreams, The Artist’s Way is a 12 week motivational and inspirational course to discovering and recovering your creative self.

It promises to connect you to the mystical energies of the world via a series of simple exercises, opening creative doors you never knew existed.

As for Carla Bruni, most of you will know her as the wife of French president Nicolas Sarkozy, but she’s also a fine singer. Log on to her website between now and 21st July to listen to all 14 tracks from her new album (for free) ahead of its launch.

In the meantime, here she is singing Those Dancing Days Are Gone. Tune in and chill out.

A recent World Values Survey found that the happiest people live in Nigeria because they have nothing and expect nothing. Their daily life is boosted by small achievements like having enough food on the table.

To have less, to expect less, is infinitely more satisfying than wanting everything. Living simply is the best antidote to stress. Just because the Joneses have a new convertible BMW, doesn’t mean you need one too.

Try buying only what you need when you need it. Find happiness in life and people, not spending. When you’re shopping, before checking out, ask yourself if it’s something you need or want. There’s a difference.

Be self sufficient. Here’s a book to get you started.

This is one of those songs that, when it gets half way through, I have to start it again … and again and again and again. I often fall asleep to it wherever my head falls, usually at 4 in the morning when I’ve spent the night toiling with quill and ink. When I’m seeing double because I’m so tired, this song is like a lullaby.

Michael Charles - a talented blues guitarist from Chicago - singing Long Way To Go. I love the catchy tune, the instrumental and the dialogue from his side kick Magisty. A kicking tune.

Time Just Keeps Calling is a catchy one too. Filmed in Australia in 1986, it’s one of his older ones, but the video made me smile. Michael is performing live in Chicago soon. Dates are on his website.

And I love this too. A neat little blues song called I Know Why, performed by Scottish singer Frankie and English guitarist Paul, better known as Frankie Miller and Paul Kossoff. If you haven’t already guessed, I’m big time into blues at the moment.

If you’ve ever felt that you let the right person get away, or you lost someone you love, this book will strike a chord.

The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger uses time travel to show how the characters - Henry and Claire - live different lives, in different worlds, but still have a passionate and lasting love. A classic love story.

In keeping with my Do You Have That Je Ne Sais Quio? article, this book by Helena Frith Powell is a good read. All You Need to Be Impossibly French explores the lives, lusts and secrets of French women … well, the stereotype of one anyway. It’s a pretty safe bet not every woman over there buys fancy underwear, is happy for her man to have an affair, is work shy, and allergic to close female friendships.

Neither are they all well groomed, confident and skinny, with flawless skin and glossy hair, as described in my article. But on the whole they are / do have all of the above, and I’m sure Helena’s findings represent the majority too. Unlike me, who relied on weeks of late-night research the wrong side of the water, Helena has first hand experience, having lived in France for some time. All You Need to Be Impossibly French is available from Amazon.