WHY is it that I love LOVE Walnut Whips, coffee and walnut cake… but I can’t flipping stand walnuts?

And which of the nuts has almost magical powers in bringing down cholesterol and should be in every diet? Walnuts.

Anyway, I’ve forced myself to like them. Yes I could fanny about soaking and roasting them but you lose the efficient properties so what’s the point?

Seven walnuts per day is all you need to get the advantages flowing to your heart, brain, gut, blimey – those little nuts are powerful things.

I much prefer the Brazil nut, but you’re only supposed to eat about three of those per day (whoops – missed that memo).

But anyway, look it up. No wonder why squirrels look so sprightly.

I smiled when I saw the cover of last week’s Chron because two of the loveliest people in Barnsley were on the cover celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary: Keith and Jeannette Owen who were great friends of mum and dad.

A wonderful couple and they usually come and see me when I’m doing a book signing to say hello. I never seen them without a smile on their faces whatever is going on because they’ve had their rough times and they are a joy to meet up with. I wish them all my very, very best and love so I hope they get this message.

I have no idea what was going on with the roads last week in Barnsley. On Sunday morning Park Road at Kingstone was closed, a fallen telegraph pole had closed Dodworth Road at the same time.

A pedestrian killed on the motorway the day before and Regent Street closed as well because of a car that had rammed its way up the stairs of Estabulo. If all that wasn’t enough, another car had somehow (don’t ask me how) managed to half-obliterate walls at the bottom of our street straight into a neighbour’s car on their drive on Thursday night.

The other half went down to see what was going on with all the blue lights and the driver was in a proper stat, being treated by the paramedics. But, my point being, just watch yourselves out there folks.

We’ve recently seen people driving at ridiculous speeds through Morrisons in Cortonwood and Ikea in Sheffield and I always picture my mum getting out of a car because she wouldn’t have had a chance at getting out of the way of them.

The scary thing is that you are not only watching out for yourself in a ton of metal, you’re having to keep your eyes on stalks for nutters who are under the impression that sitting behind a steering wheel makes them invincible. There are plenty of people resting in the cemeteries who can tell them, it doesn’t.

Oh and if anyone from the council is reading this, the car that obliterated our neighbour’s wall on Dodworth Road also decimated the popular bench there into sticks of firewood. If there’s some brass in the budget to replace it, that would be really kind of you.

If you don’t know what to get your mam for Mother’s Day, if she likes a book, I will be selling and signing my backlist titles at Mike’s Famous Book Stall 10am-12 on Saturday, March 14.

You can bring along any books already bought to sign, but it would be very nice if you bought one from Mike and supported his very beloved business. There will be something in it from me as well if you do. Have a good week folks, stay safe and well!