Nicky Bond's Blog

Well who knew Anglesey was so nice? Everyone except me, right?
I'm just back from a few days away and it blew my mind. Aren't the beaches lovely? It's a stone's throw from my Merseyside home but I'd never visited. Madness. 
The reason I was there was because of a significant birthday in my partner's family; that was why I lost my Anglesey virginity. But now? I've got the route, I know the best beach carpark, and I can visit whenever I have a free day. Win!
Writing News The Leeza McAuliffe is Branchi...

My hall, landing, and stairs is now newly decorated. (I like to give you closure.) What was a biscuity-beige is now a pebbly-grey. Adjectives aside, it's not massively different. Just neater, cleaner, and tidier. Win.
Taken when the
radiator was still the
old colour, while
the wall were 
the new. Virtually 
identical.The problem is I'm under pressure to keep my own belongings neater, cleaner, and tidier too. Boooo. I live with a neat-freak, you see, which mostly works well. I have a high tolerance ...

Last week, in one of his final acts as Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer gave out a bunch of peerages. Congratulations to all. 
My reservations about unelected nobles aside, this news provided a lovely thought experiment for this week's blog. If I accept the premise that the House of Lords is both important and necessary to my life, who would I want to be in it? Who has elevated my existence so much, they deserve a life-long title and recognition for their service? Who are the unsung heroes of my ...

I've had a revelation that has blown my mind.
Just over a week ago, it was the England v Mexico match. Do you remember? It was supposed to kick off at 1am on Monday morning but that got pushed to 2am because of thunder. The match lasted the full ninety minutes, plus half time, hydration breaks, injury and stoppage time, so what with the studio analysis afterwards, I crawled into bed at 5am.
Rock and roll, baby! I powered through a twenty-two hour day before falling asleep when it was light. Now, w...

As I type these words, my hall, landing, and stairs are being painted. (NOT A EUPHEMISM.) 
My homeMorning! I've decamped to Costa - because paint fumes, strangers in my home, and the fact I don't trust myself not to get concussion by walking into the scaffolding, means it's better I'm here and not there. I'm sure it'll look marvellous when it's finished and the hassle and upheaval will be worth it. 
The colour my
comprising-self
has agreed to.Actually, I'm not sure that's true. Of COURSE, it'll loo...

I'm not sure anyone else has mentioned it so I'll just write it here for the record.
IT'S SO HOT.
By the time this blog is published, the UK temperatures will have cooled. That's what the Met Office says, anyway. As I write this a day or so beforehand, however, that is not the case. It is 10.20am, the house is filled with thick, hot air, and my face is slick with sweat. SEXY TIMES. 
My brain doesn't work well when the temperature nudges the mid twenties so the current state of affairs (34℃ right no...

Did you see that fab clip from BBC news last week? 
After the social media ban for under-sixteens was announced, a reporter asked a young person in school uniform, what they were going to do with their extra time. 'Stare at a wall,' was the dead pan answer. A perfect response. Exactly right. No notes.
I did, unfortunately, see a bunch of random responses to that clip online. (I realise looking at responses online was my first mistake.) They were the equally sarky but far less amusing comments of, ...

Has summer 2026 started now? 
The World Cup has, and in my teens that would've been enough to mentally wind down and embrace the season. This year? Meh. I'm only vaguely in. The US's involvement makes the tournament feel icky (although the Curacao and Scotland matches provided great moments.) 
Likewise, it's Pride month. Happy Pride! This year, more than I can ever remember as an adult, it's clear that Pride is as it began - a protest not a party. A local council leader (a stone's throw away from ...

Leeza McAuliffe is Branching Out is nearly three weeks old. Hurrah! 
Find Leeza here

The Amazon algo has finally settled down so it's now consistently available. It's also on sale at other online book shops. In terms of my immediate working skej, I'll be tied up with advertising and promoting for a month or so more. I'm also in the process of sorting an online book tour and there'll be a steady stream of posts and videos all over my socials for a while yet. If you care even the tiniest jot for me ...

Well. Wasn't that a hot week? Pheeeeeweeee. 
I spent seven days sweating out all the moisture from my body and now I'm a husk of my former self. Probably. It made me laugh when my Aussie cousin messaged midweek because he'd seen the temperatures in my town. When the heat is surprising Australians, you know things are bad. So hurrah if you've enjoyed the summer so far. Knock yourself out, lap it up, soak up those rays. I'll be over here, sweating past myself, while I wait for the cooling balm of S...