Epic fail!

I have to admit the title of this blog entry is largely based on my failure to keep my blog updated, I am almost tempted to delete the whole blog and start again to hide my embarrassment, however at least for now I will take a deep breath, shake my head ever so slightly and endeavour to turn over a new leaf - well in my blogging habits at least!

So the story since I last blogged...

Milo

New addition, in the form of Wilbur the hamster, new job moved house, moved in with a boy, more new additions - this time in the form of brothers Archie and Milo.

Archie

Milo steals Archie's food

Me and Deborah Harkness!

Got to meet the very lovely Deborah Harkness author of A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night and The Book of life an amazing trilogy. Not going to lie I loved the books so much that I was a little awestruck and Deborah couldn't have been more lovely. Even got a picture!  

 

 



Completed studies and graduated! Yay :)  Having not actually studied for a long time (writing fiction does not even compare!)  I am not going to lie this was challenging but we did it, and am actually proud of all of us and made some amazing friends on the way.



Graduation day was made even more special...

 

 ...and obviously it goes without saying there has been baking...

So the year ahead promises to be equally as busy, wedding planning, the cover for my first novel now underway and fingers crossed publication is not going to be too far away! Lets just hope I manage to blog a bit more!

  

Real life...stranger than fiction.

Totals...Twitter 5 Tweets (even got a re-tweet!)... Facebook...two status updates...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel... 1500 words after uni...Emails/text messages from mad cousin...none today (not sure she could keep up the pace!!)
Cups of coffee...2 Cupcakes ...0  (unless a raspberry muffin counts?!)
Music mostly on spotify today ...Aqualung, Tyrone Wells, U2.

To be honest it has taken me so long to actually get into my blog this evening due to computer gremlins I have kind of lost the plot! So lets start with some pretty pictures!!

One day a week at the moment I get to have away from my day job for the purpose of attending university, due to stupidness earlier in the year I have only attended twice before and both times it was grey and miserable and cold. Today however it was lovely and not raining and actually nice and warm (yes I was shocked too!). It made a nice change to be able to get out an about in the sunshine, even if we did have to sit in a classroom and learn about research for a bit! If this continues I think I may like being a student for a while.
The added bonus being that today when I got home, feeling inspired by the happy weather - instead of sitting in a quiet corner trying to digest the latest lesson I was actually able to spend a couple of hours writing book 3. It was also nice to sit down for a while having walked about 9 miles today!

It was from events that have happened recently that I decided on my title for today's blog. I like most of the world I can only imagine, have been gripped by events happening around the globe. Obviously the 

tragic events that have recently happened in Boston, as well as the all that is happening in Syria seem to be dominating the news. I have to admit I was pretty much glued to the news watching the events unfold in Boston and I suppose not having any direct connection it felt like watching a movie or TV programme, obviously I know it is real. It's just sad to think that there are people out there that think actions such as these are justified. It's not just events far away that have an unbelievable quality to them.                                                                 

A friend currently having a tough time informed me today about a situation they have found themselves in, they find it so incomprehensible (I hope they don't mind me quoting) that they stated "this could be a storyline from one of your books." Once they had finished I had to agree, not that I would use it - that would be mean but still sometimes things happening on our own doorstep can often be much more scary, upsetting or unbelievable than anything we can write in a book. Perhaps that is why there are so many genre's available, everyone needs to escape sometime and although there is a need for the serious literary works - the humorous or mystical can sometimes provide the light relief or escapism that we all need?

 

Providing my light relief today that I can actually put in print is my disastrous performance in the World Book Night quiz! I really need to hang my head in shame, especially at the James Bond round. The fact that I was practically dragged up on James Bond films (thanks Dad!) seems to mean that I have blocked any learnt James Bond trivia completely from my brain. I guess I was traumatised having to watch the films over and over, the funny thing is that I actually choose to watch the most recent ones and to my surprise really enjoy them. Perhaps this has more to do with Daniel Craig? It's certainly possible. In my team of two (apart from one other team of two who did come last, all the other teams had at least four and in some cases seven people in them) I am proud we came...um...second to last by 2 points and that we only scored 2 points on the James Bond round - I even attempted to text my Dad (yes I am aware this is cheating) but he didn't answer so it wasn't much use to me tonight.

So I guess I have a year to expand my team, and I suppose my knowledge! The highlight of the evening was the book stash (see above) I came away with, I had to limit myself I couldn't carry anymore. But they may keep me going for a while and I even have my very own first James Bond book and I promise I will read it and um...post a full book report!!

Goodnight.

Fire!!

Totals...Twitter 3 Tweets (in my defence I have worked a 13 hour shift!)  Facebook...1 status updates ...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...0(ish) words, Cups of coffee...2 Cupcakes ...0

Music mostly on my itunes this evening; Muse, Florence & the Machine, Marcus Foster

OK so there isn't an actual fire, but having finished a fairly tiring 13 hour shift, left work and cursing the headlight that decided to give up before I'd left work to drive home - I cooked a very quick stir fry (10 minutes a record for me including chopping, cooking and dishes - not eating!) then settled down to do what we do and multitask so I could fit some productive writing time into my day and realised I'd been a little eager with the chili and the only thing on hand to put out said fire was a nice bottle of red wine. Which as always went down a little too easily, so one and half glasses in (it would be rude not to finish it) now I find myself thinking about writing, making very little sense in a blog entry, feeling ever-so-slightly tipsy and wondering if I will wake up for my 0530hrs alarm call for another epic 13 hour shift!
So perhaps the writing is best left, but the thing is I had set my alarm for 0500hrs in order to put in some time before work but when it came to it I kept hitting the snooze. So I may be in need of some suggestions to make sure I get up when the alarm goes off, because once I'm up it's fine - it's just the getting up part I struggle with because I pretty much feel like this...

...and I'm aware I've used this pic before but I can't help loving it!!!!!
So I'm off for a relatively early night, thinking it's time for a helping of sparkly vampires care of Twilight.
Goodnight.

Sugar rush!

Totals...Twitter 10 Tweets  Facebook...1 status updates ...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...500(ish) words, Cups of coffee...1 Cupcakes ...1 (and I made 10 does that count?)
Music mostly on my itunes this evening; Coldplay but now feeling a bit glum, may need to change it soon!

Got home today feeling exhausted more so than after working a 13 hour shift, so in order to off load baked some cupcakes cakes the result is better than therapy...

Although am feeling slightly concerned that I'd opened a nice bottle of red wine while I cooked and it went down a little too easily and now I'm not hungry...not so sure that is a good thing!

I managed to get a little writing done this morning before the day job which is just as well as I'm not sure I'm good for much now, however two days off now so I have nothing planned and am hoping to be productive and possibly even get somewhere close to finished (that's the aim anyway!) until then I think I'm going to sign off with a short entry this evening in the hope I will feel more productive in the morning!

Goodnight!

Not really feeling it!

Totals...Twitter 7 Facebook...0 status updates ...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...100 words, Cups of coffee...0 Cupcakes ...0 (perhaps this is the cause of my issues will remedy this immediately with a cup of coffee!!)

Music mostly on my itunes this evening; Marcus Foster - Nameless Path (am a little bit in love with his album it's on repeat at the moment!)

After the lovely sunshine and heat of the past week it was inevitable that it had to end soon, and it did last night as I drove home from work it was raining and snowing and today it has not stopped raining all day. We don't get a huge amount of rain here so I suppose it was needed but does it have to be so wet?
Feeling a bit grey and miserable I decided it was time for a spring clean and as a result re-arranged the study area, my bookcase, did some washing and cleaned the bathroom and then thought about writing. But then I had a cup of tea, read a writing magazine, read a bit of a book, had another cup of tea, checked twitter, thought about going onto facebook, had another cup of tea and then actually wrote 100 words...surfed the Internet and found my new desk chair on ikea website...dreamt about how good my new desk chair would look in room then gave up to blog!
Am hoping that the jiggle around of furniture will inspire me so will keep you posted on that, unfortunately I'm pretty certain I know why I've been lacking focus, I think life got in the way a bit. It's been a tough time at work over the past few days and that has clearly affected my mood. So I have a plan...I'm going to allow myself this evening, then tomorrow I'm going to get up and smile (even if it is still raining) and start over!
Obviously an integral part in the plan is to find a cupcake...I'm having sugar withdrawals I'm sure after being on a health kick for over a week...having had to replenish my fruit bowl twice I fear I may have to re-title the blog, how does Writing...peppermint tea and apples sound? Pants? Yes I thought so too - I shall just have to ensure consumption of said items tomorrow!
...here's some I made earlier!

Off to read in the hope I feel inspired...may be a chick lit evening...

Pets?

Totals...Twitter 5 tweets...Facebook...1 status updates ...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...0 words, Cups of coffee...0 Cupcakes ...0 (13 hour shift ate into my writing time...added to the fact I overslept big time!
Music mostly on my itunes this evening; nothing, watching Celebrity Juice and getting way too side-tracked.

So today after a couple of interesting and trying days personally and professionally it got me thinking that perhaps it's time to get a new pet but to be honest I'm a bit stumped and open to suggestions.
I had a great pet until May last year and he kept me company when I wrote;

This was Marvin, as you can see he was a bit daft and none too clever when looking for a place to sleep. Fairly often I would get an enforced break from writing when he would lay across the keyboard of my laptop and normally fart. So he was a bit of a character and I am unable to have another cat at present so I am exploring other options...

 In an ideal world I think I'd probably like a penguin, these ones are so clever they can even use a zebra crossing! Although they are a little stinky!

Another possibility is a pygmy hedgehog, very cute am already a little bit in love with this picture (its probably the ears!) but I'm not so sure about the idea of a hedgehog that lives indoors...not sure that's right. Fish are out of the question I tried that once and it got to the embarrassing stage when I almost once a week I had to go and buy replacements,  I'm still not even sure what I did wrong. But it turned out to be pretty expensive. A hamster is another option I've had lots in the past they are easy to look after and quite entertaining and then I saw this...



 Not sure it would make a pet and added to that dormice are protected so I'd more than likely get into a lot of trouble but it's probably the cutest video I've seen for a while! So back to the drawing board...

Very nearly squished!

Totals from 1st March having been too traumatised to blog, more of which later!...Twitter (14 Tweets) Facebook...3 status updates ...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...500 words, Cups of coffee...2 Cupcakes ...1 (if a lemons an poppy seed muffin counts?)

Music mostly on my itunes this evening; nothing, too traumatised watching mindless scary films and drinking red wine with a friend instead!

So today started out pretty nicely, the sun was shining, got a good amount of writing done and met my Aunt for lunch - it's a shame the same couldn't be said for the afternoon. After collecting car and having the sinking feeling in my stomach when something didn't feel right I called on the assistance of my local AA man for help; feeling a little embarrassed owing to the fact I was currently parked in a multi-story car park in a shopping mall.
After a very quick call back I was told he was fifteen minutes away so I headed back to the car to meet him. Feeling very foolish when I threatened all sorts of things to the car if it was going to cost the earth to repai,r including having it squished and afterwards having never really felt much love for said car I actually relished the idea a bit about seeing it squished...perhaps I could even have a little dance on top of it afterwards?
After the very nice AA man looked at it and told me that my brakes had seized we drove very carefully down to his truck in the bowels of the mall to the loading bay car park, where he investigated and pulled off the first wheel. Made a few clucking sounds and then told me it perhaps wouldn't be as bad as I thought to fix. (I have to admit I was a little let down having worked out my dance moves ready for dancing onto of the squished metal block that I had imagined!) Leaving me he went to get the required items and left me alone and jacked up.
Of course a lorry arrived (why wouldn't it?) and wanted to pull into the bay alongside of me which was currently inhabited by a member of staff. Things happened a bit quickly from there, one minute I saw the drivers mate talking to the car driver who had returned to move his car. Then looked down into my bag to find something and it was like things happened in slow motion. I looked up and saw the car reversing and the lorry reversing and before I could get out of the car to shout or do anything the lorry had just about pinned the car against the concrete pillar and made a fair mess of the side and back of the car while I stood resembling a goldfish. The very nice AA man returned to find this after it had only just happened and to find me pretty shocked to the point I threw up. I think I was more embarrassed. Luckily no-one was hurt, apart from the poor car.
Still somewhat shocked I collected a friend who was staying the night and she force fed me red wine!
She is an excellent friend! Obviously red wine cures everything!!!
I suppose if anything good were to come from this it would be an excellent incident to include in a book! Who knows.
Phew what a long post hope I didn't lose you somewhere along the way.

Inspired

Writing...Twitter (6 tweets so far...including re-tweets) Facebook...1 status update ...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...2,000 words, Cups of coffee...2 Cupcakes ...2 (see pictorial evidence below)

Music mostly on my itunes this evening; The Script - The Script & Science and Faith, Snow Patrol - Best of up to now.

At last, I'm feeling particularly pleased with myself today after having a very productive day and have only stopped writing because I need to make myself stop in the hope that I will feel as inspired tomorrow and produce similar results. To prove my statement above after sadly neglecting the amazingness of cupcakes here is where my inspiration started this morning...

This just got better from here,  the only distraction being from a lady that sat one table away who thought that the whole coffee shop wanted to be in on her conversation - had it been interesting perhaps I could have used it...unfortunately it wasn't so I turned up my music in order to drown her out and continued. My fingers actually ache so I'm taking that as a sign that its been a good day after my negativity yesterday.

I even managed to fit in a trip to the cinema in the name of...research? Or just the fact that I wanted to go and watch a film when it was quiet, just as well really as I blubbed like a baby while watching "The Vow" and I'm not really sure it's a good idea to go to the cinema alone to watch such films...think I may need a shoulder to cry on for the next one! In any case the trailer is below in case you feel like checking it out, just take some tissues!



Even after the film I came home and continued writing when I'm not normally able to write anything at home (normally due to too many distractions more than anything else) and only stopped to make dinner and to help out housemate - which consisted of driving around the city to find an address to leave her car then bring her home in my car, only problem was we lost each other and she had the sat nav and neither of us knew where we were going. Consequently even with the sat nav we couldn't find the address, so after driving around aimlessly for almost forty minutes we gave up and both drove home again. After dinner I even wrote for another thirty minutes before deciding to stop in order to have an already primed starting point for tomorrow.
Thankfully today has restored my faith that I will make my deadline and although returning to the day job on Friday at least I'm back on track!
Now all I need to do is to tell my brain it's time to switch off...any suggestions?

Hi there!

Writing...Twitter (9 tweets so far...including re-tweets) Facebook...1 status update ...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...0 words (does opening my notebook count?), Cups of coffee...0 Cupcakes ...0 (but my lovely housemate gave me a panacotta dessert not sure this counts will try harder tomorrow!)
Music mostly on my itunes this evening; Maroon 5 How, Marcus Foster I was broken, Birdy Skinny love, Christina Perri Penguin, Florence and the machine No light no light.


Videos that made me laugh today...

Amazing! I have my very first comment. I am so pleased, I didn't actually think there was anyone out there so Hi if you are reading this, it's nice to know there is someone out there.
I'm trying not to be to hard on myself but it's been a pretty rubbish start to the week as far as writing is concerned but as it's only Tuesday I'm not going to feel bad about it. I now have two days off from my day job so my aim is to get up early and walk into the city and find myself a nice corner in one of my favourite coffee shops and park my bottom and write until my fingers hurt!
It seems that the closer I get to finishing this book, the harder it is to write...is that normal? I know exactly where it's going to end it's just the actual writing I seem to be struggling with! Still I have just over a month until my self imposed deadline so I'm really hoping I will make it. I already have planned what I want to work on next and the idea and characters are starting to take shape but I've promised myself I won't start until this one is completed.
I had planned on writing this evening but after a busy shift at work, almost torturing myself to the point of exhaustion at a spinning class, and being fed the most amazing chickpea and butternut squash curry by my housemate I think once I'm done here I'm going to take the night off. I'm already contemplating a Ghost Whisperer marathon (I can't help it. I love it, it's so sad it is no more, though don't get me started on the last season!!!!!!)
So at the risk of repeating myself, I'm going to take a deep breath relax and not be hard on myself knowing tomorrow is another day and without the distraction of Facebook or Twitter (I think I need help I'm sure I'm developing an addiction to Twitter!) my day will be much more productive...and perhaps then I will deserve my cupcake!!!
Goodnight.

Multi-tasking...who me?

Writing...Twitter (15 tweets so far...there may be smoke emanating from my fingertips...or not) Facebook...one status update...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...0 words (oops, but assignment for work started surely that counts?), Cups of coffee...0 Cupcakes ...0 dodgy programme about boy bands watched...um...two (hangs head in shame at the amount of songs I know the words to!)

So this evening may not be productive in terms of actual writing content but I am proud, returned home from a 13 hour shift, cooked dinner, turned on the television watching documentary on boy bands (oh yes!) and tackling (sort of ) assignment for work, singing to boy band documentary, logging on to Facebook, logging on to twitter, more singing...now moved on to Top of the Pops boy band special, cue more singing (sorry housemates) and now blog post. Cue huge pat on the back on account of multi-tasking skills!
I am actually a little saddened (OK a lot) of how many songs I actually know, it maybe time to lock away my itunes for fear of being ridiculed!
In case you are in need of a fix here are a few of my...um...favourites...

excellent video!!!!

Unfortunate pause pic! But I defy you to hate it...soon to be no more...sniff, sniff

I could go on, but I would probably be locked in a cupboard and forced to listen to heavy metal until I renounce boy bands to be the work of the devil...or something like that!
Nothing of any real substance to report on this evening, my brain has been turned to mush by all of those pretty looking men! Will try harder tomorrow!

We have lift off!!!

Writing...Twitter (3 tweets so far...must try harder) Facebook...one status update...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...2000 words (yay!), Cups of coffee...1 Cupcakes ...1

After a frustratingly dry period where I spent my time either working too many hours or staring blankly at a plain piece of paper in the desperate hope that words would appear (they didn't) it seems that all I needed was a bit of sunshine! The last two days have reached almost 60 degrees and it's February! So after a walk in my local park (picture below) and taking time to watch the ducks I felt in a much happier frame of mind! Ducks always seem happy (or maybe that's just me?) in any case it must have been just what I needed!

Afterwards I dragged myself into the city and nearest coffee shop and got stuck in, and finally I am glad to say 2,000 words later I am starting to feel a bit closer to finishing somewhere near my self imposed deadline.
Managing to squeeze writing into my daily life is sometimes a little hard as with anyone who is not fortunate enough to list author as their full time occupation, but I am determined that one day I will (you have to dream big - what's the point in aiming for average?). After leaving the coffee shop on a bit of a caffeine and sugar induced high I decided it was only right to reward my hard work and what else than a two hour cinema date with Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington would do...nothing? In that case it was just as well that's what I did and very glad of it too! Really enjoyed Safe House - although it did make me wish I had been providing first aid cover for the set!!!
Home to attempt assignment for day job studying...however the lure of Facebook and twitter proved too much and after setting up my shiny new folders I got side tracked!!! Must try harder. Perhaps I need to cut myself off from the Internet...no that would be terrible! Well any suggestions other than that are very gratefully received! Right time to log off and attempt to do some work...think I'll just check Twitter!!!!

Exhausted yet hyper?!

Writing...Twitter (2 tweets so far...pathetic) Facebook...one status update...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...nothing yet due to long shift but still hopeful, number of texts to housemate living 2 floors above me...4.
Cups of coffee...1 Cupcakes ...0

Can you be exhausted and hyper? I'm aiming for a yes, owing to the fact I worked a long shift at my day job today and came home completely hyper! Fuelled by the one and soon to be two glasses of wine that I have consumed (I'm going to blame that on my housemates as they were already drinking when I came home and it would have been rude not to join them!). Shower check, cooked evening meal and tomorrow's lunch and made tomorrows breakfast for work check again (I've even impressed myself at how organised I am).
I'm not sure I could sleep at the moment my brain certainly doesn't show any signs of stopping anytime soon, I'm at a bit of a romantic moment in my book - so the wine will probably help me loosen up, if that doesn't work I've got my fairy lights on and am listening to soppy music on my itunes and have about half a dozen candles lit to help create the mood...am I completely insane? Not sure its a rhetorical question its more of a distinct possibility!

Not that I think there is anyone out there but I'm going to keep tonight short in order to be productive and get a few more pages written before bed and my 0500hrs alarm call because tomorrow night I know I'm going to be glued to Dancing on Ice and cheering on my favourite...Matt Evers!!!! Everyone deserves a night off!!!

Procrastinating much?

Writing...Twitter (5 tweets so far...if you include re-tweets 9) Facebook...one status update...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...two pages of A4 in my notebook (and aiming for more this evening!) Cups of coffee...1    Cupcakes ...1 (phew thought I'd have to change my blog title!)

So a day with a little more productivity than yesterday, thank goodness! Have reached 95,000 words and am aiming to have second novel completed at around 100,000 words. I really need to finish this soon so I can have my wall back (I have a wall planner with a story board time line blue-tacked to my wall at the moment, I'd really like to put a picture up instead!). I had planned on writing lots and being very focused but have to say Twitter is becoming pretty addictive, I don't even know these people but they have so many interesting things to say! When I've tired of Twitter, obviously I needed to check Facebook...then Youtube...

above were just a few...then time to adjust my itunes play list...oh and Twitter again.
If that wasn't enough I have been totally engrossed in reading "A Discovery of Witches" by Deborah Harkness, again! Not sure why I do it to myself I enjoyed it so much that I was gutted when I finished to find out that the next instalment is not due out until July...so obviously I had to visit Amazon and pre-order my copy.
Then a visit to a supermarket to buy things that I probably didn't need anyway, then I actually wrote two pages in my notebook (I hand write first I like to see the words on paper) then rewarded myself by having a shower and writing in my blog.
The result, I'm feeling pretty guilty I wasted my day and only have two pages to show for it, back to my day job tomorrow and another 13 hour shift so I'm going to aim to get up half an hour early to write without distraction before work...I will let you know how that goes!

Not enough coffee!

Writing...twitter (5 tweets so far...) facebook...one status update...blog entry...one in progress...actual productive writing of my novel...not a thing!!!! Cups of coffee...0    Cupcakes ...0  

A thirteen hour shift completed and after the lack of sleep and caffeine I am exhausted! Switched to peppermint tea, what was that all about?
Almost too exhausted to write but I made a commitment to myself that I would try to blog at least a little bit each day, unfortunately having spent so much time at work outside of this nothing much of any interest happened today. So instead I thought I would introduce you to Trevor...



This is Trevor, Trevor the triceratops! The reason I put a picture of him here is to remind me of a book I was introduced to by a friend called (the book, not the friend) The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron. The book taught me lots of things and I think I've kind of gotten off track recently so looking at my bookcase (which is Trevor's home) I realised along with working, trying to inflict pain that I convince myself is good for me at the gym and trying to write as much as humanly possible in the time left, fun is still important.
One of the things the book taught me was to be open to new experiences and encourage my inner child (not sure much encouragement was needed not convinced I've ever really grown up!) and once a week go on a "date" by myself. Before you laugh or say I've not got time for that really thing about it, it can be as little as an hour or as much as a whole day but it is time for you to be really selfish and do something silly or inspiring in order to feed your creativity. Did it work? I'm not sure hopefully one day my novels will support the theory, but it brought Trevor into my life. Believe it or not when trying to think what I should do for my date a thought popped into my head that I'd never had my own dinosaur when I was little and I would have liked one! So off I went to the Early Learning Centre and took about 30 minutes looking at all of the various types of dinosaurs and Trevor was the result. I have to admit I had great fun and wouldn't even let the sales assistant wrap him for me and put him right into my bag instead! Still to this day I can't help smiling when I see him on my bookcase, so perhaps its time to resurrect my weekly dates to see if they can inspire me further?! Who knows...