Hello

I know, I know.  I've said this often but I really am back.  Really.

So many reasons as to why I haven't been posting.  Work.  Work.  More work.  One of the more exciting reasons, though, is because I'm in the middle of an Open University course, on how to write fiction which I'm loving.  It's quite time consuming but definitely worth it.  

We have many exercises to do and I've decided that I'm going to post those exercises here because I'd really value people's opinions, positive or negative.  These aren't full stories but rather observations.  I'll post one per day so that it doesn't become overwhelming.

Reasons to be grateful, one to five.

I'm struggling to get back into the blogging vibe so I thought I'd make a list of things I'm grateful for this week.  A reminder of how lucky I am, if you like.

The first thing I'm thankful for is the fact that I'm still working.  I know that sounds a bit strange but let me explain... 

Last week I was doing a corporate job in one of London's grand hotels.  There were major problems with the job, (someone had misread the plans, we were running behind etc) so everyone was under pressure.  It was horrible, tempers were frayed.  By the end of the rig day, I just wanted to go and find another job.  But you know what?  Everything was ok in the end.  The job went off fine, the client was pleased and I'm happy to accept more work.  The moral of the story is - it's never as bad as it seems. 

Image via http://memegenerator.net

The second thing I'm grateful for follows on from the first.  It's my job.  It's creative, it's practical and it allows me to see sides of London, of the world which I wouldn't have under normal circumstances.  Recently, I was on a coach driving through west London, gazing out the window, as you do, and I realised that, through the years, I'd done jobs in an awful lot of places along the route, ranging from car parks to office blocks to theatres.  I'm met some fascinating people too - celebrities, remand prisoners, royalty, refugees.  The job drives me mad at times but it's a calling and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The third thing I'm thankful for is my naughty little cat.  She keeps me company, demands food when I'm trying to take important phone calls and is an ace at chasing rolled up paper balls.  I love her.  If that makes me a crazy cat lady, so be it.

Not my actual cat.  Image via http://www.bandofcats.com

 

Fourthly, we're off to Spain soon!!  I can't wait.  We're going to Seville and Valencia.  Any suggestions about things to do, places to eat, etc would be very gratefully received.

Finally, I'm bloody glad that it seems to have stopped raining!  It's nice that popping out to Sainsbury's doesn't have to feel like you're on a North Sea trawler battling the elements. 

The one where I return

Well, it has been a very long time - about six months or so since I wrote anything on here.  Boo!

I think I've sorted out the log on problems which I mentioned previously, so fingers crossed that I'll be able to post more often now.  If I'm completely honest though, part of the problem was, that I just got out of the habit of writing regularly.  Anyway, I do miss it and I want to carry on.

So what's been happening?  Well, the long and the short of it is, I've been very busy work-wise which is both good and bad.  Good because, you know... money and bad because everything else goes by the wayside.  I've been doing a lot of corporate work which does pay well but isn't always the most creative.  I had to turn down Fashion Week jobs this year because I already had stuff booked in.  It was a shame but that's freelancing for you.

So, what's going to happen on the blog this year?  I know no one really cares everyone's waiting with bated breath to find out.  More beauty product reviews - I'm a beauty junkie.  More fashion pieces.  More musings on life. 

I bet you can't wait.