Posted in Writing

Reverting to Type

English: Vector typewriter
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We’re all used to October being a month of change, with leaves changing colour and clocks turning back, but for me this month heralds an even  bigger transformation than usual: I’m giving up my part-time day job to write full-time.

I’m very excited at this prospect. It’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was a child, when I remember being made to read to the whole of my infants’ school a story that I’d written about a witch.

I’m slightly embarrassed to have taken nearly half a century to achieve my childhood dream, but according to an informal survey I’ve just conducted, I’m actually ahead of the game. Although my friends remember their early career ambitions, few have yet to fulfil them.

Which is probably just as well, or the world would be overcrowded with ballet dancers, gymnasts, engine drivers and airline pilots. The good news is that there would also be plenty of air hostesses to look after the pilots, and enough hairdressers to keep them all well groomed.

Some of my friends’ ambitions were less predictable. Libi, for example, planned to be either a nun or a stripper, whereas Norio was torn between a fashion designer and “a digger of wells in Africa”.

Sam’s objective was admirably broad: “I wanted to be everything.” Cleverly, she has achieved her aim, at least by proxy: she became a careers advisor.

But even Sam’s ambitious plan was trumped by my friend Lucienne’s.

“I wanted to be the Queen,” she confessed. “I am very disappointed that I am merely a writer.”

Well, that’s put me in my place!

story in my exercise book fro

With thanks to everyone who took part in this survey: Jo, Liz, Jacky, 2 x Jackies, Kate, Claudia, Jade, Jo, Craig, James, 2 x Sandras, Libi, Letty, Liz, Simone, Sam, Lorraine, Norio, Sue, Charlotte, Beth, Maurice, Stephen, Cindy, Sara, Debbie, Jim, Corrina, Susannah, 2 x Louise, Beverley, plus lots of others who did go on to become writers even if it wasn’t their childhood ambition: Helena Mallett, Joanne Phillips, Catriona Troth, Lindsay Stanberry Flynn, Christine Nolfi, Linda Gillard, Bart van Goethem, Peter St John, Stuart MacAllister, Darlene Elizabeth Williams, Dinah Reed, Anna Belfrage, Caz Greenham, Bobbie Coelho, Carol Edgerley  & Alison Morton!

(This article first appeared in the Hawkesbury Parish News, October 2013)

Posted in Writing

One Lovely Blog Award

Logo of the One Lovely Blog AwardMany thanks to the wonderful flash fiction writer and blogger, Helena Mallett, for nominating me for the One Lovely Blog Award! The rules are at the foot of this page.

As stipulated in these rules, I must now tell you seven random things about myself and nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.

Seven Random Things About Me

Hmm. What might regular readers of my blog not already know about me? Here are my carefully considered seven things, roughly in chronological order…

  1. When I was a child, Edward Heath, later to become Prime Minister, was my local MP
  2. I spent my teenage years in Germany, making friends from all over the world at an international school. I’m now enjoying reconnecting with them on Facebook.
  3. 25 years ago, I was  sent to Geneva to edit the inch-thick catalogue of a United Nations trade exhibition. It was to be printed in four languages – only three of which I could understand.
  4. One of my first PR jobs was to write the Wall’s Pocket Money Monitor for Wall’s Ice Cream. Yum.
  5. Although I’ve been married twice (widowed once), I’ve never had a mother-in-law.
  6. I was once kissed by Norman Wisdom (Albanian fans, eat your hearts out).
  7. I’ve been on a day-trip to Albania (but that’s not where I met Norman Wisdom).

My 15 Nominated Bloggers

Please pay a visit to my fifteen nominated blogs. They’re a real mix of styles and subjects, each compelling in its own way. (There are others I’d have chosen but I think they’ve already been nominated! I’m talking about you, Joanne Phillips, for a start!)

Christian Mihai – rising young writer shares his thoughts on writing and other things

Everywhere Once – fab travelogue of a couple travelling the world in a camper van

For The Love Of Bookshops – avid reader celebrates all things bookshoppish

From The Kitchen Sink – lovely mother of six rising to the challenge of special care needs

Jump – brilliant magazine blog for young girls, by young girls

Laura Zera – lovely Canadian traveller connecting cultures from around the globe

Life After Debts – plucky lady rebuilding her life after bankruptcy

Marla Madison – kind and thoughtful writer of a certain age

Moodscope – I can’t recommend this highly enough to lift your spirits and keep them on an even keel

Retiree Diary – beautiful travel photo blog

Sally Jenkins – thoughtful writer sharing advice and opportunities

The Butterfly Storm – aspiring writer on the brink of publishing her first novel

The Tiger Father – killingly funny blog by a stay-at-home Australian dad looking after two small daughters in China

The Mostyn Thomas Journal – touching, thoughtful blog by mother of a child with special needs

Undercover Mummy – brave lady blogging anonymously to get through tricky personal circumstances

And don’t forget to click on my nominator’s link, Helena Mallet, at the top of the page either! I highly recommend her book.

The Rules of the One Lovely Blog Award

1.  Recipients must thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog. 

2. Recipients must list seven random things about yourself.

3.  Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.