Me and my mum are heading to Scotland again. Its somewhere we both love to be, even if it means a nine hour train to get there. It has stunning scenery and lovely people, and has that magical quality only possible beaten by Amsterdam, but only just. Plus there’s no flying, which my mum isn’t… Continue reading Orkney
A Brilliant Birthday Week
I had a brilliant birthday week, possibly one of the best. I always try to make it special somehow, and my other half usually takes me out for the day (apart from during Covid years of course) This year, I started by attending the wonderful WHQ Weekender, in Brighton. I had lots of fun writing… Continue reading A Brilliant Birthday Week
An Accessible Weekend
I have a writing group I’m part of called Writers HQ. Most of it is based online, with forums and Zoom retreats and weekly challenges. But occasionally, they do in person events too. Recently, they did a Weekender, in Brighton. Brighton isn’t too far from where I live, and wasn’t too expensive, with a recent… Continue reading An Accessible Weekend
Stalked by the Kraken
I’m not a very big romance novel reader. I guess I usually prefer fantasy. And I guess I reviewed too many romance novels in that book reviewer role. They just became too predictable. Man doesn’t like woman. Woman doesn’t like man. But they end up together, somehow work it all out and get together. There’s… Continue reading Stalked by the Kraken
Russell Square Gardens
One of my favourite places is Russell Square Gardens. Its about five minutes from the office, and is a quiet green space in the middle of the busy London streets. There’s lots of open spaces, with benches to sit on, and a pizza place. I first discovered it in the autumn, when I was missing… Continue reading Russell Square Gardens
The Wellcome Collection Day
Yesterday, I had one of my worst days. So I struggle with anxiety, and sensory overload. I’m not very good at new environments, situations, places, or office spaces full of noisy people. Yesterday, I had to go to a big staff event, in London. I knew it would be loud and noisy, but I wanted… Continue reading The Wellcome Collection Day
Wizards vs Aliens
One of my favourite programmes of all time is Wizards vs Aliens. It’s on iPlayer, and it’s about Tom Clarke, a teenage boy wizard who has to deal with school life and aliens called the Necross, from outer space, who want to feast on the wizards magic. And its brilliant. It has a stellar soundtrack,… Continue reading Wizards vs Aliens
Designer of Worlds
There are many programmes, movies, and documentaries about Tolkien. But that one was the best. Its called J.R.R.Tolkien: Designer of Wolrds and it was fantastic. They delved into all his works, including the lost tales and the silmarillion. They told his story, properly, fully, from beginning to end. There was soft music, set to woodlands… Continue reading Designer of Worlds
Remembrance Day
The thing is, I understand. I learnt about the war, and the holocaust at school and as an adult too. But its too much. I know that millions of people died. And its too much. To think of all those people that died, the horrors they endured, their pains, the futures they had planned erased,… Continue reading Remembrance Day
Sweetest Dreams
Lately, I’ve been trying a sleepy tea, and its been helping. I was a bit sceptical, at first. I’ve tried them before, and they haven’t done much for me. Or I’ve found them to not taste very nice. Or the chamomile is too strong, and ruins it. But the other weekend, I was in a… Continue reading Sweetest Dreams