22 July 2013

Write On Link Up Week 4





How did you find this week's writing prompts?

I didn't know where I was going to find the time to write this week, but Sarah from Older Mum in a Muddle suggested a Write In on Sunday evening. A few of us agreed to write from 8-10pm. I joined in, after watching the end of the Tour de France (whoop), and wrote a 1500 word story. Amazing what you can do when you try.

I chose prompt 2 - Turning Point 

‘Fish and chips’ I said.
‘What do you want?’ he asked, again.
‘Fish and chips?’
‘What do you want?’ he shouted.
‘Fish and chips!’ I shouted back, thinking he hadn’t heard me.
‘If you don’t tell me what you want I won’t get you anything’ he bellowed.
This was getting silly. I started chuckling.
‘Fish and chips?’
The door slammed. Oh.

I didn’t get any fish or chips. Apparently I should have specified cod or haddock, or a battered saveloy.

How did I end up here? How did I end up living with an ogre? Not a loveable, green Shrek-like ogre. Oh no, my ogre was a joyless, angry wine-guzzler. He had Shrek’s eyes though. Or maybe his eyes were more toad-like. They could flick from whatever TV programme he was watching to give me ‘the look’, then flick back again. When I got ‘the look’ I knew I’d said something to upset him. He wouldn’t tell me that this was the case, but the eyes had it.

Of course I do know how I ended up here. I had been single for a while. I was feeling unloved. I looked for stuff on Ebay, this took hours. I spent far too much time laying on the sofa reading glossy celebrity magazines. I had put on weight, a lot of weight. I wanted to be like every other woman I saw. They all looked happy, confident and glossy. They went on dates, they had someone. I was lonely.

I joined an internet dating site. I wrote my biography. I said I loved the theatre, cinema, eating out, swimming and walking. It wasn’t true of course, apart from the eating part. I found an old photo, a ten stone photo. You couldn’t really see me, I was too far away. It was my favourite photo of me. I sat back and waited for the flood of date offers.

My standards were low. They were so low down on the low scale that I would have accepted a date with Darren Day (not that he’d have asked me out, what with me weighing fourteen stone and all).

I checked my email every day. Eventually Richard contacted me. We exchanged emails for a while, well for two days, before he asked to meet me. He sounded nice enough, he flattered me on my figure. He liked the theatre, cinema, eating out, swimming and walking too. What am amazing coincidence! I wouldn’t have described him as my ideal man when I saw his photo. More Wayne Rooney than George Clooney, but looks aren’t everything.

The warning signs were there right from the start. I chose to ignore them, after all I was on a date. Richard had clearly lied about his height. He didn’t offer to buy the first drink. He didn’t laugh at my jokes, but laughed heartily at his own. When we were discussing a staff issue I had at work he told me what I should have done to think about the blue sky, out of the box. He told me he’d had an argument with his boss that day and his boss was a tosser.

Still, woo hoo and yay, I had a boyfriend!

Richard lost his job the following month due to a clash of personalities. He also lost his company car so could I drive over to his house and stay there most evenings? After a few weeks we decided I should sell my house and move in with him. Instead of paying my mortgage I could help him out with his, just while he looked for another job. An executive post. A senior management position. Not like my front-line supervisory management position.

He told me he loved me so much. But only so much. How we laughed at his witticism. When I asked him ‘no really, why do you love me?’ – I know, I was asking for trouble – he said it was because I had big tits. I laughed the first time, but after hearing it again and again I think he meant it. The charmer.

We booked a romantic holiday to Barbados. We joked about getting married on the beach, but not even I was that depressed. I upset him in a shop, on a tour of the island. We walked back to the tour bus in silence. The silence continued until we were sat in the bar that evening, drinking our all-inclusive rum punches. I plucked up the courage to ask what was wrong. After the usual rounds of ‘nothing’s wrong’ and ‘are you sure?’ Richard told me what was bothering him. Why didn’t I buy him any dollars to put in his wallet so he could buy the map he wanted?

The map he wanted was rolled up on his suitcase. I'd bought it for him.

I was starting to realise that my life was resembling a bad soap opera. I thought of myself as a tragic down-trodden character. A woman driven to drink by a verbally abusive passive-aggressive partner. You see it all the time in Walford.

Yes, I’d had far too much to drink, but this had fuelled the delusions of cockney princess in me. He wouldn’t dance with me so I stood in the middle of the dance floor and sobbed.

That night in our room we had a shouting scene. We ended our relationship. We just didn’t get on.  It was over. Dum dum dum dum da da dum.

In the morning we clung together to ease our lonely hangovers. We made up. There was a love scene.

The next few months were less like a soap opera and more like the film ‘The Snake Pit’.  In this film the baddies try to convince Vivienne Leigh that she is losing her mind. The film is truly terrifying if you have ever felt like you may lose control of your sanity.

I was on edge the whole time. I alternated between standing up for myself and facing the wrathful consequences, and acquiesing. The latter course of action resulted in my hands shaking. Despite all my shaky efforts at keeping the peace I still upset him.

He hadn’t found another job, I guess there’s not much call for miserable senior executives. Besides, going to work would take him away from his main hobby of looking at  porn on the internet. Filling my computer with viruses, and videos of big girls taking baths.

One weekend I accidentally knocked a wine glass behind an occasional table. When I moved it I discovered the decomposing remains of a bird, a victim of the cat. I’m no forensic scientist, but that bird had been there for quite some time.  When I suggested to Richard that he could perhaps, possibly, if it’s not too much trouble, maybe do a tiny bit more housework during the day while I was at work, he flicked me ‘the look’. I spent the rest of the weekend cleaning his house.

We read ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’ and tried to analyse our relationship. Perhaps we didn’t get on because we were men and women. He needed time in his cave apparently. I wished I was in another cave.

I was worried about his drinking. He guzzled two bottles of red wine every night. Sometimes I joined in, trying to get my fair share of the wine rack. I asked him once why he drank so much. He told me I drove him to it by being such a crazy bitch.

I went to work everyday and spent the first twenty minutes in my friend Jane’s office sobbing in frustration. I told her about the latest argument.  ‘Bastard’ she said. She told me to leave him. ‘I’m trying to make it work’ I said.

Jane and I discussed my relationship every lunchtime. I knew I’d made the wrong choice, but I had nowhere to go.  I knew I should leave, but then I’d have to admit to everyone that the whirlwind romance had run out of puff. I didn’t want everyone to know that I’d been a total idiot. I was ashamed of myself. My self-esteem couldn’t be any lower. She told me to leave him.

The final straw came when Richard offered to look at bungalows for my elderly parent to move into. I said that I would prefer to see them myself as I knew my family better than he did. He said I’d hurt his feelings. My parent were going to have to leave the house they had lived in for forty years and Richard had hurt feelings. Diddums.

I went into work the next day and told Jane that I was leaving Richard. She didn’t believe me. The smile on my face eventually convinced her that I'd reached a turning point. She did a victory dance and bought cakes.

I had lost myself, but in ditching the ogre I found some self-respect.


Richard had a theory about everything. His favourite was ‘All men are bastards, all women are crazy’. Cause and effect?

***

This needs a lot of little editing and more character development, especially for the narrator, less tell and more show, actually the whole thing needs re-writing, but it felt good to hammer something out.

***

Do please add your link below.

There is still plenty of time to join in. You will find this week's writing prompts here.

It would be great if you could visit some, or all, of the other blogs taking part in the Write On Link Up this week. I'd love it if we could support one another in our efforts to just write.

I'll be back in September for more Write On, I hope you'll all join me then.

In the meantime, the link up is open...

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19 July 2013

Reasons to Love Living in Milton Keynes #9



Sausages AND cider?

I bet you ALL wish you lived in Milton Keynes right about now.



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18 July 2013

Weight Loss Coaching - Six Weeks In


Six weeks ago I started a twelve week Weight Loss Coaching programme with Dawn Walton from Think It Change It Cognitive Hypnotherapy and Think Change Become Life Coaching. This is a review. I am not paying for the course, but I am taking as seriously as if I had parted with some cash.

So, how is it going?

My answer will depend on which day you ask me. Some days I would say it's going really well and I feel completely in control. Other days, not so well. Even on a bad day, where my eating seems out of control, I'm still able to write down three positive changes that I've noticed that day.

I have lost eleven pounds since I've been listening daily to my ten minute MP3.

I'm still not cured. I'm still worried I'll always go back to my fall-back position of emotional binge eating.

BUT

The changes I have noticed in my eating habits, in my relationship with food and in my feelings towards exercise are enormous.

I eat loads of fruit and vegetables. I enjoy eating. I no longer feel guilty if I eat a 'bad' food. I am putting less on my plate. When I eat I listen to my body and stop eating as soon as I feel full. Most of the time I save my dinner leftovers for my lunch the next day (I was bought up as a member of the Clean Plate Club and I hate to waste food).

I now walk everywhere. I run up stairs. I don't leave things at the bottom of the stairs to take up later, I run up with them there and then. I can run after my children. I've even shown them how to skip.

I feel great in my clothes. I'm buying smaller sizes, confident that I'll get in them. I'm feeling good about myself, taking care of my skin, painting my nails. I go out and don't worry that people are looking at me, feeling disgusted by my size. I've had my hair cut short because I no longer have a double chin to try to disguise.

I am still struggling with eating mindfully. Some days I can do it, other days I can't. I'm not beating myself up over it. I accept that it is hard and I'm pleased that I manage it some of the time. Eating mindfully is all about connecting your mind and body. You listen to your body, to what it needs. You can eat what you want when you want it, so long as you stop when you have had enough.

When I started eating mindfully I got terribly upset. After years of being told what not to eat, what to eat, when to eat it, you are free to eat anything and I found it unbelievably stressful. I wasn't sure I could do it. I didn't know which way was up for a while. My conscious mind could not cope with this freedom. When Dawn asked me to eat what I wanted for a week, I freaked out, but I tried it and managed it for two days.

I'm still not fully eating mindfully. I'm still going to Slimming World and pretty much following their eating plan. This is causing a conflict, but I don't yet feel confident enough to walk away from regular weigh-ins. I'm worried if I stop going I'll put back on all the weight I have lost, even though I know there is another way.

I expect to talk about this with Dawn the next time we Skype. In between these sessions Dawn is always available via email and she has been incredibly supportive.

Sorry I couldn't be clearer about how it's going. In summary I would say that the Weight Loss Coaching is going brilliantly well, but I don't feel cured yet.


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Making T-Shirts with Cricut



I was invited, by Ranieri, for a Cricut blog event in London. They paid my travel expenses, sent me a Cricut Mini and gave me some card from Papermilldirect.co.uk.

I was curious about the Cricut Mini as I make my own cards, but the machine can do far more than help with that. The Cricut machine uses a blade to cut intricate designs out of card, vinyl or sticky iron-on fabric.

I decorated T-shirts for my boys. I chose the teddy bear and monkey from thousands of designs available online. I re-sized them and set the machine going. Once they were finished I was able to peel the designs off and place them on the t-shirts ready for ironing. I was delighted with the finished product. They look professional.

The sky is the limit. You can create anything, from simple text - in any font you can think of - to complex pictures and patterns. The machine takes a little getting used to, but the software is straightforward.



I'm looking forward to playing with my Cricut Mini and improving my home-made cards by a factor of around one billion. My husband has his sights set on making his own band t-shirts and I'm going to decorate the boys' bedroom wall with something snazzy in vinyl - maybe some monkey and teddy bear wall art. Watch this space...



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17 July 2013

Keep Calm and Blog On


Blogs Up North Blog On 2013


This Sunday I will be going to the Blog On conference in Manchester, further cementing my position an Honorary Northerner. Until recently I lived in Preston. That counts. It does.

I can't wait to see my old blogging chums and meet some new ones. The sessions look great and I know Laura has been working tirelessly with her team to pull this event together.

So, for those who don't know me, I'm Sandy Calico. I've been blogging for four years. You can follow me in all the usual places, links are in the sidebar.

I'm 5'7" tall and not quite as fat as I used to be. My hair is now in a short grey bob.

This is me, Mum of the Year




I won't have a child on my lap on Sunday, but I may have a drink...

Do come and say hello.



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Pampers #Babyblanket (Sponsored Post)




Pampers is encouraging the nation to celebrate the birth of the royal baby by sharing their good wishes and support via Twitter using #babyblanket and on the Pampers website over the next two weeks.

Pampers will be knitting these messages of support into a baby blanket for the new parents, and are hoping to create the world’s largest baby blanket composed of best wishes.  For every message sent to the blanket, Pampers will be donating a nappy to family support charity Home-Start UK (aiming to reach a quarter of a million nappies).

You can keep up to date with how Pampers is getting on with their record-breaking attempt by viewing a live stream at http://www.pampers.co.uk/babyblanket. The blanket will also be being knitted live at Westfield Shopping Centre (Shepherd’s Bush) between 18 - 21 July, and then will be unveiled later this month at a location to-be-confirmed!  Once the blanket has been completed, Pampers will be donating framed sections of the blanket to a number of children’s hospitals across the UK.

I would wish any new baby, royal or not, a lifetime of love.

Add your wish to the royal baby blanket now!


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Write On Prompts Week 4




It's Week 4 of Write On.

Thank you to everyone who took part in Week 3. Each week I am impressed by the diversity and creativity on display.

Announcement
This will be the last Write On for six weeks. My children start their summer holidays next week and I want to be out and about with them, enjoying our time together. I don't want to feel tied to my laptop, or feel under pressure to blog.

I've loved running Write On. It has achieved everything I hoped, and more. I wanted to set myself the challenge of writing something different each week and I have. I've even written a short story. I'd got out of the habit of just writing. I have been delighted that so many of you have joined in too. There have been some amazing pieces published on blogs. I hope you don't mind taking a break and that you will join me when Write On starts again in September.


I do hope that this week's prompts will inspire you to take part, one last time before the summer break.

How to Write On
  • Chose a writing prompt from the list below (I'll set three new prompts each Wednesday).
  • Write a blog post inspired by a prompt (or do all three). You can write in any way you choose, whether that be fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, stream of consciousness, essay or 'just' a regular blog post.
  • Include the Write On badge in your blog post, if you like (just copy and paste the code from the top of the sidebar or bottom of this post).
  • Publish your post any time from now.
  • I'll publish my post, inspired by one of the prompts, on Monday.
  • Link up your blog post (The linky goes live at 9am on Monday and stays open for a week).
  • I will comment on and share all of your posts.
  • It would be great if you could read and comment on some, or all, of the posts too.

These writing prompts are for everybody. Even if you wouldn't call yourself a writer, you are still writing on your blog. Have a go. Express yourself. Stretch yourself, you never know what might happen. There are no rules. Try to enjoy just writing.

***

Write On Prompts - Week 4


1) One Day
If you've read One Day by David Nicholls, you'll know that each chapter tells us what happens on a particular day each year. Chose one day that is significant to you and tell us what happened on that day in two or more different years. You could choose your birthday and describe a typical birthday both before and after children, for example.

2) The Turning Point
What was the major turning point in your life? Alternatively use a turning point to change the life of a character in a story.

3) Red
What does the colour red evoke? How does red make you feel? You could write about seeing red or going red.

***

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Baby Baby

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Crafting with Bosch and Cherry Healey



Last month I decided I was well enough, following quite a serious illness, to travel into London on the train for a blog event. I'm glad I went.

Bosch had invited bloggers for an evening of crafting at Homemade London, near Marble Arch, with friendly TV presenter Cherry Healey. Kelly from Domestic Goddesque was there too. She wrote about her experience in Bish Bash Bosch. She is a blogging genius, that is the best blog post title I have ever seen. 

We chatted about our DIY experience - or lack thereof. There were representatives from Bosch there to answer our questions and to demonstrate all the products in their hand-held range.

I had a go with a mini-sander and was impressed with how easy it was to use. It was comfortable to hold and we made short work of sanding a dining chair.

I also had my first ever play with a glue gun. The Bosch Glue Pen is small, light and simple to operate. I used it to decorate a birdhouse. I was amazed at my restraint when presented with a table full of crafting gorgeousness that I went for the less is more approach. Cherry judged my birdhouse to be the best decorated. I think it was the wallpaper on the underside of the lid and the mirror inside for the birds that swung it. My prize was a Bosch Cordless Screwdriver. Oh yes, I was able to treat my husband on Father's Day this year.

I came away feeling pleased that I was well enough to have a fun evening out with great company. I was also impressed with the quality of the Bosch tools, although the glue in the glue pen wasn't the best - some of my mosaic tiles fell off on the journey home. Having said that, I'm sure the birds won't mind. 

Thank you to Bosch for my prize and for my goody bag which contained a Glue Pen. Bosch are pretty lively on Twitter, you can follow them for tips and competitions.


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16 July 2013

Gifts for Teacher




It's always difficult at this time of year. Should you get your child's teacher an end of year gift? You want to show your appreciation and, more importantly, your child wants to show their teacher how much they've enjoyed being with them since September.

On the other hand, I know teachers don't want or need thirty gifts. They do treasure a handwritten card from the child more than any number of boxes of chocolates. Having said that, I know they all enjoyed the bottles of wine we gave them for Christmas. Some of them sent thank you cards to the children saying thank you for the wine you gave me for Christmas, I liked it very much.

This year I was looking for a compromise. Between them my boys have four part time Class Teachers and four full time Teaching Assistants. That's eight gifts, plus Lunchtime Supervisors, and not forgetting the office staff.  So I decided on token gifts, costing less than £2 each, and a handwritten card. We had already made the cards using leaf rubbings.





I managed to find some china mugs in the John Lewis Clearance, £1.50 for four. We then went to the supermarket and looked for small items to put in the mugs. We decided on a sachet of hot chocolate, a packet of marshmallows, a mini-muffin, a wrapped cake and some sweets.

We filled each mug, then wrapped it in cellophane (bought from Ebay). I tied the cellophane with an elastic band (supplied free of charge by Royal Mail).





The final decoration was the handwritten left-rubbing card. After a year in Reception, both boys were happy to demonstrate their handwriting.

I hope the staff will be happy with a mug full of goodies. I would be.

What do you give your children's teachers?







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15 July 2013

Write On Link Up Week 3






How did you get on with this week's writing prompts?



I chose prompt 3 - Heat 

They ran to stand behind the grey double doors, listening to the sirens. Her heart was thudding, her breathing was erratic. She looked at her partner, Steve. They were ready. Suddenly she heard the boss in her earpiece,

'Team 1. GO GO GO!'

They nodded, their training kicked in. She opened the heavy door, he covered their entry. The hall was dark, but filled with noise. She hoped they would recognise their target. She heard shots, saw flashes. There was a body on the floor, face down. Steve gave her the signal. He lifted the torso of the body by the shoulders. It was their target. As their target shouted and raised his gun at her, she fired hers twice. There was a body on the floor, face down. Again.

The hall lights went on. The sirens stopped. The target got up and clapped,

'Well done, perfect'.

The rest of the team gathered round, grinning like Cheshire cats.

Sandy's hands were shaking. Was it adrenaline, exhilaration or shock? She felt the weight of the gun in her hands. She had fired it twice, without thinking. Apparently this was a replica of the gun that had killed Jill Dando. That didn't matter.

It felt good, packing heat. She felt ashamed, but - oh- it felt so good.

After lunch: diffusing a bomb.


***

Yep, folks, this was me on a team building course in the late '90's. We had spy training, then pretended to be agents. It was one of the best - and most appalling - experiences of my life.


***

Do please add your link below.

There is still plenty of time to join in. You will find this week's writing prompts here.

It would be great if you could visit some, or all, of the other blogs taking part in the Write On Link Up this week. I'd love it if we could support one another in our efforts to just write.

Do come back on Wednesday when I'll be posting three new writing prompts for you. I am open to suggestions. What would you like to write about? What would you like to read about? Let me know.

In the meantime, the link up is open...

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11 July 2013

Easy Leaf Rubbing Cards and Gift Tags




My children recently started collecting leaves on the walk home from school. One of their teachers had shown them how to do leaf rubbing.

Leaf rubbing is so simple, even for a small child. If they can hold a crayon, they can do leaf rubbing.

I was so impressed with my boys' art work that I decided to turn their leaf rubbings into cards and gift tags.

We're going to use the gift tags on their thank you teacher gifts.




To make gift tags you will need:

Leaves
Crayons
White paper
Coloured card
Scissors
A paper slicer
Double sided tape or glue
A hole punch

How to make gift tags:



Place your leaves on a flat surface.

Carefully place a sheet of white paper on top.

Hold it steady with one hand and rub over the leaves, through the paper, with the flat edge of a crayon.




Cut out your leaves, either freehand with scissors, or in rectangles with the paper slicer. This works well with several small leaves together.





Mount your cut out leaves on card with tape or glue.

Either cut out your mounted leaves (with a border) freehand or using the paper slicer.




Punch a hole in one corner, ready to thread with ribbon or string to make a gift tag, or stick to a pre-folded blank card.

We have made a pile of large gift tags to use as thank you teacher cards. Any leftover can be used to decorate birthday presents.



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10 July 2013

Write On Prompts Week 3




It's week 3 already. Thank you to everyone who took part in Week 2 and made it such a friendly and supportive link up. Again there were some great blog posts and a a few super stories. You're a creative and talented bunch.

I do hope that this week's prompts will inspire you to take part in Write On.

How to Write On
  • Chose a writing prompt from the list below (I'll set three new prompts each Wednesday).
  • Write a blog post inspired by a prompt (or do all three). You can write in any way you choose, whether that be fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, stream of consciousness, essay or 'just' a regular blog post.
  • Include the Write On badge in your blog post, if you like (just copy and paste the code from the top of the sidebar or bottom of this post).
  • Publish your post between now and Monday.
  • I'll publish my post, inspired by one of the prompts, on Monday.
  • Link up your blog post (The linky goes live at 9am on Monday and stays open for a week).
  • I will comment on and share all of your posts.
  • It would be great if you could read and comment on some, or all, of the posts too.

These writing prompts are for everybody. Even if you wouldn't call yourself a writer, you are still writing on your blog. Have a go. Express yourself. Stretch yourself, you never know what might happen. There are no rules. Try to enjoy just writing.

***

Write On Prompts - Week 3

When I was thinking about setting up Write On, I filled many pages of a new notebook (oh how I love stationery) with ideas for writing prompts. I've got enough to keep us going for as long as you want writing inspiration. This week I saw one of my prompts on another blog - a complete coincidence and proof that great minds think alike.

1) If I won the Lottery...
Boo, Roo and Tigger Too wrote about her dream this week. What she chooses to buy with her lottery win may surprise you. What would you do if you won the big one? How would you spend your millions? Would it make you happy? I won a massive £2.80 on the Euromillions last night. I've already spent it on sweets - not much else to say about with that win really.

2) Regrets.
Do you regret the things you have done, or the things you didn't have the courage to do?

3) Heat.
This prompt is inspired by the sunny weather, but feel free to let your imagination run away with you. What feelings or memories does the word heat evoke?


***

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Baby Baby

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9 July 2013

I Sang at the O2 with Rock Choir

Yes, I really did perform at the O2.




I was one of 12,000 people singing and dancing on Saturday evening at the O2 Arena in London.

I joined the Milton Keynes Rock Choir last year after a taster session at Blog it for Babies in St Albans organised by Actually Mummy (who was also at the O2). We rehearse each week in term time. I have made some wonderful friends. We sing, we dance, we laugh, we chat and we socialise.

WE ROCK.

On Saturday it was Rock Choir Live.





There is nothing quite like singing with 12,000 people in a choir. You get goosebumps, your eyes leak and your hands hurt from clapping.




The highlights for me were Something Inside So Strong, Walking on Broken Glass, Anytime You Need a Friend, Livin' on a Prayer, Where You Lead and Does Your Mother Know?

Here is just a taste of what it was like.





I also got to take part in an impromptu flash mob outside the O2 after the performance. Two words: utter joy.




The coach trip back to MK was memorable as one of my fellow Rockies, Tim, took the place of our choir leader, Lottie, and conducted a sing-song all the way up the M1. When was the last time you heard 73 adults singing The Wheels on the Bus? Exactly. Hilarity ensued...

I'm looking forward to September where there's a rumour we'll be learning I Believe in a Thing Called Love. Rock on.



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8 July 2013

Write On Link Up Week 2




How did you get on with this week's writing prompts?

I have to admit to staring at a blank sheet of paper for quite some time this week. I guess I feel under pressure to write an amazing piece of short fiction or a stunning blog post, Write On is my baby after all. It's early days though. I see myself as a facilitator, as leading by example is just not happening right now.

So I shall follow my own advice to you, and that is to just write...


I chose prompt 1 - Overheard

Anna's limo pulled up at the Savoy. She took a deep breath and fixed her face into her trademark enigmatic smile. The door opened and she was blinded by hundreds of camera flashes. She turned in her seat, knees together, and gracefully slid out of the car. She turned towards the shouts, dropped one hip and smouldered. As the next car pulled up she turned and stalked up the red carpet. She was wearing the skin-tight poppy-red silk Prada dress and black skyscraper Laboutins. She was a stunning swan on the surface, but underneath she was an ugly duckling, padding frantically. She felt sick. Was he already here?

Anna's right hand man and chief bag carrier, Mario, met her just inside. 'Darling, you look hot. I'd do you myself right here if that cute concierge wasn't eyeing me up, I don't want to spoil my chances...'. Anna rolled her eyes and told him to shut up. 'Is he here?' she hissed. 'No, honey, not yet'. Mario took Anna's elbow and slowly led her down the sweeping staircase into the ballroom. She felt all eyes on her, but there was no one here she was interested in seeing - yet.

Safely deposited at her table, Mario poured Anna a glass of champagne. Before she could take a sip, Leigh and Petra tottered over, in their matching Burberry jumpsuits and Tango-tans. They air-kissed her and spoke over one another like a babbling two-headed monster, 'How are you, darling? Are you here with Anthony? We heard you and he were on a break, but we couldn't believe it. We had to see for ourselves. We just wanted to make sure you're okay'.

Anna's composure broke, just for a second, bile rose in her throat. She swallowed and smiled at the two orange assassins. The smile did not reach her eyes. 'We're fine, couldn't be better actually', she said, trying to convince herself more than anyone else. Petra and Leigh had already moved on to their next victim. Anna was left alone. She had a mouthful of champagne and wished she could leave. She had shown her face, put in an appearance, been photographed.

A hand touched her gently on the shoulder. Her heart stopped and she slowly turned. It was Patrick, the Executive Producer of her last film. Her sinking heart started again. Patrick asked her to dance. He was such a sweetie she couldn't refuse. They shuffled onto the dance floor. After a few slow revolutions, Anna saw Anthony striding across the dance floor towards her. 'Excuse me, Patrick.', he said as he grabbed Anna's wrist.

***

I feel better for just writing something, anything, and seeing where my story took me. It's not my usual style, but I enjoyed it.

Writing is like physical exercise in many ways. Sometimes you stop for a while and you get used to doing less. When you start again, it can be difficult and painful. Pretty soon muscle memory takes over and it gets a whole lot easier. You get into a routine and it becomes a habit. Hopefully I won't ache too much in the morning...

***

Do please add your link below.

There is still plenty of time to join in. You will find this week's writing prompts here.

It would be great if you could visit some, or all, of the other blogs taking part in the Write On Link Up this week. I'd love it if we could support one another in our efforts to just write.

Do come back on Wednesday when I'll be posting three new writing prompts for you. I am open to suggestions. What would you like to write about? What would you like to read about? Let me know.

In the meantime, the link up is open...


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3 July 2013

The Farmhouse Kitchen

Many years ago I saw my dream kitchen. It belonged to the owner of a cattery I used to take my cat to (funnily enough). She had a massive kitchen. It was large and rectangular in shape. The cupboard doors were made from honey coloured pine. There was an aga, of course, throwing out warmth and the smells of baking. Cookery books were piled up everywhere and there were herbs growing on the windowsill above the huge ceramic sink. There were also modern gadgets; a KitchenAid and a snazzy coffee machine. She also had one of those American style fridges that are twice the width of a normal fridge.

I had serious kitchen envy.

The part of her kitchen that I loved the most was the enormous table that sat comfortably in the middle of the room . It was made from a warm, warn wood. The chairs were made from the same wood. On each chair was a blue cushion and on each cushion was a sleeping blue cat. The table must have seated twelve people (or cats) quite easily. On her table was a jug of tulips, a blue coffee mug and a newspaper.

I've always wanted a kitchen like that.

When we were looking for our house, I fell in love with our kitchen. It's not huge, there's only room for a standard sized oven and fridge. There is room for a table at one end. It only seats four, but it makes me happy. My kitchen is warm in the winter and cool in the summer. When the sun is blazing outside it's great to retreat indoors. Our table gets a lot of use. It's my desk during the day and in the evening. The children use it to do their reading homework and to build their Lego models. We also eat every meal there. 

My kitchen is great, but it's not quite my dream kitchen. I must have bored Andy with talk of the farmhouse kitchen at the cattery. One day recently we were in the middle of a sort out. Some large boxes were left in the middle of the kitchen floor for a few days. They were just the right size for book bags to be dumped on them.

Once the boxes had been there for a few days, I asked Andy when they were going to go back into the garage. He said to me You said you always wanted farmyard kitchen. I replied, No, I always wanted a farmhouse kitchen. On reflection I think he was right the first time. I mean, would you like these in your kitchen?






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Write On Prompts Week 2




I can't even begin to tell you how delighted I am that 12 bloggers linked up with Week 1 of Write On. There were some seriously good blog posts and a few fantastic short stories. You're a talented bunch. It was wonderful to see everyone reading all of the posts and commenting too. I hope this has encouraged those that did take part to have another go this week.

I do hope that this week's prompts will inspire you to take part in Write On.

How to Write On
  • Chose a writing prompt from the list below (I'll set three new prompts each Wednesday).
  • Write a blog post inspired by a prompt (or do all three). You can write in any way you choose, whether that be fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, stream of consciousness, essay or 'just' a regular blog post.
  • Include my shiny new badge in your blog post, if you like (just copy and paste the code from the top of the sidebar or bottom of this post).
  • Publish your post between now and Monday.
  • I'll publish my post, inspired by one of the prompts, on Monday.
  • Link up your blog post (The linky goes live at 9am on Monday).
  • I will attempt to comment on and share all of your posts.
  • It would be great if you could read and comment on some, or all, of the posts too.

These writing prompts are for everybody. Even if you wouldn't call yourself a writer, you are still writing on your blog. Have a go. Express yourself. Stretch yourself, you never know what might happen. There are no rules. Try to enjoy just writing.

***

Write On Prompts - Week 2

1) Overheard.
Be an eavesdropper this week. People are endlessly fascinating. You could write about what you have heard, or write a short story.

2) A day off.
What would you do if you have a day off? How would you spend your time if you had no responsibilities for just one day?

3) Too Much Information.
How much should we share online? Where do you draw the line between openly sharing and keeping aspects of your life private? Can you still be honest if you are holding back?



***

Here is the shiny badge code

Baby Baby

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1 July 2013

Write On Link Up - Week 1




How did you get on with the prompts for Week 1?

I've already read some excellent stories, inspired by the Week 1 prompts, and I'm looking forward to reading more. It appears that a few of you were keen to take up the challenge to just write, and that makes me ecstatically happy.

I intended to write a piece of short fiction this week, but it just didn't happen. Instead I've opted for a traditional blog post.

I chose prompt 1 - I have never...


I have never been to a music festival.

I've been to one day mega-gigs, but never to a festival that required you to stay overnight. In a tent.

I adore live music, love it, but I don't do camping. I don't stay anywhere without an en-suite toilet.

I see the coverage of Glastonbury on the television and ALL I think about is the state of the toilets and how far they are from the tents. Too close and being downwind would require a permanent peg on the nose. Too far and you may not make it in time (I've had two children within twelve months - when you gotta go you gotta go). Add to this alcohol consumption and queues and well, frankly, it's my idea of hell.

Maybe if I'd taken the plunge when I was younger I'd be a Glasto-devotee by now, dusting off my fairy wings and battered festival hat year after year. Now, though, wi-i-ild horses couldn't drag me there.

Andy and I watch the coverage from the comfort of our living room. We have beers in the fridge and three toilets to choose from. We can also fast forward the entire Rolling Stones set or change the channel to find a favourite band. I looked at the line-up this year and was underwhelmed. I mean, Rita Ora? Professor Plum Green? Not my cup of tea at all. There are also so many earnest young lads in identikit guitar bands these days. I can't tell my Vampire Weekend from my Parma Violets. YES, I KNOW I'M SHOWING MY AGE. I wouldn't mind seeing Rufus Wainwright, Nick Cave, Laura Mvula or Alabama Shakes, but I would not risk trenchfoot or third degree sunburn (depending on the weather) to do so. I'll wait for them to play a venue near me. One that has toilets.

I know plenty of people who go to festivals and love them, but I don't think they're for me. Now excuse me, I need to powder my nose. I'm going to pause Mumford & Sons and use my Quilted Velvet and Molton Brown AND the loo is only eleven steps away. What?

***

So, that's my Week 1 offering.

Do please add your link below (assuming that it works, of course. This is the first time I've used Inlinkz).

There is still plenty of time to join in. You will find this week's writing prompts here.

It would be great if you could visit some, or all, of the other blogs taking part in the Write On Link Up this week. I'd love it if we could support one another in our efforts to just write.

Do come back on Wednesday when I'll be posting three new writing prompts for you. I am open to suggestions. What would you like to write about? What would you like to read about? Let me know.

In the meantime, the link up is open...







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