Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

I have finally managed to piece together a business plan. It's been an interesting process, forcing me to make decisions about a way forward, while acknowledging that having a map doesn't force one to stick to it. Who knows what new directions might be offered? The end of one phase of my teaching career has seen good A level and GCSE results from my students. More A and A* grades than I have ever produced before and that is immensely rewarding. At the same time, there is some sadness that Bryan Fletcher, my erstwhile neighbour at Blackhorse Lane, has passed on. He gave love and support to us all over the years and it will be an end of an era to attend his funeral next week. We have a lovely photo of him and Muriel with Florence and Freddie in their garden to remember them by. August has been a strange month, with Florence achieving A level grades to get her into Futureworks at Manchester and Freddie seeming to mature as he prepares to begin his GCSE courses. And now it...

Much of yesterday was spent feeling positive because I was working on my business plan. Combined with smugness because I (a) gave blood myself and (b) held Florence's hand (literally) while she gave blood. The business plan is starting to take shape, although the 'boring' book I've been reading didn't exactly inspire me. Now the inspiration is coming from Levi Roots' 'You can get it if you really want': clear business ideas combined with a real passion. A day off today, heading for sight-seeing and shopping in Cambridge, but I'm also looking around for further inspiration.

August has become my transition month. Moving from teacher to copywriter and tutor is taking some organising, but the return to a freelance existence feels like progress. I have begun to form a mission statement and profile. The next stage is to produce a Business Plan and the putting-off cannot continue. At the same time as all this, we have moved into our new home and each room is beginning to take shape. Now that the garage is cleared and fit for purpose, it feels as if the junk can be separated away from the necessary and sorted in its own time. Organisation seems the order of the day - reading Julian Richer's 'The Richer Way' has certainly helped me gain some focus.