One of the many reasons I love going into London - sights like this.

St Paul's on a hot day with the storm clouds gathering.

The Hilsax Quartet comes through

A good gig with Mike, Thomas and John today. Out at a mansion in the depths of Hertfordshire. Lovely people, lunch and bar. We played four hours of standards and it was just lovely. I'd managed to get my pad sorted during the week, so I was armed with everything in the right key. Always a bonus!

Interesting interview with Paul at Harvey's

A crazy week

Well, despite everything thrown at me, I survived this week. Monday - collected Flo from Gatwick when the M23 was shut. Tuesday - took Flo to Manchester to Uni and had a car-full to transport up four floors in a tiny lift. Wednesday and Thursday were productive days at AB in London, interviewing and writing. Friday - up at 2am to drive to East Midlands Airport and back before another day at AB.

So, complete exhaustion but pretty much all successfully achieved.

My first blog for The Best of Hitchin

Proud of this. It may just be the pleasant weather, but there's something afoot in Hitchin and it felt like the time to start writing for The Best of Hitchin.

The first publication in six years

Although I only helped in the final proofing stages, there were bits I wrote and bits I helped source. So, I'm happy that Courier, September 2011 has appeared for Royal Mail employees and that I had a hand in it.

One door opens, and another slams in your face ...

It's been an interesting few days and I am well into my freelance career. I know that I have enough income to last me to the end of October, assuming that I get no more work than that already booked in. Which is - hopefully - the worst-case scenario.

I do, however, have real promise of some good quality work in the New Year. Christmas may just be a little quiet!

At least it's not boring out here in the real world. It does feel strange, to no longer have a day dictated by a timetable. There is such an opportunity to be spontaneous and creative, although I am already missing the classroom banter with teenagers.

A new start begins today

Today is my first day without the safety blanket (or security cushion, or some such) of a teacher's salary. My freelance writing career needs to flourish once more and I'm on the case this morning to ensure that it does so. Ventured. Gained. Today is the day for renewing contacts and pursuing all avenues to find creative and interesting work that will pay the mortgage, the bills and satisfy my intellect. The only way to start this new stage of my life is with a quote from Oscar Wilde: "On an occasion of this kind it becomes more than a moral duty to speak one's mind. It becomes a pleasure."