Traditionally, looking back on the past year

Having just found the notes I made most mornings through 2011, it's fairly amazing that I was not more unhappy than I actually was twelve months ago and through to the middle of July.

When you're in a difficult situation that just keeps getting worse, there really does come a time to call it quits. So many people were being lovely and supportive and a tiny few others (they know who they are and do not need naming here) behaved absolutely despicably. Thankfully, I no longer have to see them or speak to them.

Anyway, that part of my life has been successfully closed off and I look on the past few months with a sense of awe.

When I met Paul Archer of Burning Codes at the end of November, it was as if someone had suddenly put into words and music the way I was feeling. His music has the qualities of great classical music, with a spirituality encased within it and flowing from it. It was an interesting article to research and write and I hope the final printed version evidences some of what I feel.

Although working on some of the projects with AB has been 'challenging' at times, the team in the office always make it fun and bring some light-relief. And there's always one of us to make tea when it's needed. Less said about the cakes the better, but Tory completely hit the moment right with her gift of party cakes one particularly difficult day.

At the same time, I've been carving my own niche within the business community of Hitchin. It's not easy and I don't expect to be a millionaire any time soon, but life's about more than money. I want to make a contribution to this community and living in the town centre does make that significantly easier.

I've been accepted onto the training course to be a Community First Responder and am looking forward to beginning that in February or March.

Who knows what else 2012 will bring. I've splashed out on my first ever big New Year's Eve bash and in just over an hour I'll be heading off to what used to be the Hermitage Ballroom to hear The Rhythm Kings and to join with 300 people to see out 2011.

May 2012 bring you all you deserve and may you be the best that you can be.

Work and home come together

Bizarrely, I've been working on a couple of articles about how Royal Mail delivers flowers so that they arrive fresh and undamaged. Then, today, I received my own floral card (a thank you from my parents for Christmas) through the post. It's beautiful:

Now I can see for myself what a good job the suppliers and postmen do between them. Odd when two parts of your world collide. Sometimes it's easy, as a writer, to be detached from your subjects and that's a good thing. At other times, there's a synergy which is out of your own control.

Back into the real world - but it still feels like a holiday

I read this on the BBC website.

A few years ago, I read an article about the health benefits of green tea and I've been drinking it ever since. Now, this research proves what I've always known, which is that a healthy diet can have long-term benefits.

It was brought home to me recently by someone reminding me that I've been vegetarian longer than I was a carnivore. It's now more than 28 years since I ate my last roast chicken and coming up for 28 years since I ate the last piece of fish. It was a particularly memorable New Year's Day celebration with good friends. Just one look at the face of the salmon put me off fish for life (well, for nearly 30 years so far!)

So, I am beginning a list of goals for the next 12 and a bit months before I hit 50. There are not many things I haven't done(!), but enough. Luckily, my list of things to do before I hit 30 included the London to Brighton bike ride, so that's not one to add now. Before I hit 40 I climbed the Three Peaks of Britain and walked five marathons (never again for the latter, definitely).

This new list will probably be more cerebral than physical and I'm happy to take suggestions ...

Christmas Eve with the family

I am fortunate in having Mum and Dad to stay for Christmas and we met up with my brother and his family today in Hitchin. The three youngest grand-children HATED having this photo taken, but they don't get together very often, so it had to be done.

'The Selecter' at Hertford Corn Exchange

Tonight's gig was absolutely electric. Having seen the band at an outdoor gig in Enfield earlier in the year, I went along only to see the bass player, an old friend.

Boy, was this a different gig. Everyone seemed focused and passionate. A really tight band, all listening to each other and looking at each other. There was a passion and an aggresion about all of the songs that had been missing in the summer.

It was a fairly entertaining event, people-watching in the audience. Men of a certain age, few women but all of them there for the music and loving it. The bar did a roaring trade in Jagerbombs and shots: audience on a mission for fun.

At one point, Pauline Black refused calls for one of the old classics: "Do we look like a tribute band?" The bulk of the tracks were from the new album (you remember albums, right? vinyl?) and they really kicked.

Last day in the AB offices until 2012

Lisa, Sacha and I had a productive day in the office. I left at 7pm and Lisa was still there until nearly 11pm. Lots done, but none of it that was on our original To Do lists.

At least we managed to get a Christmas lunch at the pub around the corner. A break helped make the afternoon pass more quickly.

A very positive couple of visits

I spent last night and this morning out at Royal Mail sites, interviewing people working on Tracked mail going through Princess Royal distribution centre and then Pizza Hut leaflets at Swindon walk bundling centre.

They really are an interesting group of people. It's amazing how someone who's worked somewhere for 40 years can be so negative about the business and then refuse to be quoted on it. I suspect he's someone who's very proud of the history of the business and wants it pickled in aspic.

Nothing stays the same and that can be quite disorientating for some people.

Everything has become more simple with the introduction of a fully-functioning PC on my desk. Now with two screens, so I can multi-task more effectively. Getting home to be able to complete everything swiftly has altered my working life significantly.

Yummy, yummy, yummy

Crumbly Wumbly cup cakes from The Best of Hitchin. Thanks, Louise and Keith!

An electric fire surrounded by real logs

There is something quintessentially English about this picture. I have the convenience of an electric fire that roars beautifully and pushes out heat, but I like to pretend that it needs the logs for fuel.

Of course, the logs come in useful elsewhere in the house, but they do look fabulous, filling the fireplace.

Two reviews to write

The Bancroft Players have been producing so much recently, beginning with The Crucible at the end of November.

I then went to see the film premier of 'Mocha Do About Nothing' last weekend, which was excellent. Then 'The Boy Who Stole Christmas Day' on Friday evening. Bother were good in different ways and both funny. Great entertainment.

Both recent performances need reviews writing and I managed to get one written this evening. It never takes as long as you think it's going to.

A new string to my bow from 2012

Photography. It used to be a passion but the change from film to digital left my equipment out of date and few enough funds to replace it. Now I've realised that I have a perfectly decent Nikon that will take good pictures for now and if I learn to use that effectively, I could get some shots to earn some additional money.

The whole stock images area seems to be worth exploring and a video I watched today gave me a few insights into how best to proceed.

The days between Christmas and New Year might be a useful opportunity to learn the intricacies of the camera in more detail and to see what I can produce. It will certainly be a lot easier with the new PC to upload them onto.

Maybe we'll have a white Christmas!

Three hours of snow and really, quite a disappointing settling rate. Nevertheless, first snow at our new home.

A great MOB gig

The Mike O'Neill Big Band (as opposed to the sextet we call mini-MOB) performed better than ever tonight.

Knights Templar school in Baldock was a somewhat austere venue, but the audience was suitably appreciative and everyone played well. It was particularly lovely that Florence was able to pick up a trumpet and join in for the second set. Must get a photo next time.

Taking the plunge into a new PC

I fail to understand how I have managed for the last seven years on a slow PC with a tiny monitor. As of next Tuesday, all will be improved!

I'm going for two screens and - apparently - a 'Ferrari' system. Anything has to be better than this PC, which takes at least 30 minutes to get going in the morning (even I'm not that slow!) and crashes periodically. Usually while something important is on the scr

(just joking!)

So, I have spoken to a very nice man, who is going to build me exactly what I want, install it and transfer everything across. The next job will be to take a sledge-hammer to this box. Although, to be fair, it has served me very well for seven years.

Photographic evidence to follow.

I'm not going to make a fuss, when everything else is going well

I had been quite looking forward to a night out with a friend tonight. He decided to cancel at 3pm and I'm actually really disappointed. I won't let it get to me.

'A rose by any other name would smell as sweet'

Awoke this cold, December morning to find my rose blossoming beautifully in the corner of my garden. Given to me about three years ago by a very good friend, it's lovely to see it thriving in its new home.

Finally sorted out my PC and completed mega-feature

Having deleted oodles of junk from my PC and run a full scan, I find it working significantly better. It just needed some TLC, it would appear.

Which left the 3,000 word feature on Paul Archer and his solo Burning Codes project to complete. Lots of listening to CDs, trawling the internet to back-up facts from more than once source and I got there.

Finally sent it off with an invoice and now can't wait for it to be published.

Mocha do about Nothing

Enjoyed the premier last night of a Hitchin film, starring lots of Hitchin people, in locations that were easilt recognisable. A very pleasant evening with Louise Yexley and lots of friends and acquaintances.

For me, the absolute best moment was when an ex-boyfriend (some 25 years ago!) told me I was looking good. Admittedly, I had spent more than my usual three minutes in preparation, but it's always nice to have a compliment.

I've created a QR code, but don't know where to use it yet.

Had I known that this was so easy, I'd have done it months ago.

Sadly, it just brings you here, so that's a little pointless at the moment. Now it exists, I can put it anywhere!

Nightmare PC issues

What a day. USB stick failed at client's offices, then trains suffering massive delay and a late arrival home to find my PC had died.

Fortunately, I managed to revive it long enough to back-up documents, which took until gone 11pm. So, no chance (STILL!) to write the article that needs writing ASAP. New PC on the list now.

A day by the fire, NOT writing what I should be.

It's freezing cold outside, so I've stoked up the fire once more in my office. Toasty. However, calls on my time have distracted me from the actual job in hand. So, back to it now.

I've stocked up on Waitrose treats and hope to be able to break the back of this job. How many words can I write in the next two hours?

I seem to have beaten the curse of November.

There is no evidence to support my previous hatred of November, or to believe that it was somehow 'unlucky' for me. Nevertheless, it seems that the bad stuff that has happened to me has usually taken place in the depths of Autumn.

Looking back, I've fallen out with friends, lost boyfriends, given up jobs on a whim because of some affront that I cannot even remember. Now I think I probably brought some stuff on myself, simply be dreading the month.

I know why it is - my birthday is in January and I have always LOVED Christmas so December is a good month. November just doesn't seem able to live up to those expectations.

However, 2011 seems to have broken the mould. I've been busier with work than I could have possibly hoped for and may have rekindled (albeit slowly and minutely and with no actual manifestation) my love-life. I've done a couple of really good gigs and begun to get properly settled into my new house.

One downside? I didn't get far with National Novel Writing Month. Just too much work that I was actually enjoying as much as writing my novel.

I didn't dare mention the improvement during November itself, but now feel able to do so. It feels good and if you - kind reader - had anything to do with it, then thank you.

Winter hits home

There was only one thing to be done today, as I sat at my desk. Calls to make and articles to write. My house is lovely, but I now realise that stripped floor-boards, whilst attractive, allow huge drafts to blow through the house. So this was the view from my desk today:

All in all, a fairly productive day. Still plenty to be done, but I'd be worried if I had ever finished everything. Off to network now and then braving the trains into London tomorrow. Scarf and gloves, definitely!

A blast from my past

While sorting out Christmas boxes to decorate the house, I found this:

In the box, along with the master tape (yes, TAPE) of my demo from 1990, was the track listing and a set of lyrics.

I cannot throw the tape away, but nor will I ever be able to use it. A strange situation. It's probably just as well that the technology no longer exists to play it, because I don't really think it was any good. Nevertheless, it's part of my musical past and actually quite reassuring to know that I've never binned it.

'The Crucible' at Queen Mother Theatre - youth, but not kids

The latest production by Big Spirit, directed by Rory Reynolds, is 'The Crucible'. Tonight was the last night and I partly went to see it as my son had a small part.

I was impressed with the maturity of the cast (including my own Freddie) and their ability to maintain the darkness of the text. It really was an outstanding production: simple costumes, little make-up and a sparse set. They relied on the words - and the way those words were conveyed - to carry the whole drama. I've read the play with students and seen it performed many times, but the ending was still shocking and disturbing.

There was a parallel to the film I reviewed last week - how far can Joh Proctor be pushed in this case, and how will he finally respond? Principles and their application gives food for thought. I guess that's what Arthur Miller was going for when he wrote the play.

Want to know what I write?

People often ask me what I actually write. Here's a good example. It's an article I wrote for Royal Mail about their Door to Door service (which, I have to say, is very impressive!). It's a real team effort and I so enjoyed interviewing these people.

Click here to read the article

Open mic at The Old White Horse in Baldock

A new open mic slot in Baldock. Hugely enjoyable. Didn't play for long enough, butit was good to listen to others.