My 2013 memories of 1983

Although I’d never been a fan of The Jam, I was aware of their existence. Who couldn’t be in the late 1970s and early 1980s? I was developing a taste for jazz, playing sax in big bands all over the place and NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra). Friends who were much better players than I would ever be turned me onto musicians I’d never heard of before and it was a period of real musical learning for me.

I was also becoming politically aware, and it was Paul Weller and Billy Bragg who seemed to be putting into words some of the way I felt about life: “The public gets what the public wants/ But I want nothing this society’s got.”

My English and Music degree studies at Froebel in Roehampton began in 1981 and I quickly became bored with classical music – I wasn’t a bad clarinettist but it just didn’t do it for me. I began to play sax in lots of bands in London and helped form the Fairer Sax quartet in 1982. Pop music wasn’t really on my radar until people I knew began getting gigs with bands like Wham! and Dexy’s Midnight Runners.

The summer of 1983 was dominated by the bass line of Long Hot Summer. It seemed to be everywhere through August and September as I was getting ready to start the third year of my degree. Probably my first ear worm. It was so simple and acted as a great counter to Paul’s vocal line. I’d seen the video once on and loved the humour, although I did assume Paul and Mick were a couple. The lyrics resonated with me, as I’d suffered my first broken heart and was wallowing in it: “We’re dashing ourselves against the rocks of a lifetime.”

Sometime at the end of September I got a phone call and was asked to come to Solid Bond Studios the next day to meet Paul and Mick. They wanted a tenor sax player and I didn’t own one – my local woodwind shop lent me one and I spent the afternoon getting up to scratch before getting the gig the next day. We rehearsed hard and then took a coach trip around Europe’s venues before coming back to Solid Bond to record Café Bleu. The Style Council was a great collective of musicians and I’m proud that I was one of them.


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The trouble with hospital appointments ...

I seem to have fallen back into the routine of regular hospital appointments for the various conditions and ailments that have befallen me in the last 14 months,

What I really hate is the rapidity with which one falls into the institutionalised life. Waiting around because the registrar is running an hour late before he goes off for his lunch. Probably made worse by the fact that it is the registrar, not the consultant you were expecting to see.

Across the waiting room, a couple of other waiters are comparing medical notes and sharing lengthy descriptions of their conditions. That's not in my nature and I'm glad I've brought both book and iPad.

The knowledge that I'm probably not going to be seen for another hour is tempered by the fact that I know I'm not as ill as I was a few months ago and a bit of a wait isn't going to do me any harm.

Now the guy in the bed across the other side of the room who's just had his arm plastered is crying with pain. Thankfully, it's not long before a nurse comes to give him drugs.

Another bed is wheeled in and there's hardly space. It's chaotic and the beds sit side by side while the ranks of chairs make them look incongruous,

I came alone. It's actually worse when you feel you have to entertain someone who's come along to keep you company. Most of the others are accompanied by a friend trying to make light of the situation. A brace of elderly ladies to my left are determined to bear the wait gracefully, while spreading coats and bags across every spare seat around them. I don't have the heart to tell them it'll be a while.

Now the man in the bed is asking for some attention. Understandably. He's at least semi-naked under a thin blanket and the long-awaited porter obviously has other calls on his time. Finally with another blanket draped around his shoulder and the porter arrives by magic.

Suddenly, my name is called and the next stage of my shoulder recovery begins ...


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Interesting shapes at Tate Modern

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Nine ways to waste time networking

There are many reasons for networking, especially if you're a small business. But if you're doing it wrong, you might as well not bother. I've been out on my own as a freelance writer on and off (more of the former than the latter) for nearly 30 years and it's only recently that I've explored the world of networking. I don't always get it right and here's some of the best ways to waste time networking. I know, because I've done most of them.

1. Forget your business cards. You do HAVE business cards, right? I don't care what they look like. I really don't care how much you paid a designer or a printer. If you've got that money to waste, good for you. I genuinely don't care if you use Vistaprint for the cheapest around. Just take them and give them out. Many will go in the bin, some will go into smart business card holders and never be looked at. But just one will get onto the desk of the right person at the right time and they'll call you to do business.

2. Remember business cards. And leaflets. And brochures. And free pens. Bombard people with rubbish and that's what they think you'll do. They anticipate email marketing (aka junk) once a week and they're probably right. Less sometimes is more.

3. Over share. That's what the yoof of today call too much information. I'm happy that you're getting over your broken heart or the death of your dog, but now is not the time. People you network with don't need to know the details of your operation. Nor do they need to know every detail of that fabulous, expensive holiday you're about to go on. They may be pleased for you, but if they're not, that business card will definitely be going in the bin.

4. Represent more than one business at a time. Look, we're all in a hurry. We're all short on attention and time and if your business isn't clear, we just won't spend time working you out. If you've got more than one business on the go, then decide which one works best with face to face networking. Concentrate on that one and leave the rest behind. Especially if one is the one your dad runs and you're doing him a favour by mentioning it. You're actually not doing him a favour at all.

5. Talk too much. Your listeners will zone out and get bored. Give them a chance to ask you questions or talk about their own business.

6. Talk too little. Give me SOMETHING to work with. Please.

7. Expect to make a sale. You might be lucky and be inundated with people throwing money at you, but it's unlikely. Enjoy networking for what it is and get to know more people.

8. Focus on the food. It won't be that good, I promise you.

9. Ignore the contacts you make. Once you've left the networking session, don't just expect everyone to come running to you. An email a few days later won't do any harm. Maybe suggest meeting up for a coffee. But only if you genuinely think there's some business you can do together. Don't waste people's time.

Like many things, when you do it right, networking gives you a buzz. If you never get that buzz, maybe you're doing it wrong.


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Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

On so many levels, the Mandela film released his week fulfils my criteria of Film of the Year. It's squeezed in at neatly the end of the year, but it knocks all other contenders way out of the field.

Emotionally, this is a great film. Its London premiere coincided with the death of the man himself and I was watching it while his funeral took place.

Biographically and historically, the film documents an incredible life, including 27 years in one of the toughest prisons anywhere in the world. The inclusion of stills and footage from parts of the story made it so real. At one point, I couldn't quite believe that Nelson Mandela was unaware of the huge outrage that his continued incarceration was causing around the world. It was so good to see his daughter take one of the button badges in to show him on her first visit.

The locations are simply stunning. But then, South Africa IS a stunning country. The sooner the politics get sorted and the tourism becomes easier, the better.

The costumes, too, were beautiful and helped document the passing of time. Combine that with the prosthetics and you've certainly got some well-deserved Oscar nominations.

One of the things that struck me while watching the film was the fact that Mandela was a man, a son, a father and a grandfather. He may have also been legendary, but he was a real man nonetheless. That came over very clearly and was a nice balance to what might otherwise have degenerated into hero-worship.

I've never been comfortable with the development of Winnie Mandela's violence and the director made it clear that a woman who was brutalised simply because of who she fell in love with and married had little choice but to respond brutally. The fact that this moved her so far from that same man and his beliefs was a tragedy. Her terrible treatment at the hands of the authorities may not be an excuse for the violence that followed, but it was certainly a reason.

One way or another, Mandela gets my vote as Film of 2013. Nothing else I have seen comes close in completeness.


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Removing the blinkers

I had an interesting experience today, as I realised that two of my friends have been dating for the last six months without me knowing about it. Now I realise that my not-noticing was caused by being totally caught up in my own woes for the last 13 months.

Now, you could argue that it was understandable, as I was actually quite badly hurt/ill for much of that time. But the world doesn't revolve around me and now I've taken the blinkers off, I'm becoming more aware of others.

It won't stop me being selfish from time to time. But hopefully I can get back to being more of the me I used to be.

So, if you're having a secret affair, watch out - I might start noticing the signs.

The bizarre things Hitchin holds on a sunny December Sunday

Small Business Saturday

Hitchin was heaving today for Small Business Saturday. Jolly good show!

RIP Nelson Mandela

So the legend and the man have passed away. Nelson Mandela was truly an inspirational man who helped change the face of South Africa and the world.

In early 1990, I went to what was originally a 'Free Nelson Mandela' event and his release just before turned it into a celebration rather than a protest. I can remember none of the bands, but I can recall like it was yesterday the moment that Mandela appeared next to the stage. The cheering was immense and seemed to go on forever.

It was an amazing experience. Just to see the man who had been imprisoned so long for believing in equality. A few years earlier, I had travelled around South Africa and the signs were there of dire segregation. His long walk to freedom helped so many people and his footprint lies on so many lives.


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The result of a bit of wind

Confusion caused by fallen tree.



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Heading for a great new year

I have decided that 2014 is going to be a great year.

It was a bad end to 2012, recovering from the car crash and then 2013 started well (fab 50th birthday) and just got worse (broken shoulder, frozen shoulder/s and tumour).

So, 2014 is going to be a really, really good one. I have some ideas for my business and my personal life. Just beginning to put them into writing and making plans is putting me in a good mood.

I wish everyone reading this the same - a fabulous 2014.

Never judge a book by its cover ... or a business by its premises

I visited a small business today that is actually ranked fourth in the UK in its industry. You wouldn't know it from its entrance, but once inside the door it was an inspirational place to work, full of friendly people obviously hard at work. A nice cup of tea, too.

Finding them online, they're professional, clear about their USP and offer a good product at the right price. Who cares what their building looks like from the outside?

Why I write stuff down

You will rarely find me without a notepad and pen handy, or at least my iPad.

Today proved exactly why that's vital. I had a phone call from a guy who said "Hi, it's Chris from Royal Mail."

"Yes?" I replied, tentatively.

"You sent me an email," was his response. Oh, THAT Chris? No, because I send dozens of emails every day to people in Royal Mail, and there's more than one Chris.

Luckily, as I played for time, I was able to find the page in my notebook that explained why I'd been trying to get hold of that particular Chris. And I was back in the room.

If something's worth chasing

Looby Loo was on the hunt today and spent several happy minutes chasing two black squirrels. She was never going to catch them, but that didn't stop her trying. I'm going to take a leaf out of her book and chase the things I want. I may not succeed, but I'll probably have fun.

The beautiful Lincolnshire countryside - writing takes you all over!

I am very fortunate in being asked to interview a huge number of interesting people and sometimes that means travelling distances, but the bonus is views like this.

Most small businesses are fascinating when you have the chance to peek inside and then tell their story. A farmer who's discovered a business in selling Christmas baubles online is going great guns. An honour to interview some of the team.

Sometimes the Sun shines at night

Joining Entrepreneurs Circle was something I hesitated over. Basically, the cost put me off. I joined our local group last month and have already gained business which covers the cost for the next three months.

Tonight was a much more productive meeting for me, given a deeper understanding of the organisation's intentions and practices. I felt inspired and leaving the venue - The Sun hotel in Hitchin - there was a spring in my step.

Plans are afoot for improving my business. Exciting times.




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A happy dog on a sunny day

The sky was so blue today and if I could have ignored the autumnal temperature, it could have been August.

Looby Loo enjoyed long walks this weekend - yesterday's squeezed in between showers - and she seems to be unharmed by the firework scare last week.

The end of a busy couple of weeks and I feel ready to start the week ahead after some sunshine and some exercise.


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Looking forwards - always

Today is the anniversary of my car crash, which began several months of pain, prescription drugs, discomfort and a lot of medical care. The decision I have made is not to be morbid and look back on what happened on this day a year ago and feel sorry for myself.

It's twelve months I'd quite like to forget, really. I'm over it now and after a number of scares that could have turned out a heck of a lot worse, I'm glad - VERY glad - I'm where I am today. That is all.

Strange Factories - exciting new cinema eperience coming soon

I enjoyed writing this blog and look forward to seeing the film on Friday.

Scrounger!

Eat local - you know it makes sense

Florence and I had a choice of breakfast providers this morning and we opted for one of our local restaurants, that has just started serving breakfast on Saturday and Sunday

The Hermitage Road Eggs Benedict was just delicious and adds another venue to the growing list of places to eat locally. Nice!

Business is booming

Long may it continue.

Fireworks - love 'em or hate 'em?

One family's mini firework display last night caused me five hours of distress and resulted in my dog being petrified and badly damaging her paws.

Out walking Looby Loo at 8:30pm in our local park, sudden fireworks just a few metres away sent her running off at break-neck speed. I followed at a distance and searched the streets for her as rain set in and it began getting cold.

After about an hour, it became clear I couldn't find her, despite the help of several locals and friends, as well as informing a passing police patrol.

I turned to twitter and within minutes had been retweeted many times (it ended up being nearly 500 times). Although she wasn't spotted by anyone on twitter that get, a Facebook posting eventually got a sighting, as she finally found her way home just before 2am.

An antibiotic jab, plus a plug-in to calm her down should help but Looby's poor saw paws are making even walking around the house difficult.

We certainly won't be out for walks for several days and each evening will be difficult while fireworks are in the air.

I've never been a fan of fireworks randomly let off in back gardens and am definitely not one now.


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Location:Old Park Road,Hitchin,United Kingdom

Sunset over Luton

A nice cup of tea

One of my favourite people in Hitchin. Gary Crocker of The Top Pickle and Mr H's.

Mindfuless with Ruby Wax

A very interesting evening yesterday with Ruby Wax. As part of Baldock's first Fireside Festival, Ms Wax gave the keynote talk.

I was fortunate to go with a good friend who has understood the traumas my life has gone through in the last 11 1/2 months. As we drove to Baldock, I told her how I'd dealt with a flashback while driving last week. I'd basically practised mindfulness without realising it. My mind had taken me back to the moment of my car crash on 7 November last year. What I had done was simply observe that I was having a flashback and choose to continue driving as normal.

What Ruby Wax was explaining to me was the benefit in living now and not living in the past. It's very similar to the book I was recommended to read by the inspirational Mr Mickey De Hara just before I went into hospital in the summer. 'The Power of Now' is a similar approach and reading it while recovering from my operation was definitely thought-provoking.

Living now. The moment I have right now is the only of which I can be certain. It's all about making the most of it.

In just an hour, Ruby Wax gave an insight into the psychology studies she's done. She was intelligent and witty and gave an entertaining talk that seemed to resonate with many in the audience.

Rummaging about in Hitchin

Blogging for The Best of Hitchin

Walking a mile in your shoes

Much of this week has been spent covering for a colleague while she suns herself in Croatia. It's not a job I would do permanently and this week has shown me very clearly what she experiences every day of every week.

The client involved is undergoing radical change and my role was to help manage the creation of their internal communications materials to help employees understand the processes and decisions.

It's been thoroughly enlightening, both in terms of doing a completely different job of managing rather than creating and also in dealing with people I am normally at arm's length from.

Perhaps it's something we should all do more often - take Atticus Finch's advice in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and walk a mile in someone else's shoes. Once in a while.


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Pudsey popped into AB

I was a different woman, 30 years ago today

I'm refusing to be mawkish or backward looking, but it's exactly 30 years since I first walked onto a stage with The Style Council. Actually, it was the band's first ever tour and none of us knew what to expect. The audience was clearly expecting some Jam songs and shouted out titles as if we might have forgotten them. We didn't play any.

It was a good gig and a great tour and some very happy memories lurk therein. Would I go back and do it all again? Absolutely. Would I change anything about where I am today? Absolutely not.

Paris in October

A fascinating day with one of my favourite clients in their office just outside Paris and well worth the early start.

I've met several people who were previously only voices on the phone or names on the email. It was a real pleasure and such a useful day.

I am fortunate to have such a wide array of clients that include this international manufacturer of fragrances and food ingredients. Very interesting people in a fascinating business.

The fact that I have only seen the Eiffel Tower from a distance is immaterial. It's still Paris, baby!

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Blessings in abundance

I wish I didn't have to go for a walk every morning - sometimes before sunrise. But I'm so happy to have a dog in my life. Looby Loo makes me see life in a different way.

Apple Day

Ideas into action

A very positive day, with lots done. It's been an exhausting week and next week looks no different.

More inspirational people

Sometimes, just sometimes, you get the chance to interview 20 people in a couple of hours. Today was one such day and every one of those people had a great story to tell.

They were all award-winners from London Probation Trust and their work is truly outstanding. Such stories!

And in such a great setting at the Natural History Museum.

Inspiration and ideas

There are some truly inspirational people in the world and there are some great ideas for business development. I met some of those people and heard some of those ideas tonight and it has provided much food for thought,

When you are your business, it can be hard to think of goals and targets but within a few minutes, I began to formulate some more concrete ideas.

I came away from the evening with a set of objectives: the next few days and weeks will see how they cement themselves in my head and in my actions.


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A beautiful mid-October day

Sunshine and a long walk with the dog in beautiful countryside.


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I'm a survivor

A wise man reminded me today that I'm a survivor.

It took a relative stranger to suddenly make sense. I'm not defined by the disaster-ridden few months of car crash, broken shoulder and tumour. I'm the same person I was before.

Time to move on with all the great things my life has to offer. I seemed to get caught up with being lucky to escape disaster but not able of re myself from it. Time to fill my head with stuff apart from hospital appointments, drug schedules and feeling unwell.

Time to get my sax out. Time to get my novel written. Time to be me.


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Nine weeks and counting

Tomorrow will be nine weeks since my op and you can barely see the scars.

Apart from getting exhausted very easily, and having a tiny appetite to match my tiny stomach, recovery is going well.

It feels as if I've turned a corner and October is heading in the right direction. How I will feel when we get to 7 November and the anniversary of my car crash remains to be seen. I'm trying to rise above it but it had such a major impact on my life that it's hard to ignore.


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Interesting information and a useful experience

On Saturday morning, I turned up to help out on a community awareness stand in my role as Community First Responder.

And this is what I was supposed to stand in front of for a couple of hours:

It was scary at first, to be confronted by a car about to be cut open by a team of firefighters. It took me right back to 7 November, when I had to be cut out of my own car. Something about seeing it happen to another car was a useful experience in helping me get over it.

I also had a chat with one of the guys involved who, it turns out, was the lead man on my incident. He shed light on the barrel which I had to avoid, telling me that they had found more dumped on the same bit of the A505 a few weeks later and they realised they were not builders' kit after all, but from pop-up car cleaners. Turns out they dump the barrels when they're finished with them. So I won't be using any pop-up car washes any time soon.

All in all, a very interesting time on Saturday that's helping me get my head around the accident.

Sunrise over Oughton Head farmland

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Thirty years on display

Thirty years ago this week, I received a phone call, inviting me to audition for Paul Weller and Mick Talbot and the result was a European tour and appearances on TV, radio, a top five single and The Style Council's Cafe Bleu. Some very happy times and now I've finally framed the posters from the first ever gig and the last of the tour. I'm not wallowing in memories, but it's nice to have them up on the wall, alongside other memories.

Oustanding performances in 'Amadeus' at QMT

I managed my first real night out tonight with a visit to Hitchin's Queen Mother Theatre for their latest production - Peter Shaffer's Amadeus.

Two extraordinary performances from Keith Swainston (Salieri) and Brendan Lucia (Mozart) showed the two extremes of excellence within the Bancroft Players. Youth and experience share a stage comfortably and impressively. The evening saw Keith's marathon performance - barely coming off stage for a moment - alongside Brendan's quite bonkers portrayal of genius. Such sadness n the mediocrity of Salieri that he'd hoped to expunge with murder. Only that, too, was snatched from him on his death-bed.

A quite brilliant production.

Good news from Mr Al-Bahrani means I can eat (nearly) normally

Marmite on toast - my first real meal in nearly eight weeks.

I managed to stick fairly rigidly to my diet of mush for approaching eight weeks while my stomach begins to recover from removal of a GIST. Now I am eating normally (albeit in smaller portions), on very light medication and will be able to return to normal. Could not be happier.

A new place to enjoy green tea in Hitchin

Loob Looand I discovered the Garden Gate Tea Room on our favourite walk around Oughton Head common. Very pleasant break from a long walk.

A beautiful sunrise makes the early morning dog walks worth it!

Since we acquired Looby Loo a week ago, I've had to get used to early morning walks and now she can go off the lead, I can actually enjoy the whole experience. Absolutely beautiful start to today.

The wristbands of my summer

This sums up my summer and I'm still trying to come to terms with more than a week spent in hospital and several months spent in pain and on heavy-duty drugs.

Car crash, broken shoulder, frozen shoulder and cancer. Ten months and counting. Sometimes it's hard to be positive.




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Two years in and I'm burning bridges

Well, not so much burning bridges as shredding rubbish that is holding me back. I've realised after two years of life as a freelance writer (again) that I'm not going back to teaching.

So I have begun shredding the rubbish that I had kept 'just in case'.

Writing is absolutely, definitely, my chosen career and a little private tutoring is just helping me keep my hand in. I loved teaching - hated the bureaucracy. Never going back to that particular madness.

Something old, something new

When my aunt sadly died two years' ago, my uncle (who died on 6 March this year) gave me her vintage powder compact. It's one of the most beautiful, precious things I own.

To keep it safe, I asked the magnificent Lou Baxter at Nicholson & Walcot to make me a drawstring bag to keep it safe. I've never been particularly possessive, but the two together are just beautiful.

Images to make me smile

I wish my stomach still looked nice and plump like these:




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How can I work under these conditions?

For many months - about 24 - my office has been the dumping ground for everything for which we could find no home in the house move. It just can't go on and chucking stuff out is something I can easily do while recovering from my op. Even a little at a time. So, this is the 'Before' pic.

I make no promises on timescale before I can post the 'After'.

Ground clearing at Burr's

And so the garage site on Old Park Road is beginning to be cleared in preparation for a McCarthy & Stone development.




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Not often I see something I really want

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First Cafe Rouge green tea since op

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Location:High Street,Hitchin,United Kingdom

Great smelling, local lavender

Hitchin Lavender is a really beautiful place and I can't believe I've only just made it out there for the first time. Well worth a visit.

Calippo - a blast from the past

I spent several years extolling the virtues of Wall's ice creams. Never once did I imagine that a mini Calippo lime would be the perfect taste and size as I recover from my op.




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Thirty years on

http://patnevin.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/the-style-councils-paris-ep-30-summers.html


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Alternative to putting the kettle on - thanks myWaitrose.

I'm sure the consultant meant filling the kettle and making tea when he said 'No heavy lifting'.



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Beautiful flowers from the team at AB

Shame it came with a box of chocolates I can't eat.



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First 'real' 'meal' - delicious!

The most gorgeous scrambled egg for brunch today at Pitcher and Piano. Just perfect. The walk there and back caused me to sleep for three hours this afternoon, but it was worth it.



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To Do list for today - Frasier, then The Big Bang Theory

I must be beginning to feel better.


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Finally beginning to use one of my 50th pressies

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Finding yummy sloppy food part 1

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Two visitors per hospital bed? No, nine for me

My neighbour has nine visitors at her bedside. If she moans that she's tired tonight, I may scream. Just saying.


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Ear worms of the day

Long Hot Summer - The Style Council

And

Always the Sun - The Stranglers. As performed by Baz Warne at my 50th party on 15 January, The Highlander. Happy times.


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A big step forward

Drinking green tea. Albeit through a straw.


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August reading

Now all I have to do is compile a playlist to get me through a potentially difficult few days.

Inspiration strikes again

One of the hottest days of the year and I ventured into London with a day of phone interviews and writing in store. it quickly became apparent that it would be a slow day: one of my biggest jobs had been put back and the deadline pushed to 29 July.

Up my sleeve was the chance to interview someone I'd already spoken to on the phone at some length. A quick phone call and we set up a rendezvous and I was off - happy to be getting out of the office.

Mickey De Hara was a name I'd come across in passing before, but meeting him in person was inspirational. A lifetime of crime - by his own admission - had led to massive highs and lows in adulthood.

While still part of the criminal justice system, Mickey met film director Guy Ritchie, who ended up giving him a laptop and loads of advice. The result was work on both 'Snatch.' and 'RocknRolla'. Unfortunately, in the course of this productive, successful, crime-free part of Mickey's life, he made a couple of ill-advised decisions that resulted in a five-year invitation to Her Majesty's Pleasure, ending up in Brixton as a Listener: "more like a social worker on the inside" as Mickey told me.

Frankly, I can see why people turn to Mickey. Although capable of talking the hind-leg off any passing donkey, he also has an ability to get you to open up. I could have easily bored him with my own life story. Certainly the grim details of the last eight months,

Out since the end of 2011 on licence, Mickey has set up Films4Life, a charity determined to help young people turn their own lives round by learning about film-making. Already, they've filmed Liam Gallagher's 'Beady Eye' backstage and a promo film for one of South London's finest bands -'Brand New Heavies'.

So, two hours with him today helped me focus on the positives. I can ignore my frozen shoulder as long as I'm not trying to reach or carry anything and no-one gets too near it. I can ignore whatever this lump is in my stomach - at least until the NHS pulls its finger out and discovers what it is and why it makes me feel sick pretty much constantly.

Besides which, if you discount those two ailments, life is pretty good. Mickey seems to help focus switch to the positive. Even when he's describing his past-life - elements of which would make anyone's hair curl.

Oh, and Mickey, if you're reading this, you'd better start writing your story before I do. There's a great story there that needs telling.


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The sweet smell of summer

One of my favourite buildings in SE1. A tiny cottage, nestled between two office blocks.




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Famiy shot from Crete

Happy memories

The award-winning Courier team

A better photo of the award-winning team behind Royal Mail's Courier. It's not an easy job, but immensely rewarding and being recognised with an award from such a prestigious organisation as CIPR definitely helps.

Toseland - one to watch

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Inspirational

In the last couple of months I have been getting gradually more ill, but am really trying to rise above it. A couple of days in hospital and a week in the sun gave temporary respite, but I need to get it sorted.

Anyway, moving on ...

I have been fortunate enough to interview many inspirational people in my career and the latest four women have inspired me to establish my goals and pursue them.

The first was Jennifer Blake, founder and CEO of 'Safe n Sound', working with young people whose disadvantaged backgrounds have more or less forced them into criminal behaviour. Just one woman, with a small team and a tiny shop in Peckham, turning around the lives of young people who have often been failed by the education system and society in general.

Paul Harriott's life story has taken her through drug abuse and prison to becoming an advocate for women in the justice system. She is part of an organisation that helps women find their voice and turn their lives around. Self-esteem doesn't come as a gift to all of us and Paula seems like a great role-model for those struggling to see themselves as having any value at all.

Yesterday, I interviewed Angela K Robinson, a poet and novelist in her spare time. Apart from interviewing her for a short article, I spent an engaging couple of hours that left me inspired to crack on with my currently half-finished novel. She has lived in difficult situations and found a way of releasing her creativity through words,

Finally, I have just heard a speech by Kanya King, CEO of Mobo and then chatted with her briefly. I loved the fact that she was thrown out of Goldsmiths while studying for a degree and has since been awarded a Fellowship of the same university for her inspiring work. She didn't believe the letter informing her when she was nominated for an MBE by Tony Blair. Mobo is the brand it is - giving a platform for creativity to many who otherwise wouldn't have been heard - thanks to her perseverance.

This feels like a momentous week, despite my physical ailments.



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Courier was awarded Internal Publication of the Year by CIPR tonight. Could not be more proud that we're good at what we do.




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