Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

I recently had the interesting experience of interviewing one of the owners of a local bookstore and cafe in Southwark. My job gives me an insight into some fascinating businesses and this was no exception, Woolfson & Tay reminded me of probably one of the first American sitcoms that gripped me. 'Ellen' starred Ellen Degeneres as the owner of 'Buy the Book' and I always wished I had a book shop like that near me. Back in the 80s, you couldn't imagine being allowed to even open the pages of a book before buying it. Let alone sitting with a cup of tea and sampling it. When I first experienced that concept in the States a few years later, It took more than a few visits for me to enjoy it without feeling I was somehow being disrespectful. So, the new Woolfson & Tay bookstore in Bear Lane in London's SE1, just behind Tate Modern has a fantastic selection of books, alongside gorgeous tea, coffee, cakes and delicious lunches lovingly prepared by co-owner France...

Sometimes, I get to interview remarkably creative people. Today was one of those days and when I'd finished talking to Olivier Pescheux, I realised that he had described the fragrance he has just created, this is what it would look like. If it was something you could see and touch, the fragrance would be this tree, just as the leaves are coming out in a spring that's been delayed by a horrible winter. Just beautiful and I can't smell the actual aroma because it's only on sale in France.

Big Spirit youth theatre once more pulled it out of the bag with an excellent production of Zombie Prom. As a movie, it definitely has a cult following. Last night, the Big Spirit actors were well-directed and choreographed and seem to get all the jokes. Created by John Dempsey and Dana P Rowe (nominated for an Olivier award for The Witches of Eastwick ), Zombie Prom is totally unbelievable with good songs, actually, some great songs. There seems a plethora of strong singers in Hitchin at the moment and they were given a real opportunity to shine. I should declare an interest - I was at school with the lead girl's dad, but Maisie Brooker is better than the apple of her father's eye and the partnership with lead boy Brendan Lucia produced some really good duets. However, the show was undoubtedly stolen by the High School Principal Miss Strict, played with aplomb and humour by Lejaun Shepperd. His ginger wig slipped remorselessly all night but he turned its restitution into...

My poor hand - dented where I smacked it into the window I smashed on 7 November 2012.. I'm lucky to be alive and this tiny scar and dent will always remind me of that.

A hard-working young man who wants to do well in English at A level, so comes to me for tutoring. There are worse ways to spend a Friday evening. Posted via my iPad

When I was teaching, I had to constantly consider the balance between work and life. The scales were always tipping in the wrong direction - I was living to work, rather than enjoying my life. Certainly, in the last few months the balance was impossibly skewed in favour of the hours I was dedicating not to teaching but to satisfying the bureaucracy. But that's another story. Now I find myself unable to tell the difference between the work I do and the life I lead. I choose to write more often than choosing to socialise. In fact, I enjoy socialising with the people I work alongside. Of course, it's partly influenced by my decision to stop drinking. Not entirely a free choice, but rather dictated by the ridiculous strength and number of drugs I'm having to take to get through my shoulder injury. It's saving me a fortune and giving me so much more time to live. I am honestly blessed with my clients. They don't necessarily pay me the most money I could get elsewhere, bu...

My new screenwriting partnership has taken a couple of great steps forward recently. A day spent writing and planning our TV screenplay last weekend was followed by Carol and me organising our business cards and email address. Tiny, tiny steps but all in the right direction. We're getting ready for a BBC workshop next week and we're determined to be well-prepared. Posted via my iPad

This year's giveaway for World Book Night. I opted for Alexander McCall Smith's 'The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' because it's just a lovely book. Well-written, easy to read and - although I don't usually enjoy detective stories - a great weaving together of mysteries to solve. The characters come alive and it's also one of the few occasions when a TV adaptation adds something, rather than detracting from the book. Anthony Minghella's last film, it's simply, simply beautiful.

The trouble with buying CDs online is that you can't be geeky about checking out who's been in the band. I'm desperate to know who played sax on Marcella Detroit's new album and specifically the title track The Vehicle . A great, melodious sound that sits perfectly behind and occasionally on top of Miss D's simply awesome vocals. The benefit of online is that it's easier to replay single tracks that move you. The track sums up the beauty of the album. Guess that's why it's the title track. The Vehicle is just out in advance of a new tour starting on Sunday at The Stables in Wavendon. I'll be there and I really hope she's got that sax player with her. The more I listen to the track, the more I pick up - the sax picks up Marcella's notes and runs with them, mirroring her vocals and backing vocals. It's just a gorgeous melding of jazz sax, a soulful track and an amazing voice. Marcella Detroit's voice has graced songs (some of them ...

I'm writing a series of blogs for The Best of Hitchin to encourage people to look around their town. Maybe it's about appreciating what is around you. Spent some time out and about with my camera this evening. Need to do more, when fewer people are out and about. This is a gorgeous panel in one of the oldest buildings in the town centre.

Several cups of green tea, a touch of breakfast and a light lunch helped me break the back of a new writing project. Who can't be inspired by surroundings like Luton Hoo? I had considered checking myself into the spa, but I didn't need pampering. I needed peace, and attentive staff who know when to leave you alone. Free wifi would have been nice, but I'd probably have spent longer checking emails and twitter than actually writing. Going to try a weekday and see if it's just as productive an environment. Possibly more so. Thanks to the lovely staff at Lutonhoo.co.uk

This photo is one of those that puts it into perspective. Apparently my shoulder needs arthroscopy. Whatever you do, don't look that up on Google images. Not pretty. Don't care, as long as it gets sorted. Soon. Meanwhile, I am grateful for the good stuff I've got going on and feeling for those whose lives have been thrown into turmoil by shootings, bombs and disasters.

I didn't know places like this still existed on the London Underground. I found myself at the end of a Circle line platform at Baker Street and there it was. Eerily like the settings of the scariest scenes in 'An American Werewolf in London', this was stepping back in time. I can't even remember the last time I changed trains at Baker Street. The cream and brown tiles and the stark overhead lighting took my right back to the first time I watched the film. The 80s? That sense of something vaguely sinister lurking around the corner was disturbing and exciting. Inspires me to find a moor to get lost on. Posted via my iPad

Life has been pretty quiet and I've definitely been under the weather for a few days and now I'm about to have an ultrasound scan on my shoulder. Results will take a few days but I just want to find a solution to the pain and lack of movement.

It is rare for a film to turn me off as quickly as this one. I'd read the book of 'We need to talk about Kevin' and I was always hesitant about watching the film, since I knew it would have to be violent, given the subject matter. What I didn't expect was for the threat of violence to be thrust down my throat from the very start. An attempt at subtlety failed miserably. The fabulous Tilda Swinton, now best known as Aslan's arch-enemy, began the film covered in tomatoes in what was obviously a Spanish holiday and happier times. The whole screen and actors were swamped in red and from that moment on the film-makers strove to get splashes of red into each and every scene. Okay. I know that the eponymous Kevin was a mass-murderer and the story is his mother's attempt to understand his actions. I don't need constant reminders of the blood that is necessarily such a feature. Really. Red chairs as Tilda waits for a job interview. Red toys. Red kitchen items. I don...

The chance for a solo, peaceful lunch in Hitchin's Chilli Banana was too good to resist. The food was delicious, the green tea refreshing. Love local businesses that deliver high quality.

Sure enough, as promised by the immensely professional Charlo Carabott, Mazuma Mobile came up with the goods. Having originally promised more, their competitor offered me half as much as I have now received from Mazuma. Sometimes, you just have to believe people that run their businesses. When I interviewed Charlo Carabott, he made me feel confident in his business model, but I was lured by the seemingly-generous competition. At times like this, it's good to be proved wrong.

As incredible and improbable as it sounds, part of me wishes I was 70 rather than 50. Or even 80. Time and again, I am reminded of music and films that I wish I had experienced first hand in the 1950s. This week, I've had to watch a new film biography of James Dean set in 1951 (my life is a tough one). A little violent, it is nevertheless beautifully shot in black and white and I always imagine my unlived life in the past as being conducted in sepia tones.. Joshua Tree 1951: A Portrait of James Dean comes out on DVD in a couple of months and it is well worth a view. Just don't watch it with your parents or your children. I'm no prude, but some things are best left in the privacy of a relationship. That said, this is truly a beautiful film and one which I intend to watch again. My favourite scenes are the flashacks to the drama classes at UCLA. It seems important. More than anything, I love the ubiquitous books and the fact that I NEVER knew Dean's middle name was...

A series of rubbish days, weeks and months enjoyed a brief ray of sunshine on 15 January and not her today. Networking over lunch with some interesting people was followed by a gorgeous walk in the sunshine and 20 minutes of acupuncture. A brief train ride home and several cups of tea with a lovely friend before venturing to the gym for the first time in too long. Just 15 minutes on a bike, or an amazing 15 minutes on a bike, depending on perspective. Six months ago, that would have been pathetic. Today, it felt like a massive achievement. For which I awarded myself 20 minutes in the jacuzzi, with my withered left arm floating amid gently-pummelling bubbles. Then two hours working on an exciting new project with a good friend, making plans for an interesting year. Surprisingly, I'm now exhausted. A well-earned sleep beckons. Who knows why my spirits are lifted. Sunshine? Acupuncture? New friends? Old friends? A combination? Whatever it is, long, long may it continue.

Weirdly, tonight's awesome gig by my old friend Steve White and a fabulous group of musicians who blew the audience away in Islington, caused me to look back 30 years and look into the future. January is always all about that strange balance between the old and New Years and I didn't properly embrace it this year. I was struggling following November's car crash and immediately cast a shadow over this year by fracturing my shoulder on my 50th birthday. Enough of all that. What January this year lacked, tonight has given me in spades. I watched a man play drums with the utmost skill when I last saw him play nearly 30 years ago when he was still a teenager. When we last played together, we were recording TV and radio appearances to support the fairly controversial launch of The Style Council's first album, Cafe Bleu. After tonight's gig I once more can't lose the horn lines that embedded themselves in my ear, my fingers and my soul in 1983 and 1984. But this wasn...

Fred. His Vespa and his brand new visor. Nice.

Mostly spent sleeping and hoping my shoulder will miraculously repair itself.

Started watching this today. Didn't get very far. It's harrowing and explicit in places. Will resume later in the week. Have to review it and it's going to be a trick one to write.

I usually interview people because of the job they do. Today was different. I'd already interviewed Jennifer about her work with disadvantaged young people in Peckham and today I went to interview one of her clients. A young man with bucket-loads of ambition but few opportunities. Bleeding-heart liberal I may be, but it hardly seems fair that because of where he was born and brought up - let alone the colour of his skin - King hasn't been given introductions to jobs that might be useful to him. He hasn't been helped at all, as far as I can see. A very bright young man, his stint in prison only helped him by strengthening his determination to never - ever - go back. We ended up with some great photographs and quotes and the whole experience reassured me that the probation service can work. It can point people in the right direction and rehabilitate them. If King is just given the right people to talk to, he might make a success of his life. Anyone want to train him as a ...

Yesterday saw my first session of acupuncture as pain relief for what my physiotherapist now thinks is a frozen shoulder. Acupuncture and taping my shoulder I felt very relaxed after that session but, sadly, didn't sleep any better than before. I was hoping it might do the trick. Mind you, I didn't feel any negative effects, so I am definitely willing to give it another go next week. I also read up on frozen shoulders today. Basically, it would appear that there is no treatment for it, beyond relieving the pain it causes. A bit annoying, as I was hoping that there was something I could do that might speed up my recovery. The pain is now so tedious that it feels as if I have never been pain-free. I can't imagine what it's like to lift my arm above my shoulder or even touch the top of my head. I would like to be able to put my hands in my pockets without wincing with e pain and I would LOVE to go for more than four hours without popping a pill or two. The most dep...

Today dawned with Florence's 20th birthday and the realisation that I can no longer say that I have two teenage children. It makes little difference, except that I could (perhaps) pretend to be a little younger than I am. A friend regularly says "Age is just a number", but refuses to share hers. My attitude is that it IS just a number, and therefore I have no shame in admitting that I'm 50. Having a daughter - even a gorgeous one - who is 20 just endorses that age. It's also a significant day because one of my best years ever was when I was 19. But then my 20s just kept getting better and I know that Florence has so much ahead of her. And most of it will be outside my sphere of influence and probably without my knowledge. So, Happy Birthday Florence. Enjoy your day and night in Cambridge with your girlfriends. A good choice of spending your special day. And thanks for letting me buy you Kir Royale to start it off.

It was recently my pleasure to interview Charlo Carabott, one of the creators of Mazuma Mobile for an article about the relationship between them and Royal Mail. He was a genuinely nice man and seemed to know his business. We discussed various elements of the business and I mentioned that I was about to change from BlackBerry to iPhone and would be getting rid of my old handset. He claimed that Mazuma was the most reliable supplier (well, he would, wouldn't he?) but I was a little skeptical. So, I did some shopping around and finally went to a competitor, as they offered me more than Mazuma for my handset. Actually, this is exactly what Charlo said they or their competitors would do. Of course, within days of receiving my phone, they reduced the offer by nearly 2/3. Which is also what Charlo said would probably happen. I could pay to receive my handset back or just settle for less and take the easy option. They obviously don't know me. I paid for return of my handset an...

I can usually spot a prank, but I totally missed this one. A friend's band page featured an abject apology for 'stealing' a song from a guitarist he met on a French camp site. It was well-written and seemed plausible. Not because my friend is a theif, but because he would 'fess up to his errors. It turned out to be completely fictitious, although it has somewhat backfired, as he's worried that someone will actually spot their own riff in one of his songs and sue the pants off him. Nice one!