Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

I have coincidentally reached 'R' in Graham Allcott's excellently practical guide to Productivity. And what is 'R' for? Rest. Among other things. I have managed to switch off fairly well this Christmas and nearly missed a meeting this morning because I was so chilled. Fortunately, I had a diary reminder in my phone, so was even early! But now I'm rewarding myself with a few more days off before 2015 starts for real on 5 January. I'm not making resolutions. I've set goals and, looking back, I realise that I've achieved a massive musical goal I set myself at the end of January 2014. It's all part of a steady progression towards a long term goal. The only way to achieve my goals is to take it one step at a time. For now, the next step involves being kind to myself and having some ... rest.

Not the most beautiful floral display yet, but it'll get there. The pot is too small but all I could find this morning. I love planting bulbs. It's a literal start to mirror the metaphorical new start to my life. Every day brings something new and there has to be some good stuff coming this way. Posted via my iPad

Have you hit your goals for 2014? Did you even HAVE any goals for 2014? If you don't know what your 2014 goals were, now's your chance to backtrack and instead decide where you scored the most this year. At least that way, you'll be able to set new goals for 2015. So, what have YOU done this year to make you feel proud? Have you built your client base, or increased the spend of your average client? Can you identify your most valuable clients? What are you doing to make sure they stay with you? Having Christmas Day on a Thursday means, for most of us, three work days when a lot of people are getting ready for a few days off. Maybe there's some time to look back on 2014 and celebrate your successes. It's not yet time to set your goals, until you've really identified what went well and - more importantly - what lessons you've learned from 2014. I love spreadsheets, so I'll be looking at who's paid what and how long each job took me. It's not yet my ...

I'm never sure what to call 'ladies of the night', nor am I really sure how I feel about them. The death of Mandy Rice-Davies at the age of 70 just seems sad. She was caught up in the Profumo affair in the 1960s, probably the first political event I remember. My father worked with someone who had a link, somehow, to the case, so we all took an interest. I love her quote about a prominent man who had denied their ever having a relationship - "He would, wouldn't he?" She clearly understood men!

When your name IS your brand, it matters that people get it right. There's little more annoying than being referred to as 'Hilary Robinson'. We all make mistakes, but honestly!

As my youngest child hits 18, I realise how much my life has changed since he was born. A few more changes are called for, but one step at a time.

Give thanks – now is a great time to recognise and thank the people who’ve helped you get where you are at the end of 2014. A card or chocolates go a long way. Tidy, tidy, tidy – stuff in your office you haven’t used this year? Unless you have a specific plan for it in 2015, find it a new home. Schools and charities are often grateful for unused office equipment and stationery and Freecycle will help you get rid of unnecessary furniture. Look back – what have you done to be proud of in 2014? Pat yourself on the back but then consider whether you made the most of it at the time. Did you tweet, blog and issue a press release? Why not? If it’s not old news, tell everyone about it now. Plan for a perfect 2015 – come up with a goal. Come up with three goals. Take steps to achieve them and start right now. Take a break – decide when your office will close and set up an out of office reply for your emails and disable them on your phone. Relax.

Like many people, my work is completely hidden. Much of it is online on password-protected intranet sites. The rest is largely on public sites without any reference to me. I had the experience today of seeing a press release I'd written reproduced word for word on a page that was then roundly praised by one and all. Was my name anywhere to be seen? Of course not. Normally, that's fine. However, when looking for new contacts, it would be great to have boasting rights. So, if I've ever worked for you and it was good, please give me a testimonial. Preferably on LinkedIn. In fact, if you link in with anyone who's worked for you, then please give them a testimonial. They'll thank you for it. Posted via my iPad

A gorgeous sky as we approach the shortest day of the year.

I've been following Graham on twitter for some months but it was only today I found his book and it struck a chord. I am fairly productive, but would like to be more so. I'd like to have more free time because I use my hours more effectively. Already, I've read the chapter on Attention and realised that giving my full attention to one task at a time will benefit the next task I move on to, as well as the current one. It's not rockets science, and similar to the message in Eckhart Tolle's 'The Power of Now', which I began to read last year. Must pursue that once more.

Until September last year, I walked to get somewhere. Now, I walk so the dog can run around, sniffing where any other dog may have been. Plenty of time to stand and stare.

A beautiful sunny morning. Hardly possible that it's nearly December.

News that album sales are higher than they've been for 18 years is unsurprising, given the retro appeal of the 12" image format. There's something decidedly attractive about the slim artwork that makes most albums. I have a selection of vinyl that I simply could never sell and Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' is one of those. Not the first album I bought, but among the first. Iconic songs and imagery. I also have this one on my wall - because the tiny part I played in it reminds me of my youth.

A frosty dog walk this morning. We've been so lucky with the weather this year, I'm really not complaining. The grass was crisp underfoot and not being able to wear gloves because of my sling was a little annoying, but that's as bad as it got. Threats of the snow that's hit the west cost of the US have yet to become reality.

Humility is all I have. I'm forgetting this last week. Life starts again here and now. Humility, inquiry and 'Humble Inquiry' is maybe all there is and all there should be. An interesting read.

Wish I'd videoed it. Learning how to shoot videos and need some help before I post any! Posted via my iPad

I retrieved these two volumes of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary during a clear-out at the offices of AB. I have always thought of them as a pair and it was only when I looked closely at the spines that I realised they were different editions. One of the books was published in 1959 and one in 1964, the year AB was founded. I'm delighted to own these, to add to a ridiculous variety of dictionaries in my possession. My passion for words extends beyond their use in literature and to their definition. I also have to declare a love of homophones. Perhaps that makes me a homophonephiliac. I should look that up. So, if it's a pair of pears with its apostrophe, or their dog sitting over there where they're sitting, or even your dog who sits where you're sitting, I'm happy.

Sometimes, you just have to enjoy the sunshine after the rain. Posted via my iPad

There's something immediately awe-inspiring about the bright red of the poppies around the Tower of London as they are now sitting on a bed of autumn leaves. Moving.

When I returned home from a jaunt into London yesterday, I discovered this: It was as if the car bodywork fairies had visited my poorly car. In fact, a friend had spoken to Florence and Freddie during the day and come to bash out the dent. You can see it's not right, but it is a HUGE improvement. I nearly cried.

Hang on, I'm not advocating that we (women) should all try to be more like them (men), but there are definitely some things we could learn from them. Confidence is one of them. This article yesterday was interesting in provoking us to think about why we don't push ourselves forward. Some argue that women are generally paid less than men because they don't ask for pay rises. We don't apply for senior management roles because we think we're not good enough. I write award submissions and often hear that "I won't win. It's just for the experience." That's from women. Men almost never use language that puts themselves down. It's not in their vocabulary. While self-deprecation can be endearing, it doesn't win you awards. What do you have to lose by pretending to be more confident? You're unlikely to reach the scales of arrogance where it's a problem. If you do, I promise to tell you. I used to teach clarinet to a very talented young...

Definitely too few to mention, but one of them is that I wish I'd not listened to my parents. Only on one issue - they wanted me to get a degree and I wanted to go to music college. In 1981, getting a degree was a big deal and becoming a professional sax player was not an option. I'd achieved Grade 8 with distinction on clarinet and played baritone sax in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. All I wanted was to go to one of the music colleges in London and learn how to do it better. Getting an English and Music BA Hons definitely helped me in some ways, but I'd probably still be a writer without it and might be a better sax player. However, having a regret doesn't really make any sense. I can't do anything about it. I won't have any more regrets, though. I'll listen to my self when it tells me to do (or not do) something.

Inspirational art on Bankside near Borough Market. It's a building made entirely from candle wax to commemorate the candle manufacturers who were based there. In a piece of very slow, deliberate performance art, the building is being manually melted over a period of weeks. Possibly showing our immortality.

Someone built this wall decades ago and it's largely hidden, but beautiful brickwork. I hope I leave something as lasting behind.

Giuseppe Verdi, like William Shakespeare before him, created beautiful roles for strong female characters. Lady Macbeth's descent into madness following the acquisition of great power is intense and difficult to watch or listen to. Verdi's Macbeth is an extraordinary opera which I have heard several times but never seen performed. It was an amazing experience to see it beamed live from New York's Metropolitan Opera last night. Sitting in the most comfortable seat, just a few miles from my home and with a good friend who shares my interests, this was a real treat and less than £20. One of the best things about cinema-going at my age is having no-one comment when I sit there with a cup of tea rather than pop and popcorn. A very convincing Macbeth and a truly domineering Lady Macbeth headed up a professional cast. My favourite character was Banquo. It can be hard to play a ghost convincingly through Act III, but he succeeded. It's a beautiful opera, with a real dynamic ran...

Posted via my iPad

I've walked out of two events recently. Both were a waste of my time and although my instinct was to stay and endure the boredom, I knew that I should go. So I did. Events and incidents in the last two years have reinforced the sense that I should focus on things that matter. They may be things that matter to me, to you, or to someone else: but they definitely matter to someone. I hate the song, but it's occasionally an ear worm - 'What have you done today, to make you feel proud?' It's a good mantra. If in a 24 hour period there is nothing I've done of which I'm proud, it's time to do something. Then there's the year of my business - can I look back and say I'm in a better than I was twelve months ago? Which then leads to dreams - what might the future hold if I could dictate it? 24 hours - one year - a lifetime. You have to make them count. Posted via my iPad

A friend recently posted on Facebook, commenting on a childish exchange he'd witnessed on TV when two women were commenting on how 'fit' a 15-year-old boy was. He - rightly - posed the question of how we would feel if it was two men discussing a young girl in the same way. We really should consider how we talk about each other and consider the gender implications. You rarely hear a man asking another man where he bought his shoes. Or his suit. Or his tie. Or anything else. I'm not interested in the outfits of female friends and colleagues and don't want to waste time discussing it. Do we, as women, reinforce gender stereotypes in the language we use? I resent being called 'Hun' by a woman, just as a man calling me 'Love' winds me up. Use my name and if you don't know it, ask me. All I've ever wanted is to be treated as an equal by everyone. And to do the same in return. How do the words we use everyday make that less likely? Posted via my iPa...

After one of the longest and most beautiful summers I can remember, autumn has finally arrived today. Nearly felt the need for gloves! Posted via my iPad

The footpath between West Hill and Gaping Lane is a great little route on my daily dog walk and it was due for closure in March. Never happened, but apparently today is my last change to cut through that way. Time for Hertfordshire County Council to destroy a load of allotments to provide playing field for the local school that's doubled in size. Progress?

Definitely that time of year. Warm but there's a turn in the weather.

Quite nice but not very exciting green tea just over the bridge from Westminster. On tap, though, so no complaining.

It's not easy for me. I'll be accused of Nimbyism because Top Field is very nearly in my back yard. I also know some people on the 'other' side. They won't be happy that I'm absolutely supporting the position that Hitchin Town Football Club should retain its location on the very edge of the town centre. For me, there are just two reasons why it should stay. The first is the growing rate of obesity in the UK. We are fortunate in having Hitchin's football, hockey, cricket and rugby grounds within ball-striking distance of the town centre. County cricket has been played up at Blueharts on Lucas Lane and the England Deaf Rugby team have been using the King George's club for training. Amateur sport is in our veins in this town and taking one of these prominent sites out of town makes no sense at all. And start asking the many, many people who've enjoyed parties and social events at Top Field if they'd prefer it to be a supermarket. The other reason is...

For the last couple of years, I've been hunting for this tape, It's the physical master of my demo recording back in 1990. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to use the Church Studios and engineer for a couple of days. The tracks also feature bass playing from Mr Andy Fairweather Low. All I need now is to find someone with the right machine to get it remixed. Interesting times.

Next time someone asks what you're listening to or readng, will you lie? Apparently, most people asked about the food they eat will lie. The same is probably true of reading and listening habits. Currently in my ears is Aretha Franklin singing 'Do Right Woman'. Happy with that. So, as I prepare to draw a line under two years that saw me crash a car, break a shoulder and lose half of my stomach along with a tumour the size of a small football, I'm definitely going to be a Do Right Woman. Which means reading, eating and listening to what I want to. The things I know are right for me. After all, I'm not answering to anyone. And, for the record, my latest gig was Quincy Jones. That'll do. Posted via my iPad

If 'An Audience with Quincy Jones', compered by Paul Gambaccini, left me with one single impression, it was that the lines are not just blurred but practically invisible between jazz, blues and soul. The house band - The Allstars Collective led by Paul Pacifico - put on a good showing of Quincy Jones classics and there were some extraordinary performances by British musical royalty. Mica Paris, Jocelyn Brown, Sonique and Beverley Knight were simply perfect and worth the night out alone. A highlight of the evening was an indescribable performance of 'Me and Mrs Jones' by Sarah Jane Morris. You really had to be there. Hugely, unapologetically political from the first, Quincy Jones clearly has issues he feels strongly about. Equality being at the root of it all. The man is far more intelligent than I'd ever imagined and knows more about music, language and storytelling than I'd thought possible. He's been responsible for the soundtrack of most of my life, one w...

Sometimes, you meet people - or hear them talk - and their passion inspires you. Their words make you want to work. Hard. Whether it's music or writing, that passion is all that's needed. All it will take. Posted via my iPad

Maybe it's Thatcher's children, but people just seem so rude on trains these days. Men have definitely decided en masse to push in front of every woman they can. Just to prove they can, perhaps. Get off a Thameslink train at St Pancras in the evening and you'll be hard pushed to reach the platform without asking someone politely to step away from the door so you can actually get off to let them on. Of course, I could just be turning into a grumpy old woman. I do always step aside though, and pick up litter that I pass to put in the nearest bin. I'm not the only one with manners, but there are definitely more people working in central London who barely notice others, let alone show them any courtesy. Rant over.

I've had a couple of recent experiences that caused me to question people's use of the term 'professional'. It seems prevalent within organisations where people have little contact outside their immediate business connections. People who choose not to network are somehow cutting themselves off from the benchmark against others. I don't think all networking organisations and opportunities are great. Some of them are definitely not for me, but I enjoy the ones I do get involved in. The people whose paths I cross work in many different fields and - no matter how hard one might try not to be judgmental - they range from dynamic to a bit dopey. The dynamic ones sometimes demonstrate behaviours not to be repeated and the dopey ones can show how humility works. There really is something to learn from everyone. Which is my point, really. If you're not getting out and about, you'll believe everything you tell yourself about your business and, indeed, your profe...

Interesting reading. Took just three hours, while waiting for surgery on Friday morning, I usually hate anything remotely historical and fictional. Biographies and autobiographies I enjoy, but I dislike creativity built around real lives. No specific reason, but I just find it a little intrusive, However, this interpretation of Mary the mother of Jesus and her life was fascinating. Also extremely well written. I loved the concept of gathering together misfits to produce something interesting. This also struck me: "I want more from the world. Not much, but more." Posted via my iPad

Should probably not have taken dog for a walk less than 24 hours after surgery. Spent rest of the day on the sofa. Nice walk in the park, though. Posted via my iPad

Not the most flattering photo of me, but after a day in hospital, not too bad. And my left arm is totally pain free for the first time since 15 January 2013. And note the top of the black arrow, indicating to the surgeon where the problem sat. Posted via my iPad

I suggested 'Gorky Park' for our book club, especially as I gave copies of it out for World Book Night this year. I'd forgotten how good it is and re-reading it was a pleasure. An intelligent thriller. Posted via my iPad

Dog couldn't get her nose out of this empty crisp packet. Scavenged from son's bedroom floor - always a good source of tasty empty packets. Posted via my iPad

I haven't seen Courtney Pine perform for a couple of decades and his headlining Hitchin's Rhythms of the World music festival was top of my list for this summer. He didn't disappoint. An interesting line-up included an incredible steel drums player who could really play. They could all really play. Simply stunning and I was happy to buy a signed cd at the end of the show. That definitely a first for me. Posted via my iPad

Not the best photo in the world, but Freddie is playing drums at Wavendon's Stable theatre with National Youth Music Camp. I was so proud of him, not just for the playing but also for the positive comments his tutors gave me thereafter. It's his final camp - after about 10 years. The biggest compliment he could be played is that they've asked him to apply to be a tutor on the junior camp next year. It's where he started and it's a great opportunity to give something back. So maybe it won't be his last camp.

I experienced the extremes of customer service in restaurants this week and it made me realise that it's the little things that mean so much. On Monday evening, my cousin treated me to dinner at one of the best restaurants in Hitchin. The food was delicious and service friendly. Then I discovered a white plastic tube about 1.5cm long in my risotto. Not dangerous but not what you expect to find in your mouth. The waiter, when alerted to it, was apologetic. That was it. He came back to discuss desserts shortly thereafter. Great opportunity to mention the curious incident of the plastic in my food. Nothing. I at least expected the offer of free desserts. Nothing. Today, a group of ten of us visited a wine bar around the corner from the offices I visit a couple of times a week. We ordered drinks and then good, aware that a big order would take some time. However, after more than half an hour, nothing had arrived. I just popped over to the owner, who we know a bit, and mentioned our wai...

"This is the coffin of an unknown soldier. But he is only unknown to you. We knew him. We knew them all. He was not unknown to us." This moving line from 'FE Young VC' at Hitchin's Market Theatre brought me close to tears. It suddenly struck me that the only reason there are memorials to unknown soldiers is because there are no survivors to name the lost. In many battles of the Great War, the loss of life on both sides was simply dreadful. Spoken by a real man, fictionalised by writer Kirk Foster and actor Keith Swainston, this perspective brought home the reality of life a century ago. Part of Kirk's play focused on life in Hitchin in the years prior to the start of the war in August 1914. The house I live in - coincidentally next door to a house Kirk himself used to inhabit - was built in that period and I couldn't help but relate the version of Young's youth with that of those of a similar age who had previously called my home their own. When a play...

From what little I know about dogs, I'm sure they don't need a pillow to sleep. So why does Looby Loo choose to sleep on Florence's bed in the way she's seen Flo do? Posted via my iPad

I'm not a great believer in the superficial, but I will admit that half an hour spent painting my gate and a couple of fence panels has really improved my kerb appeal. I'm sure there's a message there somewhere. Posted via my iPad

Usually. There are exceptions, when repetition is good. Take 'Location, location, location' for example. Not the TV programme (although you can take that and burn it). The expression works because the three most important things to consider when buying your home really are all about where it is. I've never understood people (I know a couple) who buy a house on a main road and never stop moaning about the traffic noise. But, generally, less is more. Or, if you prefer - 'Keep it simple, stupid.' Please stop sending me emails that go on and on about stuff I may or may not wish to buy. I promise you, if I have to hit the down arrow, I will not buy from you. That is all.

I describe this as a courtyard, but is it big enough to describe it as a garden? Sunday's question.

My own book may remain half-written (for now), but at least I'm mentioned in this one. Paperback version at top of Amazon chart.

It's always been all about the words for me, but today I was struck by how great design can make life easier. I was fortunate in being given a tour of some of the hidden areas of The Shard in what used to be a very seedy part of London's south bank. I was interviewing some of the team who make the building function, as well as some of the outsiders who help them do that, what I found was an eye opener in terms of building design which, while probably not perfect if you work there every day, came pretty close as a visitor. There's one entrance and a set of lifts for the offices. A complete separate way in for the viewing platforms, another for the hotel, for the restaurants and, presumably, for the very swanky apartments. What it means is that there's no mixing of tourists, diners and workers. There's a sense of busyness without chaos. Being right on of op of London Bridge station - itself in the process of renovation - the transport links are good and on a beautiful...

I discovered, thanks to a colleague, a restaurant in Southwark called El Vergel. Enjoyed a nice plate of tacos and a fresh mint tea. Couldn't photograph the tacos as they smelled so good, I couldn't wait. I shall definitely be returning.