When it's got to go, it's got to go

Lovely, imitation Victorian tap. Drives me mad with its dripping. So it has to go. In life, you have to know when it's time.

More great people to interview and photograph

The boy done good

Freddie's performance as Brian in 'DNA' last night gained him a 'B' grade for 40% of his AS level Theatre Studies. A huge relief.

(and then the builders wind me up)

three lorries outside my window with their engines running at 7:30am. Not cool.

Spring is springing

Motivation comes from the strangest of places

If I ever feel like slacking, the 30 or so people struggling across the road (usually in the rain, so basically surrounded by mud) to build the flats across the road motivate me. If they can keep going, then so can I. And if they can take Sunday off, then so can I.

Progress at Oughtonhead Common on reed clearing

Yet another inspirational woman

As I write these blog posts, I realise quite how fortunate I am to interview so many interesting people. I could tell you who I interviewed today, but then I'd have to kill you. Puts me to shame.

An actor - but no luvvie

Interviewed Stewart Alexander this afternoon at the gorgeous Clapham Picture House. Such a nice man.

Hate lip-synching, but loved this video

James Corden. Hilarious. Love the 'spot the purple' game in Cadbury's recent advertising campaign.

The joys of Kent - a busy and exhausting day to interview in Bexley

Keeping the post office running around the country

One of my favourite jobs is occasionally interviewing subpostmasters around the UK. Like Mr Ellalan at Boreham, they are often at the heart of their community and a real pleasure to talk to.

Restless Beings - an inspirational afternoon

There's something about meeting a group of people who give up their time to help others that puts me to shame.

The team at Restless Beings in E7 work collaboratively to solve human rights abuses around the world and I met a few of them yesterday. They're a passionate group of people, keen to talk about their work. And this is all voluntary work. They hold down jobs or study at university while making a difference in the world and, actually, in their local community. How many of us can say we do the same?

Aftermath of more storms

Not much to show for the storms last night. A large chunk of the fence across the road disturbed my sleep at midnight and then 2am by falling across the road. Police and Fire Service came and swiftly dealt with it and this is the result this morning. It's actually nice to be able to see more of the McCarthy & Stone site.

Saint Valentine - stood up for what he believed in.

Minor toll of the storm locally

We've been lucky here in Hertfordshire and we've stayed reasonably dry. Several trees in local beauty spot Oughtonhead Common have come down but that's about the extent of it it at the moment. I must admit to keeping everything charged and torches handy in case we lose power. I feel for those more badly hit than us.

Women in Business Networking

Once a month, I meet with other members of WIBN in Stevenage. This month was my turn to do a ten-minute presentation and preparing for it gave me an opportunity to consider what I do and why. Hence yesterday's blog.

Nine reasons to use a writer

Interesting new clients with revealing reasons for using me. In most cases, an existing website they know doesn't say what it should: or a blog they've started but can't commit to writing regularly: or text written by someone who knows the business but can't get the tone right (let alone spelling, grammar and punctuation).

Which is where I come in.

All I do - day in, day out - is interview people and write stories. The skill lies in asking the right questions and then writing the answers in an appealing and interesting way. Oh, and with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.

In essence, there are nine things I offer as a writer:

1. Objectivity - detached from your business or from the story, I can see the big picture and don't get caught up in the background or the minutiae.

2. Accuracy - because it does matter if apostrophes are in the wrong place!

3. Time - you're doing whatever it is you do and spending time writing about it never seems important enough.

4. Experience - because this is all I do, I've seen it all before and can offer a perspective that understands your industry or your audience.

5. Expertise - I'm not a writer some of the time. I'm a writer all the time.

6. Understanding - your target audience is something I will have come across with a different client.

7. Consistency - there's something in my eye that can spot inconsistencies across thousands of words and that means there won't be errors of content and design that bother your reader.

8. Speed - I can almost certainly write accurately more quickly than you can, without the distractions you have from things you'd rather be doing.

9. Sanity - sometimes, you need a critical friend who will point out the flaws in your business, be they ever so tiny.

Convinced? If you are, leave a comment. If not, leave a comment.

Building progress, so worth the noise.

Blocks are being cemented into position and the ground levelled significantly lower than the original garage and petrol station. Progress seems suddenly swift.

Coincidental viewing

I never watch television on a Sunday morning. I can't imagine anything worse. But then, suddenly I was switching on just as Jenny Jones was hitting the slopes for the second time in some sort of downhill snowboarding race with obstacles. At one point, she was in silver medal position, but that all changed when the favourite came down the slope and you could tell she knew her stuff. I was gripped and couldn't believe it when third place was confirmed for Jenny Jones - Team GB's first Olympic medal on snow.

I could say I was inspired to greatness by her performance, but I did nothing more interesting than make tea and toast next, but it was a moving performance and a proud moment.

Is this a sign?

My writing partner and I were happily bashing through a screenplay when this rainbow appeared in the sky. So clear and so beautiful.

We took it as a sign that our writing was as good as we thought it probably was. Of course, it could just have been a sign of the sun appearing while rain was in the air.

Spring is in the air

Oh, the delights of building sites

Early morning alarm call. The sooner the older folks move in across the road, the better.

Looks hideous - tastes delicious. There's a lesson for us all.

Brands I love

There are few brands I am loyal to. Levi's (501s), Fred Perry, Ray Ban, Mont Blanc and Moleskine probably covers them.

But then there's San Pellegrino. I love the fact that it's been bottled in Italy for more than 600 years, but I hate the fact that it's now a Nestle brand. When it was bought by them in the late 1990s, I stopped drinking it for a while, but nothing else comes close. It's not something I buy often but when I do, I suddenly remember why I do.

Just can't help myself. And I suppose that's why brands appeal to us. Just because they seem to fill a tiny, indefinable need. So, I can't be too critical of people who love the brands I despise (Ugg boots more than most), because those people probably feel the same way I do about the brands I love. Even if I think the brands they love are hideous.

Sometimes, we all need a little reminder

A kick where I needed it

I bought this book on impulse because Waterstone's had a 20% off sale.

It seemed like what I needed and it delivered. A very quick read but worth every minute. Been up and at it ever since.

No rain for a couple of hours

Despite days and days of rain, today dawned with sunshine. It was so cold, but so beautifully sunny when Looby and I walked across the fields and Oughtonhead Common. As we approached the river, these ducks were swimming by. I don't usually see much wildlife, as I think the presence of the dog puts them off. It was lovely to see this small group swimming around.


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