Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

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.