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