My Life as a writer - When I'm not scribbling

I love London, I love theatre land, unfortunately I don’t get there as often as I would like, which is why I love the National Theatre’s live streaming of some truly remarkable performances. The Barbican’s current run of Hamlet staring Benedict Cumberbatch was the latest offering, which I was glad to see knowing I wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to see the performance. The Barbican is a grade two listed building, from architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon as part of the regeneration of London’s bombed landscape.   It opened in 1982 and is Europe’s largest multi arts and conference venues. Hamlet (5 August – 31 October 2015) Shakespeare’s great tragedy has been adapted for the stage by Director Lyndsey Turner and Producer Sonia Friedman.   The run time is approximately 1 hour 50 minutes. Hamlet played by Benedict Cumberbatch is grieving for the loss of his father and is enraged by the marriage of his mother to his uncle.   As war looms outside the g...

It’s almost Halloween, it’s the time of year the nights draw in, the cosy jumpers work their way back in to your closet and it’s time for those films that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.   The films that make you look over your shoulder and wonder if someone is lurking in the shadows.    So with all the feelings of what the coming darkness brings I ventured out to see the well hyped Crimson Peak. How could it go wrong? A perfect movie for Halloween if you believe the trailer, ghosts, creaking old mansions, red blood like clay, a harrowed heroine and elegant but sinister leading man.   Unfortunately, that was were the tension and expectation peaked. Initially I thought Del-Toro was on to a winter, a haunted house piece with a great cast and from the initial images and trailers an impressive set.    However, within the first ten minutes the film went downhill rapidly until it crashed and burned to an obvious end. The sto...

Having read Little Shop of Hopes and Dreams last Christmas I was interested in reading this offering from Fiona Harper.  Gladly I wasn't disappointed,  I do admit it's taken me a while to read this book, not because of the book or writing simply due to life getting in the way of reading time! Doris Day Vintage Film Club By Fiona Harper The story follows Travel Agent Claire Bixby, (I admit I felt an affinity due to the name) who plans romantic trips for her clients and works close to the Little Shop of Hopes and Dreams from the previous novel. She is also friends with Peggy from the previous novel who crosses over in to this novel,  filling the same role in this novel as the first.  She's the type of friend everyone would love to have and I enjoyed getting to know her better as she was a nice aside to the main story in both Hopes and Dreams and Doris Day.  I wonder if she will get a break out novel of her own one day. Claire has had a previous bad relatio...

I'm an autumn/winter person, bring on the cold weather as far as I'm concerned!  It's not just that the colours are deeper and warmer, the clothing is cosy, layered looks are great, I love boots rather than sandals,  its more beacuase I really don't do well in the heat, I tend to feel uncomfortable and clammy.  In autumn and winter I think I come in to my own. As it's September, I have changed the majority of my wardrobe back to warmer, darker coloured clothing.  I always keep a few lighter tops out just in case there's a few warmer days.   I love the change in wardrobe I start to feel like I have a whole new lot of clothes to wear and it hasn't cost me a penny. I have however needed / wanted to buy some new make up and that is what this post is about. Kate Upton Modelling Bobbi Brown Autumn Collection  1. Foundation & Base I tend to change my foundation if I can from season to season.  This spring/summer I have been using Clarins (s...

So this past week was my Birthday, no I'm not saying how old!  I've been enjoying some time off from my day job which has given me the opportunity to enjoy the following; 1. Girl's Games Night  I'm a bit of a home body, I love entertaining in my house.  As it's hard sometimes to get a group together due to everyone's commitments it's really great fun to finally have everyone in the same place.  Every month or two I try to have a girls night in.  This usually involves lots of picky food, something nice to drink and some weird and wonderful board games. Now this might sound a bit boring but for my group of friends it's a great way to have a catch up, relax, enjoy some food and have a laugh. What would a night be without desert or three of them! 2. Birthday Treats I'm not a huge Birthday person, I much prefer Christmas!  But this year I had a really nice day spent with my Mam and then a gorgeous Italian at Bellini's with my two best frie...

In an attempt to economise my beauty regime, I started looking for a lower price bracket brand which would still give me great looking skin, be organically based, but go easier on my wallet.   I am someone who reads reviews and listens to recommendations and I do have an unhealthy obsession with Pinterest and Youtube, they are great distractions but can also be extremely inspiring.   It was on one of my early evening trawls through YouTube which often help me relax and clear my mind while writing, that I came across a vlog about  hair care routine for growing out your hair, now I know I’m really talking about skin care but there’s a connection I promise.   So I was watching this video and  the product being discussed was from a brand called Andalou Naturals.  Now I dye my hair, I’m naturally very dark but prefer a lighter look, so I’m always battling to keep my hair in good condition despite the colour processes and my love of using hair ton...

Late 2013 I read an article on Guy Richie’s new project, taking on the 1960’s TV Series “The Man From Uncle” and I remember feeling rather excited.    Having seen other 50’s and 60’s shows reimagined and revitalized, Hawaii 5-0, Mission Impossible for contemporary audiences and having seen how Guy Ritchie adapted Sherlock Holmes for a stem-punk action generation I was intrigued to see how he would approach the world of cold war espionage and make it relevant to a modern audience. As a child growing up in the 80’s a lot of my TV habits were dictated by my parents and grandparents   and they all loved TV dramas like Chips, Dukes of Hazard, The Saint, Mission impossible and The Man From Uncle which were on re-runs throughout my childhood.   I vague memories of watching Robert Vaughn and David McCallum strut around opulent sets looking rather dapper in a similar style to how I remember my grandfather dressing.   It was in a way dated to me even then but in a ...