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

The nights have drawn in, the weather has got cold and rainy, even a touch of snow and soon every house will be adorned with Christmas lights, so it’s time to start getting in the festive spirit by reading a few festive tales. I’ve bought several Christmas themed books this year to read over the festive period, the first of which was The ChristmasParty by Carole Matthews .   The story follows Louise, a single mum, starting a new career as a PA working for a rather unscrupulous and handsy boss.   It’s almost time for the Christmas party and for once Louise is determined to have a good time and enjoy the party. Set in a beautiful country house he office party takes off introducing a variety of employees each with their own drama going down behind the tinsel.   The party takes place the day before Christmas Eve and we then follow the lives of Louise and several of her co-workers through to Christmas Day. I wanted to enjoy this book, I wanted to feel festive and I wanted t

It's the season to be jolly, there's just something about the Christmas season which fills your heart with hope, joy and make just maybe the odd Christmas Miracle.   I'm a Christmas person, I love the season, and yes to me it is a season, which kind of starts just after my Birthday in September.  That's when I start my planning; mind you I usually start my Christmas Shopping in January in order to spread the cost!   Right now, I'm planning my Christmas decorations and starting to work on some which are more craft based.  I'm a bit of a traditionalist, my tree tends to be red and gold, and although my tree is artificial as I have a rather excitable golden retriever who would probably chew or try to drag a real one in to the garden, it's green, I'm not a black or multi-colour tree type person.   Over the next couple of weeks I'll be working on a few craft projects, which I'll share here and hopefully it'll help get you in the Chris

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and at the start of the holiday season your hair might be beautifully happy and healthy but there’s that chance all the cold weather, blow drying, curling straightening and party hair do’s are going to take their toll on your precious locks so when my Hair dresser Lynn told me she was having a Christmas Shopping event I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to grab a few bargains that might save me and my hair from suffering post Christmas blues.   First off, a great hairdresser is hard to find and I’m lucky I found mine.   Lynne, Emma and Georgia at Hairs and Graces (Durham, UK) are an amazing team.   I have never once been disappointed in the results they’ve achieved with my hair.   Right now I’m a blonde, I say that as I have a habit of changing my hair colour.   Naturally I’m dark brown/blac k with what my dad used to call Heinz 57 varieties, meaning I have bits of multiple colours throughout my hair.   Anyway, currently I’m a full head

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 gates of their