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

This week’s movie from the limited choice of the lull between popular release weeks and holiday period was the Reece Witherspoon/Sophia Vigara road movie Hot Pursuit.   Now I went in not expecting much from this movie and well that’s pretty much what I got.   The story is nothing new it’s a typical point A to point B movie with standard roadblocks along the way.         Bad Cops / Good ‘Overachiever’ Cop no one takes seriously            Revenge plot            Cinderella sub plot I’ve seen Reece Witherspoon do a number of great movies (Cruel Intentions, The Man in the Moon, Walk the Line, Legally Blonde)   and some not so great ones (Vanity Fair, Four Christmases) this one goes in to the “Not so Great” Category.   I usually like Witherspoon, she has great comic timing and can pull off a whole range of characters who at their core are all inherently likeable (Sweet Home Alabama) only this one was just well bland.   The accent she used was harsh and cold and did

Now, I’ve told you about my makeup journey, I used to use make up as a mask now I tend to use it to enhance my features.   I’m no longer afraid of being seen without make up, but I do prefer to have a paired down routine rather than no makeup at all when I’m nipping out somewhere.   Currently I’m overhauling my makeup bag, chiefly because of my sensitivity I need to know what’s out there that works for me.   Over the last two years or so I’ve altered my diet – I still eat too many cakes and biscuits but I tend to eat a lot more veg, and even grow it myself.   I also try to eat more Organic food products as I find them more palatable and I find I feel better eating more cleanly.   Mind you I still indulge so I’m not a complete saint but I try to find a balance between the two! Anyway, looking at my organic eating I decided I’d try and find something more Organic for my skin.   So I started with Clarins skin care and I’m glad to report I’ve had no reactions to their skin care.  

When I was younger, probably around ten years old I started using make up as a daily part of my beauty regime.   For me the use of makeup was more about creating a mask rather than enhancing beauty back then, but over time and as I grew up make up became more refined less mask like but still providing me with a sense of comfort and some confidence.   Like most teens I generally used drugstore brands, they are affordable and some are excellent.   However, like most teen girls I had issues with my skin and as I grew and my skin changed, it became apparent that I was sensitive to ingredients in some brands.    Lancome Make Up  By my late teens I moved on to more up-market brands, I became an exclusive user of Lancôme.    I used their full range of skin care and makeup.   I chatted with the makeup artists at the counters and often had make overs and skin care routines updated.   My only break in using these products was a six month period during my University Course where I

Now, firstly I must admit when Mark Haddon’s novel “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night time” was released I wasn’t really aware of it.   I saw it in a few books stores but it never really caught my fancy.    Then I heard it was being adapted into a play for the West End and I read a bit more about it.   After seeing a documentary on the production and hearing there was to be a UK tour I decided this was something I’d love to see.   So, over twelve months ago I booked tickets for the opening night at the Sunderland Empire and well I wasn’t disappointed.   Late one night Christopher (Joshua Jenkins) finds his neighbour’s dog dead in the garden, speared with a garden fork.   After being found with Wellington (the dog) he has a run in with a police officer who doesn’t understand Christopher doesn’t like to be touched. He is taken to the police station where his dad, Ed (Stuart Laing) comes to collect him.    Christopher decides at this point to investigate Wellington’