And so it begins......

Blog two of the writing diaries, here we go!

Last time I mentioned that I had thought out a story line and was working on the characters and investigating the facts to go into my novel.

Thanks to the wonderful technology of Google (and lack of public library in my home town) I have been able to make some vast progress on investigating my setting scene and surroundings for the novel and have come up with a bullet-point summary for the main characters who will be acting out the story itself. I have even mapped out the different chapters and what content will go into each section.

So having come thus far, I decided it was time to switch on the laptop and make order of these thoughts going through my head to start typing out the opening scene.

The first three paragraphs came easy enough, my creative splurge doing most of the work for me. But after paragraph number four, I found myself slowing up and having to think of how to phrase what I wanted to say. When writing a blog it's so natural and free flowing as you are putting order to the chaos of thoughts and events that have already happened. With writing, you're trying to conjure up and imagine the scenario along with the thoughts and feeling associated with that character. It is definitely a lot harder than you can ever imagine!

It probably didn't help that it was quite late at night and I was half falling asleep at my laptop whilst listening to X FM and the snoring of my lodger in the room next to me.

Maybe I should best leave the week nights purely for researching and do my writing of the weekend, once I'm fully refreshed and focused on what it is I'm trying to say.

Novice or Insane?

Every year I always try to make two or three resolutions and then aim to achieve at least one of these things - what is life without goals to work towards?

2010 was my year to learn to drive and experience a proper exploring holiday - which I achieved. I passed my test at the end of September, 2 days after flying back from Indonesia.

My 2011 goals are to get myself a car (which I have achieved), re-decorate the house (which I have had to put on hold, owing to the fact I thought my money was better spent on another holiday!), become financially stable to the point where I don't need to have a stranger in my house (which is a work in progress) and finally, get creative.

This last goal was not set with a particular theme in mind, in fact I was probably thinking more on the lines of getting back into painting and drawing again, but I feel I need a challenge - and my next adventure could be just that.

I have decided to try and write either a novel - or some short stories. I'm still unsure if this could be a good thing - or will just drive me round the bend. But, everyone needs a challenge in life and my very good friend suggested over lunch that it would be also be fun to blog about the ups and downs that are involved with doing this writing.

So, after much deliberation and some futile Internet research, it has taken me about a month to think of a half decent story outline - which I might add has a beginning, a middle AND an end - and I am now onto the next stage of building up the characters and researching into some facts for my story, so I can make it as accurate as possible.

So far so good, but I feel the real test will be putting pen to paper (or finger to keypad) and actually trying to start the opening chapter. Hopefully it will not take me another month to get the creativity flowing in being able to produce that first paragraph.

P.M.A

Sun, Ray Bans, short-sleeve shirt, lunch al-fresco - check, check & check!

Oh my, what a lovely day. How nice it was to get out at lunch and use my hour break to it's full potential to soak up those vitamin D's that are much needed. It really is amazing how the power of a few warm light particles can transform your little bubble world into a glowing beacon of PMA - positive mental attitude!

After going for a wander to stretch my little legs, I decided to get lost in the throngs of people at Exchange Square, all doing the same as me - soaking up the sun. To be able to sit there without a coat, in a short sleeve top and just feel my skin tingling under the warmth of the soon to be summer sun - it was almost like a teaser of what's to come.

Still, how I loved it. I had my pumps slipped off my feet, hands gripping the edge of the bench seat whilst tilting my head up, eyes closed shut under my sunglasses just feeling the pleasure of the day on my face and neck, spreading down my shoulders into my body - total bliss!

No matter what crap you have going on in your everyday life, the summer days just put it all to right and make you realise that it really doesn't matter. It's no big deal if your ex-tenant has racked up loads of debt in your name, it's no big deal if you're an insomniac, it's no big deal if your best mate whom you've known since you was 13 has decided she can't be bothered with you anymore because she now has a fiance - and it really is no big deal that I have a total nut job living in my house - it really does not matter!

It's a new day and so will be the day after and the day after that - so lets get busy living it up & having some fun, before the next wave of winter months ascend upon us...!!!!

Fitness Guru....or health freak?

This seems to be the lively topic of debate floating around my office at the moment, involving my fitness regime. Am I becoming some type of fitness guru, getting up at 5:30 am to do my exercises - or am I becoming a health freak and should be lazing in my bed as suggested by one certain colleague?

I don't think I'm that extreme - I'm focused on how much weight I want to loose and what areas I want to tone up - but I don't feel I go overboard. You'd never catch me doing a 26 mile marathon and putting myself through un-necessary duress and I don't get up every single morning to work out and then put myself on a really strict diet.

I like to think I have the balance right - exercise two-three times a week - then go down the pub two to three times a week to even it out! That's what it's all about, right?! Cancelling out the bad with the good.....no, only kidding - kind of....

My thoughts are that if I'm already in an insomnia-induced semi-awake conscious state, I may as well make the most of the morning and waken myself up fully. I know they say no pain, no gain, but the longer you exercise the easier it becomes. For me it's more the thought of getting up, than actually doing the exercise that causes me pain. I do actually really enjoying it once I'm out running or doing my kick boxing or pumps etc... and I can notice a big difference now to say two months ago. I can now do a 5k run without hobbling round like an old lady for two days afterwards, my knees no longer ache and when I cool down afterwards I can now actually reach my ankles - hurrah! That in itself is a life time achievement!

So, in answer to my colleagues question - fitness guru or health freak? I say neither, I'm just someone who's slightly insane and trying to stave of a jelly belly in my old age.....

Insomniacs R Us.....

Insomnia - it's something most people can relate to at some point in time, generally something that happens the odd night here and there, fretting about something then going back into the regular routine of slumber. Unfortunately, this is something that for me just seems to be getting worse over time. I really can't remember the last time I slept all the way through the night and a Sunday morning lie-in....forget it!

I've always been a light sleeper, but it never used to bother me & I'd still have bundles of energy....now I just feel like crap, look haggard and have massive circles underneath my eyes that no amount of make-up can cover anymore.

I don't know what's worse - the thought that I know it's only 2:30am and I am staring at the ceiling trying to sort out the mess in my head which is accountable for me being wide awake - or the odd few chances when I do fall into a slumber, only to be woken by a hammering heart after having one of two recurring dreams, gripping onto the covers feeling a rather foolish twat waiting for the blood rushing in my ears to subside.

My subconscious is trying tell me something, but it's almost like when you have something on the tip of your tongue and you can't quite grasp it. Either that or I don't want to.

Until the day comes when I am at peace to sleep through the night, I have my music medley to keep me company through the nightly tosses and turns.........

Let there be light......

It's a new dawn, on a new day....and I'm loving it!

Sun, where have you been hiding these last few months? Oh how I've missed your warm rays, your sunny ambiance and general feel good wow factor. Do you realise how dank and miserable it has been these last few months without you? I've had to get up in the dark, go home in the dark and generally just walk around in the gray miserable cold wetness that is winter!

Admittedly, it is rather cold out and I did still have my coat, scarf and gloves on this morning...but...oh, how you brightened my morning feeling your presence on my face walking up through the City this morning. You can't quite beat that feeling of being able to reach for the Ray Bans - and still be able to see where you are going through the light dappled streets of London.

You have certainly provoked some rather good memories of what the British Summer is all about and I just can't wait to be able to wear my summer clobber again. The feeling of wearing a vest top with the warmth on your shoulders and being able to have lunch al fresco swatting away the bees. I do love the City in the summer, the odd cheeky night being able to sip a Pimm's out on a forecourt somewhere, standing chatting away until it starts to get dusk late at night.....

Oh sun, how I love thee....please, please, please do stay a bit longer this time!

May Day, May Day....!

So, the big wigs at the top have been putting their thinking caps on again and have come to the conclusion that Britons no longer need the May Day Holiday and that we'd be better off moving it to another month.

Is it just me, or is there really no logic to this? Apparently, by moving the bank holiday from a Spring / Summer month to a Winter month will make more Britons holiday at home and it will also accumulate an extra £2bn in tourism cash over the next four years. All this from moving one bank holiday - no wonder we are so cash strapped and having cuts given to us left right and center.

Moving the clocks in line with European time so it's lighter longer in the evening - now that I can get the gist of and understand why that could be feasible. But honestly chaps, who are you kidding? If a foreigner wants to come to this Country, they will come. Public holidays do affect them as London life no longer comes to a standstill on bank holidays - tourism carries on and just about every shop is still open.

I reckon I have a much brighter option for you - instead of moving May Day, why not just give us an extra day in October? All business men have Blackberry's now, so the trade sector would still carry on regardless as most people at the top are work-a-holics. Plus, the menial members of firms will be going out making the most of their new bank holiday and spending money into the economy, thus boosting your profits and giving you an extra shot of Brandy at Christmas.

What do you reckon guys and girls, will this catch on? You never know, if they're hoping to go all out and become more in line with the Europeans, maybe they could also introduce having the whole month of August off like the EU does and we might even be able to blag a siesta too.......here's hoping!