Reinventing Spring Cleaning...

Hello March, you beautiful beast! Encourager of daffodils, home to a clock change, month of my birth; in the words of Delia Smith, let's be avin' you.

March is often when the freezing drizzle of winter gets kicked into touch. Shoots emerge from the soil and fresh air and vitamin D perk everyone up. It's also the time when people feel the need to spring clean. They deep clean their house from top to bottom rather than relying on a quick spray of bleach and once round with the hoover. Spring cleaning is definitely a thing. 

It's not, however, something that features in my own life. I don't care enough. A quick spray of bleach and once round with the hoover is more than enough for me. (If that.) In this precious life of finite time, I refuse to waste one second pulling out the contents of drawers and wiping down surfaces that don't get seen. I respect myself too much. Fair play if a deep clean is your bag. Knock yourself out. I just don't feel the need for it in my own life.

That doesn't mean the seasonal change passes me by. Oh no. Spring cleaning as a term can be utilised in all sorts of ways. Forget your cupboards and shelves. Forget cleaning your windows and laundering every bit of bed linen. MY version of a spring clean presents itself in others ways. In no particular order, here they are.

Clean up the Planner

On my TV, under RECORDINGS, there's a mish-mash of content. Some series-linked TV shows with multiple seasons, some one-offs and specials, and some bought content from the Sky Store. I hate how disorganised it is. There should be an option to organise it into files like a desktop but there's not. Instead, I can delete. Delete the stuff I've watched. Delete the stuff I recorded at Christmas that I've not bothered with yet. And delete the build up of series-linked TV. TOTP2 is my personal nemesis. There's loads of them and they build up quickly. Instead of mopping my kitchen floor, cleaning up my planner can bring me joy.

Get a Haircut

I've been meaning to get a haircut since October. Life's been busy and it's just not happened. That's meant that the back of my hair has been the longest it's ever been (down to my bra!) and I've resorted to trimming the front with nail scissors. That ends now. In the fields, sheep are being sheared (probably) and in my own home via my mobile hair stylist, my hair has been cut. It feels great. A literal weight has been lifted. And for those of you who've never had the pleasure, let me tell you. The first time you wash your hair after having a load of it chopped off, is the absolute best. So quick! So easy to rinse! Happy spring!

Charity Bag the Lot

Yes, you could definitely eBay that pile of clothes you've allowed to build up. So go on then, eBay them. Or, if you're like me, accept the truth. You're never going to be arsed to take the photos, post the info, and answer questions from randoms about how many centimetres wide the £10 top that you're selling for £2.50 measures from armpit to armpit. Bung it in a charity bag and be done. Last week, I got rid of four bin bags that have been sitting in my bedroom for months. A charity benefits and I have more space. Plus, now's the time to have a look on Vinted for a whole new spring wardrobe. Fun.

Unsubscribe 

I bought a White Fox hoody for my niece in Christmas 2024. I'd never heard of the brand before and I've never bought anything since. However, for a good six months afterwards, they were kind enough to email me every morning to let me know they had other products to sell. They are not alone. I reckon I spend my first ten minutes of every morning deleting the email spam that's been sent overnight. Recently, I made a decision. I spent a similar amount of time scrolling to the bottom of each unwanted email and simply clicked the unsubscribe button. Genius, right? It felt far more satisfying than scrubbing burnt cheese off baking trays (insert more accurate spring cleaning chore here. I'm running out of ideas.)

Make a Change

It's been eleven years since my last tattoo. I have four, they're not all small, but they're discrete. With the new book coming soon and the gust of fresh spring air about the place, my tattoo tingles have started up again. Right now, I'm working it around my head. I've got ideas and I know where I'm going to get it done, but the final details are still to iron out. A change is as good as a rest, or something. Sod your dusting, polishing, and ironing, and get a tat instead!

Look, it's not up to me to dictate how you spend your time. You want to scrub, buff, and wipe? Be my guest. For me, however, I'm spring cleaning in my own way. Along with lovely walks, reading more than ever, and knowing the book I've worked on for two years is on its way, I'm cleaning out the old and ushering in the new. I just don't need to be wearing Marigold gloves as I do it.

Have a lovely week, folks.

Time Will Tell...

Greetings from the past! I'm writing this last Thursday, four whole days before it's available for your reading pleasure. How've you been?

Usually I'm much more up-to-date. I write this blog over the weekend before posting it on Monday. However this weekend - the one I'm about to have and the one you've just finished - is choc full of plans. I won't be able to write about the week just gone in time for the Monday deadline. That means I'm sitting here on Thursday morning, still living your last week and with no clue how it'll pan out. I don't know, for example, who won the Gorton and Denton by-election, I don't know how Connor Storrie did on SNL, and I have no idea how my Uni mates catch-up went on Saturday night. 

Actually, you know what? I know exactly how that went. Thirty years ago I met two guys in my first days in Northampton who became my pals. We're crap at keeping in touch but when we finally get our shit together (every couple of years or so) it's the best. I know now, days before it starts, that I had a blast last weekend.

Leeza McAuliffe

Writing News

My ego was thoroughly nourished this week. I had tea with my goddaughter who had received a typo-riddled advanced copy of the new book from me for Christmas. To my absolute delight, she was keen to talk about it at length. The actual thrill of it! We chatted about the plot, the characters, and I bounced ideas off her about the next book's direction. All in all, I had the best conversation whilst struggling to hide my overwhelmingly smug pride. 

Culture

I'm on a reading high right now. Since January started, I've had a book on the go consistently. This is marvellous. When I'm writing my own drafts, I tend to avoid immersing myself in other people's words. When I'm mostly done, I can return to the comfort of curling up with a novel. 

Right now, I'm reading Hamnet - which is beautiful but I know where it's going (I should've read it before the film) and I'm reading Rocket to the Past: Rainhill which is properly grippy but I've no idea where it's going. That's a real thrill right there. I'm half way through and I can't wait to box off today's jobs to get back to the story and find out. Also, in keeping with the theme of this post, time travel plays a significant part of the story. Boss. The joy of letting someone else think of the stories, can't be underestimated. Aren't books great?!

If I eat a load of
shite then early
morning walks
feel like wading
through treacle.
Am I entering my
salad era?

Food and Drink

Tomorrow night (that's last Friday to you) I'm going out with friends for a birthday meal at Botanico in Woolton. Here's the thing. I've already looked at the menu. Right now, I'm planning to order the halloumi and beetroot salad. It sounds gorge as well as being reasonably healthy. I'm at the point in life where if I eat a load of shite, I find that it makes me feel - you guessed it - a load of shite. Obviously time will tell if I stick to my plan. The four cheese gnocchi, also featured on the menu, might tempt me with its wily ways.

Out and About

By the time you read this, I'll have had a weekend in London. When I was at Uni, it took an age to get from Liverpool to London. These days it's two hours. How fab is that? Two hours away from meeting up with friends, having lovely food and drink, all soundtracked by a shit tonne of laughs. Even though it's not happened yet, I know it was brilliant.

Have a lovely week, folks.

Who AM I?

Brace yourselves but I did something spontaneous. Woohoo! Mere weeks after reflecting on my need for thinking time and build up, I made a quick decision. 

Steady now

Last Monday, I looked at my diary for the week ahead and saw it was empty. I'm currently waiting for people to get back to me, so book wise, I'm in limbo. Plus, it was half term and my sisters with kids were all over the family WhatsApp doing stuff. I wanted to do stuff too. What about me?! Wha wha wha, boo hoo!

Fast forward to a couple of days later and I arrived at one of my happy places. I hit Aberystwyth for a few days of bleakly beautiful beachy fun and had a marvellous time. Who am I?

Is there a lesson to learn here? In hindsight, I don't think so. This isn't the start of a whole new me. A me that throws a bag into the boot and heads off on adventures willy nilly. Nah, it's not that simple. But, if in the future, the serendipitous event of cancelled plans, waiting on book stuff, the good time in my menstrual cycle, and spare rooms in affordable accommodation simultaneously occur once again, I'll happily consider another last minute break.

Writing News

Something fab happened. My sister-in-law sent me a photo. She'd taken it in her local book swap shop - about half an hour away from where I live. I've added it here to see if you can spot it. Can you? Can you SEE? Among all the other books on the shelf was my very first novel. Carry the Beautiful had been spotted IN THE WILD.

I loved seeing that photo. It's rare that I hear of anyone reading/buying the book that isn't directly linked to me. Family, friends, and friends of friends is as far a reach as I know. But now, in a place I don't live, there's a copy of my book on a shelf that has the potential to be picked up by anyone. EXCITING.

The fictional hockey players 
who made me watch the real ones.

Culture

It was always going to happen. You can't devour Heated Rivalry - the Queer love story set in the world of ice hockey - without actually giving a shit about the subsequent Winter Olympic ice hockey being broadcast a few weeks later. 

1984 - the last time I remember
caring about winter sports.

For many people, this wouldn't be weird. Many people actively look forward to the Olympics - winter AND summer - and wouldn't see anything odd about my interest in it. I am not many people. You see, I hate the Olympics. Sorry (genuinely! Sorry to the people who love it and are gutted it's over ) but I find wall to wall coverage of sports I don't know, dull. Yeah, I said it. I never bother with any of it, and apart from happy childhood memories of Torvill and Dean (we all recreated Bolero in our ballet leotards, right) I've never bothered since. 

Until now. Every day I've found myself checking the schedules for the ice hockey, pressing the red button, and getting thoroughly behind Team Canada. I've read the rules, followed the NHL on Insta, and can recognise and name at least four whole players. I know what a power play is, that the goalie is called the goaltender, and that a clean sheet is called a shutout. Once again, who am I? 2026 has ushered in a whole new me! Yesterday's final between Canada and USA was a real nailbiter. Commiserations to Canada, who were pipped by the USA in overtime. You were an absolute pleasure to watch.

Food and Drink

It's unfortunate when your favourite tapas place is a three hour drive from your home but this is something I live with daily. 

Ultracomida is a deli in Aber with a little restaurant at the back. It's cosy but chatty, and serves beautiful food and the best wine. I manage to visit maybe once a year. What's great is that, despite the student nature of the workforce with staff changing with every visit, everyone knows their stuff. They're knowledgeable about wine, can make decent recommendations, and the occasionally changing menu is always delicious. Anyway, I had a lovely meal and I'll be back next time.

Bracing!

Out and About 

While I was away, I did a couple of seafront walks. The weather is what can only be described as bracing. I also spent a happy afternoon in the Pier Amusements playing shuffleboard. I lost, natch, but enjoyed playing a game where energetic movement is not required. (I enjoy darts and archery for the same reason.) 

This week, my diary is not empty. I've got stuff to do and can hopefully move forward with the book. Do you remember the title? Leeza McAuliffe is Branching Out. Say it. Roll it over your tongue. Now commit it to memory. Soon, I'll be asking you to pre-order it and I don't want it to be a surprise when that happens. 

Have a lovely week, folks.

Branch Out With Me...

Welcome to February's Long Ramble! Yes, we're ditching the weekly update format and getting in deep. Do you think you can cope? It's gonna be INTENSE.

You see, lovely Readers, the time has come. After months of chewing it over, of second guessing myself, and market researching the whole thing, I've done it. I've finally come up with the goods. My new book has a title!

Book 1

You may have heard me mention this before. Writing the book is the easy part; coming up with the title is a nightmare. My first ideas are never right. They might get used - for months - as the file name on the draft but they never make it to the front cover. Isn't it interesting? My first thoughts are always wrong. There's a life lesson in that. Except I also think that 'trust your gut' is the best advice for any situation so what do I know? I'm a complicated woman.

  Book 2

For nerds who want the full picture, check out the blogs below*. Each time I've written a book, I've written about the naming process. It's never easy. There are lists, there are multiple stupid ideas, and many Google searches for synonyms of words that mean what I want but don't sound right. Anything to try and nail the concept. It's so hard. 

Some people have the natural ability of wordplay. They delight in the fun of the pithy, the snap of a zinger, the punch of the perfect caption. I love that for them. It's just not me. I'm all about the sentences and the paragraphs. I like to build up layers and create effects over time. To try and distill the essence of 60,000 words into one short phrase is challenging to say the least.

Book 3

You may remember, I talked to my friends about it. There was a week last year when I saw three separate groups of mates a few days apart. (A social whirl!) I happened to tell each friendship group that I was struggling with the title and in each case, the people rallied round. Suggestions got shouted out willy nilly and two separate friends continued to message me ideas the next day. What a bit of luck that was. Because that's when it happened, you see. That's when I got my title.

So, let me tell you what I told my mates. They hadn't read the book so needed a bit of context to get in the zone. I explained that in the new story, Leeza McAuliffe is beginning to experience life. She has her first holiday abroad, her first crush, and she finds out there are some family secrets to investigate.  She has questions about her family tree and its gaps and empty branches. All of this is done with her best friend Jake by her side. 

Book 4

That's the vague blurb. Not the actual blurb of course, because that's another bit of pithy writing that I'm still working on. Anyway, that's what my friends were told last year. And now this is where I need to credit the woman who finally nailed it. Thank you to Clair! Primary teacher extraordinaire, mother of teens, and absolutely riddled with common sense and clarity. She messaged the day after our mates' gathering to add more ideas to the mix and one of them was...

Drum roll, please...

MORE DRUMS... Please, do build the tension in your head...

Ready? OK, the new title of the next Leeza McAuliffe book is...

LEEZA MCAULIFFE IS BRANCHING OUT

That's it. That's the title. What do you think? Pithy? Does it roll off the tongue? Are you IN? 

It felt important to step away from the Leeza McAuliffe Has Something/Loads More to Say format. If this series is going to progress, I don't want to be constrained by the title structure. I needed to branch out. (See what I did there!) There's also the nice double meaning. Leeza has empty branches on her family tree and wants to know who should be there. She's also pushing herself to branch out of her comfort zone. Isn't Clair clever! Three cheers for Clair! (No really, I'm not being flippant. I mean it. She totally did me a solid.)

I also wasn't being flippant when I said that writing the book was easy. It's the easiest part of the process. The stuff now - BIC codes, Neilsen registration, the eventual marketing when I have a publishing date - is well out of my comfort zone. But as we know, my first ideas are always wrong. I'm going to ignore those thoughts and go with my gut. Because my gut says that I've done this before so I can do it again. My gut needs listening to. And with that thought firmly in mind, I'm going to get some toast. 

Have a lovely week, folks.

*Here are the blogs that announce the previous four book titles. Enjoy!

Carry the Beautiful

Leeza McAuliffe Has Something To Say

Assembling the Wingpeople

Leeza McAuliffe Has Loads More To Say

Hello Perkiness, My Old Friend...

I've got it! After weeks of quiet, cosy, indoor living, I've finally found a spring in my step. February has arrived, and with it, my desire to be... well to BE. There's a big world out there and I want to be a part of it. Exciting times!

So how did this perky new vibe manifest itself last week? Well, read on. At first, it might seem there's not much difference from previous weeks. That's OK. I don't want to frighten the horses. Just know that as you catch up on my writing news and the rest of it, I'm simply brimming with energy!

Book 1.
Book 3 is almost here.

Writing 

The final piece of feedback has arrived, tweaks have been made, and so the new Leeza McAuliffe book is done. I say done, and I mostly mean it, but I've still got to do the final read through. That means printing it off, dragging a ruler under every single line, and reading the whole thing aloud. It's the surest way to catch every mistake or spacing error. It also takes ages and is as finicky and precise as a bomb disposal expert. (I'm guessing!) That's the job for this week. In related news, I've seen the initial sketches for the front cover and I'm THRILLED. More soon.

Culture

I'm pausing my devourment of the Game Changers ice hockey series to read Hamnet. Yep, after raving about the film, a friend has lent me the book. This means I now feel obliged to read it ASAP, before it sits on my coffee table for months and I forget it's not an ornament. (This has been the way with many loaned books before it. At some point, my partner will silently move them to the bookshelf and I forget that they weren't mine to begin with.) So, onwards with Hamnet. I cannot inadvertently steal another one. 

SIX - utter joy!

Then on Wednesday, I saw the musical, SIX. What a riot! I loved it. Historically fascinating but with banging tunes. I walked out of the theatre FULL of beans. In other news, I've been watching films for series two of the our podcast, Lights, Camera, Aggro. This week I had the absolute chore of rewatching Before Sunrise. Ha, JOKING. My actual goddamn heart. Sigh.

Food and Drink

We know by now I'm not a food photographer, yeah? Good, just checking. Anyway, a few weeks ago, Angela Hartnett cooked Tim Key a meal on her podcast Dish. I copied/adapted that meal and I present it to you now. Sausages and apple, served over mash with cavolo nero. The recipe is via the link but my version had half stock, half Guinness. Either way, fit!

Out and About

I've found a new podcast. Sentimental Garbage was recommended by Rach who does my nails, and it's RIGHT up my street. Each episode deals with a different cultural/creative phenomenon, from Sex and the City to Little Women, to Nora Ephron... there's something for everyone. But why is this being shared in the Out and About section, Nicky? I hear no one shout. Well, it's the reason I've been out for a bunch of walks recently. Knowing I have the next episode to plug into my ears, has made striding down Crosby seafront so much more palatable. Fresh air and cultural commentary - a winning combo that fills me with all the good vibes. Aren't I lucky.

It's a chicken and egg situation. Am I perky because I've been out more this week, or have I been out more this week because I'm perky? In the end, it doesn't matter. The older I get, the more I love the seasonal fluctuations of my mood. January is for chilling and cosying up, February is for poking my head out of the covers and emerging. I hope your own rhythms are as reliable and reassuring, whatever they may be.

Have a lovely week, folks.

Overthink the Day...

This week I've been pondering delayed gratification. You too? No? Fair enough.

I'm not impulsive by nature. I like to ponder, plan, and then plan some more. People who make snap decisions terrify me. Well, let's be clear. If their behaviour doesn't affect me, then they're hugely impressive. They're grasping life and taking it by the scruff of the neck while I'm still weighing up the pros and cons. When their decisions DO affect me, however, then I'm not on board. I need to stew, to ruminate, and to wallow. Then I know I'm ready to act.

Eventually, after lots of thought, the pay off arrives. The decision is made, the action can happen, and the day can finally be seized. That's what I've been thinking about this week. Whether it's Writing News, the Culture section, or the research I'm doing in Out and About, the long game is how I like it. But read on, because in some areas, the delay is nearly over. It's almost time for some lovely gratification!

Book 2
Book 3 coming soon!

Writing News

It's almost seventeen months since the conception of the new Leeza McAuliffe book. It was August 2024 when I sat down with a notebook and spewed out random ideas for what might happen next. Time flies! Since then, there's been multiple drafts, a variety of beta readers, one editor, a sensitivity reader, and countless queries to my twelve year old niece about high school life. Despite the comings and goings, one thing remains. I love these characters. I love when other people love them. I can't wait to share them with the world and I'm hoping to do that soon.

I'm gearing up to leave
Luke's Diner. Wish me luck. 
 

Culture

On Friday night, my Gilmore Girls rewatch came to an end. Sob. What can I say, it'll be a massive wrench to leave these characters behind. I started in mid-November and with only a brief break for Christmas movies, I've watched every day. Thoughts and prayers as I say goodbye to the loveliest town with the quirkiest people. It's been a joy and I'm not ready for you to go.

In more Friday night news, it was announced that Catherine O'Hara had died. That someone so comedically cool could do something as mundane as die, is a real head-scratcher. I love her work and the fact it's there to be enjoyed forever, is the silver lining on a particularly crappy cloud. I often use Schitt's Creek gifs on this blog - they tend to provide something for every eventuality -  but they'll have an added layer of poignancy from now on.

And in even MORE Canadian news (Catherine O'Hara was Canadian, gang!) I'm racing through the Game Changers books series by Rachel Reid. Despite having watched the TV show first, they enlarge upon the characters so much that it's no bother to cover old ground. In fact, they're utterly addictive and have convinced me that I'm now an ice hockey expert. It's a funny old world.

Food and Drink

I've no sweet tooth and rarely bother with dessert but there are a couple of options that'll get ordered every time. Pistachio ice cream for one. There's never a time when I don't want to eat it. That's just how it goes. The other dessert I can't ignore is affogato. Cold ice cream, hot espresso, served with a shot of amaretto. Classy but easy peasy. It was the pudding for my Burns Night meal with the added Scottish short bread doing the cultural heavy lifting. It tasted fab and reminded me that coffee, amaretto, and ice cream are decent ingredients to have on hand.

Out and About

I visited my brother's new flat. In my capacity as furniture shifter, I got a sneak peak last week and it's lovely. It reminded me how much I enjoyed city centre living, how beautiful a skyline can be when filled with lights in the dark, and how soft low lighting can create the loveliest of ambiences. I'm now looking at my own lamps in exasperation. 

Aside from that, I finished booking my holiday. Later this year I'll be out and about for real. For now, I'm exploring Visit Canada sites and getting excited about knowing a new North American city. It seems consuming Canadian stories and thinking about Canadian comedy legends has been somewhat influential. 

Planning, pondering, weighing up options - the anticipation of a trip is the best. I've got months of overthinking to do. Months of learning about metro systems and train time tables, climate temperatures and hockey fixtures, places to eat and must see attractions. A late availability deal could never hope to compete with all that fun.

Whether you're seizing the day, or making notes about the day for when you're ready for that day to arrive, do whatever works for you. That's the most important thing, right?

Have a lovely week, folks.

All Aboard the Emotional Roller Coaster...

I know my own mind and I like what I like. 

Deep burgundy!

Those words could be etched onto my gravestone.  My life-choices - particularly in terms of how I present myself - are clear and simple. Take the tiny example of nail varnish. It's a no-brainer. It has to be black. Black goes with everything, looks a bit edgy, and perfectly suits my short square nails. Easy peasy. Except! Over recent months, I've been swayed. I'm currently sporting a dark green. Before Christmas, I wore a succession of deep burgundies. I once tried a navy blue. What was a clear cut uniform taking up no additional thought, has been muddied by options. COLOURFUL options.

Or how about this? For decades, my knickers have been identical. Yep, we're going there! The exact same style, from Marks and Spencers, and always, ALWAYS black. Last night, whilst looking to refresh my underwear collection, I found myself clicking on midnight blue. MIDNIGHT BLUE. What is going on?

The dog carries off this dress
way better than I could.

Is this another symptom of the perimenopause? With all the hormonal fluctuation, should I expect to throw out all my established norms? Along with hot flushes, insomnia, and the ever-increasing urge to piss, should I brace myself for an overhaul in my personal tastes? I need to keep an eye on this. It's unnerving. What's next? Pastel talons? Pink trainers? A frilly dress??? Lordy!

They say a change is as good as a rest, but this isn't restful. This is anarchic! My inner world is all over the place. What I knew to be true, in the tiniest of ways, suddenly feels like less firm footing. Change isn't restful, it's energising!

Writing News

Meanwhile, I'm on a roll. Not to be smug but there are plenty of times when I'm anything but, so I need to shout from the rooftops when my productivity level explodes. I now have a formatted template. The spacing is good. The trickier parts (images of notebook pages inserted within the text) look fine. The final fiddly details are yet to be tackled but I'm close. Let me enjoy my smug satisfaction while it's here. We all know it won't last.

Hamnet. Image from here.

Culture

On paper, the film Hamnet and the TV show Heated Rivalry don't have much in common. The story of Agnes and William Shakespeare's loss of their child, and the sexy exploits of queer ice hockey players, might seem worlds apart, but hear me out. They both began life in book form. Both stories explore the human experience and drag viewers onto the emotional roller coaster that is taking the risk to love. Both stories made me feel ALIVE. 

Heated Rivalry, episode 5.

Seriously, the energy that coursed through my veins after Hamnet's cathartic ending wasn't hugely dissimilar from the final scene of Heated Rivalry's episode five. How wonderful it is to exist in the world when stories like this can be devoured. How fab to feel such a rush. That energy, of course, is magic. It propels the creative endeavours of those that experience it. It can't be a coincidence I've been on a writing roll this week. Here's to the continuation of the buzz of life!

It's not pretty but it's fit!
Hummus topped with lentils,
maple carrots, cavolo nero, 
green beans, and chill and 
honey mushrooms. Plus
pitta!

Food and Drink

Georgie Mullen's book What to Cook and When to Cook It continues to inspire. Over the past couple of weeks, there's one meal I've made repeatedly - a winter hummus bowl. Whilst not being an exact recipe in the book, I've merged a few of her suggestions together to make foody magic. 

First, whip up a batch of fresh hummus - her basic recipe can be found here. Spoon and smother it over the base of a bowl. Now choose your toppings. Whatever veg you need to use up, get creative. Maple roasted carrots? Sure. Soy and sesame oil griddled green beans? Why not? Crispy cavolo nero? Of course! Just make sure everything's tasty. Now you can add some protein. Marinated salmon chunks? Puy lentils? Crispy tofu? Use any and all of the flavours you like; the world and this bowl is your oyster. I've made multiple versions of this meal recently and it hasn't got old. 

Just me, taking up space, 
barely drinking.

Out and About

Soon my hibernation will be over and I'll be actively seeking reasons to be out in the world. Right now, I'm still sneaking out for bursts of activity before scurrying back to cosy warm. This week, those bursts of activity involved two mega writing seshes in Costa. As much as I like to support indie businesses, I'm much comfier nursing a large tea over an entire morning inside a well-established chain. I also booked train tickets for a London jaunt in a couple of months, and flights for a holiday later in the year. It didn't involve leaving the couch but the promise of the outdoors and future adventure was there.

I need to keep on with this writing roll. I need to continue to nurture myself through the winter whilst feeling emotionally and creatively energised via cultural excellence and exciting future plans. I need to ride the emotionally energetic roller coaster that I'm on and use it to my advantage. That's a plan, right?

Have a lovely week, folks.