Category: Adulthood

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations

My Lockdown Google.

I think at some point this year we’ve all been in one or more of these places… GOOGLE THE CONFUSION! Here goes…

Nearest OPEN takeaway near me…

How to wear a Facemask…

Which face coverings are acceptable?

Is it acceptable to guide others on how to wear a face mask?

What are the COVID rules?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

McDonald’s breakfast times…

Weather forecast for Sunday…

Gift ideas for cancelled weddings 🙁

What is the recommended daily alcohol intake?

How many calories in a Corona beer?

What are the current COVID rules?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

Are we going into another lockdown?

Is it all too late?

Is Boris ok?

Does Trump really have Coronavirus?

Is this all a nightmare?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

How to drink tea with a visor on…

How to drink tea in a mask…

Notonthehighstreet

Amazon…BUY NOW

What did I order last night?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

(for retailers) what’s a healthy level of frustration towards someone you don’t know?

Is wine one of your five a day?

Will this ever end?

Local small business gift ideas…

Is wine an essential retailer?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

When will I get the vaccine?

Is there ever going to be any good news?

How long will this go on for?

Why did he eat a bat?

Book recommendations for lockdown?

Netflix best shows…

Is crochet difficult?

How many jigsaws in one year is the record?

Am I allowed to leave my house?

2020, we’ve all googled it!

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Recommendations

Podcasts picked from a podcast

2021, a third national lockdown and barely an end in sight means we’re all searching for things to do. Many are furloughed still and have plenty of time on their hands, others are working and need an escape but whatever your personal situation, I have an idea for you!

I’m a sucker for Podcasts. Sometimes even I prefer them to music. I love music, but sometimes I want to learn things, to engulf myself in other people’s conversations and to hear about things to which I relate.

I’ve started using an exercise bike because going to work in the dark and arriving home in the dark leaves no time for running. At least, that’s what I love to tell myself. I hate running. For January, at least, and hopefully beyond, I have vowed to cycle for ten minutes on the bike before I do anything else each day. It is January 8th and so far I have stuck to it.

Mostly, I’ve done this to music. Occasionally, I have done it in silence. Yesterday I did it listening to Laura Whitmore’s Castaway Podcast. The Podcast about Podcasts.

So far I have only listened to one episode with the lovely Giovanna Fletcher as a guest and I have already gained so much from it.

Obviously, the first podcast recommendation is going to be this one. Castaway by Laura Whitmore.

My to-listen-to list already has on it:

  • David Tennant Does A Podcast With… (I’ve heard he has fabulous guests and fabulous conversations) Since writing this post I have listened to James Corden and begun Catherine Tate – both brilliant so far.
  • Giovanna Fletcher – Happy Mum Happy Baby (An honest discussion about motherhood)
  • Sh**ged, Married, Annoyed – Chris and Rosie Ramsay
  • Ctrl Alt Delete – Emma Gannon

If you’re thinking of ways to usefully while away hours of yet another lockdown then, you’re welcome 🙂

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations

I never would have imagined

I never would have imagined a year with no contact. No hugs, no emotion, barely any guests at funerals and weddings.

I never would have imagined a year with no holidays. No travel within your own country let alone outside.

I never would have imagined a year with lots of closures. Barely going to the pub at all, no drunken memories or nights that carry on and on.

I never would have imagined a year being surrounded by it. On the news, Saturday night tv shows, in general conversation – everywhere.

We can look at it and think what is missing, what have we lost, see all that is wrong.

Or we can notice what we have gained, build up hope to continue on…

An appreciation for living in the very moment, zero planning.

Amazement at human adaptation, how everyone, almost everyone has found new ways, new avenues.

Strength in carrying on. Hope in the future.

True gratitude for the front line fighters, the NHS staff and essential workers.

‘2020 wasn’t all so bad,’ I’ve seen in many a status today,

Entering 2021 steadily and carefully because the virus hasn’t gone away.

Yet in 2020 we learnt about finding the rainbows in the storm,

We can enter the new year with this mindset, approach everything in this form.

Happy New Year’s Day, I really think, sometime soon, it will all be ok.

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Writing

My Perfect Writing Day

On my own terms. Preferably a day off from my day job. Waking up on my own accord and consuming two lovely hot beverages; be it tea or coffee, equally lovely, before doing anything else. I would usually begin with reading something entirely unrelated to whatever it is I plan to write. For at least one hour. It gets the creative juices flowing. I then need to change. Even if it’s not a shower-and-get-ready-for-the-day type change, I just need to change. It puts me mentally in the right head space. Next I must walk or inhale some form of fresh air, ideally by the sea. Set up. A desk like setup but not necessarily a desk. A kitchen table, an upright chair and table, I’ve even been known to work at a kitchen breakfast bar and work well. Now I’m ready to begin. Write write write. Until the creativity fades. I often find it useful to have blog post ideas to flit back and forth to. For some reason mixing up what I’m writing so that my mind isn’t solely focused on one project really helps to keep the creativity alive. If my focus is fading after three chapters of novel writing, writing a short blog post or piece for something entirely unrelated helps to recharge the batteries. I don’t know why.

That’s how I do it, that’s my perfect writing day.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Special moments

A Place That I Love

There’s this place that I go to and one that I absolutely love. It’s just down the road but it sometimes feels like a million miles away. Everything changes here everything is different. Slower. More chilled. Less stressful. I’VE WRITTEN THREE CHAPTERS. IT’S 1PM. THIS USUALLY TAKES ME TWO WEEKS…AT LEAST.

Everything about going to this place is bliss. From the moment I get into the car until I get out again once home. The journey is part of the trip. Hugely. I love podcasts but I rarely find the time to listen to them. I mean actually listen. I’ll often have one playing while I’m changing the bed or tidying up but my focus is never fully on it. Working in retail my days are full of small talk and putting on fronts no matter how I am feeling. There is sometimes nothing better than getting into the car and just listening. Driving and listening. No better way to switch off.

Yesterday I fit two brilliant podcasts into my journey. Both on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place series and both recorded during the pandemic so, as you can imagine, both very interesting chats. One was with Robbie Williams and the other Russel Brand. If you haven’t already, go listen.

There’s no place where I am more chilled. I sleep, eat, drink, read, drink, eat, read, write. I even had a mini party the last time I was there. A party with me, myself and I. Very 2020. I sang and watched Strictly dances over and over and challenged myself to finish the bottle of wine. I did it! Of course I did.

It’s a place on the coast. The Suffolk coast. And whenever I am there, there’s no place I’d rather be.

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations Seasonal

My small and local Christmas shop

This year has been different, dreadful and dire for small businesses. Month after month businesses were faced with new restrictions to work with on top of losing business altogether during each lockdown.

I remember sitting at home after a long week at work and watching the news. It was just after Liverpool were put into Tier 3 of restrictions and pubs had to close…AGAIN. I felt tired, gloomy and considered how much longer I could carry on this way. Until I heard her. Until I heard a lady on the news crying out of despair. She wasn’t asking for any more financial support from her boss because she recognised that he was in as desperate situation as her. She wasn’t asking for anything. She was just sobbing at a hopeless situation.

It brought it all into perspective and I felt grateful.

This is why this year I set myself a challenge. Christmas shopping for me in the most recent years has always been a rush. I work in retail and Christmas is our busiest time. I go to bed at night thinking about Turkeys, Hams, Fruit and Veg. By 24th December I know what half of Suffolk are having on their tables the next day, item by item. It’s so easy to head to Amazon and have everything bought within the space for three hours. But Amazon are doing fine.

This year is so different.

I decided I would start my shopping early and on each Sunday during lockdown 2.0 I spent a little time searching. I was well prepared so I wasn’t panicked and my aim was to buy EVERYTHING from small and, if possible, local businesses.

Guys, I think I’ve done it! And I am very happy with my gifts. I even received a package the other day and on the label was a handwritten message thanking me for buying from a LOCAL, FAMILY business. It made me feel warm inside.

Here are a few small businesses I’ve used if anyone is struggling for ideas:

Cocoa May

UK Inside & Out

Pom Pom Etoile

Yorkshire Blankets

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Categories
Adulthood Non-fiction Observations

The Irish Influence

I have a lot of Irishness in my life. My first boss was Irish, my second boss is Irish and my debut novel is filled with Irish people and references. I have many friends who are Irish, some of the best ones – they are Irish. On my travels I met so many lovely Irish people. There is something so special about the Irish.

I love them.

Their positivity…

It is infectious and I find that time spent with lots of Irish people provides that boost to continue with a positive outlook. Not slating the English, but we do have a tendency to be more negative or jump to the worst conclusions. Irish always see the best or can tip a bad situation on it’s head and look at it more clearly.

Kindness…

It just oozes out of them. All Irish people I know will do anything to help. They go out of their way and always have a solution. The sort of crowd you can ring in the early hours and be sure to be saved.

Strength…

… is another adjective I’d use to describe Irish folk. While I’m not religious I am envious of some of the Catholic beliefs. The strong reliance on religion and the strict sticking to the ways. We all say how loved ones we’ve lost may be around us but I’ve never believed it more than when listening to my Irish friends telling me about loved ones remaining with them. It’s truly so special and something that influences how I live and remember.

The joy they bring.

A room full of Irish people is always full of laughter. Unless, of course, it is inappropriate and the situation must be taken seriously, only then will they be less light hearted and full of fun.

Fate.

They hang on to fate and now so do I. The belief that everything happens for a reason rings truer each day that I live and has helped me through many tough times. Thank you for making me believe.

If you’re Irish, and I know you personally then this is about you. I thank you for your influence on my life.

H

X

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out now.

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Categories
Adulthood Non-fiction Observations

Let me tell you about gin…

It’s not news to hear about 2020 being a year like no other where everybody is clueless, scared and drinking too much. My current book on the go is Dawn O’Porter’s Life In Pieces and I’ve just finished Piece 4 which is all about booze.

I’m not the first and so unashamed to say that yes, I have drank far too much during 2020. I think I’ve had maybe one or two full days without consuming a single drop of the good stuff – ew.

But let me tell you about gin.

Gin is a drink which I love but dip in and out of. Wine is a constant, as is beer, but my consumption of gin appears in phases. I find it a refreshing drink to have on a warm summers day and also enjoy it during Christmas time in the depths of the cold so there is no logical explanation to this, it simply just happens.

One factor which does influence my gin intake is calorie counting and a poor effort to diet. I’ve googled calories within various alcoholic beverages numerous times throughout the year and while wine is awful (ly great but bad for losing weight) it’s surprising how few or many calories certain drinks have. I’ve been known to buy a crate of Corona for the week’s consumption after discovering only 133 calories in each bottle. There’s more in Coke and I’m certainly not sticking to water of an evening.

I digress.

It is well known that gin and tonic is (I think) low in calories. This is one huge reason why I rekindled my love for it recently.

I’m lucky to have a friend, well more like family actually – let’s call him framily – who used to bar-tend in America. He takes pride in his making of beverages. With this well known fact I asked him to make me a gin and tonic the other day.

It was SO GOOD.

Refreshing, clean tasting, strong, light, everything you could ever dream of in two substantial glasses.

It’s important to take the good from this year and these drinks are definitely towards the top of the list.

It’s Friday so even the more restrained of us will probably be having a drink tonight. Make it gin. But it won’t be as good. That’s all from me this week.

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out 30th November:

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Adulthood Non-fiction Observations

I’m not crying, you are – Adulthood in a nutshell

I have a dear friend who always says about the importance of a good cry and no better time than the present for this to ring true. NB: This isn’t a negative post but more celebrating the goodness crying does for us all.

Being a girl, I am obviously aware of the feeling of wanting to cry for no reason. Of feeling so low like a dark cloud has come over me but nothing actually being wrong. But never before have I felt so overwhelmed as I have done recently and actually cried in the middle of the day without anyone noticing, brushed it off and got on with my day.

I now know how adults do it and can really appreciate the importance of a good cry.

Whether I can put it down to the pressures of work during this pandemic and the sheer overwhelming feeling of watching two seconds of the news, I don’t know. It certainly started during this time and in fact I’ve found it easier to cope knowing that it’s global and everyone is in the same boat.

I’ve always seen adults as so strong, but now I feel more they have to disguise their weakness. Yet crying isn’t week but more healthy.

The other day I cried in the middle of the day, cried whilst getting into my night clothes ready to enjoy the evening and cried on a mini dog walk with the happiest dog there is. Why? I’ve no idea, but boy did I feel fabulous afterwards.

As I’m getting older I certainly cry more but in a different way. When crying to release I feel stronger rather than ashamed. I cry in appreciation more and feel sincere rather than embarrassed. I cry at films and books and feel engrossed.

Crying is like the natural way of getting that first sip of wine after a stressful day. It’s like releasing your body of all tension and for a second before life starts again you feel totally and utterly free. A way of your body performing a huge sigh. Those breathing exercises so frequently performed during meditation that feel brilliant.

It’s SO GOOD. And so healthy.

I now fully understand anyone who tells me how important crying is.

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio. My debut novel, Dear Brannagh, is out 30th November:

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Adulthood Non-fiction Special moments Writing

My Publishing Journey: My book in my hands!!

Publishing is a strange process. It begins with hours of work, a never ending task of finishing the book. Sometimes it’s enjoyable, sometimes painful.

Then editing begins and it honestly feels like that takes decades to complete. There are a lot of very quiet periods spent waiting on the next draft to come through, followed by extremely busy and excitable periods in looking over said draft to send back.

I’m like a kid with it all – so excited and restless!

Each time I recieve an email my heart races. Even during this initial marketing stage, I have found myself replying so fast to each email almost choking on my words to get my questions sent off before the person on the other end has read back over what they have sent.

Yesterday was a brilliant day!

As the world is in a dire state of affairs with the global pandemic and the US election and while all you hear about is doom and gloom, I was glad to receive good news. Is that selfish? I shared my joy with others and it boosted spirits at work so I guess not.

My Mum sent me a picture and while I was working and trying to make out what the picture was I held in a scream when I realised it was quite possibly most probably the first prints of my first novel!!!!!!!

I rang her knowing I was expecting two books for a separate reason. I also condsidered the fact that it could be the promo material and the books would follow. The conversation went something like:

‘HOW BIG IS THE BOX?!’

‘Er, about a foot wide and…’

‘Mum, does it look like 25 books or 2 books?’

‘Definitely 25.’

‘BRING IT DOWN!’

I couldn’t open the package faster if I tried. I ripped it open and pulled out the first copy of my novel in my hand. It felt so good. It SMELT so good.

Immediately I started glancing through looking for mistakes. Then I swiftly stopped!

AM I DREAMING?

All blog posts can be found at https://www.harrietmills.co.uk/ and to read my published work visit my portfolio.