Category: Observations

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Adulthood Observations Writing

The different versions of you

You are an individual, of course you are, just like nobody else. You could be happy one day and another day sad but you’ll still do it differently to everyone. As important as it is to be you and the best version of it that you can be, I still think we all have numerous very different versions of what this is.

There’s the work one. The I must be polite to everyone one. The musn’t swear no matter how better it will make me feel one. The must work hard even though I am so tired one.

There’s the play one. The swear as much as you like one. The drink as much as you can one. The no regrets until morning one.

There’s the meeting old friends one. The can’t stop talking and who needs to take breath anyway one. The so much to catch up on so the conversation is meaningful one.

There’s the friend you see every day one. The still can’t allow for breath but talking about nothing one. The let’s have another glass and talk more rubbish one.

There’s the happiness around dogs one. The forgiving for everything one. The being delighted no matter how bad they are being one – because who can be sad around dogs?

There’s the holiday one. The off duty one. The nothing matters how long it takes one. The I don’t care about organisation I have all the time in the world one. The no cares at all one.

There’s the mundane day one. The I have an hour to do everything so I’m going to stress about it all one. The getting home and listing all the things that I’ve stressed about and laughing it off in the car one.

There’s the crisis one. The everything is such a HUGE deal one. The how can I possibly cope one. The screaming at the top of my lungs while driving down country roads one.

There’s the reasoning one. The logical one. The irritatingly calm one. Jumping in when chaos has struck one.

For me, personally, there’s the questioning one. The querying all that I’m doing and all I’ve ever done one. Wondering if I’ll ever get married, find success, where I’ll end up one. The somewhat dramatic one.

Then there’s the writer in me. The fighter in me. The never giving upper in me. The I am happy, the stop worrying about the future, the keep going, pour another gin.

They may appear to be very different people, but I feel that these are all versions of one you.

Categories
Adulthood Observations Writing

20 ways that my full time job enhances my creative ambition

Having attended university and obtained an above average degree, people often ask me what’s next. I sometimes think that because they can’t physically see the results of my writing and where it could lead, they feel that I go home and do nothing or that I haven’t much ambition at all.

As good as I’ve got at not feeling the need to justify myself anymore, I won’t. Instead, I will tell you all of the wonderful ways that having my full time job at a Post Office and Stores enhances my creative ambition.

  1. It brings new ideas from the situations I encounter
  2. It enhances the personalities of my characters through the variety of people I meet
  3. Providing a break from my desk work is SO HELPFUL
  4. As is earning money so I’m not stressed while I write, since I don’t earn too much from writing yet
  5. It provides another purpose on days when writing isn’t happening
  6. I find so much blog material through working with people
  7. I have many positive chats through my working days about what I am deciding to do
  8. Peers are always interested and encouraging in my slightly off-piste approach, as we chat over the preparation of a bacon sandwich
  9. Hearing how others have overcome hurdles in life and ended up as successful as they are now provides a huge boost
  10. I add to my skill set outside of writing, learning new things every day (including managing the little time that I have to write effectively!)
  11. I get support from customers
  12. I get support from colleagues
  13. I get support from my bosses
  14. Free (amazing, thank you) proofreaders
  15. Advice
  16. Connections
  17. Book recommendations
  18. Opportunities
  19. Inspiration
  20. Happiness
Categories
Observations Writing

Easy Like A Sunday Morning: a writer’s take

Sundays. What a brilliant day. Aren’t they just the best day of the week?

No work (for most people), a quiet space (in most places) and an all round chilled vibe.

As an aspiring writer, I struggle through the week to squeeze everything into my tight schedule. Of course, I have a full time job on top of all the writing that I do because what writer starting out doesn’t? But also I find that I take on so many different projects and this can be both good and bad.

For my brain and writing capabilities it is good to test out different styles and writing for different purposes. I gain experience in writing fiction, press releases, blog posts, academic essays and the list goes on which is great.

On the other hand, it can all get too much and occasionally I find myself unable to work to the best of my ability because I am trying to cram so much into the little time that I have in between shifts.

This is why I LOVE Sundays.

Not only is it an opportunity to have a BREAK and time out away from my laptop (just like I am NOT doing now on a sunny Sunday morning writing this post), but it also gives me time to concentrate, get into the writing zone and dedicate quality time to some of the projects that pass by so fleetingly throughout the week.

Whenever I look back at the work that I have done (whenever I get a chance to do so) the best quality are the pieces I have written on days where I have had more time and haven’t been constantly checking the clock to see how long I have left. Days where I have chosen to sit down and write at the time I choose and for however long it takes are the days where I produce the best stuff.

And there’s no better time to produce the good work than on a Sunday. The air feels clear, the diary is empty and the vibes are strong.

It’s ‘easy like a Sunday morning.’

Categories
Observations Writing

Rejection wasn’t the end of it all. Rejection was only the start of success.

As a writer I have experienced many rejections so far. Some expected, some not necessarily but all taken in a positive light trying to keep focused and let the constructive mindset remain.

From not hearing back from newspapers and magazines, to being told that my work isn’t what they are looking for and most recently to my novel receiving only a few rejections so far – I can say I have experience in this well-known aspect of being a writer.

One common denominator each time I have received the dreaded email is that every single one has been motivating and good. Yes, they have rejected my work but each industry professional that I have encountered has been extremely encouraging in doing so.

The industry is subjective. Somebody elsewhere may love your work in a way that is essential for publication. Others may feel differently. We wish you every success. Keep going. Don’t give up. These are just a few of the supportive statements that I have received.

Each time I feel down about it all for a split second, forgetting how much I love what I do which stands above everything else, I read about other authors who were once in my boat.

J.K.Rowling is the obvious example, receiving 12 rejections for her first pitch for the Harry Potter series. Now the only billionaire to lose status as a billionaire due to donating so much money (that she had a surplus supply of) to charity.

Agatha Christie endured five years of continual rejection before landing a book deal. Her book sales now in excess of $2 billion (only William Shakespeare sold more).

Dr Seuss was told that his work was too different to warrant a place on the market. His work has now had 300 millions sales and he remains the 9th best-selling fiction author of all time.

Obviously, each individual is/was extremely talented which is a huge influence on their success. Obviously, they worked hard to get to the level that they reached. But all I am saying is that each hugely successful career began with rejection. Rejection wasn’t the end of it all. Rejection was only the start of success.

Categories
Observations Writing

Random taste

Both my book taste and music taste are categorically random.

When friends ask me what sort of music I like it could be anything from Elvis in the 60s to something right up to date.

Well, turns out, the same goes with books. Here’s an example of things I have had on the go at the same time. In the same playlist or the book pile beside my bed #tbr, these lists just show how odd my taste can be!

Reading material:

  • Reasons to Stay Aline – Matt Haig
  • Only Child – Rhiannon Navin
  • The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a Fuck – Sarah Knight
  • Swing Time – Zadie Smith
  • The Oxford English Dictionary – Collins
  • Writing Magazine
  • What Alice Forgot – Lianne Moriarty
  • Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine – Gail Honeyman
  • The Silent Sister – Diane Chamberlain
  • Have You Eaten Grandma – Gyles Brandreth

Music:

  • Modern Love – David Bowie
  • Fine Life – Oliver, the musical
  • Birds – Kate Nash
  • Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths
  • Sweet But Psycho – Ava Max
  • River (feat. Ed Sheeran) – Eminem
  • On The Other Hand – Randy Travis
  • I’m Alive – Celine Dion
  • Sour Candy – Melt
  • Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi
  • I Could Get Used To This – Becky Hill

Ok, so I admit my music taste tops the random leader board but my gosh writing it down makes me cringe a little… or not! I’m embracing my peculiar tastes. All good stuff, you should check it out!

Categories
Adulthood Observations

30 things I appreciate as I become more adult

Whether it is down to working more than full time for over a year now, working with the general public or venturing deeper and deeper into the wonderful world of adulthood, I have noticed that I appreciate certain things a lot more nowadays than I have done in the past. Here are thirty of them…

  1. Time to myself
  2. Time with loved ones
  3. Time
  4. Not talking
  5. Books
  6. Eating meals with no interruption
  7. Logical people
  8. Lay ins
  9. Writing
  10. Being outside
  11. Dog walks
  12. The sea
  13. Quiet
  14. Wine
  15. Good/ honest/ true people
  16. Music
  17. Days off and plan free weekends!
  18. Cups of tea
  19. Nature
  20. Advice
  21. My calendar and diary
  22. The cinema/ theatre (shutting off)
  23. Early morning birdsong
  24. Gin & Tonic
  25. Photos & Videos (memories)
  26. Long drives
  27. 5 positives a day
  28. The changing seasons
  29. Time out
  30. Candles

Categories
Observations Seasonal Writing

Appreciating England

There’s a place that I go to and it’s on the coast. Whenever we drive there along the winding roads and through the leafy trees of summer with banks scattered in wild flowers, I am happy. Some flowers are planted for purpose, looking content where they are, some just sprouting as wild as the weeds – I appreciate England.

It’s on the Suffolk coast where I go and the drive continues on roads that are pathways between the never-ending green hills, something that I would miss if ever I move to a city. It is why I appreciate England.

Somebody said to me once “as soon as you reach Dennington the world and everything around you changes”. Look it up on a map, go there. It does. The people get fewer but friendlier because everyone is so relaxed by the fresh sea air that is never very far away. It is why I appreciate England.

That is a reason why we are so very lucky to be living on an island that is surrounded by the sea, never is it far away (the sea that is). Unlike in parts of America, Australia, Europe and Africa, little old England offers a seaside escape wherever you’re anchored. It is why I appreciate England.

The countryside, though in my opinion is the best, is not the only wonderful aspect. The cities are also exciting and have their own reasons to be celebrated. We have old towns like York, huge towns like Manchester and London, pretty towns like Bury St Edmunds and Ely – and these are only ones that I personally love – this is why I appreciate England.

The simple things like glorious sunny days which we look out for more because they don’t happen very often when the sky is deep blue and the sunshine warms the skin. It is why I appreciate England.

The birdsong starting in the early hours of the morning and continuing when rush hour begins for people who are lucky enough to walk to work listening to it. It is why I appreciate England.

The old cars driving along country roads on sunny Sunday’s when everyone is enjoying a day off. It is why I appreciate England.

The sheep filling the fields, and cows and horses and lots more animals. It is why I appreciate England.

The smell of cut grass when the temperature exceeds fifteen degrees Celsius. It is why I appreciate England.

Warm cups of tea and shortbread biscuits. It is why I appreciate England.

Old churches, old ruins, old buildings, just oldness. It is why I appreciate England.

The traditions, the royals, the character traits of moaning and queuing. It is why I appreciate England.

ROAST DINNERS AND LOTS OF GRAVY. It is why I appreciate England.

So there we go, it isn’t all bad and these are only a few of the reasons. It is why I appreciate England.

Categories
Observations Writing

Sods Law

Whenever you’re in a rush to get anywhere you can guarantee that you’ll not be able to find your keys. Of course you won’t. Why would they be in the place that you have kept them in for the duration of your life.

You’ll get in your car and the fuel gauge will be almost at empty. Of course, who needs fuel anyway? It will probably be just enough to get you there.

The road you travel down will be full of tractors moving slowly along, no sign of speed. Of course, of course. That’s sods law.

Whenever you plan a nice day out, get all the friends together on a particular date and the activity that you decide to do is outside, it will be raining. Of course it will, the weather knew exactly what you’d planned to do.

When you wake up early to get ready for the day, you’ll find the outfit you’d got your heart set on wearing is in the wash, the shoes aren’t appropriate for the conditions outside of your window and you need to wash your hair. Of course, sods law doesn’t consider time management.

Whenever somebody drops by your house unnanounced will be the one time when you’ve left dirty dishes on the coffee table, haven’t wiped the kitchen sides and decided to leave the laundry until that evening. Of course it is, it’s sods law.

Whenever you get a day off, the chance to a luxurious lie in. When you stay in bed feeling ever so more smug knowing that you’d usually be at work. This will be the one day when you wake up happily at 6am and can’t get back to sleep. It’s all thanks to sods law.

Whenever you decide to quickly do something on your laptop adding another completed task to your ever-lengthening list, your computer will crash, low battery – sods law.

Whenever you’re waiting in for a delivery – you know the type, anytime between 8am and 6pm – the doorbell will ring at 5:59pm. Or the five minutes where you decide to nip to the shops will be the five minutes when the courier shows up. Why wouldn’t it be? That’s sods law.

Whenever you go to book a hotel with booking.com and they ask if you have an offer. For example, £10 off when you recommend a friend. You click ‘no’. The next day an offer will arrive in the post as if it is laughing at you just days after you’ve booked it, this is exactly what has just happened to me and it is what has inspired this post. Sods blooming law.

How many times do we find ourselves saying the words in a single day. Sods law knows. Whatever can go wrong will go wrong. It’s just life, it’s just sods law.

Categories
Observations Seasonal

5 things that make February great that isn’t Valentines Day

Hello to all you singletons out there, or those in happy relationships who steer well clear of the mushy, gushy romantic yet commercial products that come with Valentines Day.

The heart shaped balloons in all card shops and petrol stations; the cards plastered with ‘I love you’ followed by lengthy verses declaring this love with empty words; the chocolates and sweets that never sell so us lone rangers wait for them to be discounted after the big day is over so we can indulge in the tastiness while binge watching Netflix on our own – bliss.

I may sound rather cynical and though I would happily welcome a relationship into my life, I highly doubt that Valentines Day would be an occasion that I would celebrate – I simply don’t see the point.

I’m all for telling friends and family I love them every day, declaring our love for one another more enthusiastically after a few too many G&T’s at the pub and I am sure I would be the same with my partner, all very true expressions of love. However, Valentines goes that extra mile and quite frankly makes me want to spew.

After filling up at the BP Garage yesterday and witnessing the scenes, I thought I would share with you five things that I think make February a short but sweet month. Here is all that is great about February minus the Valentines garbage.

February means eggs

Yes, though Easter is still a long way off, the British marketing teams don’t fail to impress by bringing out eggs into stores before the end of the festive season. The aisle are filled with tasty delights just when everybody is trying to shift the pounds that they gained over Christmas.

But really, can anyone refrain from demolishing entire packs of Galaxy Golden Eggs in one sitting? Delicious!

February brings lighter days

Yesterday was the first time in as long as I can remember that I walked to work at seven thirty in the morning and it was light. No more torch on to guide me, no more slipping on ice (I hope), no more checking the time to see if I have left an hour or two early by mistake becasue who wants to start work in the dark?!

Not only are the mornings getting lighter but the evenings are drawing out too. I do love the elongated days that we are so lucky to have in England. This was one thing I found when travelling the world. In Australia despite the glorious sunshine throughout the day, it still got dark at 6pm or just after.

Bring on the long nights, the pub garden post work in the bright sunshine and perhaps time for a morning walk too.

February welcomes snowdrops and daffodils

At risk of sounding fifty years older than I am, I noticed the snowdrops coming out on our dog walk the other day and recently too I have seen the start of daffodils creeping up from the ground.

The winter months draw out and after the stunning scenes that autumn brings when the leaves turn a warm orange in contrast to the temperature outside, the bareness of winter can get you down. Seeing the beauty that is spring developing through February is another great thing about this month.

February means warmth

FINALLY, after so long there is hope that in the not too distant future we will be able to venture outdoors without our coats on. No scarf, no gloves, no hat, no layers!

For the first time in a long while I felt the heat of the sun on my back yesterday and it felt good.

February is short

In opposition to January, February is the shortest month of the year and will fly by bringing March. Not wanting to wish my life away but merely looking forward to the positivity that comes with spring and summer.

Happy people, happy days, sunshine, cocktails, lighter brighter months and so much more.

So whether you’re single or not, if you like the soppy romantic lark or loathe it, there is so much in this short month of February to be happy about.

On that note, I best get this post published before the month is out!

Categories
Adulthood Observations

6 ways I know I am exiting the January blues

It’s January and don’t we know it. The memes have flooded social media claiming that January has in fact over a hundred and fifty days in it and everyone quite frankly wants to tell it to bugger off. We feel stuck.

I was one hundred per cent with everybody on this until I entered the final week of this gloomy month. I hadn’t noticed that I had been suffering with the January blues. The flat period once Christmas and New Year are all over and everybody is fat and skint, it hadn’t bothered me. I thought.

It wasn’t until the other day when I suddenly felt brighter, more energetic and found myself doing more with a positive attitude that I thought perhaps my gloomier spirits over the past month couldn’t simply be justified by my period or just another rubbish day and here’s what I’ve discovered I’m doing to illustrate my exit out of the January blues.

I am drinking less coffee

Coffee keeps me going. I begin every day with a cup of the good stuff and it is my favorite smell in the morning to welcome the day in. There’s nothing quite like the warm beverage soothing your insides while filling your nostrils with contentment and also providing a large kick up the backside to get you started with the day ahead.

Yet recently, well, since my boosted spirits came along last week, I have noticed my consumption of caffeine has decreased. Whether it’s because I am getting energy from being happier and doing more creating an upwards spiral or whether it’s all in my head and I am still drinking an unhealthy amount, I feel better for it, though still solely rely on that initial cup to get me going.

I am appreciating the sunshine

I love the sun, doesn’t everyone? But lately I have noticed it so much more. Days where no cloud lingers in the sky above and the view out of my bedroom window while I work sits there looking fabulously inviting have stuck with me. Each day when I walk I fixate on the weather and the sunnier walks recently have left me feeling happy from within.

In fact, over the past week I have noticed that I am appreciating everything more. I have always been one to sway to the negative side of things and chuck my dummy out of the pram at any minor inconvenience in life, returning a few moments later to realise it’s not that big a deal. But lately I am appreciating everything more from the glorious scenes that the weather brings to my work space to a hot mug of tea to half an hour to myself to read a good book. Everything.

I am taking in more

Though none of us understand the Brexit chaos and everything that comes with it, I have recently been more actively involved in the news and tried desperately hard to understand it, while still convinced that no politician that is interviewed on TV understands what they are talking about anyway.

When driving around in my car I would have in the past always had music on, especially during the darker months of the year in attempt to try to cheer me up but lately I have opted for Podcasts.

Not only have I thoroughly enjoyed the relaxing feel of having a companion with me at all times, discussing important and interesting topics, but I have also listened and taken in all that they say rather than shutting off temporarily and returning to the episode confused.

I am getting less frustrated on a daily basis

I’m a girl, I am young and by no means perfect so I do get easily irritated by the ignorant actions of others most hours of most days.

However, with my newly improved mindset since exiting the January blues I have found that no longer am I jumping to anger and frustration as an exaggerated reaction to something that won’t matter to me in five minutes let alone five years. Instead it is taking longer for me to have to rationalise my response because I am rarely hitting that level of annoyance.

In other words my temper, patience and everything in between has lengthened and for that I am proud.

I am making more of an effort

From my outfit to my health I am suddenly making more of an effort. Not much more, I confess, I am never going to be one of those girls who gets up an hour before leaving the house in order to perfectly straighten my hair, redo my makeup five times and choose my outfit for the week, but I am making more of an effort than I have been over the past two months or so.

No longer do I fall out of bed five minutes before leaving just in time to brush my teeth and not worry about anything else, but I leave a little time for properly applied makeup and to ensure my outfit has had some amount of thought over it.

I am also consciously caring about my health and attempting to eat less and do more to shift a few pounds before the spring. I am only a few weeks in and already feeling great, despite putting on a pound and ripping a hole in the bum of my jeans last week. We’ll not discuss that.

I am generally feeling happier

Aside from the specifics, in general, I feel much happier, positive and excited for the future. I am finding I am more creative with my writing and the ideas are constantly buzzing around my head for novels, blog posts and various other projects when before I was struggling to come up with a topic to write about each week.

I am also finding that I am being more productive and once I have finished my work for the last few days I have tidied my room, sorted files and made notes with enough time to read lots and listen to podcasts and radio shows as well.

The future is bright as they say and I think we can safely take this saying quite literally as we head into February, with spring just around the corner.

Britain may be exiting the EU, but I am exiting the January blues.