Happy Friday everyone!
Apologies for the lack of blogging last weekend but I was rather busy indulging in a bit of R&R.  It was a welcome break from the mania that has been my life of late (that pesky day job!) but I had a lovely time pottering around Nottinghamshire with ma and the Derbyshire/Cheshire border with pa.  In fact, it was so lovely, I thought I'd dedicate this blog to some photos of my rambles...

Look out for my Anglo Info blog in the next few days - and have a great weekend!

Today folks, I am immensely proud of myself.  Not only have I made it to yet another birthday, but I have also managed to get my sorry ass to college after celebrating a friend's 40th last night - oh, and treating myself to a Jack Daniels at midnight.
And I am so glad I made the effort.  Ladies and gentleman, let me introduce you to picmonkey, the online photo editing  programme which is quick and easy to use - and completely FREE!
Let me illustrate.  To the left you will see a lovely photo I took on Bonfire night (yep, still a big kid at heart) and below, my picmonkeyed version, which I created in about 2 minutes.  HOW COOL IS THAT???!!!

So, what with firework displays, birthday parties and lots of other extra curricular activities, it's been a busy week.  It started off with the Red magazine networking event Meet the Editors on Monday evening.  Whilst it was interesting to hear how they all got to the top of their game, I have to admit I found the whole thing a little disappointing.  At the end of the day, I know the theory - but when it comes to actually getting a break in the world of writing (and arting and crafting for that matter) it ain't that easy.  But I also think it is time for me to stop faffing and start doing - and start doing in a more focused manner.  
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to get my life in order.  Oh, and to treat myself to a big fat slice of birthday cake...

You know what?  I feel a bit sorry for my man.  Not only has he been stuck with me for longer than I care to admit, but, when he stayed with me down here in London last week, it appeared that the gods were against us.  On Monday we hit Soho to check out Time Out’s vintage shopping trail followed with a goldfish bowl of gin at Star in the Sky – only to discover on our arrival that it was closed.  On Saturday we headed to the Natural History Museum to see the Wildlife Photography Award – but tickets had sold out.  The following day brunch was scuppered by some black pudding that had decided to grow a slimy grey coating whilst still within the use-by date and our Sunday matinee was cut short when my DVD player decided to have a hissy-fit halfway through Three Lions.

The poor lamb.

But, you know what?  These unfortunate incidents turned out to be less disastrous than I thought.  In fact, you could almost call them happy accidents.  Rather than admitting defeat, we swapped gin in Soho for beer in Finsbury Park, and Soho Joe’s for Papagones, who make up for any shortfalls in the pizza department with chocolate and hazelnut ice cream to DIE for.  Photography was replaced with a rather successful shopping trip (especially as HMV had started to accept gift vouchers again), black pudding with the much healthier option of grilled tomatoes (which incidentally go very well with a bit of pepper sauce) and the movie with a games of cards – made all the better by my inevitable victory (ha!).

So, my point?  Well, just because things don’t always turn out the way you hoped doesn’t mean that other good stuff won’t happen.  Last Friday I had a horrendous interview for a job I really wanted.  Needless to say my impersonation of a rabbit caught in headlights did not impress the interview panel and I was not successful.  I admit I was gutted – and telling my workmates was excruciating, especially as everyone expected me to do well.  But, you know what?  Maybe it wasn’t meant to be.  Just like it wasn’t meant to be for me to find a publisher last year, or for me to be discovered by a best-selling glossy, Charles Saatchi or a hip and happening craft shop in Shoreditch.  But that’s okay.  Because something much better is just around the corner.  And I fully intend to have a bit of fun whilst I find it.