Weekend Blues

So the birthday weekend was relatively quiet. We had the kids so we enjoyed a nice meal (pie provided by my lovely step-mum) and Clint even baked me a cake. I didn't have to lift a finger so for me this was a special treat.
The closer it gets to monday, though, the worse I feel. That dread is starting to set in. That deep dark sick feeling that means I have to go back to work. For a few days I have managed to block out of my mind the fact that I am so fed up with my day job. No-one should feel like this. I really need to get another job. Nine years is too long at this company. It was only supposed to be a stop-over. I never planned to stay here so long.
The prospect of looking for another job is just as scary. It's the old "jumping from the frying pan into the fire" that worries me. There's never going to be a guarantee that the next place is going to be any better. I honestly can't believe it can be any worse, though.

Planes, Trains and Horses

Somehow, I found the time this week to cross another couple of title off the Book Challenge list.

BOOK CHALLENGE 59/1000 (67)

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne is, of course, a classic and another one that I had read years and years ago. This one stills reads just as well, although I am not sure it would hold the interest of today's youngsters. It didn't take long to polish this one off, it flows nicely and held my interest to the end.

BOOK CHALLENGE 60/1000 (68)

I remember watching the tv series when I was a kid but I had never read the original novel. To be brutally honest I didn't miss much. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell is a lovely children's book but if you are going to read a book about a horse I think Warhorse by Michael Morpurgo is much better.

What's next on the list? Who knows. I might even cross a couple more off today if I'm lucky.

Good Times

So the week hasn't been going quite how I planned, which is only to be expected really. I got a little distracted when I was looking for something in the garage and came across a pot of paint. Ooh, I thought to myself, that's a nice blue. Before I knew it I was halfway through redecorating the kitchen!
This is the way things always go in my house. I plan one thing and end up doing something completely different. At least the kitchen looks nice. (Well it will do once it's had a second coat and I've cleaned up all the splatters!)
That said, I have managed to finish the next assignment on my course and posted that off. I have also worked on the script a little - although not as much as I would have liked.
This evening Clint and I went round to his best friends' house for the evening and were treated to a lovely meal and great company. They even brought out a cake with candles for me (it's my birthday in a couple of days).
We got home to find Shelby had managed to get hold of one of my shoes. It is now a size 4 instead of 6. I think she was punishing me for not letting her lick all the paint off the walls.

A New Day, A Fresh Start

I usually run a few steps behind everyone else. I am always playing catch-up so it is no great surprise that I only just managed to drag the Christmas tree outside this morning. There were pine needles flying everywhere so although I think I've vacuumed most of the mess up, I am sure we'll still be finding needles in April! (If you are wondering why the lady of the house is dragging a 7 foot spruce around instead of calling on the talents of her big strapping fiance, it is because we can't chance Clint getting any dust or particles in his eye. Also, I am not a feeble little woman and am more than capable, so there!)

We live in a Victorian terrace so the "front garden" is tiny and it is now completely full of tree. There is just enough room to swing open the gate and take the two steps to our front door. I couldn't even get the base off so I'll have to get out there with a hammer later. Until then, I am going to sort myself out a comfortable work area and get stuck into redrafting my feature length script.

I have this week off work every year. By the time Christmas has come and gone I am always more than ready for a few days away from my shitty day job. After the melt down I had in the office last Friday, I am sure they are all glad to see the back of me too. I am pretty sure they know how unhappy I am now. They are not going to do anything about it, of course, but at least when I hand in my notice they can't claim ignorance.

The plan this week is to write, write, write. I have my feature "Being Nobody" to redraft - this was previous called Soft Place to Fall but I think the new title is a better fit. I have stalled on my YA book The Coven, so I really need to go through all my plot notes and draft out an outline to use as a map. I have a plan to develope my short script Tempting Fate into a pilot for a series, so I need to start outlining this. I also want to spend some time finishing the book-keeping course I enrolled in - this is my attempt to start getting some qualifications behind me so I can eventually be in a position to go self-employed. If there is any time inbetween I want to get on-line and actively look for a better job. If I stay where I am much longer I think I'll end up in the nutty ward!

First things first, I think I am going to draw up a simple timetable. I am not very disciplined with my writing yet so my tendency is to get distracted with other stuff too easily. I think a work schedule will tie me down nicely.

The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth

If anyone ever actually reads this blog, you will know that I read - a lot. Aside from writing, it is my most favourite pastime.

It is not often I come across a book that has a profound effect on me but yesterday evening I started reading Just a Geek by Wil Wheaton. I enjoy watching a fair bit of Sci-fi but I am not a big Star Trek fan so choosing to read something written by one of the main characters from The Next Generation seemed a little odd even to me. I can't say what drew me to this book but I am certainly glad I was drawn there.

I didn't know very much about Wil. I recognised him as Wesley Crusher from Star Trek, of course and I even remembered him from Stand by Me. I had heard that he had a big presence on the Internet but I had never visited his site. I opened this book with an open mind and I was hooked from the very first page.

The book consists mainly of stories and anecdotes that have appeared on his website. He is unashamedly honest about all aspects of his life and despite the hardships he has endured, he manages to get his story across without reducing the reader to tears. His love-hate relationship with Star Trek and its cast and crew is fascinating to read. The insight he provides on the inner workings of the Hollywood casting process is enough to put anyone off ever becoming an actor. His incredible sense of humour is evident in every page and his love for his family is heartwarming.

This is not a book about Star Trek, this is a book about Wil Wheaton. This is a nice guy. A self-confessed geek but a nice guy. He has proved that Geek does not equal weak.

I was left with an overwhelming enthusiasm to better maintain my own blog and to persue my own dreams of calling myself a writer.

You can check out Wil's blog at http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/ and follow him on twitter https://twitter.com/#!/wilw

Time Flies

So I should have been having fun!

I can't believe how much time I manage to waste with nothing to really show for it. I haven't been blogging nearly as regularly as I would have liked and I have no real excuse for abandoning something I have grown to enjoy so much. Feeling sorry for myself became my biggest enemy and I am hoping that this year I can put that all behind me and start looking forward instead of constantly looking back.

That said, I realised that there was so much I didn't blog about last year that I should have. So I am going to do a little montage of everything I missed and then draw a line under it and start this New Year afresh.

Here is a brief recap of all the stuff you didn't read about...

Jace Everett at the Jazz Cafe. I took the Mother-in-law-to-be because Clint was ill. Loved this little venue, loved Jace, Dan and the band. Managed to get the MiL2B hooked on Jace (Bad Things is now her ring tone) and on Sailor Jerry's. Result!

Tom McRae at St James' Church. Again I took the MiL2B and a good but sober night was had by all. A church is the last place I ever expected to see Tom. Hearing his songs performed with the backing of a string quartet added a whole new dimension to this talented man's repertoire.

Toby Keith at Wembley Arena. This time I had almost the full set in MiL2b, Stepdaughter and Dear Fiance. Ella was chuffed to bits when I told her I got the tickets. She loves her RnB but also has a soft spot for Toby Keith and Clay Walker. This was her first proper music concert and although she had a good moan about the long walk from the station to the venue (she hates walking) she thoroughly enjoyed herself.

The Dualers at Kingsmeadow. Now that Simon has left I was a little worried about whether Tyber could pull it off on his own but there was nothing to worry about. Although I did miss a couple of songs that Si usually led on, such as Urban Spirit and Fix You, there is still plenty to love.

Footloose at Victoria Theatre, Woking. A birthday treat for my Mum. I had seen this show a couple of years ago at the Novello with Clint and the kids. The touring cast were just as good although I did miss Derek Hough in the lead. Mum had a great time and we had front row seats so for one night only, I was the best daughter in the world.

Night Jump at Datchet. Will definitely be going to this again this year if we can. Waterski thrills and spills and so much more. This was a great day out for the family although maybe a little too long for our techno loving children.

Family day at RAF Northolt. Men in uniform, what more can a girl say!

My short script entitled "Tempting Fate" which I bravely entered in the OTTfilms Halloween comp came joint first. I have been approached by one of the OTTfilms members who is interested in seeing it made as a short film. Perry has already put calls out for cast and crew and has had a lot of interest. Watch this space for more news.

My short story "The Room" which I previously posted here has also caught the attention of one of the other members of OTTfilms after I posted it on their forum asking if it was adaptable for a short film. Hopefully, Aaryk will take this story and make it into a surreal piece. I can't wait to see how he gets on.

My job is still unbearable and I have started actively looking for a new one. If I had my way, I would throw in the towel tomorrow and start writing full time but until we win the Lotto there's little chance of that.

Clint has been having trouble with his cornea transplant. An emergency trip to the hospital before Christmas led to him being signed off work again. He now has three different drops to take to try to stop the transplant from rejecting. It has been very worrying but after another hospital appointment today, we were told that it is back on the mend.

Films watched include 127 hours, Season of the Witch, King's Speech, Black Swan, Just Go With it, I am Number 4, Paul, The Adjustment Bureau, Hall Pass, Limitless, Lincoln Lawyer, Hanna, Beastly, Red Riding Hood, Source Code, Pirates-on Stranger Tide, X-Men First Class, Bad Teacher, Bridesmaids, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Horrible Bosses, Super 8, Mr Popper's Penguins, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Cowboys & Aliens, The Inbetweeners, Abduction, Dolphin Tale, Breaking Dawn Part 1. Too many to review properly but biggest disappointments were probably Bridemaids and Cowboys & Aliens, and most pleasant surprises were Abduction, Beastly and Lincoln Lawyer. Best family film was Dolphin Tale just because I'm a sucker for all things Florida.

Plus Clint became a Godfather for the first time to gorgeous little Conor.