Hashtag Hypocrites

Allow me to be ‘political’ to start with today, please.

Over the last few weeks with campaigns such as Stephen’s Story, we’ve seen the power of the hashtag as it was used throughout social media to raise over £3 million for Teenage Cancer.  It was heartwarming to see just how involved people became, moved by the story of Stephen Sutton, and how social media was used for the power of good.  During the last few days another campaign has started up – #bringbackourgirls, which refers to the kidnap in Nigeria of more than 200 schoolgirls by the Islamic fundamentalist group … Read the rest »

Rehearsed Reading and Ridley Road

It’s been a rewarding, busy time for me lately, I’m pleased to report.

Last Wednesday was spent rehearsing for Thursday’s Rehearsed Reading of Singles Holiday, the play, which took place at the Wenlock & Essex in Islington.  It was exciting to feel the play coming to life and I love what director Dave Milner is bringing to the production and performing to an audience for the first time, all be it a small one, gave the rehearsal vibrancy.  I can’t wait until we’re into rehearsals-proper and am very much looking forward to October when we are performing at the Brentwood … Read the rest »

Nurse Elaine Knows Best

Recently moving meant I’ve had to change GP and consequently a new-patient check-up with the practice nurse, a very pleasant woman called, Debbie.  She decided that it would be a good idea to send me for a blood test to get an overall picture of my health, especially as I had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes last year.  My previous GP had said I was a borderline diabetic and had put me on Metaformin.  However, I was unhappy at this, thinking that as I was borderline I could perhaps keep it under control by diet changes and so for … Read the rest »

I Hate To Say ‘I Told You So’

Easter is almost upon us.  And bringing with it the usual press and media contradictions, know what I mean?  You open any paper or women’s magazine and half of it is dedicated to seasonal supermarket ads for Easter eggs and hot cross buns and recipes for Easter cakes while the other half flags up dire warnings of growing obesity and tells us that sugar is the new fat.

I’ve been saying that for years!

It’s no secret that my first novel, What’s Eating Me, is semi-autobiographical in that I’ve struggled with my over-eating compulsion all my life.  And I knew … Read the rest »

Things are Moving…

We had such a positive Melabeau production meeting yesterday.  With three projects in the pipeline – Single Holidays stageplay tour, TV pilot episode and panto – things are suddenly getting exciting and it feels like we’re really moving forward!  So much to do, but we’re getting great people interested in coming on board and that is such a boost.  Check out our website and FB page later this week for all our updates.

Also had another great 1-2-1 with the inspiring Nicola May on Saturday.  Anyone wanting guidance re a writing or publishing career I can’t recommend her highly enough.  … Read the rest »

Hell Freezes Over

It suddenly occurred to me on Friday night, just how long it is since I was last in Spain.  And how much I miss it.  The Sister and I went to celebrate a birthday dinner with our friend D in La Tasca at Lakeside, along with three other friends and we had a fabulous evening.  The place was buzzing – good job we booked!  The waiter was attractive as only a Spanish waiter can be; the food was excellent; the cava sangria divine and the company smashing.  We laughed and laughed and laughed about old times spent in Ibiza as … Read the rest »