Some Fun...

Rachel Lyndhurst tagged me for a bit of blog post fun! Well, she did say she'd get me back. I needed to do a blog post, and this is perfect as I really wasn't sure I had much to say right now. These are a list of things you may or may not know about me. Well, if you didn't know them, you do now:

Four places I have worked:

• A theme park
• A multinational manufacturing giant of household and cosmetic products.
• A company that sold O rings. Sounds much more interesting when I say I worked in rubber! lol!
• A aircraft manufacturing company.

Four movies I could watch again and again:

• Love Actually
• The A-Team 
• Stardust
• Footloose (edited... I can't believe I forgot this movie. There are lots of movies I'd watch over and over actually).

Four TV shows I watch:

• Desperate Housewives
• Doctor Who
• Torchwood
• Sherlock

Four places I have travelled:

• Turkey
• St Lucia
• Barbados
• New Zealand

Four authors I enjoy:

• Sue Moorcroft
• Liz Fielding
• Anne Rice
• Charlaine Harris

Four websites I visit daily:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads
• Livejournal

Four favourite foods:

• Crispy chilli beef (Chinese).
• Chicken Tikka Masala with peshwari naan
• Smothered chicken (bacon, cheese and bbq sauce).
• Pasta - a good carbonara or something. 

Four places I'd rather be:

• Sunning myself somewhere hot beside a pool, cocktail in hand, reading a good book.
• Sitting in (or outside if sunny) a café (ideally in a European city), sipping lattes and watching the day go by.
• Drinking an ice cold lager on the seafront. 
• Walking anywhere in New Zealand, ideally holding the hand of the man of my dreams.  

Four people I want to tag:

• Rachel Brimble
• Mandy Baggot
• Doris O'Connor
• Sally Quilford

This is only a bit of fun, but if you want to play, then make your own list and tag me back! (Because obviously I want to read).

Sunshine Award

I've been awarded the lovely Sunshine Award by Mama J over on Mama J Hearts Chick Lit.

And with all the sunshine, (though not today) it feels rather good to be receiving this award. So thank you Mama J! It was a lovely surprise this morning.






 
The rules of the award are:

Write five things about yourself.

Include the award's logo in a post.

Nominate five other bloggers. 

Link to your nominees.

Link the person who nominated you. 

So here's my five facts about me:

1. I used to work at Thorpe Park (from the age of 15 to 19) and it was one of the best, fun jobs I did  - ever! Even if it was picking up litter! lol! Met so many wonderful people and had so much fun. Loved it. Have never dropped litter since (not that I did anyway - my dad brought me up proper!).
2. I hate celery.
3. I've never watched the film Titanic with Kate Winslet and Leonardo  DiCaprio. I did actually catch a bit of it one time, and thought it looked pretty good. But never got to watch it all. 
4. One thing I'd like to do before I 'die' is rally driving!
5. I am a born worrier. I worry about everything. I think I even worry that I worry too much.

*drum roll* And my (five) nominations are:

Morton  S Gray

Annalisa Crawford

Sarah Pearson 

Becky Black 

Rachel Lyndhurst

They are all writers, either published or aspiring, who I try to keep up with - but sometimes fail miserably - sorry. They often comment on here, too, which I am always grateful for. (And they are not obliged to carry on this award, or if they've already been awarded it, then no need to post again!)

Thanks again, Mama J! You made my Friday.

Ever Been To Lacock?

If you haven't, well, you should!

I've been meaning to post about this for what feels like ages now.

Last week I went to Lacock for my RNA Chapter meeting. I drive the furthest, about an hours drive compared to everyone else, who all live roughly 20-30 minutes away.

I used the "sat-nav" on my phone, and followed the directions... a lot of M5, M4, then down the A350. Well, then she told me to turn left, and I thought I'd gone through some wibbly wobbly timey wimey thing. (That's a nod to Doctor Who).

I was speechless and gawking a lot as I drove through this antique village.

Like a tourist, I took photos while it was still good light - it was about 7.15pm. I only had my phone on me, so I'm not sure if it does the place justice, but it was magnificent to be in such an untouched part of England, if you exclude the cars. (If I had my way, I'd ban them!)

Now, I've been to Stratford-upon-Avon and loved it. The odd 'old' house dotted amongst the new, including Shakespeare's home. But this is a whole village! A whole village, I tell you!

I'm going back - before our next chapter meeting! Already promised my dad that I'll take him. I want to walk around and soak it all up! Gosh, could even envisage writing a historical romance, this place is just so inspirational.

Harry Potter, and Pride and Prejudice, to name a couple have been filmed here, and you can see why. Rid the streets of cars, and you're back in time. Perfect back drop for a historical film.

It fascinates me that if these buildings could talk, they'd have so much to tell us. What has gone on inside their rooms? 

This is where we had our chapter meeting, The Sign of the Angel.

I don't actually think my photos do do it justice. But I had to share. If you're interested, to find Lacock you need J17 on the M4, and head down the A350. There is a National Trust car park a walking distance out of the way, if you have difficulty parking in the village itself.

Oh and the Chapter meeting was really good too. Brilliant sitting around a table, talking with like-minded (and more experienced) people, discussing the thing that connects us and we all love. Can't wait for the next one!

Book Review: Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is certainly not the best book of the series. It's probably closer to 2 and a half stars from me. The murder doesn't happen until chapter three! The pacing was slow in places, and the author does have a habit of providing so many character names you can lose track. I think some characters can remain nameless - really they can!

However, the ending did redeem itself, and I do enjoy Sookie's thoughts. This book is brain candy like all the rest. I just wonder if Charlaine Harris has tried too hard to please the readers by stretching it out too much - this book is like some of the others, a filler.

And there certainly isn't the same level of sex. (This may disappoint some).


However...

I love that Bill loves her no matter what - and yet would never ever convert her to a vampire (not that she would beg for it). Have I said before how much I LOVE Bill?

But I also love Sam, too. Just because he's a good guy and he's a breather.

I am hoping Sookie gets her wish, and will get married and have children, and lead a normal-ish life. She will get her happy ever after basically. I'm hoping this will be with Sam. If book 13 doesn't deliver this, I will be disappointed. lol!

I'm all for the romance and happy ever afters me.



View all my reviews

Day Dreamer or Realist?

Okay, so it's the weekend, I've been up since 5.30am and I have another early start tomorrow. Every weekend that I work, it is always unproductive when it comes to my writing. So why tonight, am I feeling frustrated, annoyed and even guilty that I've opened up my Word document, and, staring at the words, I just can't write it. I can't concentrate.

I want to listen to music. I want to chat on Twitter and Facebook, because that's about as much my brain can handle.

So I've closed the document, and I'll go to bed in a minute, but thought I'd blog. Because blogging is writing, and sometimes, it's a bit like therapy, it helps.

Real life is getting in the way too. Yet another major barny with my 'husband' (can I call him Ex yet?) has left me feeling soooooo crap about myself. He's been chipping away at my self-esteem (if that's the right term) for longer than I probably realise, but now he's just coming out with stuff that makes me want to punch him! I've actually just typed up why I think I'm actually a damn good mother (Okay so I have my crap days, but don't we all?) - for some strange reason I fear they're going to take my kids away from me!

I came out of my appointment with my solicitor feeling empowered and confident. He has said he came out of his feeling more positive. (He was being smug with me that's for sure). What have they told him different to me?

He harps on that I'm such a dreamer. I know I'm a dreamer. I've had so many ideas, plans, dreams of what I would like to do/see/become. I wanted to open a cafe - a proper coffee shop/ice cream parlour. I wanted to work in Marketing (I did actually get a qualification in that too). And I do worry that this writing malarky is one of those dreams that I've got inside my crazy little head, that as per usual won't get realised.

But I'm also a realist. I know we all die in the end. I think I am so determined on this, it will happen - the writing, not dying... though that will come to me too at some point, lets hope not just yet.

I have finished a novel! I have one more 57,000 words through. I've got more stories inside my head - which may need more brainstorming, but they are there! If it doesn't happen this year, or next, it will one day. I'm not going to give up! Right? Some one please tell me I'm not a dreaming...

Well, at least I can blog...  and leave inspirationally material for all you other writers out there...

Nothing like a good snog!

The thing is, I do get an idea in my head, and a bit like my dad, I react and want it. We are doers! And I'm not patient. I want it like, YESTERDAY! The solicitor has told me what I can look to have. And I'm out to get it now. 

However, I worry, too. I worry a lot. About all sorts of things. From have we got enough milk to when will the world end. But if I was such a terrible person, would I have the friends that I have? I've been overwhelmed by the amount of friends that have supported me over the past few months, online and in reality. And to all of you, I hope you read this. Because thank you. You keep me strong, and motivated, and I will become a writer.

I'm in the mood for a bit of Dirk, too.

Actually, I am a writer... I'm just not published - yet.

(Sorry a bit wittering there... but like I said, I needed some therapy).