A dear friend of mine, wanted to set a writing challenge for the both of us to do.  We had to select a book at random (within the room).  Find either a novel or a short story, copy down the last sentence and use this as the first line of your (my) new story.  Up to 500 words.

I chose one of the books I got for Christmas, called ‘The Christmas Guest by Daisy Bell’.

And I might be imagining it, but I’m sure that in reply I see the flicker of a smile in those yellow-green eyes.

Lisa was my best friend and we had made a pact.  We loved the film Thelma and Louise and loved the idea of the freedom that they shared. A chance to be our own person and answer to no-one.

We had been saving for what seemed like forever and it was now our time to be free and explore the whole of America.  I thought at first, she had doubts about leaving, but once I asked her, the glint in her eyes was unmistakable.  Lisa was ready and willing.

We packed our bags, not much, just some clothes and the bare essentials.  Anything else we would need, we can get on the road.

We were heading to Vegas.  Well, that was to be our first stop.  Win a little extra cash on the slots and have a little fun.  Actually, have a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, there was an underlying reason for our journey.

Originally we were going to be the new Thelma and Louise, but then Lisa was diagnosed with Leukemia.  So our intention, or rather mine, was to see as much as we can in the short time we still had together.

Our trip of a lifetime, her bucket list complete in one.

Our first Stop in Vegas, The Venetian.  Check into our suite and take a ride on a gondola.

On Saturday (14th January), I met up with my work colleague (and friend) for my belated birthday treat to her.

We met at Marble Arch tube station and decided to walk through Hyde Park to get to where we were meant to be going, sparkling afternoon tea in a lovely hotel.  There was certainly a chill in the air, my cheeks were rosy red and cold to the touch, but that aside, it was quite a beautiful day.

Squirrels were jumping around in the fallen leaves, searching for some nuts/food they had already buried and they were be quite brave, coming up pretty close to the people who were out for a walk.  The obviously assumed the humans had more food for them.  Crafty little things!

My friend and I were too busy chatting away and watching the squirrels and soaking up the scenery to realise we were veering off track, so leaving Hyde Park by one of the side gates along side of one of the gate-keeper houses, we were back on the main road and heading in the right direction.

Something caught my eye as we were walking. Very old tiny gravestones.  Upon getting a closer look, well as close as possible with an iron fence between us.  They were the gravestones of loved, departed pets.  The pet cemetery itself was only small, but you could read some of the names, unfortunately most of them were worn with age.  I never knew it was there, but it was so lovely to see and makes me feel glad that I am not the only one who is mad about their pet, who rightly are a member of the family.

We had almost reached our destination and just as we were about to cross the road, out of the corner of my eye, fountains and ponds jumped into my view.

Upon taking a closer look there were ducks happily swimming around and actually following each other across the ponds.  Now obviously I have hear of Kensington Gardens, but I had no idea we had actually walked there via Hyde Park.  It was a vision of beauty.

If you’re out and about for some reason, look out for the hidden treasures that you may have taken for granted on your journeys.  Drink it up.

Remember, always have something to record it, be it a phone with a camera or even a camera on its own.  You wont be disappointed when you look back and show others what you have seen.

I do try and make writing resolutions or goals every year.  Do I keep to them?  I do try.

I don’t write, “I will” do this or do that.  That is the quickest way to fail and break all resolutions.  (now I am mirroring what I wrote last year.  At least I am consistent.)  I normally write, “I will try…”, that way if I fail, I have still tried.  So in fairness, I haven’t failed at all.

So what are my goals for 2017? Pretty similar the previous year, if I am honest.

1. I will TRY to write more.  Whether it be everyday or only at weekends or even on the train to and from work, I will have my notebook and pen to hand for when the inspiration grabs me.
2. I will TRY to finish at least two of my unfinished pieces of work.  This will be anything from my novels (have about 5 unfinished) or my short stories.
3. I will TRY to enter writing competitions.  I know this is probably an easy one, but is it really?  Deadlines come and go.  It’s just the remembering to actually send the entries off on time.
4. I will TRY to read more.  Not just novels, but maybe a few non-fiction books as well.  Especially “How To…” books like “How to Write a Novella in 24 Hours”.  I got this as a Christmas present so I have actually started to read it already.
5. I will TRY to attend more writing events.  Well I have two written in the diary already. Go me!  The London Book Fair in March at London Olympia.  To show how serious I am with my writing and reading this year, I have become a member of the RSL (Royal Society of Literature) and I have signed up to attend one of their Masterclasses on the art of the Short Stories in February.
6. I will TRY and keep my website updated.  Unfortunately this is the one I normally fail on.

So did you set any writing resolutions or goals this year?  Have you broken any already?

I was up with the birds.  It was day trip day!  I had not thought about it before, but when my work colleague Radka, asked if I would like to go with her on a day trip to Wales to see Caerphilly Castle, I jumped at the opportunity.  Who am I, to refuse the chance to visit such a beautiful, romantic Castle?  It was going to be a long day, but it was going to be worth every minute of it.

Our pick up point was at Kings Cross at 07:55.  Be there ten minutes before, our itinerary said, but there is always that one person, who is never on time.   So eventually we lift King’s Cross at about 08:20 and we were on the road.   I was going into a different country and the good thing was, that I didn’t have to fly to get there.

After a quick 20 minute stop, to stretch our legs and use the facilities if needed, we were back on the bus and what lay before us was a vast array of green fields, such a picturesque vision.

We had finally made it to Cardiff in Wales and after picking up our Welsh tour guide for the day, who did sound a lot the comedian and fellow Welsh man, Rob Brydon.  He was very softly spoken but threw in a few one liners, to which the bus joined in laughed along.  He knew his stuff.  We were treated to a mini panoramic tour of Cardiff.  It was too beautiful for words.

After about 30 minutes or so, we were allowed off the bus to stretch out legs again and have an hour’s free time to ourselves.  For me and my traveling buddy that meant a quick skip to Cardiff Castle for a few photo opportunities.

This is myself and travelling buddy Radka, just at the entrance to Cardiff Castle.

On the day of our journey, it was the first day of the mediaeval joust that they had going on, so we could only go so far in the entrance.

The weather was definitely on outside the castle was bathed in beautiful sunlight and stood proud.  It was built by the Bute family, who used the castle  as a holiday home for only six weeks of the year.  The Bute name is mentioned quite a lot around the Cardiff area.

Then it was time to search for food and what better than old faithful KFC.  Only time was not on our side and after throwing the food down the back of our throats, it was practically a sprint back to the bus and onwards to Caerphilly Castle.

It wasn’t long before we were standing outside the beautiful Caerphilly Castle.  It was simply breath-taking.  It was surrounded by a giant moat, where on the grass verge next to it, geese and a few fluffy goslings were soaking up the sun.

We entered the famous castle where we were greeted by a smoke blowing dragon.  This dragon was actually touring round the castles and we were lucky that it had only been at Caerphilly castle a week when we got there.

As if this castle wasn’t romantic enough, one happy couple were actually getting married there.  It was a perfect setting, the bride was glowing and they looked so happy.

We had a brief tour around the castle thanks to our personal tour guide, and then we had just over an hour to please our selves and continue to wander around the castle.  There was also a beautiful little gift shop and after a few little trinkets purchased, our time in Wales had come to an end.  Of we trotted to go and pick up our bus up to take us back to London and back to our normal everyday lives.

It did feel good to step out of the ordinary and try something different for a change.  Onwards to the next day trip with a difference.

It was Wednesday 3rd February 2016 and I was waiting at Stanford Le Hope train station, awaiting my train to London Fenchurch Street.  It’s a journey I do every day of the week to get me to work, but this day was going to be a little different.

I was meeting the lovely Sally Holtham and what we had planned for the day was something a little new to both of us.  We were going on our very own mystery adventure.

Until I had actually met up with Sally, where we were both going was a complete mystery.  We had both agreed to get a bus from Kings Cross and let it take us somewhere, we had never been before and spend the day in that area.  All in the name of fun and inspiration.

With regards to the inspiration, I had a bright idea.Sally would not know this bit, until she had arrived for the day, but no matter what, I knew that she would live it, just the same.

I had bought us both:

• A disposable camera with 27 shots (we could also take extra photos with our phones, if needed)
• An A5 black ring bound with black pages
• Some scrap-booking papers / embellishments / stamp set.

We could both add to it what we pleased, but we were going to record our day out with our first scrapbook of inspiration and our first attempt at another new craft for both of us.

Ar 10.42am, I was standing outside WH Smiths, just opposite Platform 93/4 at Kings Cross.  I knew this was the time that Sally would be arriving.  We both greeted each other in the usual way with hugs and kisses (we hadn’t seen each other since 3rd December), and the air filled with excitement for what the day ahead held for us.

Before we made our way to the nearest bus-stop, I presented Sally with her little bag of goodies.  To say she was over the moon, was an understatement.  This was it, the beginning of our first mystery adventure.

We made out way to the nearest bus-stop and both quickly decided that we had never been to ‘Elephant & Castle’.  Admittedly, I had gone through it before, but never actually explored around the area.

So, bus 45 was coming towards us and on we jumped.  We went upstairs and sat right at the front (like excited schools girls); we wanted to watch our adventure unfold right in front of us and see things that we had not seen before.

No matter the weather, we were going to have fun!

Our stop had arrived.  We got at Elephant & Castle and we were directly in front of a shopping centre.  Our first port pf call = Coffee.

We went into the coffee shop ‘La Bodeguita’, I had a latte and a chocolate muffin and Sally had an Americano again with a chocolate muffin.  It was most definitely needed.  Whilst sitting there enjoying our sustenance, I pulled up on my phone, things to do around Elephant & Castle.  Up popped ‘10 cool things to do in Elephant & Castle‘.

No. 5 on the list was La Bodeguita.  We already had something to tick off the checklist.  We then spotted ‘The Cinema Museum’ at No. 7 and ‘The East Street Market’ at N0.8.  These two looked extremely promising, I mean who doesn’t love a bit of the movies mixed with a bit of shopping.  It was a winning combination for both of us.

After finishing our coffees, we had a wander around the shopping centre and then made our way to the East Street Market.

It wasn’t very big, but it was popular and was full of characters.  Stopping at a clothes stall (as you do), the bubbly stall holder made us feel comfortable as she chatted away to us.  I bought a red and black striped jumper.  It fits perfectly, even if it does make me look like a mixture of Dennis the Menace, Freddy Kruger and Minnie the Minx.  I paid for my purchase and Sally paid for hers.  We were both happy and the cheery stall holder wished us both a good day.  Now it had already been a busy morning and it was time for lunch.  We didn’t need any slap up meal, we both agreed on KFC.  A firm favourite between the both of us.

Fed and watered, our next part of the adventure was to hunt down the Cinema Museum.  It wasn’t noticeable from the main roads.  Tucked in the corner of a housing estate, we found the old building.  Ringing the bell, I explained to the voice on the intercom, we had only just got to Elephant & Castle and found the museum.  We were told we usually had to book in advance for a guided tour, but he would let us have a quick look around.  There was a workshop going on upstairs so we had to be quiet when we went up there.

We were let in and free to roam the small, but very cluttered cinema museum; it was a complete treasure trove.  I was completely in awe of it.  Some of the exhibits were simply breath-taking.  It is a place I would definitely go back to and have the guided tour.

Our mystery adventure was almost over, but it wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the British Library, our inspirational writing run to, where we went on our writing retreat in ay 2015.  A quick wander around the gift shop is an absolute must, regardless of whether anything was brought, but we both knew there was one more place to visit before Sally got back on her train to Darlington and I got on mine to Stanford Le Hope.  Paperchase!  Naturally we both bought something that we could use in the scrapbook of our mystery adventure.

I said goodbye to Sally at Kings Cross, until next time.  I did mention about maybe doing the Monopoly Board Adventure, but that is something we will see.

Our next one will be lunch at the Dolls House on the Hill for Sally’s birthday.

People often make New Year’s resolutions a minute after midnight on 1st January, then by 00.15, most of them have already been broken.  I am not going to tell you that ‘I will do this or that, I will say at least this, I can but TRY, with my resolutions.  If I have tried, then I have not broken any resolutions.

1  Try to make time to write a little each day.  I will aim for at least 30 minutes a day, anything over that is a complete bonus.

2  Try to complete an unfinished piece of written work.

3  Try to keep a writing diary/journal and keep it up to date.

4  Try to read more.  As Stephen King says, to write well you must read.

5  Try and submit work to publishers/magazines etc.  Keep a record of what submitted and who to.

6  Try and be proud of what I achieve.

7  Try to attend some more writers/authors festivals, including The London Book Fair.

8  Try to enter writing competitions, even if only for the experience and more creative ideas.

9  Try to attend / hold another writing retreat.

10  Try my hand at studying again.

The last one is already in progress, I have applied to do my English Literature A Level.  Have always wanted to do this, I just wish I had done it at college when I had the chance.

I think 10 points is a good place to start with.  Do you have any resolutions for this year?

The graves built to say goodbye
Is where you’ll find me, when I need to cry

Watching the angels covered in stone
Tells me that you’re never alone

One day, you know I’ll join you
And again we will be two

For now, you’ve gone and left me
I wish the angels would hear my plea

I asked the angels to let me join you
I’ve been told to see life through

I feel your presence at the side of your grave
Telling me to wipe my tears and be brave

I hate that graves are built to say goodbye
It seems always, it’s under a darkened sky.

As part of a monthly writing challenge within the writing group that I attend, the actual challenge was, write a blurb for the back of a book for the title “Kissing the Rain”.  All I did was stand in front of stack of books in my local library, close my eyes and point my finger.  Kissing the Rain is the book I landed on.

At first I struggled, even though it was me that came up with the challenge.  Then I sat there, five minutes before the deadline, with Country music playing in the background – Don’t judge me!  The soothing sounds of “Blake Shelton” came on and apart from melting listening to his seductive voice, from the time the song started to the time it finished, I had written my challenge piece.

Kissing the Rain
After splitting from her boyfriend of four years, Siobhan embarks on the journey of a lifetime.  

Following her heart and the love of country music, Siobhan with her rucksack of clothes and her cherished acoustic guitar, she buys herself a one way ticket to Nashville, Tennessee.   

With no plan of action, Siobhan busks around Nashville to get what money she can, singing her own songs, the way she wants to sing them.

Kissing the Rain is the one song that changes Siobhan’s life forever.  From busking on the streets to singing the stage of The Bluebird Café and the Grand Ole Opry. 

Will the journey and the fame be everything Siobhan ever dreamed of, or will it prove to be the biggest mistake of her life?

I feel possibly another romance coming on, influenced by the sounds of Nashville.  Watch this space!

It’s Valentine’s day, am I snuggled up romantically, sharing this day with my fiancé? No.  I am at the cinema with a girlfriend awaiting the long anticipated 50 Shades of Grey to start.

Did I enjoy the books? Well I read all three instalments within a week.  I would say that I enjoyed the books, to a certain point.  They did get a bit ‘samey’ , but there was an underlying story evolving from it.

Am I excited to be seeing the film? No!  So why am I not excited for the film I hear you ask.  I know I should make my own opinion about the film, but I did read the critics reviews from the premiere and it did get slated.  Astronomically!  Surely they had read the books and knew what to expect?

E.L. James never denied the fact that 50 Shades was fan fiction based on the Twilight series.  It is fan fiction with a little bit more erotica than people are used to.  Absolutely nothing wrong with erotica finally coming through into the limelight.  Thank you E.L James for opening the door and showing the path to other erotica writers.

Why was the film slated and had protestors at the premiere for domestic violence?  This is NOT true!  BDSM is not domestic violence, especially when both parties are consenting to the activities.  BDSM does not mean a kiss and a tickle; with the millions of books and ebooks sold worldwide, people should realise this.  If BDSM is an activity that you are not comfortable with, then maybe you should not have gone to see the film.

When I watched the film, I was, I have to admit, glued to the screen.  The books came flooding back to me, I relaxed and enjoyed the film.  I apologise to Mr Jamie Dornan, as I may be one of the very few (if not the only one) who did not give a lot of sex appeal to me.  He played the part well according to the books, but just did nothing for me, personally.

As they say, never judge a book by its cover, maybe you should make your own minds up about the film, just as I have.

I was pleasantly surprised and all I can say is, roll on the next two instalments.

I have decided to start celebrating my birthday a few weeks early and I am sharing it with everyone. My birthday is not for a special age this year, but I do certainly have a big one on the horizon in the next 2 years. Then maybe I may start going backwards with my age until I maybe reach 21 again!

Is there something else I am celebrating? YES.

My first short story, One Last Dance is now published on Createspace and is available to buy in paperback from Amazon UK and also USA. It will be available in digital format within the next few weeks.

One chance meeting. One moonlit dance with a beautiful stranger. It was the kind of scenario upon which films are written, but would actually end up shaping Kristian’s life forever. Who was Olivia and why did she vanish once the music had stopped?

As a special treat, I am giving away two signed copies on Goodreads. It is only on for 10 days so you had better be quick to sign up for your chance to win.