On Saturday, I attended an editing workshop alongside seven other members of Lutterworth Writers’ Circle. The workshop was presented by Richard Sheehan, a copy editor and proofreader from Leicestershire. My followers probably know that I dislike editing with a passion. I much prefer first draft writing than the process of structural edits or copy edits – though I do love proofreading, as it’s the final stage of any project. 
 
In short, I like the creative aspects of writing but not the constructive processes. I’m currently editing a manuscript so the timing of the workshop was perfect for my work schedule. I find it painful to sit and diligently work through each scene, paragraph and line polishing a manuscript. So, any small trick or technique that I can learn from the professionals gives me a glimmer of hope for future editing.
 
Over the years, my mindset regarding editing has definitely improved but I’m still searching for a magical element. The task can feel monumental to me in comparison to writing. 
 
Anyway, we had a fabulous three hours discussing various aspects such as punctuation, format alignment, publishing house style, methods and modern gremlins that frequently trip writers up.
 
One visual shared by Richard was a punctuation pattern, almost like a finger print, of two authors. It was incredible to see how a page of their texts looks - minus the words. I wondered what my finger print of punctuation would resemble and if I could learn anything from performing the same exercise. So below, is the first chapter of my current manuscript. I’m taken aback that I use so many ellipses and manage to squeeze in numerous colons and semi-colons. I’d definitely pick up ‘16 points’ awarded for question 5 in an English GCSE exam! Joke, purely for other English teachers!
 
,  .  :  ,  .  ,  ,  .  -  ,  ,  .  ,  ,  .  ,  .  ,  ,  ,  .  –  .  ,  …  .  ,  . ,  .  .  ,  .  ,  .  ,   ,  .  ,  .  ,  .  ,   .  .  ,  .  ’ ‘ ’ ,  .  – ,  ,  ,  .  -  – ? ,  ,  :  . ‘ ! ’ ,  ,  ,  ,  . ‘ ,  .  

,  ? ’ ,  . ‘ ’ .  ,  . ’ ,  . ‘ ,  - ’ ‘ ? ’ ,  .  ,  .  ,  ,  .  ’ ’ . ‘ ? ’ ,  . ‘ , ’ ,  ,  .  . ’ .  ;  .  ,  .  ,  ’  ’ . ’ ’ ,  .  ,  .  ,  .  , ! ‘ ,  . ’ ‘ ? , ’ ,  . ‘ ? ’,  . ‘ ? ’ ,  ,  . ‘  ’  .  ‘  ,  ’  .  ’

​.  ’  ,  . ’  ’  . ‘  ’ , ’ ,  ,  .  ‘ . ’  .  ,  ’,  . ‘ , ’ ,  - . ‘  ’ . ’ . ’ ,  :  .  ,  .  ‘ ,  ? ’ ‘ ? ’  ,  ,  .  ‘ , ’ … ’ , ‘ … ,  ’ . ’  ‘ … ’ . ’  ,  .  ‘ ’ ! ’ .  ‘ ’  –  ,  .  …  ’ .  ’ . ’  ,  ,  .
 
Anyway, after an enjoyable workshop, I arrived home with an armful of additional notes and reference sources to add to my editing box plus, a renewed vigour for the task ahead. I’ll let you know how I get along this week, as editing is to be my primary goal during the Easter break.  

Strange things happen to me. I know things, that I've never been told. Sense things, that others don't. And right now, this song is haunting me.

It started on Friday, 13th March during a writing session, when the lyrics popped into my head and I sat pondering their meaning in relation to the scene I was writing. No connection. I grabbed my phone and listened to the Oasis track. Again nothing relevant. As my muse had been disturbed, I took a wander into the lounge and flicked on the tv, the screen showed the Cheltenham horse races. The 16:40 race was about to start and the line-up was being discussed - lo and behold there is 'Wonderwall' number 23.  See, I told you! Anyway, I sat down to watch the race, trying to figure out the coincidence that had occurred in the last ten minutes. He lost. He came 7th. But that wasn't of importance to me.

That was two weeks ago ... and still I'm getting reminders of 'Wonderwall' every few days. I'm not writing anything remotely linked and yet, there's something. 

George Harrison's debut solo album of 1968 was named 'Wonderwall Music' and even this, and the associated film doesn't provide a reference either, other than my family date-link to The Beatles. The Oasis song 'Wonderwall' keeps popping up in my daily life. I'll let you know, when I figure out the association/coincidence. 

Update: sorted, I think. 'I believe' I know where this stems from.  

Three mornings a week I park my car in a multi storey carpark. As a creature of habit, I claim the same spot each day. Tuesday, I discovered red and white tape fluttering throughout certain floor levels as I drove in. When I reached 'my spot', sorry but it is, there were two barriers positioned nearby. Immediately, I burst out laughing - the positioning of their feet gave them an attitude stance. Maybe I've been working with teenagers for too long! I snapped a photo and posted on social media.

Day two: the two barriers had become three and it looked as if they had joined an alliance and were holding hands. I must have looked a right sight laughing my head off and snapping photos. Lord knows what the CCTV team think, if they saw.

Day three: after a night of blustery winds and rain, I found the three barriers scattered as if they'd enjoyed a boys' night out! I was belly laughing, doubled up and trying to snap a photo when one of the workmen appeared from nowhere, looking totally confused. I really didn't care! I carried on snapping a piccy for social media. The barrier leaning against the concrete pillar for support is simply the best! We've all been there!

For me, it really is the small, simple things in life that bring me joy! Today, is a writing day so I'm at home but I'm wondering what the 'barrier lads' are up to! 

Many of you are aware that I tutor on-line for GCSE English, here in the UK. Tomorrow, a brand-new era begins for me ... one that is occurring approximately thirty-nine years later than was necessary. I have begun studying A-level text!  Yep, you read that right, folks. If you've attended one of my author talks, you probably need to pick your jaw off the floor. The reason being is I'm supporting an A-level student, who is part way through their studies. My degree is in English literature so I'm sure we'll get along just fine.

At sixteen, when others attended sixth form college, it wasn't deemed necessary in our household for girls to seek higher education and so, I drifted towards college to complete a lesser qualification. A course that prepared me for entering my first full-time job as a bank clerk. Again, if you've attended my author talk you know the comment about mortgages!

Anyway, from tomorrow onwards, that 'educational blunder' gets addressed. I've spent the weekend reading 'The Bloody Chamber' by Carter and thankfully, I already know Bronte's Wuthering Heights - ironically, I did a reread at Christmas time so, maybe this in another of life's gremlins being put to bed.

Wherever Mr Pemberton is, head of our local sixth form back in 1987, I hope he's pleased - he warned I was making a mistake all those years ago! How right you were, Sir!

Today, I visited a beautiful church yard to view a carpet of daffodils - immediately, reminding me of Wordsworth’s poem. The simplest of flowers, which symbolise new beginnings, rebirth and renewal, covered the graves and gently swayed in the breeze – it was quite a sight to behold. It was easy to understand how Wordworth's muse was touched by such a sight in Ullswater, back in 1802. I was far from the Lake District but still, the scene was glorious and renewed my spirits, after a busy week. 

Followers know how much I love graveyards ... the names, the life stories and the beautiful statues ignite my imagination. Today's visit was simply glorious and I returned home overflowing with inspiration!
 
 
I wandered lonely as a cloud - Wordsworth
 
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
 
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
 
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
 
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

In recent months, I've been at liberty to enjoy time getting to watch those that makes me laugh. They say laughter is the best medicine and I have spent many hours searching for individuals who appeal to my sense of humour. No one will ever suppress my love for Billy Connelly but I have developed a massive 'girl crush' on this magician/comedian 'Lucy Darling' a.k.a. Carisa Hendrix, in the flesh. I find her mannerism, her flamboyant style and her quick wit spell binding - so, I thought I would share. There is something magnetic about her! After all sharing in caring! She has many, many clips on YouTube and Instagram which have brightened my days during 2026. Go, enjoy and like - such a beautiful, unique woman. I thank her for the laughter! She's delicious!

Link: www.youtu.be/rLEQixR1y5I?si=0tLrkJwNrGrYZxEd

Over the years the number of followers who read my blog has increased month by month. In the early days, I was lucky if the visits reached double figures in a week! I wondered if it was even worth the time and cost of having a website! Thankfully, it has paid off and now, I'm delighted when I check my visitors tally as the weekly numbers roll into the hundreds. Maybe one day in the future into the thousands!

You'll notice that my blog posts never have comments beneath. That's because I've disarmed the facility, as each day I find 3 - 5 'advertisements' posted as comments, waiting to be approved. I never approve - I always delete. I delete because I post about being an author, a creative and about my interests. I don't wish for my followers to be greeted by advertisements for  unrelated products from children's clothing to body enhancing procedures! Seriously, some advertisers need to save their time and pay more attention studying potential markets rather than bombarding my blog. I never make an error, folks - none of them ever slip through the net. 

I see it as a safety tactic too - my followers know they won't be greeted by offensive or crude advert links created by some scallywag out to make a quick buck. 

So once again, thank you to my genuine followers for visiting - I appreciate your continued support. 

Yesterday morning, whilst going about my business, one of my new neighbours stopped me in the street for a chat. A likeable chap from a few doors down, who was returning home from his Sunday morning activities. I could see he was laden down with a huge bag made of camouflage material. Anyway, my surprise and interest in his activity was immediately clear. He began to explain where he’d been, to target practice at a local site used for ‘field target’. I’d never heard of it before. Now, this is where I love my inquisitive nature - which aligns perfectly to being an author. The next ten minutes were spent explaining and showing me what pellet is fired, the distance covered, the scope and understanding the range and trajectory of the tiny pellet. Seriously, this is typical me nipping out to my car to collect an item, returning fifteen minutes later and heading towards the internet to learn more about the sport. A further ninety minutes later, I’ve watched numerous YouTube clips, costed the price of an air-rifle and written a stack of notes for my ‘potential ideas’ file.
 
Purely by chance, I bumped into the same neighbour on the evening. He explained to the person he was with that we’d spoken earlier in the day. His face was a picture when I explained that I’d completed some research, made notes of targets and had stashed the details in my ‘potential book idea’ as a suitable interest for a future character. This is how I was able to include mountain biking in ‘Taking a Chance on Love’ as a former colleague of mine was a dedicated biker. He’d explained most Monday mornings how he’d hurled himself and his bike over the edge of a dramatic drop all in the name of excitement. The mountain rescue element in ‘Reunited at Lakeside Cottage’ came from a family acquaintance who’d spend entire weekends in Snowdonia National park waiting to be called for a rescue mission. Even the palliative nursing included in ‘The Single Girl’s Calendar’ was linked to the occupation of the wife of someone I knew, who performs such an incredible role. 
 
Never under estimate the curiosity of this author, when my interest is spiked by a new snippet of information, an unknown hobby or creative pursuit – I make the most of every opportunity. Though it goes without saying, my neighbour learnt just as much about the new woman from down the road and her occupation.         

This week, I thought I’d blog about my volunteering role. Not a role that I talk about much on social media but some of you eagle-eyed folks have picked up on my early morning postings. And questioned, what I’m doing? If you spy an early morning post linked to breakfast at McDonalds, I will have just finished a night shift answering phones for a charity. The shift starts at 2am and finishes at 6am - its my preferred shift. I’m usually in Maccy’s within 10 minutes, as it is the perfect place to allow my brain to download from the topics and calls taken during the night. I tend to be the only person who is ‘eating in’ and the staff greet me with a smile. Which is always lovely. I have the entire place to myself, while a line of traffic snakes past the window for the ‘drive thru’. 
 
It might sound melancholy but it’s become a vital routine after each night shift giving me chance to grab breakfast and empty my mind, before heading home to start my day. I do different shifts each week but my preferred shift is the night shift. For eighteen months, I have willingly given my time, four hours a week, to those that need to talk. I’ve found it to be rewarding and have gained a sense of purpose knowing that my experiences in life haven’t gone to waste. We all encounter ‘something’ in life, I endured rotten times as a child and in my thirties – the early hours of the morning were the worst for me. I frequently hear callers make comments that I once uttered and instantly understand where they are coming from. Sadly, during my difficult times, my comments fell on deaf ears or were answered back with insulting cliches! My callers benefit because I understand where they are sitting with their hurt/pain/upset/trauma/situation/issue – I haven’t ‘lived’ what they’re going through but I recognise the emotions and the isolation they talk about. 
 
I truly believe: we don’t heal until we’re heard!
 
So, should you spot my social media Maccy’s breakfast posts know that I’m heading home grateful for the opportunity to have listened to another - who needed to be heard. 
 
Samaritans: freephone on 116 123 - 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

I dare to dream ... this could be happening! I've continued my daily plant-watch and am seeing a definite orange hue slowly develop within the stalk's spike. Dare I call it a flower bud? Yep, I think I will! In thirty years, I have never had a leaf unfurl in this manner so I'm opting to be optimistic. The second bud, positioned lower down, isn't as prominent in colour but is showing the exact same signs.​

Update: she is blooming, very slowly. 

Tadah! Finally, after 30 years of nurturing, having planted a seed in 1996 - she blooms!

​Update: 11th March 2026 - a second bloom began to appear.