This week I was let in on the secret of the legend of the $250 Neiman Marcus Cookie. The story goes that a woman was so impressed with a cookie she had in the cafe of the American department store in Dallas that she asked if it would be possible to purchase it. She was [...]
Iowa
Three years ago, I was enduring work when the new American guy on our team, Darren, asked if I would go for a pint and talk about writing. I am always up for conversations about writing but I couldn’t work out what he actually wanted. I was suspicious of his motives. It turned out he [...]
Drunk And Out in London and Paris (and then London again)
They say that the definition of insanity is repeating the same steps and expecting a different result. Eight years ago I took an overnight coach to Paris with my friend Lucy. The fallout from that horrific journey meant we didn’t speak to each other for several months. We are fine now. Knowing how much that [...]
It’s Already Out There
Sometimes it isn’t the content of the film itself, but instead the circumstances you watch it in. It is well recorded that I am prone to wild bouts of tears if I watch any film while on an aeroplane (I’m looking at you Amy, Inside Out, Instant Family, Lion, Infinity War, Adaptation). I had seen [...]
Daring
Today I celebrate three months at my new job. I don't often mention what I do for work because it removes the veneer that I write for a living. Very few people are afforded that luxury/burden. Like everyone else I work a job and get a wage and spend too much on payday weekend and [...]
Never forget that my heart is a husk
I don't know if my view will ever change when it comes to the idea of me and marriage. It doesn't change the fact that sometimes it's awfully nice to be involved in someone else's. On Saturday I got to enjoy the experience of seeing two of my good friends living it up in married [...]
TaskMaster
On Wednesday I was lucky enough to visit Pinewood Studios with (my brother from another mother) Benjy to watch TaskMaster being filmed. He had managed to get tickets for both the afternoon and evening shows and having turned up the week before only to be told they oversold on tickets and he wouldn't be going [...]
CAMPNANOWRIMO – July 2019
I have just completed my National Novel Writing Month project for July. It was touch and go on a number of occasions but I am proud to announce that the first draft of The Gift Shop is now complete. It's one of the most personal stories I've ever written and, as tends to be the [...]
My First Pride
I've always thought Pride was important. Pride with a capital P but pride is also important. That's why I felt very lucky yesterday when I got to take part in the London Pride parade alongside a number of my fabulous new work colleagues. It was such an incredible and moving experience and one I wanted [...]
