Diary
This is my online diary where I publish updates on my writing life....and sometimes my non-writing life
22/07/10 : Internet suicide sites
As a result of a piece I wrote for the Telegraph magazine in May, many readers have been in touch to ask what they can do to try and get sites which actively encourage suicide closed down.
In my feature I wrote up the heartbreaking story of Rosie Wilson, whose daughter Ziggy, a beautiful young woman with everything to live for, had attempted suicide and been left brain damaged. Ziggy had got her information from these sites.
I've been in touch with Papyrus, the group campaigning for the closure of the websites, and they advise people to contact their MPs in the first instance. With a new government, Papyrus is keen to raise awareness of the issue and get MPs on board so one day, some action may be taken to prevent what happened to Ziggy happening to someone else. If you missed the feature, be warned, it's harrowing. It's on this site, under Journalism.
18/06/10 : Flavia and football
The World Cup is here again and do you know I have only ever seen one WC game in my whole life? I know, it's appalling considering I live in a house where even the dog can't get enough football action, but for a month every four years I get regular child-minding which means time off and I can't spend that watching telly. Before we had Jack, I seem to remember quiet motorways and cinemas now and then.
Speaking of telly, I went into a bit of a decline with the demise of 24. Jack Bauer has been such a part of my life for nine years and we've been through so much together that I'm finding it hard to live without him. I cried so much at the final scene, Jack and Chloe saying their goodbyes for the 1,000,000th time. I've been there so many times and still I let him break my heart. Dammit.
Also got the chance to interview the lovely Flavia from Strictly, one of my favourite Autumnal programmes. I expected her to be haughty and arrogant. Not a bit of it. She doesn't think she's good-looking, she can't believe her popularity and - get this - she doesn't think her flatter-than-flat stomach is anything special! So glad she didn't get to see mine or she would have nominated herself for a Queens Honour for services to stomachs.
Other projects include producing a magazine and some KS1 writing at Jack's school.
Now I've seen Sex and the City 2 and loved it, the subject closest to my heart now is Crete - I've read The Island and loved it, now I want to go and write about it this summer. I've followed the advice of the many gurus I've interviewed and visualised us all there. My cossie's in the case in anticipation and only this morning, Jack, a guru-to-be (albeit a no-nonsense one) said he could smell Crete. That's my boy.
04/02/10 : Happy New Year - even if it's February!
Belated greetings to all those who read these entries. I can't believe it's February already. Where did January fly off to? I cocooned at Christmas during the snow and spent some lovely times in January engrossed in eat, pray, love, by Elizabeth Gilbert. The rest of the time, I've been enjoying the simple life - walking, watching old films, screaming at Jaws which I'd never seen, watching the wonderful, wonderful 24, Desperate Housewives and NCIS (from scratch)oh and yes, doing a bit of work!