Diary
This is my online diary where I publish updates on my writing life....and sometimes my non-writing life
11/10/11 : @C_Fieldhouse
Having resisted Facebook for what feels like 300 years, I've discovered the power of the tweet. All down to Twitter, I started watching The Apprentice (thanks to Glamour editor Jo Elvin), learnt that Bin Laden had been captured (thanks to Myleene Klass) and kept my son happy with Newcastle United gossip (thanks to player Jonas Gutierriez). My Twitter handle is @C_Fieldhouse if you fancy a look.
Have had a busy year writing features about health, fitness and running for Running Free, as well as writing features for the usual suspects.
Our second edition of Pick-A-Zine, a primary school magazine, was a stunner and here are some of my favourite lines:
Children shouldn't watch 18 films if they have nightmares because they will wake up sweating and all wet (boy aged 10).
My dad put me to bed once. He didn't read me a story. He just knelt on the floor and talked to me(girl aged 5).
Gnomeo and Juliet would be a good film for all ages as long as they like films about gnomes. If you don't like gnomes it will all be a bit boring (girl aged 10).
Working with some Traveller pupils in Stokesley, writing their autobiographies, and getting them issued in their local library was fun and I learnt some new words - a gorger is a non-Traveller and kushtie means good, mint, awesome. I also discovered never to say the R word (imagine a creature with a long tail, considered vermin) - the word itself is considered bad luck in travelling communities.
Still with animals, I've also been horse whispering - a 16hh mare called Dotty is my new life coach! When I was losing interest, Dotty gave us a big toothy yawn, and when I thought I was rubbish at whispering, she .... well.... lifted her tail and deposited a pile of manure on the ground. Oh dear, she read my mind...literally.
We stayed closer to home for my travel features this summer. My son Jack chose one quality destination - Blackpool and we also went to Bournemouth and then on to the New Forest.
It's been a summer of barbecues, cocktails, dog walking and rollercoasters. Our favourite TV was the Grange Hill box set (to prepare us all for secondary school).
Now we've progressed to The Waltons (still fancy John Boy), and Strictly, of course. Just need the good ladies of Wisteria Lane back now and I'll be set for the mini Ice Age I keep reading about in the Daily Express.
01/03/11 : World Book Night, March 2011
I'm still here, just can't bear to post things that are boring but true, such as "I've just made a cup of tea." But Happy New Year and good news! I'm officially a giver. I have - or rather will have when they arrive - 40 copies of One Day by David Nicholls to give away on World Book Night. I loved that book, and there's one line in it (which I can't say because it will spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it) that still haunts me now. If you've read it, and enjoyed it, please get in touch with your comments. And has anyone read any others of his?
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.