Don't Jog, Just Jot

Just spotted - in the Daily Mail (p3 Sat 7th Jan) - if you prefer to lift a pen rather than weights, and choose typing over tap dancing you can be slimmer than your friends as long as you write for 15 minutes a day about topics that matter to you, and they don't. 

The theory is if you write about things you value, you feel good about yourself and lose the urge to snack.  Stanford University, USA and Rentford University College, Canada tested 2 groups of women.  The lucky group wrote about their favourite things and lost 3.4lbs in four months.  The control group wrote about inconsequentials and put on 2.7lbs in the same period. I bet group 2 were furious when they found out.

So only another 10 minutes and 45 seconds to go and I won't want that cup of bedtime hot chocolate. 
Oh what the heck.  Put the kettle on will you love?

Mosaic Table - C'est Fini

I'm very happy with the finish on the mosaic table I started way back in the autumn.  After my last post on it (13.12.11), I rubbed a fine sandpaper block over the sharp edges of the smaller tile pieces, mixed some more grout, tinted it with acrylic paint and covered the whole top with another layer.  After I'd cleaned it off and given the mosaic a polish with a soft cloth I finally achieved the smooth finish I wanted.  It proved to be a very useful additional table for guests' drinks over Christmas and New Year.  As I had plenty of tiles left over, I mosaic-ed another two tables with toning tiles, but different patterns.  I'm keeping photos of those two just in case I write a book about crafts!

I've started a new craft, again thanks to Kirstie Allsop who demonstrated needle felting in her programme, and to Grasshopper and Sis who between them bought me the tools, book and materials to get started.  My first attempt is a flower shape, which I'll either make into a brooch or a picture!

While I'm on the subject of crafts, a new craft materials shop has just opened in Worcester.  It's great to see that entrepreneurial spirit continues despite messages of financial gloom we keep hearing.  I found Crafty Mo's shop yesterday and had a good chat with Mo who was very informative and helpful.  She told me about the craft workshops she is planning to start in the next few weeks.  I bought a lovely scarlet wool roving to add to my collection of wools for needle felting.  If you live in the Worcester area, like shopping in small local shops and want to know more, you can find Crafty Mo's page on Facebook.

Hello 2012

Yes I know we're several days in and I'm already chasing my tail.  Anyway here's to a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2012 for all of us.  Grasshopper and I had the most social festive season we've enjoyed in ages.  As usual we had fun at the Victorian Christmas Fair in Worcester.  I'm not a poet, but had a bash at a poem called 'Generosity'.  This was accepted for a placard advertising this year's Worcester Literary Festival (15th to 24th June 2012). 

Then there were visits to and from new and old friends right through December and a happy time with son, girlfriend and little boy over the Christmas period.  Now it's good to get back to normal.  The tree and decs were taken down and stowed away yesterday, and renewed 2012 healthy living plan started today.  This couldn't begin until after the Writers Circle social evening on 3rd Jan when all sorts of delicious goodies were provided by members.  We were entertained by magician Andy Kirk, a regular at WWC who delighted and baffled us all with his skill and humour.  Click on andysmagic.blogspot.com

Over the festive season, friends were talking to us about intolerant attitudes that stem from historical animosity, that are still being kept alive by some to this day.  One friend was asking what we thought could be done to improve relationships between groups that have strong loyalties, values and sometimes opposing beliefs.  The answer must start with each of us making the effort to develop tolerance and understanding.  And deciding not to hold a grudge.  Even if we don't agree with others' views, we need to accept that they have a right to have them.  Perhaps if we got to know people as individuals who just happen to belong to a different team, country, religion, political group and so on, we would see how daft it is to spout thoughtless and groundless generalised statements about the collective.  Perhaps generosity has a part to play too. 

''Generosity''.

Winter Projects - Inspired by Kirstie

With motorhoming adventures behind us until 2012 (note to self - write post about most recent m/home adventure) my mind and fingers are turning to cosy indoor pursuits.  I enjoy trying my hand at different crafts so after watching Kirstie Allsopp's WI friends do a jolly good job on producing a mirror with a mosaic frame for their exhibit at one of the County Shows I looked around for a suitable mosaic related project.

Hmm.  This gives me an idea!

I spotted a scruffy, brown, but solid coffee table at a local charity shop for £5, stripped off the torn and stained leatherette top and what did I have left?  A nice recessed space for - you guessed it - a mosaic.  After giving the legs and frame a couple of coats of paint, clear varnish and an antique finish I set about the design, which was perhaps too curvy. Covering this in random bits of tile, was sometimes fiddly and frustrating, although enjoyable overall.

Getting There.

It's almost finished. I'm pleased with the effect, but the grout seems to have shrunk and some of the very tiny bits of tile stick up and are sharp.  So tomorrow I'm going to sandpaper the sharp edges and top up the grout.  Of course being me I couldn't make do with white grout, I had to colour it, so I'm going to have to try and mix the same shade again!  I shall report on progress!

Incidentally Kirstie Allsopp and her WI friends' theme for their competition entry was The Secret Garden.  One of my all time favourite books.  Looking forward to Malvern Theatre's production of it in the New Year.

Malvern Theatre Thrill

How time flies. I feel shamefaced that I haven't written a post since August.  We've been touring in our motorhome (see future posts) and I've been writing short stories.  Three were submitted to Woman's Weekly (happy hundreth birthday WW).  Two rejected.  I'm still hopeful that the third, a longer Christmas story called 'Keeping Christmas' may be accepted for a WW fiction special.  I also submitted a story to Writers Forum, for which I received a commendation and a useful critique which I will definitely use to make some improvements and re-submit as they suggest.

I've had a little more success with letters and photos being published in Take a Break magazine.

A special thrill was winning a place in Malvern Theatres' short story competition 'As You Read It'.  The eight writers selected to read their stories performed in front of a substantial and receptive audience last night.  I'm very proud to have been chosen.  http://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/ 

I became more terrified as the 9th (rehearsal) and 10th November (performance) drew nearer.  I woke at 3am yesterday morning, and despite deep breathing, getting up to make chamomile tea, eating a banana (good for inducing sleep allegedly), I didn't drop off again until it was almost time to get up.

The rest of the day was spent trying to chill out and numb my nerves.  The copious amounts of chamomile and lavender (inhaled, massaged and in the case of the chamomile - drunk as well), plus yoga, self-manicure and pedicure etc etc worked sufficiently well to get me to Malvern before 6.30 to get ready for the performance an hour later.

I was met by Sophie, the Education Manager, who was very involved with the organisation of the event and the writers throughout the evening.  Bill, the Stage Manager showed me to the dressing room and was very kind and supportive.  This was much appreciated, especially when waiting in the wings to go on.  Nic Lloyd, the CEO of Malvern Theatres (without whom 'As You Read It' would not have taken place) came to the green room to cheer us all on.  According to Grasshopper who was in the audience with two friends, he also gave a witty introduction to the evening. 



I was first on after the interval, to a wonderful warm welcome from the audience.  Amazingly my nerves disappeared, the audience laughed in all the right places, I didn't make a single mistake and I really enjoyed myself.

Meeting all the other writers was also great.  Fay Wentworth, who read her story 'Whisper in the Wind' is an extensively published writer.  To visit her website click on http://www.faywentworth.wordpress.com/

Andrew Owens, a fellow member of the Worcester Writers Circle read his story 'Bootleg to Paris'.  He regularly reads at performance venues around the west mids.

The other writers were Ellie Targett who also has a number of books under her belt.  She read 'Preparations'.  John Jinks read 'Get me to the Church on Time', Oliver Jones - 'RE. The Tables Turned', Daniel Howard - 'Dreaming of Lucas', David Phelps - 'Unwanted Guests'. 

Many thanks to Malvern Theatres, Nic Lloyd, Sophie Mclellan and Bill (I don't know Bill's surname) for  this fantastic opportunity.  When is the next one?

Writer's Bottom. It's worth it!

'Writers Bottom' - a picturesque thatched hideaway located in a sunny glade and purchased by writer with the proceeds of her best sellers?  Regrettably not.  Although if I'm ever lucky enough to be in the position to buy that cottage I think I will call it Writer's Bottom.

Yesterday was a lucky day.  I had two articles published with photos.  What a thrill!  After our enjoyable visit to the Great Western Motorhome Show on Saturday (see Rootin Tootin post 22nd August) I came home a wrote a short piece for the Worcester News http://worcesternews.co.uk/ and emailed it off to them with four or five pics.  They printed it with two of the photos yesterday morning. 

Later in the day, Jan and Terry, motorhoming friends we'd met up with at the Show, emailed to say they'd spotted my site review about Fallowfield Dene, Hexham, Northumberland http://www.fallowfielddene.co.uk/ in the current issue of MMM magazine.  Well it was news to me as I hadn't heard a thing.  Frustratingly we weren't able to read it ourselves until Sainsbury's put them out for sale this morning.

For more information about things to do in Northumberland visit my posts 15th May, 2nd and 3rd June 2011.

Anyway I'm still walking on air, which makes a change from sitting tapping away on the PC or laptop developing my - yes you guessed it - writer's bottom.

For MMM magazine's website click on:          http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/

Motorhoming and Accessing the Internet

Robin getting in on the free WiFi

We imagined we'd have less difficulty accessing the internet as we travel around in our motorhome.  I admit that I have become addicted to activities that somehow involve daily internet access.  I didn't mean for this to happen but I've found that when I'm away from my daily broadband fix I have withdrawal symptoms.  I notice that I'm not the only one.  At the campsites in France where reasonably priced, or better still free internet access was available, droves of men and women jostled for space in the optimum WiFi coverage areas, braving rain and wind and dodgy reception in order to email and blog. 

At L'Orangerie de Lanniron near Quimper where the cost overcame my desire, we were willing to lose ourselves on the confusing road system just so we could find a McDonalds and free WiFi (pronounced WeeFee in France).  Yes we did eat there.

We also stayed longer than we'd originally intended at sites that provide free Wifi (Kawan Village Le Moustoir near Carnac, Camping Le Cabellou Plage near Concarneau, La Ferme Lann Hoëdic near Sarzeau) so benefitting the local economy.  Please see my relevant posts for links.

In Britain the Caravan Club is expanding the number of sites with access to the internet (currently 120).  Costs have reduced over the years, and is now between £5 for 5 hours and £40 for 100 hours that can be used over a 6 month period.  http://caravanclub.co.uk/

As a newly retired person of restricted income I needed to reduce my costs at home for telephone and broadband so decided to wave goodbye to BT (that saga has to be a subject of a future blog).  Using the internet of course to research my best options I went for Plusnet (owned by BT - but hopefully more efficient and less costly, however it is too early to say) and got the deal through comparison website Simplifydigital.  At that time they were offering a free dongle to get 'WiFi on the move' for a month - so naturally that swung the deal.  It took a while and another phone call before they sent it to me, but I was politely treated by a very nice girl who understood what I was saying, and I understood her.  She sent it to me by return with a very nice letter. So a big gold star and grateful thanks to D.Mistry, Sumeet Maru and Simplifydigital for good customer service.  For more info go to http://simplifydigital.co.uk/

Have any of you got any useful advice about free or cheap internet access in Britain and Europe?  If so I'd love to hear from you.