I love it when a plan comes together

Last year was, for me, quite a difficult year. Professionally I felt stagnated, I wasn't particularly happy or fulfilled in my job and I couldn't seem to do anything to kickstart that.

My lovelife was still good, seeing as I have a long-term live-in boyfriend, but it didn't change or advance in any way (ie no proposals or break-ups etc). I had to move house, something I had been determined not to do until I had a new job. Which I hadn't.

Despite my best* efforts, including gym memberships and all sorts, I was completely failing to lose weight and transform my body into a thing of beauty.

And perhaps most importantly, I wasn't really doing any writing (other than of course the daily grind of newspaper articles which is my job).


This year, the times they are a-changing. I have managed, without inducing misery, diarrhoea, vomiting or anything else unpleasant, to lose a stone. Which is quite an achievement. And with that, some of my other issues seem to be falling into place. I've got my arse into gear to write two short stories which I've entered into writing competitions**. And I think I am beginning to see some progress on the job front.

It's almost as if by taking control of one thing which I always knew I had control over, my weight, I have managed to wrestle back some order and meaning into my life - like a kind of knock-on effect. Having the blog has helped too - it forces me to write regularly outside work, and read some inspirational writing from other people. Equally, you quite frequently read god-awful bilge which reinforces the knowledge I have, deep down inside, that I am a good writer.

So please continue to leave encouraging comments and the occasional kick-up the backside asking me what writing I'm doing.

*Well, obviously it wasn't my best efforts or it would have worked, but you know what I mean.
**I may, at some stage, post some of these on here, but am currenrtly undecided due to various copyright/professional anxiety issues.

More on that story later.