Thursday, December 28, 2006

New Year coming

It is the post Christmas season now. I hope you all had a wonderful time over Christmas. You are no doubt gearing up for the New Year.

Any resolutions? I have two which I will keep close to my chest for now.

I received a beautiful e-card for New Year all the way from Hong Kong today from my dear friend, Lisa, someone I have known since university! I really wanted to share it with all of you, but I've had great difficulty doing this. Please click on the picture below!





I was touched that someone so far away would think of me. She and my friend Urs who sent me a beautiful Maori talisman all the way from New Zealand are such lovely friends. I hope that all and any of you who read this have a joy filled new year.

I have a busy day of tidying planned today. I hope to organise my files which are in complete disarray but my new Simon Webbe album will keep me happy while I work.


Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Christmas cheer?


Okay, it's nearly Christmas and that means a ho ho ho and a merry old time. Well that's what the television and advertisers would have us believe, isn't it? Unfortunately, the older I get the less this rings true for me.

I support the Barnardos charity and every year at Christmas and throughout the year I get news of where my donations go. It's at these times when people go crazy spending money wildly and frivolously that I realise not just how lucky I am but how unfair a place the world is. Near or far, there are hundreds in need. You just have to walk down a street in London to see a homeless person and with the cost of living as it is in the UK I'm sure there are many people struggling to make ends meet who are unable to buy Christmas presents. Then there are the wars and economic inequalities in the world, the diseases and deaths. All this Christmas cheer just isn't for me. Perhaps if I had children I'd feel differently.

In any case, here's my take on Christmas. Sorry if it doesn't sit well with yours:

Christmas Cheer
It’s Christmas time, that time again
Mulled wine, mince pies and bearded men
Christmas lights that sparkle and glow
Cold dark mornings threatening snow

Long bank statements gleaming red
Consumerist fat cats being fed
Christmas bunting and baubled trees
Children’s lips uttering please

When in a distant land there lies
A child who for his mother cries
And for his father and his home
Who finds himself now all alone

A cynic’s view of Christmas time
Knows that there is no reason or rhyme
To where and how and why we’re here
Or for what we raise a Christmas cheer

For all the people far and near
Perhaps it’s hope that makes us cheer
Or is it selfishness alone
That makes us snuggle up at home?

Copyright 2006 N. Ensaff

I hope you all have a restful Christmas. See you in the new year, if not before!

Sunday, December 17, 2006

Sweet Sunday


I CANNOT remember the last time I had a relaxing, completely unaware of time, lazy, restful, stay in bed and take your time doing shopping Sunday! But today is ONE OF THOSE DAYS!!

I am loving it. I am currently sitting in my pink dressing gown contemplating what to cook- yes cook, I still remember how to do that- just about- for dinner, and wondering what yummy ingredients I can purchase from the shop. I also intend to take at least two hours to stroll around the supermarket rather than the mad twenty minute dash akin to Supermarket Sweep I normally have to adopt.

If you are wondering why I am using strange FONT and colours you need to look at Anita Loughrey's blog and follow the link from there....

I'm going to experiment a bit with food today, in the same way that I'm having fun with my letters. After all cooking and writing are both CREATIVE EXPERIENCES, are they not?!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

How to handle rejection?!

Candy Gourlay - a fellow writer whom I met at the SCBWI retreat back in June posted an excellent movie about rejection. It's hysterical and laugh out loud funny. I'm sure it rings true for lots of you out there. It certainly did for me! However I have another idea. I love this mug which I think would get across the message to anyone wanting to annoy us writers!!

Sunday, December 03, 2006

No rest for the wicked

It is Sunday today, but you wouldn't have thought it, given the fact that I have spent most of my weekend working. But.... fanfare please ...

The 80 scripts are marked, the 80 reports are done and 95% of the 38 Hodder spreads are complete.

The school newsletter is also finalised and will be going to print tomorrow. I have also received the proofs of my sections from the KS3 English Year 7 pack which I wrote for Philip Allan Updates and I need to read through those.

Guess it's a case of no rest for the wicked.