http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/I Need to Write Like I Need to Breatheen-EUMokoFeed10http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/54/5a7df4b00b4d4966feed3f7450b1ed_160x200.jpghttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/30/fitness-business-and-eclipse-updates-7071690/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-09-30:/2009/09/30/fitness-business-and-eclipse-updates-7071690/Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:35:57 +0200 <p>Okay, so the diet is going appallingly...I don't care what anyone thinks, I'm a chocoholic LOL! So, I have decided to try something else in my quest - I have actually joined the gym! I have NEVER joined a gym, I almost did a couple of years ago, but then I lost my job, and I could no longer afford it so had to pull out just as I was joining! It's at the gym where I go swimming anyway, so I'm comfortable going there, and the boyfriend has decided to change gyms now he has graduated (his last one was at the college!), so we are going to be gym buddies (this could be very good, or very, very bad!!)</p> <p>I had my second meeting about my business today, and I've finally been given my own Business Advisor, and I'm hopefully going to be taking a couple of courses on how to market myself and my business, and another one on bookkeeping. </p> <p>I finally decided to order myself some business cards, and I am really excited about the ones that I have made up, because on the reverse, instead of a blank card or irrelevant picture, I decided to put some of my favourite quotes - I thought this was a great idea, because quotes represent my writing, and my love for quotes, and I think that representing a part of yourself in your business cards is pretty important! Can't wait for them to arrive <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>My reading of Eclipse is going quite well, since I was on holiday, I appear to have got myself into a good routine of reading before I go to bed, and with my reading light I don't have to disturb anyone by keeping the light on <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> So, I am getting through this book much quicker than the last one!</p> <p>Anyway, go read a book</p> <p>Kat x</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/30/fitness-business-and-eclipse-updates-7071690/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>writingweighteclipsebooksbusinessfitnessbusiness-cardsquotesgymhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/30/fitness-business-and-eclipse-updates-7071690/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/27/three-books-7047537/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-09-27:/2009/09/27/three-books-7047537/Sun, 27 Sep 2009 09:34:28 +0200 <p>Well I have finally finished reading New Moon, and since it took me two months to read, I'm not going to grace it with a review - it's not that I disliked the book, more the fact that a lot of it dragged, and I just wanted to cut over half the book out with a big editing knife! I don't think it would have lost anything if much of it was cut out!!</p> <p>As you can see from yesterdays review, I managed to get through Nick and Norah a lot faster, but then again the book was a quarter of the length of New Moon (which begs the question as to why these two books had the same RRP of £6.99?? Where is the logic in that??) Adding to the notes I wrote about Nick and Norah yesterday, I found it interesting that like Howl's Moving Castle, the book is completely different to the film, and even though I think the films play on the idea of searching for "Where's Fluffy", and the larger role for Norah's friend Caroline seemed to worked better than in the book, but it was still a good read! Well, I must have enjoyed it, because I felt compelled to watch the film again afterwards - I love that film! Such a nice, feel-good film! The book was certainly a good holiday read!</p> <p>So, yesterday I was in desperate need of a new book, and have bought Eclipse (when I eventually found it in HMV, they seem to have plenty of copies of all the other four books, but Eclipse was hidden near the tills, so if they hadn't been selling the Twilight film for a fiver, I probably wouldn't have found the book at all!!!)</p> <p>I'm seriously hoping that Eclipse is going to be a little better than New Moon, and I really hope that it doesn't take me as long to read, because I really don't want to be still reading it for my birthday!!!</p> <p>But anyway, I am slowly getting back into the writing groove, after being up a mountain for the past week!</p> <p>Go read a book</p> <p>Kat x</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/27/three-books-7047537/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>writingbookeclipsenick-and-norahstephenie-meyerhmvnew-moontwilighthttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/27/three-books-7047537/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/26/nick-and-norah-s-infinite-playlist-review-books-7044050/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-09-26:/2009/09/26/nick-and-norah-s-infinite-playlist-review-books-7044050/Sat, 26 Sep 2009 15:22:59 +0200 <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25373.Nick_Norah_s_Infinite_Playlist"><img alt="Nick & Norah" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167694231m/25373.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25373.Nick_Norah_s_Infinite_Playlist">Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13139.Rachel_Cohn">Rachel Cohn</a></p> <p>My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68376395">5 of 5 stars</a><br> I actually saw the film before the book, and having absolutely loved the film, it only seemed right to give the book a shot, but I think that both are just completely different.</p> <p>I noticed that a few people have complained about the f-word being used so much throughout this book, but you know what, it didn't really bother me, because I think that whether we like it or not the f-word is part of our language, and whether we like it or not (I don't like the word personally), teenagers are going to use the word! And I think removing usage of the word would make the novel devoid of being any kind of representation of what it is like to be 18. I'm not saying ALL 18-year-olds swear, because I certainly didn't (my mum would have killed me!!!) but unfortunately a lot of 18-year-olds do...that is just a fact of life!</p> <p>I thought the book was a brilliant representation of unexpected romance, and those nights that seem to go on forever (I am very lucky to have experienced this for myself). </p> <p>It was good for a quick read, and proved that life isn't as simple or as black and white as we might think it is.</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2575373-kat">View all my reviews >></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/26/nick-and-norah-s-infinite-playlist-review-books-7044050/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>nick-and-norahs-infinite-playlistreviewbookshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/26/nick-and-norah-s-infinite-playlist-review-books-7044050/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/15/another-week-gone-6967645/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-09-15:/2009/09/15/another-week-gone-6967645/Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:08:02 +0200 <p>Wow, I can't believe it's over a week ago since I last posted a blog -time flies when you're having fun (or just really really busy <img src="/img/smilies/graylaugh.gif" alt=":))" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Well anyway, I went to see my Business Advisor for the first time last Tuesday, and whilst the meeting seemed a little fruitless, mainly because I didn't feel like I got much specific guidance. I think the problem was that she just didn't know anything about the writing industry, or even the media industry...I find it weird that when you say "writer" that instantly means that you want to write for magazines and newspapers, so when you then turnaround and say that you don't want to write journalistic-style they look at you as if to say "how can you possibly be a writer if you don't want to write for the only types of media there is for writers?" meaning that in so many peoples' eyes there is no other use for writers other in the obvious places! </p> <p>But, my main issue with writing for magazines and newspapers, is the fact that I'm just too damned opinionated, and with journalistic type writing, I tend to start bringing in my own opinions.</p> <p>She did however suggest that I wrote to some marketing companies on spec t see if they used freelance writers, and that certainly got me thinking.</p> <p>Before I went to the meeting, I was having problems coming up with a specific niche to write about, of which I pointed out to her pretty early on.And when I was explaining some of the work I'd already done, she suggested that I should make "travel writing" my niche, which sounds brilliant, because I do love travelling, but I think the expense of travelling might wear me down a little financially, especially right now. I can't believe some travel writers get paid to actually travel, that would be so incredible, and to then write about afterwards WOW!</p> <p>As a result of my meeting, I did actually order a book from Amazon on Freelance Writing, that inspired to set up a brand new blog aimed at students (past, present, future and mature!) which can be found <a href="http://thediaryofagraduate.wordpress.com">here </a> It's still in it's early stages, but if anyone out there is a past, present, future or mature student and want to contribute to the blog in any way, just let me know, because I am keen to get lots of people involved <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>So, that's about it really. I'm on holiday next week, so I'm not seeing my Advisor again until the end of September, but atleast I am going again, because when I wrote my last post I was convinced that I was going to get shot down and told that I wouldn't be able to run this business, or have any holes picked wide apart, but she was actually quite impressed about how much I'd thought about it, and she admitted that she could tell how passionate I am about my writing....which is where I think has always failed me at past interviews...if writing is all I'm passionate about (if you know what I mean), how can I make someone believe that I will be passionate about a job that I have absolutely no interest in? Bizarre, and I think that anyone who can do that, is truly talented <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Still haven't finished New Moon, about 400-odd pages into it now, and the end is slowly getting closer! HAve decided not to take it on holiday with me, because it is just too frustrating. Instead, I have order the book of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist from Waterstones, because I absolutely loved the film <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> I just hope it arrives on time <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Now go read a book <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/15/another-week-gone-6967645/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>advisorself-employedreadingwritingbusinessholidayhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/15/another-week-gone-6967645/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/07/nerves-6916107/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-09-07:/2009/09/07/nerves-6916107/Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:34:39 +0200 <p>I am feeling incredibly nervous. Have a meeting with a business advice type place tomorrow, with the hope of getting a little advice on moving me forward with my writing and I am very nervous about it. I feel like I'm going to an interview, and from my experience of interviews, I am expecting to be completely ripped apart, with any small hole in my ideas picked at and spread open for the world to see. </p> <p>It's weird because I know that I can do it, and I'm not going to let anyone tell me otherwise, but I fear a confidence bashing.</p> <p>It sounds silly really, because I don't know that it will turn out like that. And I've been so positive lately, that I'm surprised that I'm getting so paranoid about it. But, I dunno. Nerves get the better of me I guess! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/07/nerves-6916107/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>confidencebusinessparanoianerveshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/07/nerves-6916107/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/06/sunday-weigh-in-6905271/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-09-06:/2009/09/06/sunday-weigh-in-6905271/Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:32:49 +0200 <p><strong>Weigh in</strong>: 16st 8lbs.</p> <p>Yay - down a pound! It's not a lot but it is still something, so I am very happy!</p> <p>I'm a little bunged up with cold and a sore throat today, but I shall soldier on. I'm ahead of myself on a few jobs, so I can't be doing too badly today! And I was out all day yesterday, so I had a bit of catching up to do as well! Anyway, catch up with you guys soon <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/06/sunday-weigh-in-6905271/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>fitnessweighthealthhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/06/sunday-weigh-in-6905271/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/03/my-new-dress-6886219/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-09-03:/2009/09/03/my-new-dress-6886219/Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:24:42 +0200 <p><img src="http://data5.blog.de/media/698/3855698_fa6d020ebe_s.jpeg" alt="My new dress!!">So, I'm going to a Wedding Reception at the end of October, and against my better judgement I decided that I am going to wear a dress! Now, I should note here that I have not worn a dress since 2005, when I wore a dress for my May Ball just before I graduated from University, and yes, dresses are not really my thing. But I took the plunge and bid on a dress on Ebay, and wahey, I won!! As you can see from the picture, it's black, so I have set myself a little challenge!!</p> <p> Basically, I've decided to make a necklace and bracelet to go with my dress, and because they say that if you intend to wear black you should accessorise with something bright and cheerful, I have decided that they will be red! This also fits because I have a gorgeous red coat that I intend to wear, so a red necklace would go with my coat too! </p> <p> My biggest issue with this is, that I have never made a necklace to go with a specific outfit - usually I make jewellery out of beads that I just like, with no real outfit in mind, but this time I have to make sure that it goes with both my dress and with my coat.</p> <p> I do have an idea of what I want, and have been looking for some chunky red and black beads. But luckily I have plenty of time to suss it out <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/03/my-new-dress-6886219/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>wedding-receptiondressnecklacebraceletjewelleryblackredhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/09/03/my-new-dress-6886219/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/30/sunday-weigh-in-6852247/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-30:/2009/08/30/sunday-weigh-in-6852247/Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:06:33 +0200 <p><strong>Weigh-in</strong>: 16st 9lbs</p> <p>Todays weigh-in has actually got me really down. I honestly believe that I have tried hard this week not to over-indulge, but I'm not going to say that I haven't had any chocolate, because I have, but I certainly haven't had as much, and I've put on 3lbs.</p> <p>I'd really hoped that by writing about my weight in my blog, that it would force me to be more proactive, and I feel ashamed of myself for not pushing myself hard enough. And it's kind of sad, because I had been so proud of how I coped with the walk on Tuesday.</p> <p>But, I refuse to feel sorry for myself. I am just going to have to try even harder this week <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> I think that this calls for desperate measures...if I can't cope allowing myself a little chocolate, then I'm going to try and not let myself have any at all...it worked (for a short period) when I gave up chocolate for Lent, I think I managed two whole weeks without it at that point! But at the minute, I'm lucky if I manage an entire day (although I managed to go two days this week without any chocolate).</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/30/sunday-weigh-in-6852247/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>chocolatesunday-weigh-inhealthhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/30/sunday-weigh-in-6852247/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/28/north-yorks-moors-an-exam-and-a-new-sofa-6843629/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-28:/2009/08/28/north-yorks-moors-an-exam-and-a-new-sofa-6843629/Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:23:03 +0200 <p>My brother came home for a few days last weekend, and on Sunday he drove us up to Yorkshire to the North Yorks Moors Railway, which was really cool! I love riding on steam trains, but we only went between Goathland and Grosmont, but it was still really good! For those that don't know, Goathland is where they film Heartbeat, I've been there a few times, but I think the first times I was kinda too young to really appreciate the place! </p> <p>Yorkshire is just such a beautiful part of the country, and we ended up "attempting" to walk to Mallyan Spout which is a well-known waterfall that's not too far from Goathland...well, that's what my mum told us anyway, and noting that my brother only had a pair of trainers on, it was quite a hefty walk. We had to go down loads of pretty deep steps to get there initially, which was pretty exhausting, but I could feel those calories burning off <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> We eventually got near to the waterfall but my mum and I had to give up, because you have to climb over these really big and slippery rocks, which I was really worried my mum wouldn't be able to manage, and knew damn well that I wasn't. But my brother and the boyfriend dared to (although they were both pretty sweaty when they got back lmao), and luckily they both had cameras, so we still got to see pics and footage <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> After the long walk down, we decided not to go back up the stairs, which we all predicted would be a tough walk, so my mum suggested that we head down to Beck Hole where we could pick up the old Railway line that would take us back into Goathland, and let's just say that I'm not really sure this was the better option.</p> <p>The uphills towards Beck Hole were quite tough going, and it wasn't as much I got tired, more hot under the cover of the damp trees which were being heated by the sun above! But, I actually think that the downs were almost as bad (and I usually like downs lol), they were just a long line of incredibly steep and often slippery steps, that the boyfriend kept stumbling down. </p> <p>The last stretch along the old Railway line was difficult, but it was just a case of "I need a drink" lol.</p> <p>I will admit that I found the walk really difficult, but not because I was tired or anything ached (which I'm kinda surprised about) because for a change, my feet didn't hurt at all, and my knees only ached a little on some of the really steep steps.</p> <p>I'm glad that I did it though, because I was determined not to stop or give in (although I don't think giving in when you're in the middle of a wood is really an option anyway), and I felt so proud of myself for how I handled it. Yeah, I got a little hot and tired, but I still did it without having to stop every ten seconds!!</p> <p>I had my final SAGE exam on Wednesday, and boy did that suck! I thought I was doing okay, until I realised that whoever did the exam before me had failed to put the pages in the right order, meaning that I had missed a whole page out, luckily I hadn't got so far that I wouldn't be able to go back and do it. And then, as I predicted, I forgot how to print stuff out. Some stuff I'm not even really convinced that I knew how to do it in the first place! I'd only had three sessions on this module, the first one I couldn't print stuff out because I was on a computer with extra security, to...as my tutor put it "Stop chavs looking at porn!!!!" ...the second time I printed stuff out with the help of my tutor, and then the third time (last week) the printer wouldn't print!!! I do kinda feel like I rushed into that exam, but oh well, it isn't the end of the world <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>The boyfriend took me to the pub for lunch to celebrate having finished, and I had the nicest lasagne that I think I've ever had in a pub...it wasn't burnt like so many pubs serve up!</p> <p>One of my mums work colleagues offered us a sofa a few weeks back, and since we have a big car my mum and brother went and picked it up for us Wednesday evening, before my brother went home again! So I now have a lovely comfy sofa woohoo! I'm very chuffed about that! When you haven't had a sofa of your own, you really appreciate it when you suddenly get one!! I even went to Asda yesterday and picked up a few nice (but cheap) cushions to go with it!</p> <p>And, oh-my-god, this blog has turned into a mini essay <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> So, I shall stop now.</p> <p>NEW MOON UPDATE: I'm nearly at the 200 page mark now, so even though it's slow, I am making progress on it! I'm certainly enjoying it, and since I am apparently going to Gainsborough tomorrow, I shall have chance to read it on the train <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> Although maybe I shouldn't read it too fast....what will I read on the train to Wales....eeee, three weeks today! So excited!!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/28/north-yorks-moors-an-exam-and-a-new-sofa-6843629/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>north-yorks-moors-railwaywalesgrosmontheartbeatgoathlandholidayssage-examnorth-yorks-moorsnew-mooncushionsmallyan-spoutsofawalkinghttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/28/north-yorks-moors-an-exam-and-a-new-sofa-6843629/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/27/knowledge-of-angels-by-jill-paton-walsh-6837185/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-27:/2009/08/27/knowledge-of-angels-by-jill-paton-walsh-6837185/Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:09:05 +0200 <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/352679.Knowledge_of_Angels"><img alt="Knowledge of Angels" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174005508m/352679.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/352679.Knowledge_of_Angels">Knowledge of Angels</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8733.Jill_Paton_Walsh">Jill Paton Walsh</a></p> <p>My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/69125511">2 of 5 stars</a><br> I read this for my AS Level English Literature, and unfortunately it was a closed book exam (meaning that I could not take the book into the exam room with me), meaning that I had to take this exam twice before I got an even bearable grade, and I know several people who actually ended up taking the exam at least three times - not cheap, I assure you!</p> <p>It's not that this is a bad book, because I like the ideas and message behind it, I just found it an incredibly difficult read. At times it was very intense, and if you're not drawn into it pretty quickly you're fairly likely to fall into the trap that I did and find yourself not really having a clue what on earth is going on.</p> <p>Despite this, the book is intriguing as it flits between the story of a man stranded in a religious society and dares to declare his atheism, and the story of a savage girl raised away from human beings and being forced into it, whilst being completely unaccepted by the world around her.</p> <p>I wonder if my main issue with this book, is really down to my own atheism, meaning that I found it extremely difficult to understand the dilemmas of the people having to deal with one person who has denounced God and another who has no idea about God. </p> <p>There was also a rather creepy and luckily very short chapter where the atheist encourages sex between a young couple. I found the whole thing really weird and out of place!</p> <p>Since finishing College seven years ago, I have often considered re-reading this book, but have never been able to find it in my local Library, however, looking back on it, I don't think that by re-reading it I would ever learn to like this book. Maybe I'm just stubborn...</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2575373-kat">View all my reviews >></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/27/knowledge-of-angels-by-jill-paton-walsh-6837185/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>bookreligionjill-paton-walshatheismliteraturereviewknowledge-of-angelshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/27/knowledge-of-angels-by-jill-paton-walsh-6837185/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/26/bonny-starr-and-the-riddles-of-time-by-gwen-grant-6828490/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-26:/2009/08/26/bonny-starr-and-the-riddles-of-time-by-gwen-grant-6828490/Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:44:11 +0200 <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6762703-bonny-starr-and-the-riddles-of-time"><img alt="Bonny Starr and the Riddles of Time (Lions)" border="0" src="http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6762703-bonny-starr-and-the-riddles-of-time">Bonny Starr and the Riddles of Time</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/224153.Gwen_Grant">Gwen Grant</a></p> <p>My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68969931">5 of 5 stars</a><br> Bonny Starr is a young girl who goes to the Circus but ends up completely freaked out by the creepy smiled clown. Bonny soon finds herself being pulled into a crazy race against time (quite literally) as she is drawn back in time by a hooded monk, as they are pursued by the creepy clown. Who is the monk, and what does the creepy clown want with Bonny? Bonnymust answer the riddles of time, in order to find out.</p> <p>I first read this book when I was ten years old, and boy did it freak me the hell out! I really hated the clown, who unfortunately for me featured on the front cover.</p> <p>I adored the creepiness and uncertainty of this book, and still love it even though it is a children's book!</p> <p>I'd recommend this book to anyone between the ages of eight and thirteen (or anyone with children in this age range), it is completely innocent, harmless and clean adventure that is spooky and fun.</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2575373-kat">View all my reviews >></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/26/bonny-starr-and-the-riddles-of-time-by-gwen-grant-6828490/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>bookreviewgwen-granthttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/26/bonny-starr-and-the-riddles-of-time-by-gwen-grant-6828490/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/23/a-northern-light-by-jennifer-donnelly-6804052/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-23:/2009/08/23/a-northern-light-by-jennifer-donnelly-6804052/Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:26:03 +0200 <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64481.A_Northern_Light"><img alt="A Northern Light" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1219381804m/64481.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64481.A_Northern_Light">A Northern Light</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/36346.Jennifer_Donnelly">Jennifer Donnelly</a></p> <p>I read this book when I was at University, and I loved it so much that I ended up writing my dissertation on it (including a brief interview with Donnelly).I think Mattie Gokey was such an easy character to relate to, being a writer myself, I completely understood where she was coming from. Even a century after the book is set, writers have to make the huge decision about what they really want out of life: happiness, their writing, family, children, career, money, security, because as a writer I think it is hard to have a good balance of all of these things. I personally related, because I have recently given up that sense of security in a normal 9-5 job to be a freelance writer. And, I was so glad that Mattie too chose the path that would lead her to happiness, rather than down the path that was ultimately expected of her.I also loved the blend of fact with fiction, as Donnelly took us back to the real-life murder of a young woman, who did nothing wrong, except fall in love. Discovering her fate through a series of letters (in the book handed to Mattie) so heartbreaking, that you wanted to hop back in time and tell her what a scumbag he was going to turn out to be. Again, I think this was easy to relate to, because so many women (and men equally) are pulled into relationships with the opposite sex, perhaps with rose-tinted glasses on, and perhaps brainwashed by someone who is only in it for themselves, and will not think twice about moving on when something better (and wealthier) comes into the picture.Donnelly mixed the fact and fiction so beautifully that it was difficult to tell where reality and story divided.</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2575373-kat">View all my reviews >></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/23/a-northern-light-by-jennifer-donnelly-6804052/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>a-gathering-lighta-nothern-lightjennifer-donnellyreviewbookhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/23/a-northern-light-by-jennifer-donnelly-6804052/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/23/sunday-weigh-in-6799375/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-23:/2009/08/23/sunday-weigh-in-6799375/Sun, 23 Aug 2009 11:58:55 +0200 <p><strong>Sunday Weigh-in</strong>: 16st 6lbs</p> <p>Well, that's not really a very good start is it? First week, and up a pound!!!</p> <p>Oh well, I'm not going to let it get me down, because I know how busy (and active) a week I have ahead of me!! I'm off walking in the North Yorks Moors on Tuesday which I'm very excited about, I don't think I've been up to the Moors since I was about 14, so it'll be really great to get back up there.</p> <p>Aaaand, even more exciting, I get to see the woo woo trains yay - that's always brilliant! I dunno what it is, but I love Steam Trains (well, I do know what it is....it's having a trainspotting dad LMAO!!!)</p> <p>On Wednesday I have my final exam for my SAGE training course....very nervous about that, because (and this is going to sound dumb, but it is actually harder than it sound), I can never remember how to print things out. It isn't a simple case of click PRINT, it's more a case of finding the correct pieces of information, in the correct format and then hoping (with fingers crossed) that the computer will actually transmit the information to the printer (as it chose NOT to last week!!!)</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/23/sunday-weigh-in-6799375/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>steam-trainsnorth-yorks-moorsfitnessweigh-inrailwaywalkinghttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/23/sunday-weigh-in-6799375/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/22/lucky-by-alice-sebold-6795954/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-22:/2009/08/22/lucky-by-alice-sebold-6795954/Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:01:14 +0200 <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/82970.Lucky"><img alt="Lucky" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171034435m/82970.jpg"></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/82970.Lucky">Lucky</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/316.Alice_Sebold">Alice Sebold</a></p> <p>My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/68250924">2 of 5 stars</a><br> It's not really a case that I didn't like this book, because that would be incredibly unfair.</p> <p>I think that Alice Sebold is an amazingly talented writer, with a lot of guts and balls to have written something so personal especially because I can imagine that it was a really difficult book to write. But, it was also a really uncomfortable read. </p> <p>I have an immense amount of respect for Sebold for writing it, and I am glad that I read it, because it shows how a person can reach rock bottom mentally and emotionally, and then struggle to get themselves back on their way in life, even when sick people are determined to stop them.</p> <p><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2575373-kat-musselwhite">View all my reviews >></a></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/22/lucky-by-alice-sebold-6795954/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>alice-seboldluckybookreviewhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/22/lucky-by-alice-sebold-6795954/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/22/my-list-of-books-to-read-6795478/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-22:/2009/08/22/my-list-of-books-to-read-6795478/Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:23:46 +0200 <p>I seriously have to start reading faster, because my list of books to read is just getting longer and longer! ARGH - Joining GoodReads might not have been a good move after all, because not only is the pile of books I need to read already a mile high, but the imaginary online one has just made it crazy huge!</p> <p>The GOOD thing about being on GoodReads is realising just how many books I have read in my somewhat short lifetime, and discovering how disheartening it is that most of them were read before the age of fifteen!! So, not only do I now feel inclined to read faster, but also to read more! I need to catch up on my child self lol!</p> <p>It's not just reading that I've been neglecting as of late, but I have also been neglecting my creative writing. I spend a lot of time writing articles and blogging, but creatively I'm in a dry spot! Which is another shame. It's strange, because I'm still getting loads of ideas for stories that I have in progress, but I just never find the time to actually put pen to paper to write some fiction.</p> <p>Maybe it is time that I shuffled my diary and started saving time for these things specifically! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/22/my-list-of-books-to-read-6795478/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>creativewritingreadingbookshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/22/my-list-of-books-to-read-6795478/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/21/freelancing-and-fitness-6773335/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-21:/2009/08/21/freelancing-and-fitness-6773335/Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:32:16 +0200 <p>It's a terrible excuse, I know, and it definitely is one! But, I find that having gone freelance,and working from home is a huge hindrance to keeping fit.</p> <p>Because I work from home, and the local library doesn't offer my the capabilities to keep my phone charged up, I tend to spend most days at home, only going out for the essentials. Lack of money, also prevents me from going swimming as much as I'd like.</p> <p>I have, however, come up with a slight solution to my current inactivity!</p> <p>Quite a while ago, I invested in a Fitness Ball (I don't know if they have an official name, but I hope that you know what I mean by a Fitness Ball!!). Anyway, I've been using the ball whilst I'm on the laptop, and I can certainly feel it exercising my calf, thighs, and stomach, so it's gotta be doing something. And the great thing is that because I'm so busy writing articles (and blogs), I don't really notice what I'm doing!</p> <p>Fitness without the effort - it sounds too good to be true, but only time will tell if it's doing anything :-)</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/21/freelancing-and-fitness-6773335/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>fitnessfreelanceworking-at-homeexercisehttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/21/freelancing-and-fitness-6773335/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/18/food-and-me-part-one-6752784/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-18:/2009/08/18/food-and-me-part-one-6752784/Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:45:09 +0200 <p>Countless fat people blame everything for their weight. Their parents, genes, convenience food, the media, slim models, but I like to think I'm not that naïve or ignorant. I'm fat because I eat too much. I'm fat because I like chocolate too much. I'm fat because I'm lazy. There is absolutely no point in making excuses, because denial gets you absolutely nowhere. </p> <p>So many people, usually medics, say; "If you want to lose weight, stop eating so much.", but it just isn't that simple, and the fact that people say it just proves how ignorant people are. Eating so much sugar is like an addiction. You become addicted to it, and before you realise it you can't face a day without it. It's like drug, alcohol or cigarette addiction.</p> <p>Trying to give up chocolate, is like quitting smoking. You want to do it so much, and you know that you should for the sake of your health, but as soon as you just about think that you've cured yourself of wanting it, the cravings kick in again, and they hurt like hell! </p> <p>It's not even a case of having it because you like it any more, but more because your brain tells you that you want it, even though your body is screaming at you from the top of your lungs "YOU'RE KILLING US BOTH. STOP. STOP IT NOW".</p> <p>You know how much you're killing your body, but you can't help it, because for the few moments that it lingers inside your mouth it tastes so amazing, and you feel so chilled and relaxed and happy. But, it is nothing more than a quick-fix that is gone within five minutes of finishing it.</p> <p>I have always been a little bigger than other people my age. I was even a big baby. But, I never felt particularly fat, even when the School Nurse, told me, aged 11, that I was a little heavy for my age. I've always felt ugly, never feeling as pretty as my friends, but never seemed an issue. I was never bullied for my weight, more for my appearance or quiet nature. </p> <p>In Secondary School, I didn't have a clue how to dress, and it never really interested me to put too much effort into how I dressed, or wearing make up. Looking back, I now think that I looked ridiculous, but I was happy in myself at the time.</p> <p>My self-image became a really big deal when I got to College, and for the first time I had to wear casual clothes rather than a School Uniform. For the first time, I'd had to put more effort into how I dressed, and I found that really difficult, because having friends who were all naturally slimmer than me, I knew that I'd never be able to shop at the same shops as them. They tried to give advice, but often things they suggested, in good faith, didn't suit my body shape. </p> <p>It wasn't until I got to University that I really began to pile on the weight. I'd been a comfortable size 16 at College, but I quickly ballooned to a Size 18 and then up to a Size 20. My main issue when I was at Uni, was that this was the first time that I'd had full control of my eating. I could cook a little and I did eventually start making my meals from scratch, but, especially whilst I lived in Halls in my first year, it was just so much easier to buy ready meals that took 5-10 mins in the microwave.</p> <p>My best friend at the time was (unfortunately for me), one of those people who could eat and eat and barely put on any weight, because she'd been a dancer and had a high metabolism rate. I, on the other hand, once retorted at the suggestion that I was laid-back, that I was so laid back I was practically lying down, meaning that I am quite a lazy person, which is something that I have never denied.</p> <p>I'm "laid back" in the sense that I can not motivate myself to do anything really active. At school, PE was a nightmare, unless it was swimming, which I always really enjoyed. I am one of those people who leaves everything to last minute, because I can always find something more interesting that I would much rather be doing. I have a philosophy that life is far too short to be spending too much time doing things that bore you, or don't excite you. Unfortunately, this has potentially been my downfall in many areas of my life, from my weight to my career.</p> <p>Nice food, or eating in nice pubs excites me. Eating healthy food that resemble rabbit feed, as a rule, bore me.</p> <p>Sitting reading, writing, playing computer games, or watching films, excite me. Running, or going to the gym, both bore me rigid.</p> <p>Working in the competitive industry of Publishing gets my blood pumping. Whilst easy-to-get-into-with-my-experience jobs in admin make me feel sleepy just thinking about them.</p> <p>I'm a strong believer that you c an only truly succeed and do well at what you feel real passion for, but when there are so many others who want the same thing, it's so hard to beat them all.</p> <p>Getting back on track, I left Uni a Size 20, but during a month and a half work placement in London, the exercise of the commute and the immense passion I had for the job meant I was very happy, and I was eating a great deal less, because I was thinking about food less.</p> <p>By the time of my Graduation Ceremony, in the January after I finished uni, I'd slimmed down to a Size 18, celebrated by an amazing pair of Monsoon trousers. I was even commended on that day for the weight loss that I hadn't even realised was that obvious.</p> <p>Over the past four years since my graduation, I've had several admin-based jobs that I have found boring, unexciting and sleep-inducingly repetitive. They have never challenged me or even allowed me to be particularly creative, which has meant that I've found it difficult to keep my mind from wandering deep into the clouds. This boredom and current unemployment have brought back my terrible eating habits.</p> <p>When it comes to meals, breakfast has been an issue for me since I was about fifteen. Even though I feel hungry, the smell of most foods alone makes me feel sick and the vast majority of breakfast cereals / porridge / toast etc, I can not bring myself to eat. The biggest thing I can usually manage is a probably not very healthy cereal bar. Then by the time I'm out the back door, I'm so hungry, it can sometimes be unbearable.</p> <p>When in boring jobs, I often find myself eating snacks as a way to break up the boredom. By 8:15 I'm looking forward to my 10:30 snack. By 11:15, I'm looking forward to my 12:30 lunch. By 1:15 I'm ravenous about my 3:00 snack, and from 3:45 I can't wait to go home at 5:00pm!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/18/food-and-me-part-one-6752784/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>addictionlazinessdietsfoodbad-habitshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/18/food-and-me-part-one-6752784/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/16/weakness-6739221/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-16:/2009/08/16/weakness-6739221/Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:11:17 +0200 <p>When it comes to meals, I know all about balanced eating and portion sizes. I eat plenty of chicken and vegetables, and I don't eat the same things all the time, and I certainly don't eat a lot of burgers and chips. So, yeah meals are really not my problem when it comes to my weight.</p> <p>I don't like sugary sweets any more, the sugar rushes caused me to feel so ill that I stopped eating sugary sweets a really long time ago, so, they're not the problem.</p> <p>That leaves a few things that I struggle with:</p> <p>1. I don't eat enough fruit...my problem is that I don't like most fruits, although I do like apples and grapes, I get bored of eating them all the time.</p> <p>2. Sometimes I drink too much fizzy drink, although this actually isn't that often.</p> <p>3. I don't drink enough water; I hate water, and find it really boring to drink, so I end up drinking diluted juice instead. I do try to buy the sugar-free variants though.</p> <p>4. Chocolate is my greatest vice. I'm usually fine in the morning, but mid-afternoon I always crave chocolate and it really sucks! I did manage to ween myself off Galaxy chocolate, because the boyfriend once melted it in the microwave to pour over ice cream and it tasted so disgusting and "burnt" that I can't get that taste out of my memory!!</p> <p>I also don't exercise enough. I'm lucky in the fact that I don't drive, so I don't drive everywhere, but whilst I walk to a lot of places, it never feels like enough. I'm trying to get into swimming again, but the cost always adds up eventually, which is really annoying. It's also finding the right time to go.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/16/weakness-6739221/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>bad-habitsfoodhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/16/weakness-6739221/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/16/new-profile-picture-6735838/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-16:/2009/08/16/new-profile-picture-6735838/Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:27:46 +0200 <p>You might have noticed that I have put up a new Profile Picture. I just found it attached to a my MSNSpace blog that I used to write a few years back, so yes, the picture is old, it's actually dated 6th May 2006 (wow!) and I've put the picture up here, because it made me feel a bit sad!</p> <p>It's a bit hard to explain why the picture made me feel sad, but I think it's because I can see in my cheeks that I was a little slimmer then (I say slimmer, I'm a naturally curvy girl, so I've never been "slim" as such), but I just feel like I have let myself be so consumed by my eating and lack of fitness, that I really dislike myself.</p> <p>I've never really been a huge fan of my appearance really, but I do look happy in that picture, and I think I look a lot healthier than I feel right now.</p> <p>So, this picture and this blog are my new motivation. This is the one place that I am (generally) open, so I've decided that this is where I'm going to write down everything that I eat and everytime I exercise, and I am going to be so honest that I'm probably going to disturb myself lol :-)</p> <p>I'm also gonna blog about other stuff, but I am determined to keep up-to-date with my "fitness reports" and weigh-ins.</p> <p>Okay, so first weigh-in (and I promise that this will be the result that comes up on the digital scales, I vow never to lie to make me look better, and I also promise to only look once a week, which is now apparently a Sunday <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"> hehe!) well, here goes:</p> <p><strong>First Weigh-in</strong>: 16st 5lbs (and 3/4) Yeouch! Definitely the heaviest that I have ever been! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/16/new-profile-picture-6735838/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>weightfitnesshealthhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/16/new-profile-picture-6735838/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/15/new-moon-and-a-hair-cut-6730438/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-15:/2009/08/15/new-moon-and-a-hair-cut-6730438/Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:43:31 +0200 <p>You might want to take a seat...yes, I have actually been reading New Moon - WHOA there! And, that's not all, I think that I have finally got into it!! Only 106 pages into it, and I'm actually amazed that I've managed to get this far. I usually have a rule of thumb, that says if I can't get so far into a book, then I probably won't ever really like it, and by rule, that usually works!! But, I think my determination towards reading this book is really down to the fact that I have now seen the trailer for the film twice (having seen Harry Potter twice!!!), and the trailer has been persuading me seductively not to give in. I must be strong, it keeps telling me :-) Maybe I'm just crazy!</p> <p>I can't believe that I didn't mention this on my last post, but I finally got my hair cut after months and months of moaning about it (I hadn't had it cut since January before I had it cut this time). But, I've had issues with hairdressers for a long time; my problem is usually the fact that since my childhood hairdresser packed up, I've never been able to find a hairdresser that I've felt comfortable with.</p> <p>I did find a nice one when I was at Uni in Derby, but, well, Derby is a long way to go just to get my hair cut, so that's not even an option before. </p> <p>I went to the hairdresser the boyfriend goes to a couple of times, because they are really cheap, but with them, I think that it is true what they say "you get what you pay for", and apparently if you only want to pay £6 you get a hairdresser who really doesn't appear to give a shit about doing a good job, or even paying any attention to you. Nope, they always seem more interested in chatting to each other and gossiping, and that just pee's me off! So,I stopped going there.</p> <p>I've been to a really nice "salon" in town a couple of times, and they have been wonderful, the staff are always so lovely and both times I have loved what they have done with my hair, but maybe I'm just stingy but £24 just seems a lot of money to me. I'm not really the kind of person who will pay a lot of money, if I think that I should be getting the same service for a little less. </p> <p>So, I'd been looking for a hairdresser that wasn't too cheap, but wasn't too expensive either, who would do a nice job, offer advice, pay attention to my hair and talk to me not their colleagues all the time. I mean, I don't ask for a lot in a hair cut really, because my hair is too thin and my face too round to style it that much! I just want to know that the hairdresser thinks the cut will suit me!</p> <p>But I think I may have found my hairdresser. For only £14.50 (roughly in the middle of the two previous hairdressers), I got a great hairdresser who was so helpful before she'd even begun washing my hair, and continued to offer great advice pretty much up until I walked out of the door! Plus, she was nice and didn't ask the stock questions "are you going on holiday?" "what do you do...?" which I really hate, because they always ask the same questions again and again, usually in the space of about ten minutes. But, when she asked me stuff she genuinely seemed interested, and I was actually able to have a laugh with her!</p> <p>So, my hair is now a little shorter than I'd originally intended, but I was open to anything, and I'm pretty happy with it! I'm just happy that I no longer have to fight to get a comb through the tangles, then spend 15 minutes straightening it,now I just comb, dry and straighten the front bits and it only takes 10 mins tops. Brilliant!</p> <p>So, I'm a very happy bunny (or kitty!!)</p> <p>Go read a book</p> <p>Kat x </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/15/new-moon-and-a-hair-cut-6730438/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>hairdressersnew-moonmoneyhair-cutshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/15/new-moon-and-a-hair-cut-6730438/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/13/business-project-6719163/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-13:/2009/08/13/business-project-6719163/Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:12:07 +0200 <p>I've been snowed under with various projects this week (including three jewellery ones; the red one looks awful, the pink one, well, let's just say I ran out of beads lmao, but the blue one is gorgeous. Out of all of them, I really didn't expect the blue one to be so nice!!) But anyway, I've been involved in the set-up of a Business website, called the <a href="http://bizsupportgroup.com/">Business Support Group</a>. Admittedly, I haven't helped as much as I'd hoped but I'm hoping to be able to contribute more, now that I have stopped working for an idiot time-waster! But, don't get me started on that guy!</p> <p>So, if any of you guys run a small business, or are even thinking about it, then please check out the website <a href="http://bizsupportgroup.com/">here</a>. If you do run a business, the website provides access to a dedicated team of writers, editors and web designers whose goal is to free your time so you can do what you do best... while delegating all of those jobs you hate to us!</p> <p>We are also in the early stages of launching a Yahoo Support Group aimed at offering tips and advice to small business owners, so please join by clicking on the link over to your right >>>></p> <p>Thank guys.</p> <p>Kat x</p> <p>PS - No, still haven't read New Moon...I am reading it slowly, although at the minute is reserved to when I go home, which is also the only time that I allow myself to "play" with my beads! Oh, being a full-time writer is cruel sometimes :-D But we all have to make sacrifices somewhere in order to succeed ^.^</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/13/business-project-6719163/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>supportself-employedwritingjewellerybusinesshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/13/business-project-6719163/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/06/diary-6664567/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-06:/2009/08/06/diary-6664567/Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:11:31 +0200 <p>I had to go and buy a day-to-day diary yesterday, because the diary I use in my Filofax is week-by-week and the way things are going I'm having to plan my days in a little more detail than my Filofax will allow!</p> <p>So, I spent a lot of time this morning trying to organise the next week, since I have fifty articles to write by the 2nd September. I'm well on schedule so far for that target, so I'm not too worried. </p> <p>I did also waste about half an hour this morning disputing something with a client - seriously, the stunts some people will try to pull! You couldn't make it up! Honestly!</p> <p>I also bought some beads yesterday, but I didn't feel quite so excited about it. I think it's because I'm not really sure when exactly I'm going to find time to make anything with them!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/06/diary-6664567/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>writingfreelanceorganisationbeadshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/06/diary-6664567/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/01/why-i-love-being-a-freelance-writer-6629520/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-08-01:/2009/08/01/why-i-love-being-a-freelance-writer-6629520/Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:34:20 +0200 <p>Well, there are many personal reasons, but one of the reasons that I don't fit well into your average office job, is because I get really bored doing the same things day after day, I love change and variety. And I am definitely getting variety at the minute.</p> <p>Here, I write about myself (not the most thrilling of subjects, but there you go).<br> On my website I write about entertainment and creative things.<br> On Thursday, I was asked to write some articles of frugal living.<br> Thursday, I was asked to write five articles on Weddings (that was enough to put me off ever getting married, I couldn't handle the hassle! And could someone tell me the point to wedding favours? You've paid all this money to "wining and dining" your guests, it's YOUR big day and you give THEM gifts?? Next we'll be getting birthday favors!)<br> Anyway, and today I'm writing about Affiliate Marketing!</p> <p>I really can not say that I don't have variety :-) and I love it ^_^ </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/01/why-i-love-being-a-freelance-writer-6629520/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>writingfreelancehttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/08/01/why-i-love-being-a-freelance-writer-6629520/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/30/todays-achievements-6619640/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-07-30:/2009/07/30/todays-achievements-6619640/Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:40:44 +0200 <p>I woke up this morning convinced that today was going to be a really bad day! I had an appointment with my Adviser, and though she's super nice, I always get nervous about it, but it just makes me even more determined to get to a point where I can afford to stop signing on.</p> <p>But, it actually went okay in the end.</p> <p>Got home, and what I thought was going to be a quiet afternoon, turned into mayhem. First of all my mum rang me and told me that the Nurse at the hospital on Tuesday had mentioned to her about a writing job at the local radion station, so I checked out the station's website and filled out an application form for that, I just need to print that out, so that's very exciting.</p> <p>I've also been taken to the next stage in TWO application processes, both of which I have to submit a piece of writing to a specific spec; one is one haemorhoids (yes, you read that right...) and the other is a travel piece on Auckland, New Zealand.</p> <p>Once I'd got my head around those I received an application pack for another writing job, which means another application form to fill in!</p> <p>My article about why cooking meals from scratch is better than ready meals is finally up on the <a href="http://frugalfancyblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-you-should-cook-meals-from-scratch.html">Frugal Fancy's </a>website. And after chatting with the creator of the website, found myself a new business partner, which is cool. I will be helping her to launch her new website, more details to follow I am sure!</p> <p>In between all this I also managed to catch up with a really old friend of whom I haven't seen in nine years since we finished School! </p> <p>But no, I still haven't read New Moon!The film will be out before I finish it I swear!</p> <p>Kat x </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/30/todays-achievements-6619640/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>frugalbusywritinghttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/30/todays-achievements-6619640/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/30/all-change-please-all-change-6616051/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-07-30:/2009/07/30/all-change-please-all-change-6616051/Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:53:36 +0200 <p>Apparently some people were having trouble with my last blog layout, and since I do like a change every once in a while, because well, I get bored easily lol (heck I'm one of those really weird people who sleeps at the other end of the bed just fo a "change" - I know, weird!!), so I decided to change it. I've gone all pink and girlie! Which is very unlike me, I'm not really very girlie, but I kinda liked this layout, it's nice and cheerful!</p> <p>I hope this one is easier on the wee eyes ^_^ </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/30/all-change-please-all-change-6616051/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>blogchangehttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/30/all-change-please-all-change-6616051/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/29/todays-achievements-6614709/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-07-29:/2009/07/29/todays-achievements-6614709/Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:34:47 +0200 <p>I was a bit naughty today, had a little lie-in. Although, these days I can't sleep in that late so I was still up before 9:00am!</p> <p>I was getting annoyed with my website, because the main text area seemed too narrow for what I wanted from it, and I was getting sick of the contents list being half a mile long, so I decided to change to a three <del>colomn</del>, <del>column</del>(why do neither of these look right?!lol), and now I'm pretty happy with it! You can find my website at <a href="http://www.katmusselwhite.co.uk">www.katmusselwhite.co.uk</a> if you feel inclined to wander in that direction <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>I also had a play around with my blog that I'm using to serialise my novel, because I didn't like the fact that when you click on the web address, it always takes you to the latest part of the story, whilst people might not have read the first part, so I changed the settings so now the reader reads it from beginning to most recent. Very happy about that. You can find the beginning of my novel at <a href="http://katswriting.wordpress.com">http://katswriting.wordpress.com</a></p> <p>Finished my article on Misconception #3 - Spelling, which can be found on my website, and also wrote two other articles one about Dallas Bryce Howard taking over the role of Victoria in Twilight, andthe second about the looming release of Mew's next album (which I am very excited about woohoo!)</p> <p>I may have landed myself my first PAID writing job, although, we shall see how that pans out. I don't want to get all confident about it, because I know that often leads to a bigger fall when things fall through, but fingers crossed.</p> <p>My guest blog should be appearing on Frugal Fancy's anytime now, so I'll post a link to that when it's up!</p> <p>So yes, another busy day. Another day of rain. And, another day that I have still not read New Moon!</p> <p>Kat x</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/29/todays-achievements-6614709/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>achievementsfreelancearticleswritingblogginghttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/29/todays-achievements-6614709/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/28/todays-achievements-6606102/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-07-28:/2009/07/28/todays-achievements-6606102/Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:35:58 +0200 <p><strong>Today I have:</strong></p> <p><strong>1.</strong> Got up bright and early <br><strong><br>2.</strong> Been swimming (woohoo!)</p> <p><strong>3.</strong> Written an article on why cooking from scratch is better than eating ready meals</p> <p><strong>4.</strong> Written a first draft of an article for <em>Voxx</em> magazine</p> <p><strong>5.</strong> Applied for several writing jobs</p> <p><strong>6.</strong> Started writing <em>Misconception #3 - Spelling</em> for my website - <a href="http://www.katmusselwhite.co.uk">www.katmusselwhite.co.uk</a></p> <p>Now I am chilling out with an Archers and Coke, whilst listening to The Black Mages; Distant Worlds. Ah, the life of a freelance writer is good!! :-)</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/28/todays-achievements-6606102/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>freelanceblack-magesarchers-and-cokeachievementswritinghttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/28/todays-achievements-6606102/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/28/swimming-6604888/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-07-28:/2009/07/28/swimming-6604888/Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:47:22 +0200 <p>It's really not good when you can tell that it's been quite a while since I last went swimming. And it's really not good when the last time I went swimming was April 2008 in Toronto!! Boy could I feel it in my arms yeouch!!</p> <p>But it was good to get back into the pool, even if it did mean getting up at 6:40am just to go <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"> I always worry that people will look at me when I climb into the pool, and think; "Oh yeah, the fat girl thinks she's gonna weight...she won't last long!", but I've actually always been a big swimmer, ever since I learnt to swim when I was really young. I'm not necessarily the strongest, or the fastest swimmer (or even entirely capable of swimming in a straight line) but I can get from A to B without collapsing, so I can't be all that bad can I? Jesus, if I tried to run I'd probably drop down dead after two steps LMAO!</p> <p>Unfortunately, I didn't get very long in the pool! I arrived at 7:45 and had to get out again at 8:10 (I still managed 16 lengths...not too bad I suppose, but definitely below my average per visit!), because I was meeting my mum to go to the hospital with her, for an appointment! And god, hospitals don't normally bother me, but today, for some reason, I felt really on edge.</p> <p>But why is it that hospitals freak us out so much? Is it the idea of being around sick people, and the worry that we might catch something too? Or is it, because being in hospitals force us to remember that death comes to us all in the end? I have a friend (who I will note was a male) who once told me that he wasn't afraid of dying and he used to joke about it all the time. But, I think he was living proof that many people joke about what scares them the most, because that way they don't have to deal with it.</p> <p>On the freelancing, I have just begun volunteering as a writer for a couple of locl publications, which is pretty cool. I'm also about to start as a guest blogger for a blog about Frugal Living, which I'm also looking forward to. </p> <p>So, yes, I'm still keeping very busy, and I'm still loving it!</p> <p>Go read a book</p> <p>Kat x</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/28/swimming-6604888/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>writerfreelanceswimminghospitalhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/28/swimming-6604888/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/23/creativity-6574034/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-07-23:/2009/07/23/creativity-6574034/Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:24:19 +0200 <p>Sometimes, I swear that I lack creativity. Now, this sounds incredibly weird, mainly because I'm a writer, and without creativity I might as well give up on my writing. But sometimes I just don't seem to be able to get it right.</p> <p>We've all heard of Writer's Block. I, personally, am very familiar with this concept, having spent many an hour staring at a white screen and analysing that black flashing line that should be moving rapidly across the screen with my keystrokes but for some supposedly uknown reason just is not doing that. And that is usually when I wonder if it would help if I actually pressed some keys on the keyboard...perhaps that would help! But, surprisingly, it is not Writer's Block that I am suffering with at the moment (and this really is a surprise, but I think I must be one of the biggest victims of it at times!!) But no, today I am just suffering from plain plain old Creativity Block. </p> <p>Some of you might already be aware that I like making my own jewellery, when I find the time and the money. I really enjoy spending time looking at pretty beads and then putting them together into a necklace. And sometime last week I attempted to make a necklace out of some purple glass beads that I'd bought, but when I'd finished it, it just did not look right. So I spent ages taking it apart, and tried mixing it up with some other glass beads that were lilacs and pinks...but this really did look awful!! The purple beads looked great, as did the lilacs and pinks, just not together. Together they looked ridiculous! The necklace looked like it should be two seperate ones, so I pulled it apart yet again and decided that the only solution would be to buy some more purple beads, of which I did yesterday, and I spent this morning on a THIRD attempt...surely this time everything would work out...NOPE, it still just didn't look right, so I pulled it again AGAIN and tried a forth attempt...no, still not right...FIFTH attempt...well, it looks nice, but I'm still not entirely happy with it, but I just don't know why!</p> <p>I also bought some yellow beads, and some orange beads yesterday, both of which have gone into two necklaces of their respective colours, and god, I hate them! What is wrong with me? I mean, when I started out making necklaces I hated pretty much everything I made, but I've begun to learn what methods and styles suit me and that I like, but this week I just seem to have lost it!</p> <p>My writing on the other hand is going rather nicely. I've been putting together a serialisation of a story I've actually been working on for a very long time. You can check it out <a href="http://katswriting.wordpress.com/2009/07/22/beginnings/">here</a>, and feel free to let me know what you think, whether good or bad, I love all kinds of feedback! As long as it is constructive of course :-)The link actually leads you to the story's prologue, so if you fancy reading the next two installments of Part One, you'll find links to them on the sidebar!</p> <p>Now go read a book (or feel free to help me to find my creativity...thank you very much!!)</p> <p>Kat x</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/23/creativity-6574034/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>creativitywritingnovelmaking-jewelleryhttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/23/creativity-6574034/#commentshttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/19/busy-busy-6549913/tag:blogofbooks.blog.co.uk,2009-07-19:/2009/07/19/busy-busy-6549913/Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:08:41 +0200 <p>Well, here's to the end of another busy weekend! I swear I'm busier at weekends than I am during the week! There's something not right about that!! </p> <p>On Friday I bought myself my very own domain (www.katmusselwhite.co.uk) which I am very, VERY excited about! Spent this afternoon re-directing my website to my domain, and then deciding to start over entirely! LOL! It's true what they say - it's a woman's perogative to change her mind! But, I am pretty happy with how it is at the minute!</p> <p>On Wednesday I, yet again, spent way too much money on beads, and I've spent a fair bit of time making up some necklaces! I'm building up quite a collection, I might have to sell a few purely for the fact that I have so many :-)</p> <p>I've been working on a few articles, but haven't really uploading anything in a while. I'll have to do that tomorrow. But, I'm determined to go swimming tomorrow; I haven't been swimming since I went to Canada...in April 2008!!! It's a shame, because I love swimming!</p> <p>Oh yes, I also finally watched Twilight yesterday - but only because they actually had it in the library - I certainly had no intention of actually buying it! I was a little sceptical about watching it at first, but it turned out to be quite good; although, could someone please teach Robert Pattinson how to pull an expression...</p> <p>Go read a book</p> <p>Kat x</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/19/busy-busy-6549913/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>leisuremovieswritingmaking-jewelleryswimminghttp://blogofbooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/19/busy-busy-6549913/#comments