#R2BC Week 10 - creativity, cake and confidence

I'm actually feeling a little more cheerful this week than i have for a while now, here's a few reasons why:

• I got confirmation today of a getting a few extra hours at work. It's not going to solve all my money worries, but will certainly help a bit. And I can 'backdate' it til the start of March so i'll get a full month's worth of increased pay at the end of the month, wooppee!

• Went round to a new mummy friend's house the other day, for a playdate for B - but really more a cuppa/cake-date for us mummies, the first time we've managed to get a date when we're both free after school. 

• Felt very chuffed with my jewellery creations from last weekend's course in silver jewellery-making. Now just need to find the time and money to do some more of it!

• The author who takes the creative writing course I'm currently doing said this week she really liked my writing, which has given me a real confidence boost to keep going.

• B told me I was a 'special Mummy' this morning (don't think he was after anything...) - can't beat that for a start to the day!

Hop on over to see other Reasons to be Cheerful!

The Gallery - Me Right Now

Sticky Fingers' photo challenge this week for The Gallery, Me Right Now.



As I have a STINKING cold - one of those ones where you feel you have cotton wool stuffed inside your brain, but still your nose keeps on running - I will not subject anyone to a photo of my luminous red nose that would make Rudolph jealous. And eyes, red, tired, etc.

What I have just been doing, in the hopes that I will feel well enough to go to my writing class tonight, is finishing my homework assignment. 1000 words to introduce a memorable character, what problem(s) they face and how they might overcome it/them. Between getting through almost a whole box of tissues. These ones have menthol on them, which would be good if I could smell a damn thing.

Also have just finished reading Michael Morpungo's War Horse, which was on our class reading list. Not sure I will go see the film, however, it was harrowing enough reading it. Would definitely need to take the next box of tissues with me if I went...

Back in the writing groove

I'm feeling very psyched right now.

Can I say psyched? It sounds very american-football-esque. Maybe I should go with 'energised'. No, that sounds like I've just come out of a management team-building session... ok stick with psyched.

I'm psyched, for want of a better word, after my evening class last night.

Firstly, it's a blinkin' novelty for me to be able to get out of the house of an evening midweek. Without B's dad around any longer to take up the child-minding slack, I've come to accept that midweeks are for browsing the blogosphere or catching up on ER on Sky+ (I've only got 18 episodes to get through...).
 

(Note to self: 

may be watching too much ER. 

Had 'odd' dream about ginger-haired doctor Archie Morris

last night. Not Kovac or Carter. Archie Morris. Hm.)

[image credit: nbc.com]

But B's dad and I managed to agree that when he comes up to our house to see B on a Wednesday, I can get out of the house for a couple of hours to do something for me. It's taken almost a year to find something I want to do which is on a Wednesday and doesn't finish too late (B's dad chose to move a bus and a train journey away and doesn't have a car and I can't be bothered with the "i'll miss the train" moaning every week...).

I've been really wanting to start writing again. I started about 3 years ago, did an intensive summer course to get the 'creative juices' flowing, and carried on for about 6 months. Then, all hell broke loose in my life... but that story's for another day (or lifetime).

Needless to say, I may have collected a load of great story ideas, but my head has not been in the right space to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) until recently. Starting the blog was the first step back on the writing path.

And so the 10 week writing course run by the university has come at just the right time. I may even have been a little too keen, as I turned up at the class a whole week earlier than I should have. D'oh!

Two weeks in, I'm amazed at how easy it has been to get back into the writing groove. Within the confines and guidance of the class, at least. I was so scared to start writing again, my confidence having scarpered long ago. But the class is just the kick up the wotsit that I need to get going again and I'm damned if I'm going to give up this time. We also have a bit of 'homework' to do each week. It's been a looong time since I had homework. I never thought I'd say that I'm looking forward to doing it!

[imagecredit: writersbreak.com]



I might even have a stab at the odd Three Word Wednesday or another writing bloghop when I'm feeling bit more confident.

p.s. to self: I will return to this post every so often if I'm feeling a bit of writer's block, may be good therapy.