FABULOUS start to 2016...

If there is one thing this Christmas break has taught me, it is time off is definitely more productive than keeping going, although I did work over the Christmas period but I paced myself in between board games and chill time with the boys. Having said that, I have really enjoyed getting back into the routine of writing, editing, parenting and the school runs!

Looking back, 2015 was a testing year – very testing at times but also showed glimpses of hope for the future. 

It was really hard to ignore unjustified attacks on me by a couple of people carrying on this sick and twisted vendetta yet showing little backbone by trying to hide behind aliases. The trouble is when you have good friends who understand social media and have legal backgrounds, their aliases were not really anonymous. I had to step out of my own principles and beliefs to protect my own family and my sanity. I did expose them and although I hated doing it, it was the right thing to do at the time and hopefully it has worked although I wouldn’t know as I have a great person monitoring it for me. It is less stressful to have a friend who is mad enough to enjoy social media! I am not prepared to take criticism based on a red mist fueled hatred just because my son and I work hard to reach our goals. Wes earned, YES EARNED his place in rugby league and no amount of hatred is going to change that. Get over it! As my Dad would say, “Tough Titty!” If only people would spend as much energy chasing their goals, eh!

Rugby League

We are thrilled Wes has entered the Reserve grade at Sheffield Eagles. It is a huge achievement and I am so proud of his work ethic, his outlook on life and his sheer determination to succeed. We are all looking forward to the new challenges of next season. 

Even Lucas is ready! Courtesy of Grandma Dot’s Christmas present.

UK Blog Award 2016

This week has been such a productive week. On Monday, the voting for this year’s UK Blog Awards opened. I am thrilled to be short listed in two categories for the second year running, up against some tough opposition.

Lifestyle  & Arts and Culture Category

Voting is today until 9pm 25th January 2016. You can both on both categories once a day every day until the closing date.

If you can spare a couple of minutes, please click on the link and VOTE. 

Your support, as always is very much appreciated.

Family of the Week

On top of the blog awards this week, we have been the family of the week in our local paper, The Yorkshire Evening Post. I am SO proud of my family.

 Article here

The hardest challenge was getting a photograph with all three of us in!!

If you, or anyone you know would like to feature, please contact Janet Harrison on janet.harrison@wetherbynews.co.uk.

 

Beyond the Past

Have you had the chance to read it yet? Would you like to review it for me?

Read the first three chapters FREE on my website
Available from:
Pegasus Publishers
Amazon UK
Kindle
Amazon US
Or you can order from your local bookshop. The ISBN number is : 978-1-84386-789-0 

 

Beyond the Lies

I am half way through the edit – YAY!! This will definitely be published in 2016!

Streetwise

Following constructive feedback, I am pleased to say this is out in the market place. Very hopeful.

New Ideas

One great bi-product of time off, is the time to think. Over the Christmas period, three new ideas were added to the growing list. A great position to be in with over twenty unique ideas.

PhD Update

This is my biggest aim for 2016, to start studying again. It is a very personal goal and as you may have gathered, once I set my mind to something…watch this space.

Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour

As you all know I am a socialist. I am now a proud member of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain. It is really important for me to support the trade union movement and now I qualify to be a member. I am so pleased the ties have been strengthened between the Labour party and the trade unions. The New Labour was not for me – too close to the Tory policies. Now they are more aligned with my beliefs. I am a huge fan of Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, although my views do tend to lean further left than theirs! What I love the most is their determination NOT to pander to the right wing media, their personality traits of kindness and empathy and their unbelievably genuine desire to serve unselfishly in public office. It is time we stopped the media and the bankers from running our politicians. It is time for a change – our community spirit in Yorkshire has been demonstrated over the recent floods, as Liverpool have shown through Hillsborough and how we can show collectively. 

WE CAN change the way this country is being run BUT we have to stick together.  It is time our elected members represented US and not themselves.

One final note on the Labour MPs who have used the right wing media to try and damage Jeremy Corbyn – you have only damaged Labour and yourselves. If we, as employees in the real world, publicly attempted to humiliate our employers, we would be suspended and face a gross misconduct disciplinary. These MPs have only demonstrated to me their desire to put themselves first rather than their constituents and the party. They don’t share my labour values! They certainly don’t represent me as a party member or a UK citizen. Let’s concentrate on accountability for the failing economy, safeguard our NHS, protect our Trade Unions and provide a decent life for EVERYONE!

Have a fabulous weekend and a productive week!