Live IT & Love IT

Semester Two starts today. So far I have two results back from my first four Masters papers and they are distinctions, one of which will be published as my first academic paper. I can’t tell you have chuffed I am. Honestly, I thought I wasn’t clever enough to pass let alone get the grades I have achieved.   With the early success, comes the pressure to keep it up so I may have shot myself in the foot… no, it just means I have to keep working hard which is what I do every day. Sadly, the issue of racism has raised its ugly head along with the feeling that we are living through the 1930s again experiencing the stuff we read about in our history lessons. Let’s hope people power prevails and we do not end with the same disastrous result. It is down to us all of us decent folk to stop it in its tracks and I hope everyone reading this is with me. If not, leave now. My greatest hates are discrimination and prejudice… as well as injustice. I have always said to the boys…...

...Writing I cannot believe it was the last day of 2016 when I last wrote a blog post. We only have ten days left of January 2017. It's been a whirlwind start of the year for us but a very happy one. I did not get Arts Council funding I applied for to help me to continue to develop my career. I was disappointed but not surprised. It was a tall order applying but if you don't ask…the answer is always no. Anything worth having, is worth fighting for and as I've spent my whole life fighting, I'll keep going. Nothing will stop me from achieving my aims. In the first two weeks of January, I had to complete three Master's papers, two presentations and two exams! I can only say it was blooming tough – first understatement of the year! There were days when I wanted to quit – I felt overwhelmed and out of my depth, totally out of my comfort zone. Thankfully, I have amazingly supportive and strong children who drove me and encouraged me to keep going. I love our m...