I am enjoying my second Duvet Day in as many weeks! And it’s bloody marvellous! The panto is OVER. Yesterday I drove a one-hundred and sixty mile round-trip to Suffolk to take the costumes back to the wonderful Jemma at Costume Closet. It had been my intention to go at 9am but I woke up to thick ice and frost and by the time I considered it safe it was half past eleven. Consequently, by the time I got home – 4.30pm, having stopped in Tesco on the junction of A12/A14 – it was dark and the day was over. So, this morning, there was no alarm to set; I woke up, naturally, at 10.10am. What an amazing feeling that was! And I’ve spent the whole day under the duvet with Mr Elba once again. I’ve now seen the whole of Luther Series Two of my box-set. One of the episodes was shot in a petrol station at Dagenham East, very near to my house. I see this as an omen. Idris and I have a connection. I know, I just know, he’s going to agree to be in the Amazing Adventures of Maisie and Em. (Are you listening, Universe?). And Duvet Day is becoming very more-ish – almost an addiction. I see it becoming a regular feature of my New Year.
Looking back, 2014 was a good year on the whole, for which I am extremely grateful.
During 2014 I completed two more novels, Singles and Spice and Single All the Way, thus completing the Singles’ Trilogy, plus a book of short stories, Holiday Reads and a Novella, the Christmas Queen, which topped the Amazon charts for Humorous, Contemporary Female literature. I also wrote and directed a panto for Melabeau Productions – Cinderella – which was an ‘interesting’ experience. I want to write at length about putting on the panto, but feel I need to put a bit of space between it and writing about it to get some perspective. I was fortunate that a fabulous cast and a very talented choreographer trusted me and agreed to work with me, though. And the feedback from the paying public was outstandingly good.
I also saw my novel, Singles’ Holiday, turned into a stage play, which was produced, again by Melabeau, at the Brentwood Theatre. It was an amazing feeling, seeing my book brought to life by such a great cast; these people who had lived in my head for such a long time were suddenly there on the stage before me and once again, I’m humbled and grateful for everyone’s co-operation and performance.
We made the full pilot episode of Maisie and Em and that was great fun and very, very satisfying. We laughed non-stop and I was thrilled to be working alongside Heather Doram again, under the direction of Noel Howell. I had two fab holidays at Avocado Cottage, too. I got lots of writing done during my time in Antigua, although it was difficult writing Single All the Way, which is set at a snowy, cold Christmas-time, whilst sitting on the veranda enjoying temperatures of 30C. The same with the panto script; writing the panto was a huge challenge and my neighbours in Five Islands must have thought I was crazy as I strode around the veranda, script on hand, reading all the parts out loud. Oh yes I did!
I had some amazing times during 2014, too. Thanks to the Daughter I had a fabulous meal then saw Dolly Parton at the O2, possibly the best live gig I’ve ever been to, and a brilliant VIP day out at Queen’s Club on Finals’ Day. Wonderful! And in Antigua, I was invited to facilitate on Marcella Andre’s EMERGE afternoon. This was a totally uplifting experience; a afternoon spent in the company of a group of phenomenal women that it was a privilege to meet and befriend. And there were lots of lunches and cofees and drinks and phone chats with the Daughter, the Sister, the Brother, Friends and Family that made the year special and I look forward to many more throughout the New Year.
Of course, there have been a few not-so-good times during this year, not least of all was the death of Martine Doolan, which I still find unbelievable. And I also discovered that bullying is alive and well, having experienced it TWICE. Both incidents involved a vile, crazy woman and her dick-less husband/partner. However, I know that their behaviour says so much about them and they actually have to live with themselves, I don’t. They have to stew in their own gravy. They cannot possibly be happy as they are and they won’t be happy in the future unless they change their ways because Karma will take care of them. In fact, in one of the cases in question, she already is and that’s something else I learned this year, that I really don’t have to do anything to those who seek to harm or hurt me; Karma will do it all for me whether I know about it or not.
It has been a year, too, of regular payments from HAMA films and getting paid for the very hard work I did for them many moons ago feels good and right, even if it is such a paltry sum every month. At least I’m getting what I’m owed. And, after four months of messing me about, giving me bouncing cheques, dirtying my lovely Avocado Cottage with animals that weren’t supposed to be there and generally running the place down, I’ve given the tenant notice, which is a weight lifted.
It was also the year of the New Knuckles, which are still not 100% mobile and flexible, at least they are no longer painful.
And so, I go forward into 2015 full of hope that we will take Singles’ Holiday to several more theatres around UK and also turn it into a TV series; that I will finish my next novel, The Banjo, and that it will be a massive success and that we will make the full Maisie and Em series and that Idris agrees to guest in it (his part is already written). Meeting him a few weeks ago was also a 2014 highlight.
I also hope for the very best of everything for all my Loved Ones; that the Daughter, especially, will have her best year ever and, above all, be happy, because that’s what life should be about – being happy. And so I wish happiness to all of you for 2015, and that it really does turn out to be the year when all your dreams come true!
