Relationship Cold Turkey

I haven't seen Inge in a long while. I understand. I know it's tough being a new mum and even tougher holding down a job at Compass Travel on top. Inge's a mum to two kids! I still can't believe this. Her new baby is called Lucy. Sweet! A sister for Marie. It's a pity Lucy's father is Deek. That makes it even harder.

In the interim of not seeing much of Inge. Cold turkey. Divorced! I have decided to use my time wisely:

1/ No partying, which means saving pennies. Pay off a little debt. Debt free. Mission accomplished. Yey!

2/ Less opportunities for making boyfriends. All for the greater good. Cold turkey. No misery. Relief! I was probably a horrible girlfriend anyway. Selfish. Want my own way all of the time. I think I may be a little bossy. However men are kids. Big kids. Conflict. Bossy 'v' Hissy Fits. Ugly. It's exhausting battling someone just like yourself. Something has to give. So I've given up. Cold turkey. I realize there is no place in a relationship for two husbands.

Inge said, in a snatched 10 minutes over the phone, that abstinence will do me good. That I should use my introspection wisely. Build a thought process of allowing a boyfriend to play King to my Queen. Be smart. Or there's no babies for you Shaz!

I don't know if I can be so so ...  Machiavellian.

Have faith, says Inge. It's all different once the babies arrive. That's when you get the upper hand ... things change. Thumb and under Shaz!

Hmm. Obviously, Inge is a rough role model. I didn't tell her this, of course. Deek is married. Deek is always married! He's not leaving. Poor Inge.

A break from her will do me good. I've got to find new friends.

I Like The Name

I'm in The Ferry coffee shop meeting a new friend. Not my usual territory but hey ho give it a go. She's Hell of a half hour late. Huff! Receive a text, another half hour! Double huff! Her name is Jay Blonde. Mine is Mug. I peer  into my empty coffee mug hugging it like a lost friend. But you forgive people don't you?

Make knew friends but keep the old,
One is silver the other gold.

After a whole hour twisting and turning my coffee cup like an impatient washer wifie wringing laundry, I begin to think of Inge. Gold! I miss Inge. In struts a whoosh of blondness, and a whiff of Midnight Poison, Jay then drags the seat opposite mine tanks herself down whilst flipping various belongings onto a stool lying adjacent - her bag, jacket, umbrella, Black Berry, some bags of shopping.

"Hi Shaz, sorry I'm late. You'll never believe it!'

Probably not, I huff to myself staring ominously at her carriers from Tesco, the culprits. She reminds me of JLo. The Spit! I'm like a moth to a flame. Hmm,  I can't pick friends to save myself. I cast my mind further into my own thoughts - whilst Jay tells her lateness story oops sorry, her latest story - I seem to pick friends with funny names. I snigger more to myself.

There's well, I flick a shy glance opposite at Jay Blonde, then there's JLo (aka Janet Low) and Inge Strudle. Do I like my name? Shaz? The one thing you live with your whole life is your name. But do you ever get used to it? Get to like it? Do you like your own name? How many of us actually like our own name? I'm not sure if I'm that fond of my own name, but who would I be if I wasn't Shaz?

A waitress wearing denim jeans and a loose white blouse bearing a name tag Holly parks at our table, interrupts my thoughts and spoils the end of Jay's story. I listen as bossy Jay gives orders followed by a fierce scribble of shorthand by Holly into her notebook; two coffees, two Danish pastries, the biggest ones with the red cherries, her treat says Jay winking at me.

I smile and finally relax, I think I like the name Jay Blonde and remember that's what friends are for.

noveLIST

Synopsis
Submission
First three chapters
Marketing
Exposure
Networking
Fingers crossed
Exciting
Writer And Artist's Year Book 2011
Cold calling
SAE
Rejections
Interview
Tears
Regrets
Shredded manuscript in wastebasket
Agent
Publisher
Book Deal
Picture in The Courier (again!)
Smug

Long winded list to let you know I have finished my novel ... Woo! ... Woo! Next step? ... See above list.

Just to let you know I may not be around for a while ... but I'll be back!!!

Thanks to everyone for following my blog and giving support.

Think Big. Think Hotel

Monopoly. My favourite board game of childhood ... our tournaments went on for days. I liked playing banker ... surprisingly I was entrusted. I wonder if my passion for property began here? I always aimed to obtain Old Kent Road and Mayfair. In those days I preferred an avenue of little green town houses than one chunky red hotel, just seemed ... kind of more.

However, I have since fallen in love with hotels. Recently, I watched the whole of series 6 and series 4 - back to back - of Channel 5's Hotel Inspector. I simply adore Alex Polizzi. Her passion for property has a family connection as she is the grand daughter of Lord Forte (Forte dynasty).

Her own property portfolio includes; The Hotel Endsleigh, a cottage in Devon, her original flat. Whilst her husband owns a small house in London and a house in Brazil.

Alex says, that her biggest asset is her husband. Ahh sweet, just as it should be.


Edward Hopper's Hotel Lobby.

Make Your Life About You - Not About The Boy

Society places too much importance on finding a partner and pesky hormones pull this trick on you too. Lighten up.

Here are five good things about being single. (This post is written for women but can apply to men too):

1/ You never need to lose your Mojo. No one is getting you down.

How many couples do you know who are truly happy? They may say they are. Look at their faces; are they weathered? are they old before their time? ... have they lost their Mojo?



2/ Being in a couple costs you money - to do stuff.

Being single means you can spend money doing your own stuff. Make a list of things you always wanted to do ... and actually do it.



3/ As a couple you neglect your friends. This is one of the biggest sacrifices of coupledom.

There is nothing more irritating than when you have asked a friend to do stuff and she replies that she has to check first with her significant other.



4/ Being in a couple takes away a percentage of your freedom.

As a single person you are your own boss. You can focus on your career; make your own decisions. Relationships are synonymous with compromise.



5/ A relationship can go one of two ways - long term commitment (re-read 1 above) or it ends.

Being single means you never get dumped. Flirt like crazy whenever and wherever you want - you will never have someone say "Who are you looking at?"

Once the honeymoon stage is over it is all down hill. Alternatively, you can tell yourself: It's all about me! Celebrate.

Eve Deceived Adam

Time to introduce my heroine. Nameless for the time being. I don't want to jinx her fate. She's having a hard time of it already, then again perhaps she brings it upon herself.

Femme Fatal; she has been know. Of course she is a femme fatale she is an irresistibly attractive woman. Mandatory. Though hapless, but no ones perfect. Are you?

She's hungrily creative, Machiavellian even, yet has only one mission in life. The same one as you!

My novel is urban satire / women's' fiction and I am currently pitching to publishers.

Make Me Laugh I'm Going Mad!

I don't know if it is just me or February or something but I needed some cheering up ... PRONTO!

The Funny Chicken clip did it. Phew! I dare you not to laugh.