2 Years Blog Anniversary

It all began just over 2 years ago.  I was in France and I had the urge to write, to pick up a pen and buy a bright pink notebook.  Two years later and I have just submitted my 2nd manuscript, which will be published in July 2012.  

So in 2 years, nearly 2 books.  

That's something I am very proud of and want to maintain.  

A book a year. 

How fab would that be.  I know it's possible.

Here's the first blog post I wrote back on 17 March. 

WEDNESDAY, 17 MARCH 2010

Actually Starting Writing Today - Rediscovering the pen.

I have been planning my book for about 20 years.  Yes I know this sounds ludicrous!! I have been writing snippets, notes, creatively bloomed the themes in lots of journals and notebooks.   Being in France since December, I have done more of the same, with new post it notes and scraps of paper.  Only recently I bought this massive pink notebook and have started just writing all different chapter headings and sub headings.  Each one on a separate page, giving it lots of blank space.  I thought I'd try using a pen rather than my mac (although I adore my macbookpro), I decided to step away from the tecky and get in touch with the pen again.    The whole point of this *I tell myself* is I can go back and when I fancy it, choose a particular topic and then write about that experience.  *I know I can do this on mac but it's the pen I think I need to rediscover ( I love all things pen-like, all things stationary so a book and a lovely Bic Intensity ticks a box for me)

And that's what I've done today.  Yippee! What an achievement.

What am I writing about?  I'm writing about my recovery from M.E (myalgic encephalomyelitis) also known as C.F.S (chronic fatigue syndrome).  I was really very ill when I was 20 until the age of about 26.  (I'm now 41).   Title headings range from What is ME, About ME; Symptoms; Family/Friends; Food; Body image/Weight; Environment; Sprituality; Arts and Crafts and getting creative' Pets; God/Goddess; Love life; Books; Dreams; GP Support; DHSS; Consultants; Support Groups; and a HUGE section on all the complementary therapies I experienced as part of the healing process.

This has given me a good feeling today - it reads back well and I feel like I have begun.  Yay!

Sipping mint tea and setting myself a new challenge

Whilst sipping my current favourite mint tea (with mint leaves pulled fresh from the garden) I realised that I wanted to set myself another challenge.  I had read back over my blog posts from 30 March and realised that keeping a blog was a great way for me to 'check in' with myself and to see how I'm doing, writing, creating, art-ing (+not farting).  I remembered how I felt beginning (and nearly completing) to write my Personal Statement Handbook, it took over from my original intention, to write a book about my M.E experiences when I was in my 20s.  So now it's time to revisit the ME pink book - do I remember what it looks like, well here it is.  It's time to get back to it.  I'm delighted I have my Handbook because it really complements the work that I do, but my new challenge is to keep following in this direction of writing daily and I know that no sooner as I start writing, it all comes flooding out.  Thank you everyone who's supported me, in particular a wonderful retired english teacher who I've know since I was oooh, let me see, 4 (we're talking 38 yrs ish) known as AN, and she wrote on my fb page today 

"I recognise good stuff when I read it.  You know English was my subject, I am immodest enough to tell you I have a way with words...........SO DO YOU.   Every success to you.  I really enjoyed reading the Blog update!!!"

So thanks AN, it has inspired me to continue.  Plus my friend Lesley's nail varnish yesterday reminded me of the colour of my book, so I must go and buy 3 for the price of 1 at Tescos.  Agggghhhhhhh the joy of supermarkets that have offers! (pas en france).

Mixed Media days

For these past few days I have been doing some mixed media art and really enjoying it.  Working with different textures is pretty meditative - makes my mind drift off to think of other things.   I have been doing writing every day and picking a sub-topic, just letting my mind unfold and reflect on the experience I was recollecting.  Recently I was writing about the support group experience I had when I was newly diagnosed with M.E/CFS when I was in my early 20s.  It really was an eye opener as I recall the lady who came to see me, to tell me about the support group meetings, she walked in, or should I say, hobbled in, on walking sticks.  She could barely walk and told me that she had been ill for 20+ years. She was in her early 60s (I think, though don't quote me).

How I did not want to hear this?  At 20, it wasn't what I wanted to listen to.  I wanted to speak to someone who had got well, who had overcome it and re-healed.

And so this is what I was writing about in my pink book.  It made me realise, in that moment all those 21 years ago, that I wanted to read about the success story of a young person - I wanted inspiration and hope.  That's what made me want to write this book ... and that's why I will keep on with it, hoping it will see the light of day, in whatever format.  To help and inspire someone else who was newly diagnosed.   I feel lucky to have come through the ill health and only now, all these years later can turn back to write about it. 

It has been a beautiful day here in France, the sun shining and the forests full of wildlife.