Half-baked novel

I've reached a milestone in the writing of my novel, having hit the 40,000 word mark. That's about half way and while it may not be much to some of you reading this, it's the most I've ever written in my life. I think I deserve some cake.

Cherie Lunghi on the train

I travelled from one end of the country to the other this week by train and actress Cherie Lunghi was sitting right behind me. I knew it was her because every time she got up to walk down the carriage my boyfriend elbowed me in the ribs and whispered, "there's Cherie Lunghi".

Note: this blog post shouldn't be confused with the one where I sat behind Charlie Higson on the bus.

Get hip to the Lipster

Not only is there a brand new fab pop culture website for women called The Lipster, but Alison Moyet has signed up to be its agony aunt. I don't think th'internet gets much better than that.

Coronation Street Weekly Update

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates for th'internet since 1995 and the latest one has just gone live here.

This week the update comes complete with a gormless lump of a man and an offer you can't refuse.

National Pi Day

Did you know that Friday 14 March was International Pi Day? 3.14, of course. As I'm no fan of pies, I had a custard tart instead. It was lovely.

Penelope Pitstop

My top favourite female cartoon characters from childhood were Penelope Pitstop from Wacky Races and the mermaid from Marine Boy. But as I can't remember her name then I can't post a picture of her.

Shed envy

This is our shed. It's lovely our shed. It's wooden and, full of, you know, shed stuff. It's old, it's on a slant and it lives at the end of the garden. Our neighbours have only gone and got themselves a great big metal shed and I've gone through a period of shed envy. However, it's gone (the envy, not the shed). The neighbour's shed is big, metal and green and therefore classified as not a shed at all.

Norma Starkey, she's great

I'm spending so much of my indoors free time these days writing my novel (34,000 words and rising) and blogging over at my other site that Flaming Nora gets neglected a little these days.

However, to address that right now I just want to say that Norma from Shameless is one of my curent favourite telly women. Norma - she's northern and she's great. Actress Dystin Johnson is doing a fantastic job.

International Women's Day 2008

Saturday March 8 is International Women's Day 2008. Go on, treat yourself. Have your hair done and buy some new pants.

Speed the Plow

To the Old Vic Theatre the other week to see two Hollywood heavyweights slug it out on stage in David Mamet’s Speed the Plow. It’s not often I get the chance to see actors of such calibre in the flesh on the stage and Kevin Spacey and Jeff Goldblum didn’t disappoint. Dialogue was delivered with shotgun sharpness with fast and furious acting. This was two men on the verge of a mental breakdown in a fight over art over money, morals over cash. The play was set in Hollywood, so you can guess which won. Speed the Plow is a play of three parts with no interval (ignore this bit at your peril and head for the loo twice before you go in) as if you lose concentration for a second you’re in danger of losing the plot.

I’ve been to the Old Vic so many times over the years, we’re becoming old friends. But this was the first time I’d felt a frisson of sensual excitement as I sat in my seat. Oh yes. It happened when the highly fanciable Jeff Goldblum slipped off his slippers on stage, revealing bare feet. It was an innocent enough movement that promised much more. If you were there and you heard a woman softly groan in the Dress Circle, yes, that was me. Heaven only knows what it did to the ladies in the Stalls.

Spring jollies

Just back from a few days in the land of art noveau and beer, for Spring jollies 2008. Where the windows are made of art nouveau stained glass...

... and the beer is served in strange jugs.