Me, EU and why I feel sick inside my soul

A photo I took in Sunderland on European Way, Friday 24 June 2016

For over 20 years I worked in University administration, mainly as a PA to high-profile Professors and Scientists, people who were internationally regarded as being at the top of their profession. I was always proud to work providing support to people like these, people who were leading research teams finding new ways to understand how to beat cancer, for instance. People who were saving lives. People who were changing the world, for the better. I feel fortunate that I have come to know such people, and to work for them at Universities in London and in the north-east.

But now,  I worry about these research teams. How they will continue to run in a world where the rules will all change? Where once their research was funded by Europe, will it now stop? Will lives be lost? Will the European research collaborations come to an end? Will people die where once cures could have been found?

And living in Sunderland, a city where Japanese car manufacturer Nissan employ 8,000 people, what will happen to those jobs once Nissan decide it's cheaper to manufacture inside the EU? Will jobs be lost? Will livelihoods be wrecked? Will the city of Sunderland be destroyed?  At the time of writing, to our local paper, Nissan have issued "no comment". However, just prior to Brexit, Nissan expressed their preference - again to our local paper - for a Remain vote.

There are too many unknowns. No-one seems prepared for Brexit, least of all the politicians. They're scrambling, on both sides, and tearing their parties apart.

And as they do so, the nastiness has begun.

Less than a week after our country voted to leave the EU, things have happened which have angered and upset me. I'm not a politician. I'm not even a political animal. I am just a human being - hurt, saddened, angered, confused and extremely worried by what's happened since the Leave vote went through.

• An increase in hate crime reported. Even David Cameron has condemned the rise of  racist and xenophobic abuse after Brexit. Read the story here.

• A Neo-Nazi pictured celebrating Brexit on the front cover of The Sun, the front cover of my local paper The Sunderland Echo and on most television screens when the vote from Sunderland was announced.

To celebrate #Brexit @TheSun has put Billy Charlton, a neo-Nazi from #Sunderland on their front page
HT @ant1fane pic.twitter.com/cleK190Jgn

— A revolting migrant (@KojoRTE) June 24, 2016

• Nigel Farage and the rise and rise of horror and lies.

Very bad taste of Nigel Farage to claim victory "without a single bullet being fired" after the campaign shooting of Jo Cox

— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) June 24, 2016

• Self-confessed homophobe Stephen "Homosexuality is a sickness, it can be cured" Crabb standing for election as Chair of the Conservative Party.  Read the story here.

None of this can be the new normal. Please, it can not.


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The Sound of the Foghorn

I've a short story in The People's Friend which has gone on sale today, Wednesday June 29 2016. 

J. K. Rowling won't be quaking in her boots fearing competition, but I'm really proud of my little stories getting into print. Really proud.

This story I submitted as The Lighthouse Keeper has been published as The Sound of the Foghorn and has been inspired by my work as a volunteer with Roker Pier Heritage Group. 

Roker Pier website has a blog all about the story and my work with them. You can read it if you'd like to - it's here.

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The Beachcomber

I've a short story in The People's Friend Fiction Special No. 125 which has gone on sale today (Weds 22 June 2016). 

The title of my story when I wrote it was The Beachcomber, but as with these things, the title has been changed to best fit the magazine.  

When one of my short stories has been accepted by a publication I  do a little dance, punch the air, that kind of thing.  Then I wave it goodbye and crack on writing the next one.

If you'd like to read my story, it's out today - and has been titled A Romantic Proposal.

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Tins of soup and lots of biscuits

I've been locked away for a few days, writing.

And I love it.

Every single minute of it.

I'm working on something for ITV - there's a teaser at my website which you can see by clicking the image of my books, below.

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Corrie weekly update - the best funeral outfit, ever

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here.

This week Corrie had the best funeral outfit, ever.

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Corrie weekly update - with a mug of hot Vimto

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here.

This week Corrie turned a bit Chuckle-brother. To you. To me.

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Slag

It's been a very long time since I was at school, but this week I remembered something my English teacher said to me, once.  After reading a short story I'd written, he told me: "Your style of writing leaves me wanting to read more."   And I remember thinking to myself: "Well, I'm not doing any extra homework, for you, mate. I've got Bay City Rollers tapes to listen to."  But, embarrassed as I was by the teacher's praise in front of my class mates, I got the gist of what he meant.

This week has been a rollercoaster of a week, in terms of writing. And my English teacher's remark has returned to rattle around my head.  It turns out that my English teacher wasn't the only one who likes my style of writing. Two major writing opportunities came my way this week - one by phone and one by email. I've said yes to both, of course.

And that short story my English teacher liked so much? I based it on my walking route from home to school. The ex-pit village I was brought up in was well known for its slag heap on a disused coal mine.  But my walking route to school avoided all of that. The route I chose to walk took me from the back fence at the bottom of our garden through a park with rose bushes. I remember writing in the story that I stopped every morning to smell the roses although I'm not sure that I ever did, back then. 

 

I do, always, now.

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Corrie weekly update - let's go paddling

I've been writing Coronation Street weekly updates since 1995 and this week's Coronation Street update has just gone live here.

This week the man who killed Schmeichel returns to rip off Norris.

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Carla Connor's life story now available in paperback

On Thursday May 26, 2016 Carla Connor left Coronation Street after almost 10 years on the show.

One week later, Thursday June 2, 2016 - the paperback version of her Coronation Street story goes on sale.  It's here. I hope you like it.

Also available as an ebook for Kindle.

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I'm on twitter @flaming_nora