Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.

That's quite a job description...

A whole lot more inspiring than 'Your work is to write corporate copy,' or 'Your work is to empty the dishwasher and dust the mantelpiece.'

Those things are in my world though, as much as galloping Alfie across Ashdown Forest in the early morning mist, or enjoying an evening meal outside with Pete and Tim, or watching the rabbits nibbling the lawn, or writing a screenplay that is a true expression of my creativity...

I've discovered my world

...and I love it.

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles.

"...Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell."

For battle, read screenplay contest.

This is my friend Mr. Buddha, part of him at least, helping me to keep my feet firmly on the ground. He's good at that.

On Monday, I learned I had won a screenplay contest with my fantasy feature-length script The Melting. The official announcement went out yesterday, just when I had resigned myself to the fact that it was all a Big Wind-Up, that they had changed their minds and someone else had won after all.

 My delight is hard to put into words. The prize is extraordinary. No, not loadsa money. Loadsa money would be very acceptable but ephemeral.

This prize is worth way more than that to me.

It's the chance to meet one-to-one with a top UK producer who will help me hone my pitch and then "recommend and facilitate introductions to any relevant industry connections to whom the project can be taken forward." 

Absolute gold dust!

Even if it looks more like demerara sugar - that's Buddha speaking again...

People have been so kind to me. A writing friend, (you know who you are, Marnie) posted the result on another website, which I wouldn't have done. British reserve and all that. The congratulations have been flooding in. David Birch even made me a fantastic poster to inspire me.

How cool is that?

It's all fantastic, great, wonderful, marvellous and any other positive hyperbole you can think of BUT - I'm certain to reach for the self-destruct button at any minute.

NOT doing that would be a SUPREME victory.

The way is not in the Skype. The way is in the heart.

It's quite amazing to think that Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, knew all about Skype in 563-483 B.C.

In all seriousness, yesterday the way WAS in the Skype. 


It's been lovely to have Tim at home but at Christmas time I'd love it even more if all three of my boys were around me - my two other boys and their lovely girls.


Jamie and Breanna live in upstateOntario...

 and Laurie and Irene are currently in Whistler, BC. 

 So no, they couldn't pop home for Christmas...

But they could Skype. And they did. And it was a little bit like having them there in the sitting room, just for a few moments.And it still amazes me that it's FREE!


And here is Tim, being adored by a horse called Humphrey.

The way is in the heart and that's where they all are. Except possibly Humphrey, though I'm pretty fond of him too. But not in the same way.