Why is a silver covered Bic biro so much more exciting than a see through one?

A Bic biro, no matter the outer colour, performs the same function, writes the same colour and thickness and is just as reliable, yet when I found one in the stationery cupboard at work this morning, I had to have it.  I felt like I'd got the prize.  I experienced a real thrill as I slipped it into my bag as though I'd got the last golden ticket from a Willy Wonka chocolate bar.

I rushed back to my desk like a naughty schoolgirl who'd just put a frog in the teacher's drawer.  Surely everyone saw me do it?  Any minute someone was going to say my name and I'd have to guiltily give up my prize.

But no, all carried on around me as usual.  I sat down, carefully placing my bag under my desk, and logged into my computer pretending to get on with my work.  Under the guise of replying to an email I checked to see if anyone was looking my way.  No!  The coast was clear.  I reached down and drew the silver pen out of my bag.  Carefully taking the lid off I popped it on the opposite end of the barrel.  I watched my right hand as it used the treasured pen, addressing an envelope to a colleague and writing a brief message about the contents, what a thrill!  As I wrote the strip lighting caught the silver coating making it shine out.  I greedily reached for a post it note, wrote a message and attached it to a piece of work for my secretary.  I was on a roll, I went through my in-tray at the speed of light making notes here, writing notes there...

Note to self - Buy pack of silver barrel Bic biros as get more work done

Creative Writing Class - I remember the first time I...

I remember the first time I….

Oh God help!  I think I’m gonna die!

I don’t know what to write,

I’m thinking with all my might.

Inspiration please hit,

I can’t just think and sit.

Everyone is writing, heads down,

So I need to look busy, not like a clown.

Unusual in this situation,

My mind is like an empty station.

So I’ll just think up a little ditty,

Something light and hopefully witty.

Having written this all out.

I can now say without a doubt,

I remember the first time I…

Read out one of my poems – oh my!

Creative Writing Class - A song

As a child I lived in Geneva for four years, attending French school and living a continental lifestyle.  I learnt to speak French fluently, I learnt to ski, to eat croissant and fondue, to play French elastic and many other wonderful things.  However the most valuable lesson I learned, one that I have used on many occasions and shared with many people, I learned from my Lutins Group (Lutins is the Swiss equivalent of Guides), and that is how to sing, in French, Do your ears hang low, Do they wobble too and fro...!

Creative Writing Class - A letter

My Grandmother has always been a force to be reckoned with in my life.  A far cry from the image of the loving Grandmother in a rocking chair, sitting knitting by the fireside with me at her knee sucking toffees and eagerly telling her all my childhood imaginings.  Instead she was a person to fear, to always behave impeccably in front of and to understand that, without question, she was right.  She always says she loves discussion, but woe betide anyone who contradicts her.  Unfortunately as I've grown older this has meant that my visits to her are few and far between as I am reluctant to be in such a position.

One of her favourite topics is religion and how everyone should have certain beliefs.  About 15 years ago, after yet another lecture about religion during which I'd kept my head down and thoughts elsewhere (anything not to give in to my urge to answer her back), I decided to write and send Granny my thoughts on the topic.  Th!e letter turned out to be a bit of a missive and had quite an effect on me.  I was astonished at my depth of feeling and sure she could not fail to be as moved as I.

Granny rang to say that she had received the letter and that I would get an answer in the post as she felt that it was worthy of a considered reply...it never came.

Last year when my Mother was clearing Granny's house following her move into a care home, I received a folder containing many of the letters that I had written to Granny over the years.  I eagerly opened it and thumbed through the contents.  My letter was there but not, as I expected, with a half finished reply, instead it was covered in red scribbles and notes...Granny had marked it, like a teacher, correcting grammar and spelling mistakes and putting notes in the margin such as Wrong, does not know her bible! and The young really think they know everything!

Creative Writing Class - The Harvest

Experience week so far has been an amazing 'Experience'!  I've realised many things about myself.  One realisation hit me just this afternoon and it has to do with harvesting.  As a person I am constantly beating myself up about the fact that I'm lazy, I don't do enough with my life, but when I look back over what I have achieved just in the last year, I am in awe of myself - did I really achieve all that?

I've fostered a dog for 6 months; I've created a new system at work to deal with intruder and fire alarm calls; I've volunteered at the Olympics; I've been in a car crash and had to buy a new car; I've run a house; I've paid off a 5 year loan; I've designed a successful treasure hunt for a friend's hen do; I've been there for the same friend throughout her wedding preparations and the day itself and many other things beside.

What a rich and wonderful life I lead.  I've harvested so much from it, I only hope I can safely say that I've sown as much as I've reaped.

Creative Writing Class - My hands

From my soul via my hands this is the beginning, the new beginning of my writing.  I've always dabbled before, but have never had the confidence to really go for it.  When inspiration hits I need to get it on paper there and then.  The trouble is that inspiration hits at the most awkward of times.  Whilst in the shower, whilst driving up the fast lane of a motorway or whilst picking up after my dog - I never have a pen and paper handy at these times.  How do I keep this in my mind?  I've tried recording it on my phone, but when I listen back to it the inspiration is lost, along with the full impact of the words.

Creative Writing Class

Ok, so I obviously need help with the inspiration thing...I went to a Creative Writing class last week and came out with a few ramblings (see next few posts)...am I on the right path?

I have to say it was one of the most hilarious evenings I have had in a long time.  My German friend was mistaken by a Scot, as a Scot and he called her Calvinistic!

We all sat in a circle and on the table in the middle were about a dozen pieces of paper, face down, with subjects on them.  We took it in turns to pick one and then write something to do with that subject.

Enjoy!

My life flashed before my eyes...

...that was how I imagined it would be anyway.

I had a car accident about a month ago and as usual, the reality was far from my imaginings.

I was on the M4 and had to do an emergency stop.  I stopped short of the car in front and glanced up into the rear view mirror.  In a split second the Mini that had been up my backside for the last couple of miles veered right in an attempt to miss me.  I don't remember the impact, but I remember realising that the airbags had deployed and (far from my life flashing before my eyes) being annoyed because they showered dust all over the inside of the car.

Note to self - Buy mini-vac for car.

The dream...

Inspiration will hit, the words will flow, my fingers will be a blur over the keyboard and the funniest blog in the history of blogs will launch into cyber space.

The reality...

2 cups of tea, a whole 100g bar of Green & Black's white chocolate, a dozen well practised procrastination techniques and this is as far as I've got...