December 2020

Hello and welcome to my last post of this most peculiar year. We’ve been in and out of Lockdown, fluxating (apparently not a word but I like it) in so many tiers that we, here in London finally lay 2020 to rest in Tier 3.

Considering the year, it’s been one of my busiest to date. I’ve certainly been more focused. I’m not sure I’m enjoying the brain congestion though. The more I do, the less clear headed I feel! I have however, interviewed a grand total of 62 men, written a short play and kept relatively sane by doing lots of yoga and not cooked a meal since March!

I’ve spoken to men all over the world, literally from Australian to California and Basingstoke to Bradford! It’s a wonderful project and I am enjoying learning how men think. However this will be my last ‘100’ project. I have the exuberance of a twenty something but the mind and body of someone who can’t keep up this pace. All the conversations I’m hearing are wonderful but my hard drive has no more room and the storage capacity is full! In fact this whole process has taken me back to a childhood memory…

When I was 10 and in my last year at primary school, the teacher asked us all to do a project on The Great Fire of London. I remember getting very excited and thinking of all the endless possibilities. I’d get my mum to drive me to London (only 250 miles away!) so I could do research at the British Library, take photos of Pudding Lane etc etc! My imagination ran away with me and in the end I achieved nothing! I’m a typical Sagittarius - I think BIG, I’m over enthusiastic and a little OTT. Time to taper down - after this book.

A few lovely things happened this month: I went on ‘Happy Talk’ a new podcast by presenter Fayon Dixon. I met her at Riverside Radio last year. She has such positive energy - have a listen.

My short play was performed by two actors on Zoom where they really brought it to life. I used themes and material from my conversations and created a men’s monologue. It was very moving. I’ll share it next year when I’ve finished all of them.

Before we went into Tier 3, I managed to get out to visit some of my stockists and a lovely new shop - Morocco Bound in Bermondsey. A book shop that sells books and locally brewed craft beer! It’s in a lovely location and you can rent space to if you need a venue for something creative next year.

I told you about the charity Children Heard and Seen in the summer who set up a book club for the parents. They chose my book - Collecting Conversations as their first book and over several weeks addressed some of the questions. Last week the group invited me to join them on Zoom. What a great bunch of women. I spent a couple of hours listening to their stories and got an insight into their worlds. Living with a partner in prison must produce some challenges. Sadly, there is a lot of prejudice and shame that these families have to live with. The charity are always on the look out for mentors so if you fancy offering your support, get in touch - here’s the link.

That’s it from me. Not the best year, but not the worst either. It’s had it challenegs for a lot of people and it will certainly go down in history. I’d like to wish you a very lovely Christmas and hope that next year I can share my book ‘Men Talk’.

Lots of love and HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Fluxating isn’t a word but I like it