Still Not Enough Rice Pudding

I got to the museum in plenty of time on Wednesday to take over the evening storytelling shift while David went off to appear in Wuthering Heights. Five minutes later, my first audience came in...

It went well. My two young actress volunteers improvised their way through Elizabeth Woodville and Jacquetta of Luxembourg's story and it was different every time. They were enthusiastic and creative and had fun... I hope!

The last group had a few kids, including one who was all 'yeah, yeah, I'm bored, this isn't scary'... and we managed to get him to shut up and listen. YES!

Sadly, the BBC didn't come to film us as they couldn't get permissions to film everything they wanted, so they went to another part of the tour instead. Boo.

I made sure the girls were back safe at rendezvous point in the library, where I learned the tours were running about 40 minutes late. So, no trek to the pub for all the tour lot then. But I still had to go to see how my comedy night was doing... and the answer was, not so well. Lessons learned there, I'm afraid. Still it was lovely to talk to Pat Burtscher and Will Marsh.

I also made sure I got to see James Acaster, David Trent and Jake Moore doing their thing this week, as it was the last chance for me as we have diary clashes elsewhere. So funny! I was super-cold in the club, though, and a bit head-achey, so I think this weekend some lurg-fighting TLC is required.

I was super-glad that with very careful budgeting last month, despite the fact I didn't get a full wage, I managed not to go overdrawn. That's a couple of beers' worth of money transferred to the wedding/convention/Christmas budget. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of booking conventions at lower rates like I used to, as well. That will also save money.

I'm also getting more editorial work coming through now, which is great. The future is on its way.

So, it's the start of the month. Here are some goals:

Health and fitness - hope I can build up to going swimming later this month. I've also volunteered to marshal at parkrun until I'm well enough to run it again.

Wedding - I need to book the venues in Gretna and Northampton.

Conventions - Sci-Fi Weekender - deposit is sent. Just need to make sure we have a full caravan now.

Creative ideas - I'm performing poetry at a Christmas Lights switch on in December and there are merchandising possibilities... make a CD? What would go down better, I wonder... a general poetry CD or a Christmas album? Not long to decide.

I've also got to submit a piece for Northampton Science Fiction Writers Group. I might rewrite my 90s nostalgia story, or I already have a novella chapter written and submitted somewhere... but a crit is only useful if that somewhere is a dead end. Let's see what can be achieved over the next 2 weeks.

I've got to finalize the line-up for the Christmas Cabaret at the Racehorse. Exciting stuff! We have punk-jazz poetry, comedy, burlesque and geek show sideshow magic so far!

Writing comedy material on the joy of crap discos.

Must. Do. More. Knitting!

Leisure time - I'm planning very little in this month: a party on Friday, cinema trip on Tuesday. Frugality rules. Neil and I are planning to make a date to see either a TV film or DVD (old or borrowed) at least once a week. Last week's was Spirited Away, lent to us by a friend a few months back. That's how busy we've been! *Guilt* This week, Princess Mononoke from the same friend. Then we can post them back.

I also intend to read at least 2 books a month for pleasure - as in, not obliged to for a review or work. Am currently enjoying Joanne Harris's The Lollipop Shoes.

Frugality and money - I want to put a good chunk towards the wedding this month - it will probably have to go straight out again on securing the venues, but that will feel like progress. Hopefully Neil will have stuck to budget to get a new freezer.

declutter Kitchen cupboards, your time has come!

With a belly full of porridge with sweet, sweet syrup, a man who makes me cake on a weekly basis, a lovely family and great friends, I've got a lot to be grateful for right now. I count my blessings, and though the most important person of all is going to be missing this year, I don't think I've ever appreciated Christmas more as a time of reflection and thankfulness. Not all of the Christmas message is going to reach me, obviously, but I think I'm getting the gist.

So, we're all skint. I have told my family it will be a thrifty Christmas, and not to expect gifts bought in regular shops... but you know, a good part of me thinks this is no bad thing. We can no longer afford to get all our shopping from the supermarkets, even, but I have to say, when I saw Jason King, CEO of Sainsbury's on Question Time a couple of weeks ago, I did feel annoyed that he felt he wasn't one of the unworthy fat cats on his £900K salary... plus bonuses. Not when he is replacing people with machines in his stores. Not when he works with a charity called Fareshare that is run entirely on the food donations bought by the customers from his own shops. Matching the donations with food that would otherwise be wasted as it has passed its sell-by date is a good idea, though. I think they should be doing that anyway, past the 1.2 million meals pledged.

So, I've been using market veg (and recently car boot veg bought by the seal sanctuary near N's parents in Donna Nook) to make skinflint soup for my lunch every day: a couple of carrots, a hunk of swede, maybe some onion or onion flakes. Add what you like: coriander, curry powder, ginger, chilli, herbs (mixed herbs 19p Asda), a bit of stock (veg stock cubes 10p for 10, Sainsbury's - thanks Jason King!). Bish, bash, bosh - soup at under 5p a portion!

To ring the changes, I did use a bought puff pastry sheet last week to make some nice tarts that always make me think of Christmas, possibly because of the cheerful red colour. Caramelise a big red onion, adding a dash of balsamic vinegar towards the end. Cut a puff pastry sheet into 4 and spoon on the onions, crumble over some Welsh goats cheese (Abergavenny soft £1.35 - I used half a pack) and some sprigs of thyme. Glaze the edges with milk and bake at 180 degrees centigrade for 12 minutes or so. Lovely!




Such straitened times mean I can't afford to go travelling to far flung places to play comedy gigs for no money (yeah, more paid gigs, please!)so I am grateful to the lovely Tamsyn and Joe of The Nook Cafe at the Fishmarket who let me help out at some of their gigs. I get to see some great acts and have a lovely time... and so can you! Future gigs coming up include James Acaster on 22nd of this month and Josie Long next month on 26th, but THIS Saturday is American comic, Lewis Schaffer, whose show is called Free Until Famous. That's his pledge - he will gig for free until he is famous... so that won't be for long.*

Gig starts at 8, and tickets must be booked from The Fishmarket in advance, even though they are free. We expect this one to be popular.



Right, I'm off to catch my bus... I'm taking a knitting bag with me... kindly donated to me by N's mom. Putting it to good use, so expect knobbly woolly things from me for Christmas!
*There will be a bucket at the end to chuck donations into.