Deja moo

Oh sweet Jesus! This blog thing is not working out. Funny how I can always think of a million things to write about when I'm on the train… or in the car… or brushing my teeth… But of course when it comes to actually writing, I'm the world's biggest procrastinator. WTF? This must change.

So.

New blog title. For now. (Because I'm commitment-phobic like that.) With 2014 coming to a rapid close, it's also time for a little introspection, which is why I'm planning to get stuck into this (again):

Back to el blog. This time around, I'm also dropping the cloak-and-dagger approach because let's face it, when you're in your mid-thirties (as I am), you really need to own what you say and do. I won't be sharing my address or bank account number but I'm not hiding behind a cryptic profile pic and a silly pseudonym. This is me. Take it or leave it. And yes, sometimes I swear.

Under toad

So since I've been taking a train into town every day instead of facing rush hour traffic en route to the office by car, I've had the chance to catch up on a lot of reading. It's been glorious. (The reading, absolutely NOT the train.) Lately I've read The Goldfinch (fairly decent, though I don't think it's worth the hype), Doctor Sleep (Stephen King's sequel to The Shining, which I thoroughly enjoyed), and a book by one of my all-time favourite authors – We Are Water by Wally Lamb. Like She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True, it's a touching and poignant read. Intricate and all-consuming. Lovely.

However, today I finished The World According to Garp and wanted to share how much I enjoyed it. What a fantastic read. Witty, touching, thoughtful and thought-provoking – it's everything a good novel should be. Published in 1978 (I think?), it's been around for a while. A good friend recommended this book to me a few years ago, though I only got round to reading it now. I wish I had read it sooner. If this novel is anything to go by, I'm looking forward to reading other books by John Irving.

If you haven't yet read it, consider adding it to your Kindle.

Word nerd anthem

I loved the original but this version is almost better. But that's because I'm a copy editor and have to deal with mangled and abused English on a daily basis.

Presenting Weird Al Yankovic's Word Crimes. You're welcome.

(Dumb mouth-breather? Brilliant!)

Well this is awkward...

Yeah, so it's been a while. For a wordsmith, this so-called blogger has sorely neglected her little blog. As in locked-up-in-a-basement. With no windows or chocolate. Josef Fritzel style.

What the hell happened? Life, that's what. It's a pathetic excuse and I won't go into detail. All that matters is that I'm back.

I've also given it a new look along with a brand spanking new title. So long Fluffy Pink Thing, hello Serendipity & Stilettos. Serendipity is my favourite word in the entire world. And I like stilettos, even though I consider them modern-day instruments of torture. Anyway, the point is, it's metaphorical. The new title has a ying/yang feel to it… polar opposites… contrast and all. Because that's what my life is like. It's what I'm like.

So yes, this blog is back in business. And by 'business' I mean it'll be updated a lot more regularly. Expect a mixed bag of tricks. Long waffly posts, snippety pieces, a little ranting, occasional raving and of course, things that I like (pics of adorable animals, firemen, adorable animals with firemen…). And with any luck, there'll be some fairly intellectual stuff here too. Food for thought and all that.

On that note, let's get this party started (high five).