h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Or rather, *not* writing a book.

What with one thing and another I've had to do a lot of writing 'what we do and how we do it' for my business, so I thought - I could turn that into a book as well.

It's hard to get started. Thursday I gathered lots of stuff together, everything I've already done, some of it over years of training staff, sending emails, writing job ads, etc and some other books for research. The only thing that's missing is the noteboook I filled with ideas and plans after some seminars which is actually a disaster.

Yesterday I stared at it ALL DAY LONG, then finally at about 9pm I stacked it into 3 piles, then used a small mind map I'd made a few months ago to write a table of contents. Then I went to bed.

I think my current excuse is 'I'm waiting for my new tablet to arrive'. MS office stopped working on my laptop and although I'm managing with Open Office I want MS back. So the new tablet has it - it will also be easier to copy type from notes on my lap as there's more space for papers on the sofa - my computer desk is only big enough for the computer. I need a proper office.

Last time I had to write something I spent a lot of time in the library so I wasn't distracted, but there doesn't seem to be a rule for 'quiet please' in libraries anymore. The stuff I still need to write is the stuff I normally just tell people how to do, but I can't train everyone personally, although I am trying!

I've always wanted to write a book (obviously not a burning desire or I would have written one by now), although I thought it would be fiction. h2g2 got me into loving writing factual articles, so let's extend that and see if I can make my millions. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

After I'd written my book I want a TV show - the dog walker inspector. Don't tell anyone that, they'll steal my idea. I've already had my training days idea stolen by someone else... With more money so they can hire an enormous venue!

So you're taking the DNA approach of staring at a blank piece of paper until your forehead bleeds? I'm impressed.

I keep meaning to put together advice on running a household. And a family lexicon. And a family cookbook. And I probably do have the time, it's just in snatched ten minute bursts which isn't terribly helpful.

Libraries are pants nowadays. When Sic used to do drama school I would spend 3 hours each Saturday afternoon in the library. Students would come in and munch their McDonalds and chatter

Mol

Yes, taking inspiration from the king of procrastination, lol! I haven't got writers block though, just lazyitis.

I really have no excuse. Dogs have been walked, nothing to do for the rest of the day except a bit of housework which I can put off - so there's no reason to get nothing done again....

Well, we look forward to this book.

A lot of libraries are called Resource Centres these days, maybe that's why they aren't quiet places any more. But I look forward to your book and the TV project. I've watched your repeat on Channel 4 this week. Is the house still as they left it? Do they come back and do a follow up?

Ha ha, well it would probably be boring to anyone not wanting to work with dogs, but thank you for the thoughts!

coely, erm, well, the bedroom is as they left it, although there are now two boxes on the floor - one waiting to go in a cupboard and the other I just don't know what to do with! It's dusted and hoovered maybe once or twice since they came, but that's more than the 5 years before they arrived!

The living room is still cluttered, and as soon as they left we put it all back where it was before as it didn't work for us that way, but we do clean it more often. Probably still not as often as we probably should! The Kitchen has been part redecorated and had new (second hand) kitchen fitted so has more storage and more counter top so it is easier to keep clean. Just need to finish decorating! Ha ha not gonna happen - I was let down by a friend who promised to do it, so I did the bare minimum to get the new units in and up, but that's cleaned every day - it was cleaned every day (well a cats lick maybe with a bigger clean every month or so) before they came, but they needed a third room and it was the 'worst' of the other rooms.

There has only been once when I wouldn't let a work visitor use the toilet as the upstairs needed cleaning, since then I've been fine letting people up there as I keep on top of it. Can't remember if it was put in the programme before then, but I wouldn't let people up there - including the people who had driven two hours to do a course with me! Blamed health and safety/insurance, lol!

I will always be a reactive cleaner, but it shouldn't get so bad again. I was physically tired after long days which is why it got so bad. It had never been that bad when I had 'proper' jobs, it was only the self-employment!

Oh and they were talking about doing a follow up, but I think that's because they want me to persuade my mum to do the show as well. I don't think they will come back without that.

I have got to find somewhere quiet to go.