My Scatty Scrapbook (Writer's Inspiration)

I’ve Got An Itch…

Hi! Gosh, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’ve not had the best 12 months. As I am sure many of you can say the same. I’m not going to mention the ‘P’ word. We have all heard that enough over the last year. And are still hearing it on the daily. So that aside, I’ve also come through divorce. Lockdown Part One was not the best time to be divorcing someone, I can tell you. Still, things got…

The Divorce Diaries: Day 1 #blogging #lifeevents #divorce

Hello, You.

Yeah so this is happening. I am getting a divorce. That is why I haven’t blogged for a while. I’ve needed some time to process what is going on.

But then I thought – hey. Maybe I should blog about this. I mean, a lot of people go through divorce, don’t they? Maybe it will help someone else.

I am going to share with you the full story. From the beginning. Get it all out of my head to…

Where Have I Been? #lifeevents #blogging #journal

Hi All. I wrote the following post about a month ago. A lot has happened since then so I am publishing it now and I will follow up with where I am at now.

All The Best, Evie J xx

  So I think last week was the first time since I started blogging that I didn’t post.

Hmm. It wasn’t that I didn’t have time, I didn’t know what to say. I had a strange week and I needed a bit of time to process it.

Mon…

2020 Books - So Far #blogging #bookblogpost #writingcommunity #ilovereading #amwriting

I have a lovely block of books by my bed to work through. Even though I have always enjoyed reading, this is the first time in a long time I have had a ‘TBR’ pile. I have found that now my children, Laura and Xand are a bit older, I can keep my eyes open a bit longer in the evenings and at weekends to read more.

Via Goodreads I have set myself a goal of 20 books this year – but I am hoping to…

Crumbs: A Foodie Post. Excuse the mess. We've been making pizza. #writingcommunity #baking #blogpost #blogging

  Pizza Fun!

Excuse the mess. We’ve been making pizza.

We love a pizza in my house, but I do prefer making my own – it’s cheaper and usually healthier. Ages ago, I found a simple dough recipe that requires no yeast, it’s incredibly quick and the kids love making their own from scratch. I love getting the kids involved in the kitchen from an early age. I was fussy as a kid and only became more…

Notes; Here, There, Everywhere. Google Docs Vs Microsoft Word

Hi Ya. I am brainstorming at you again. It’s just a quickie, I promise. 😉

The thing with writing (I am sure many writers will identify with this), is I am rarely in front of my laptop when an idea strikes. So I have two note pads, a memo app on my phone, and if I am in a real hurry, I make voice notes on my phone.

Now I need to go through all these notes, and type them up so they all in one…

Feeling 'Meh' But Plotting On I've had this itch lately...no, not that kind of itch, you cheeky monkey. #amwriting #writingcommunity #plot

Hello, You.

If I am honest, the winter blues has got hold of me today, and I don’t feel like doing anything. I have cracked on with things, but not with my usual enthusiasm and speed. I just didn’t feel like it. Just feeling a bit meh. And I am OK with that.

Just thought I would pop in and have a chat about the book I am writing. This is me kind of talking at you, brainstorming in a way – that’s…

Dear UK Radio: Please Play The Struts. Thank You...'balls-to-the-wall performance given by The Struts. And the audience gives it back full throttle.' #strutters #thestruts #blogging #rockmusic #blogpost

You may recall a while ago I posted about discovering The Struts, a glam rock/rock band, that I was lucky enough to go and see live back in February. I saw them again in October with my ‘Ride or Die’ – she likes to be known as ‘Sarah’, but that’s not her real name – depending on who you ask (long story).

A few things were different this time; Different venue:Kentish Town O2 Forum, which felt…

Can't Cancel January...That Would Be Mean...Can I Wear My Duvet?... UK trying to break tension using Taylor Swift song & Ross Gellar hand gesture: 'You Need To Calm Down. You're Being Too Loud.' #blog #amwriting #writingcommunity

So…How Do I ‘Beat’ January Blues? Clue: Do Stuff That I Love Doing.

Oh Dear.

I do feel a bit sorry for January. It starts off as the life and soul of the party, everyone welcomes it in – but, in the words of Prince, parties weren’t meant to last.

We are a week in (already!) and I bet a lot of people are fed up with you, aren’t they January? You’ve stopped being the party animal and instead you’ve…

And A Happy New Year! Last Blog Post of 2019 I usually nod off and Laura wakes me just before the fireworks start. I know, I have no stamina. #blogging #NYE #writingcommunity #amwriting #amreading #happynewyear2020

Wow, where has that last week gone? Come to think of it, where has the year gone?

Impressive Christmas Tree at Hampton Court Palace

It’s been a busy week. Christmas Day started well, kids were wide awake at 6.30AM, perfectly acceptable I thought. We had a few hours of jolly Christmas-ing before Laura caught her toe on a glass coffee jar (long story) which sliced an inch gash in her big toe –…

Not sure I’m cut out for building houses…but it tastes delicious!

Hello Everyone!

Well here we are. Christmas Eve. It’s been a busy one already. I was up at 5.15am, straight to the supermarket before 6am, they had my order ready and waiting, grabbed last minute essentials (loo roll and Bacofoil) and I was out of there in 16 minutes whilst most others were still picking their sprouts. Yes I…

Christmas Favourites: My family discuss their favourite films and songs and I give them a Quality Street-Style rating #blogmas2019 #writers #blogging #christmas2019 #qualitystreet #writingcommunity #justforfun #humour

Quality Street: What’s your favourite?

Hello Everyone,

Are you feeling festive yet?

Aside from food, drink and gawping at everyone else’s Christmas lights in their front window /garden as we drive or walk past their street, Christmas songs and films are surely the entertainment we turn to in the run up to Christmas to get us feeling ‘festive’?

I recently asked my family what their preferred…

Where Is My Christmas Spirit? I Left It Around Here Somewhere...'Laura is ostensibly a typical pre-teen, putting the 'meh' in 'Christ-mehs' #blog #writing #blogmas2019 #christmas #writingcommunity

Christmas Spirit…Gone to my head?

I love Christmas, I truly do.

But…I can only explain this by breaking into song:

‘…all this year’s been a busy blur Don’t think I have the energy To add to my already mad rush Just ’cause it’s ’tis the season…’

That pretty much sums it up. Thank you, The Waitresses, for Christmas Wrapping.

We have our tree up at home, outdoor lights are on…but I still have boxes of…

Legoland Santa Sleepover Experience I immensely enjoyed being bounced around like a giant baby - until I got my arms stuck #myfirstblogmas #blogmas #blogging #amwriting #legoland #christmas

Hellooo!

Guess where we went last weekend? Go on, guess!

Yep – Legoland, Windsor. For the annual Santa Sleepover.

We didn’t tell the kids where we were going so when we turned the car into the park entrance,  I looked around at my daughter Laura’s ecstatic face – my son Xand however, was fast asleep – Laura frantically nudging him and shouting ‘Legoland!’. He couldn’t quite believe it until we…

‘Twas One Of “Those” Days

Hello!

I hope you are all having a good week!

I thought I would share with you a ‘raw’ diary moment – my week has been on the manic side – I am doing some overtime at work next week so I have been frantically trying to keep on top of things at home, and get my Christmas shopping (almost) done and make time for writing, as I know I won’t have as much time to get everything done next week.

Wednesd…

How To Keep Calm And Not F**k Up Christmas: Part Two Drink just enough to remain functionally jolly, without getting the 'Grants' (Gin Rants) #blogmas #amwriting #blogmas2019 #writingcommunity #writers #blogging

Good Day, Fellow Elves,

Photo by Public Domain Pictures on Pexels.com

Here I continue on from my last post, part one of what I have learnt what to do (or not to do) to keep calm and not completely f**k up Christmas:

Don’t bust a gut getting the house clean ‘For Christmas’:In previous years, I have exhausted myself on Christmas Eve cleaning the whole house top to bottom, including windows and…

How To Keep Calm and Not F**k Up Christmas: Part One Don't take your mum out on Christmas Eve and get her drunk. Especially if she is meant to be cooking Christmas dinner #blogmas #amwriting #writingcommunity #blogging #bloggers

Photo by bruce mars on Pexels.com

I am a Christmas nut. A Chestnut, if you like. As we are now into December, I am gearing up to fully Christmas the Dickens out of myself. I have learnt from the Ghosts of Christmases Past that there is no such thing as a perfect Christmas. By sharing my little anecdotes I hope they make you chuckle a little, relieve a bit of stress and bring you a some Christmas…