Friday 10 February 2017

Chilly, but still time to Celebrate The Small Things

The flurry of snow we had this morning turned to water before it hit the ground, thank goodness, but it's still too cold for my liking. On the other hand, I do have fabulous central heating (she says, touching wood) - unlike the homeless guy Paul I was talking to on Wednesday morning. He and others like him sleep in The Cage, an area behind the library. The council will house them somewhere temperarily if the temperature drops below freezing, even if that means a school sports hall; but as he said, just because it's above freezing doesn't mean it's warm. Fortunately, there is a night shelter opening here in a couple of weeks' time. It's a drop in the ocean really, but it's a start. Remember, people, it might be a cliche, but we really are all only three pay cheques away from homelessness.

For me, in my comfortable middle class life, it's been a week of possiblities. Someone I met at the HE Bates awards night last week has invited to me to judge a competition, which is very flattering. I've also been asked to do a couple of sessions with a local sixth form on coping with exam stress. I've even had my photo taken to go alongside a guest blog I've written for the Association of Freelance Writers. Anyone who knows me in real life will appreciate what a big deal this is - the photo, I mean, not the blog. Blogs I can do: photos - not so much. Finally,  I've learned that a book proposal has moved one step closer to acceptance - still a way to go, but you never know.

Have a lovely weekend, folks.

Want to join in and celebrate with us? Hop over to Lexa's blog here and sign up.

14 comments:

  1. It is cold here too, no snow though! You are so right, we should be thankful for the luxury of a roof over our heads and heating. There are so many who are homeless.

    You have lots of positive things to celebrate this week, enjoy your weekend.

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  2. OMG what a list of celebrations! Congrats on the judging invite, the teaching gig, the blog & photo, and the book proposal! And thanks for being kind to the homeless man. It must be horrible not to have a home or a warm place during the winter. Have a good weekend!

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  3. Homelessness is a national disgrace. I don't know how people living on the streets manage to survive in this weather. There is so much need for more public funding in so many different areas - in my opinion the government ought to increase the basic rate of tax.
    Congratulations on your achievements during the past week.

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    1. I agree, but it would have to be ringfenced. I'd also like to claw back the money being spent on HS2.

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  4. Sounds like a satisfying week for you, Julia. Thanks for reminding us about the terrible situation for those with no warm and safe homes.

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  5. What a lot of positive things, Julia. Judging competitions is great fun.

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    1. Apparently there will be a team of three of us, so I shan't have the burden of responsiblity on my own, Wendy.

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  6. I've been camera shy my whole life. Now that I'm older, I kind of wish I had more pictures of me when I was still young. Hm. I might say this again in twenty years. Where's that camera?

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    1. It's ridiculous, isn't it? I mean, people see us in real life everyday, so it's not as though they don't already know what we look like.

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  7. Wow, H E Bates awards? I didn't know such a thing existed. One of my favourite books is Fair Stood The Wind For France by H E Bates.

    Congratulations on your achievements and for being so kind to remember the homeless during your busy week. xx

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