My Creative Everyday

  The London Marathon is special, but no one predicted that they would break records in 2026. It officially broke the Guinness World Records title for the largest number of finishers in a marathon with 59,830 runners crossing the Finish Line. It was a sunny day which turned cooler in the late afternoon which brought on the happy vibes for locals, family, pets and friends supporting the participants at the 21 mile mark of the 26.2 miles.  From the superheroes in costumes, on wheels or in regular running gear, we got smiles, victory signs and thumbs up for the camera. There was love from partners and parents which warmed our hearts.  Just a few of those in costume included were:  Adam Winkworth for Age UK dressed as a Giant Blue Telephone,  Horsham charity director at Hope and Homes for Children with a giant teddy bear on his back, Pete Garratt. Jam the T. rex, a 2-metre tall, 4-metre long, 25kg dinosaur with the support of Sam Bryan, Joe Parsonage, Tom Brie ...

Everyone needs tips for social media and most people struggle, even if they've thousands of likes, follows and comments.  I say this whilst we're in the heart of the Christmas period, which can feel overwhelming. It's magical with decorated trees and festive excitement filled with catch ups.  Then there's technology, namely this morning a post draft disappearing, 30 minutes lost and you decide you can't face rewriting it!  I see why those new to social media struggle. Even when you've been doing it for as long as I have, and you love it mostly, you still have days where you think, I just don't have time for this.  Remember,  1. it's not always like this, 2. some platforms are better than others, &  3. the days the tide flows in a certain direction, stop swimming against it!  With any task, there's bits you enjoy and others, not so much. If you focus just on the negative, eg all the blood, sweat and tears, you'd never get to the end when it al...

With announcements that And Just Like That , the love-hate Sex n The City return to TV, limping to an end, I'm not surprised. I watched some of the first season on a longhaul flight back to Australia, and the online lacklustre for it over the years reflects my impressions of those episodes I saw.  Was it ever going to work without Kim Cattrall?  I've just finished watching How I Met Your Father , and whilst it took a little while for me and the actors to settle in, it is a show I wish had continued beyond it's two seasons because Kim Cattrall and Hillary Duff were such a joy.  The main character is an aspiring photographer, which resonated with me and the last few years where I've experimented with my camera, carrying it around instead of a notebook and pen.  Leighton Meister was in it too which was a cool surprise. The episodes where cast from HIMYM featured were massive stand outs.  Spoiler also - Aidan from Sex n The City (John Corbett) is in HIMYF!!! Reflect...

  Words have power. The lines of Freddie's songs have become anthems. They have immortalised a man who dared to experiment and challenge existing norms.  As I walked through the exhibition, a recreation of his home, among all his personal belongings, it was a chance to glimpse someone I knew very little about. It deepened my love for his songs and music. It made me realise what a genius he was.  To be honest, I liked the songs, but after the exhibition, I listened to them, connecting to the man behind the lyrics. I began reading one of the biographies. I've watched his concerts, which seem to play more on television these days. There's a renewed interest in Queen and perhaps, like me, Freddie Mercury has found new fans in 2023.   My YouTube series about the exhibition found a vast audience, reaching more than 20,000 views. Music, videos and photography, as a creator and consumer, add so much to my life as a writer. I wanted to make more videos in 2023, and devel...

Source:  @margotrobbieofficial on Instagram Pink mania is upon us with the release of the new Barbie movie, starring Margot Robbie.  The colour pink has a remarkable history. There's loads of fun facts, ranging from its origins to psychology, nature, science and consumerism. Take a peak at the colour pink.  Origins Of The Colour Pink Before the early 1600s, pink, was simply referred to as a shade of red. The colour pink came into existence in the English language when a specific rose tint was created for Madame de Pompadour by the renown Sèvres porcelain company. Madame de Pompadour was a mistress of Louis XV who famously loved pink clothes. She was one of the most powerful women in 18th-century France.    Originally, ‘to pink,’ which dates back to the fourteenth century, was used as a verb and means ‘to decorate with a perforated or punching pattern.’  A Pink Peony - Hay On Wye Flowers The colour pink was named after the flowers, pinks, which have frilled ...

In a story full of plot twists, Phillip Schofield's exit from ITV is a game of public relations as it becomes a he said and they didn't.  It's a toxic place, some people are saying. The smiley illusion of breakfast morning television has been smashed to daytime crumbles of biscuits.  The whispers of scandal on mainstream media, have apparently been widely discussed on social media for some time. I watched a few TikTok videos, and I guess we'll see how it all unfolds, how much of the rumours are fact and indeed, how it is all managed by the various parties.  This is the real life drama of when secrets come out, though it seems this secret was out for awhile, just not out for everyone. It's trending on social media and hitting front pages of newspapers.  What is fascinating is the impact on brands - not just Phillip Schofield's, but also his co-star's, the This Morning show and the broadcasting network, ITV.  The inciting incident seems to be Philli...

I did my first Instagram live during the London Marathon on Sunday. I've posted some videos on my YT channel, TIkTok and on my YouTube IG highlight.  Yesterday's marathon video, which is on the top of this blog, took 7 hours to make. That's not including the hours of recording I did. The London 2022 highlights video which I made at the beginning of the year took around 5 days.  In 2023, I'm learning video making. It feels like I'm improving. :p One of the TikTok versions got 2k views, which was thrilling.  The marathon had an amazing atmosphere, with heart-warming moments and some that put a huge smile on my face.  There are many stories within the story of the 2023 marathon. I think that's why I became fascinated & excited about it this year. The participants were inspiring, entertaining and showed how amazing everyday people can be.  The route has remained largely unchanged since the marathon began in 1981. It includes many of the capital’s landmarks. You ...

  Some of the 50 points of advice from an 80-year-old man, plus others Henry Cavill didn't mention:  1. Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out. 😇 2. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have. 🙏 3. When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go. 🤗 4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. 🥳 5. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did. 💪 6. Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you. ❤️ 7. Always accept an outstretched hand. 🤝 8. Wave at the children on a school bus. 👋 9. Begin each day with some of your favourite music. 🎶 10. Don’t expect life to be fair. 🫠 I first saw a snippet of the Henry Cavill 50 points from an 80 year old on TikTok . I've included the original GMA interview he did at the top of this post.  I tried to do an Instagram remix on this...

  This tip will save you money if you want to buy fresh flowers or plants at Columbia Road Flower Market.  Go at the end of the day!  There are bargains as sellers pack up. If you're happy to buy something that might end up in the bin and it hasn't been someone else's first choice, then it's worth it.  I love buying long stem roses or lillies.  The sellers are friendly and it's a market that's definitely worth visiting.  Watch the YouTube video I uploaded this week which I've included at the top of this post. I'm enjoying being creative on different platforms.  Please subscribe to my channel too. It has lots of videos about nature, London and fun facts.  Have a great time at Columbia Road flower market and share your tips in the comments of this blog or through any of my social media.  -------------------------------- E.M. Blake is the author of 'Dilly Dally Sally' and 'This Silly Bench.' She's also on Twitter and lots of other social...

Welcome to Wellness Wednesday, where this  foodie is trying to take care of her diet, and no, it doesn't involve sacrificing deliciousness for healthiness. As someone who loves food, I've always found it challenging to strike a balance between indulging in my favorite flavors and making sure I'm treating my body well. But over time, I've come up with some strategies that work for me. And by "work for me," I mean they make me feel like I'm living my best life while still fitting into my jeans. The Usual Healthy Eating Tips I've followed all the usual tips: 1. Embrace the power of herbs and spices.  2. Getting creative with veggies. 3. Treating myself, but doing it mindfully.  4. Making meal prep a fun activity, not a chore. 5. And finally ... I'm not taking it all too seriously. At the end of the day, food is meant to be enjoyed. Yes, it's important to take care of your body and make choices that support your health, but that doesn't mean yo...

  Gary Lineker has been all over the British news for a controversial tweet about immigration which began as a retweet, but it was the reply which got him into hot soup.  The pundit wrote it's "beyond awful" and called the government's policy "an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most vulnerable people in language that is not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s.  He was removed from his role as pundit on Match of the Day because he refused to delete the tweet. His colleagues joined him in solidarity and in a bizarre twist, the football program aired without commentary.  Can you believe, 500,000 tuned in to watch Match of the Day on Saturday night and it was watched by 2.6 million viewers, according to BARB overnight figures? The Premier League match highlights on Saturday was a largely silent presentation. The iconic theme tune and opening sequence were absent.  There were of course jokes. Twitter can be a funny place too.  One fan wrote, ...