My Creative Everyday

  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 ...

I'm sitting in  Sara's Tea Garden in  Leigh On Sea , feeling content about summer and the cream tea in my belly. The scent of the scone when it arrived at the table made my legs weak. It might be one of the best scones I've ever had. I'm terribly pleased there's fresh strawberries in the clotted cream. I wish I could have a second pot of jam, but chastise myself as I am already being too indulgent today.  Of course the anticipation of being at the seaside colours everything into pastel hues, and this oasis garden is safe and cosy.  I'm reminded of the first time I visited. I sat inside and had a slice of Victoria Sponge.  I think of Katherine Mansfield and wish I could recreate her wonder and delicious abandon of being away from home.  But I mustn't dally. The seaside awaits. My belly is full and I'm ready to bake in the sun.  I lay on a towel in the sand, reading a book on my phone. After I pack up, I'm wistful, wishing I could stay longer. Icecrea...

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...

June is nearly upon us. Ice-cream, sunflowers, butterflies, 9pm strolls, a certain carefree bonhomie and all the fabjulous blessings return.  The last few months have been intense, like a whirlpool sucking me in and it's almost ready to spit me out. There is a collective push to demand more of ourselves, perhaps fueled by the cost of living crisis. I've been working on a new book and being in the flow with bursts of creativity, it reminds me why I write. It is also teaching me more about myself, who I am and where I am going.  Videography also consumed hours of my weeks and finally some success, with a TikTok video hitting 300,000 views and 11,500 likes. It was like playing bingo, watching my numbers coming up. It was exciting seeing how many people connected with the story. The TikTok comments provide so much insight into subjects like humanity, kindness, our struggles, compassion and character. Where this will all take me? I don't know. It seems like it might create oppo...

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 ...

Dark tourism is visiting places where some of the darkest events of human history unfolded. Dark tourism is also known as Thana tourism (as in Thanatos), black tourism, morbid tourism, or grief tourism. One definition is that it is tourism involving travel to places historically associated with death and tragedy.  It includes: genocide,  assassination, incarceration,  ethnic cleansing, and war or disaster. Broadly, there are 6 types of dark tourism. These are: War/Battlefield Tourism,  Disaster Tourism,  Prison Tourism,  Cemetery Tourism,  Ghost Tourism,   and  Holocaust Tourism. Did you know, one of the most famous destinations for dark tourism is Chernobyl in Ukraine? The town became famous in April 1986, when a nuclear reactor exploded. Thousands of ppeople were exposed to radioactivity. Tourists visit an area known as the exclusion zone,  In fact, Pompeii is one of the longest standing dark tourism activities, beginning 250...