Apologies for the tumbleweeds blowing through my blog this month. NaNoWriMo gave way to the flu and even when I’ve had an idea to blog the combination of hiding under the duvet and blogging aren’t always mutually compatible. My sister has just been round to feed me and drop off essential supplies – milk so I can keep myself in warm cups of tea, grapes because they have too many at their house (though it does nicely fit with the theme of being ill) and of course chocolate.
I did attempt …

Fresher’s week is finally kicking off in Durham. Nearly everything in the library is ready for the return of the students and now my attention is turned to meeting my first year tutees this afternoon.
The college tutor system at Trevelyan is all about pastoral care, so as a tutor you are a mix of friend and mentor throughout their undergraduate study. I have fifteen students this year, but only eight first years… that’s enough names to remember for today!
I have kicked off Fresher’s week in style by going out on …

I wrote this guide for my friend Iain who’s off to NYC this week, but thought I might as well blog it too. So I added in my favourite girly places (as I didn’t think Iain would be bothered about those, but you might!) I’ve tried to keep it short and sweet… but cramming a week of New York into a tiny number of words is somewhat of a challenge!
I would also like to thank my wonderful friends Liz (@LadyBowers) and Catherine for exploring the city with me on my …

After a few slightly more serious blogs I thought it was a time to lighten things up a notch or two. Something I’m apparently very good at according to my colleagues.
Take the situation on Friday morning. There were interviews, two candidates for a role within my team. When the team and candidates got together for our morning tea we found ourselves sat in a fairly big circle. After the introduction there was nothing to say. Uncomfortable silences are bad at the best of times, but with the memory still clear …

When I told people my intention to move to Durham, a city I had visited only three times in my life (as a child, as a drunken student and for my job interview), on more than one occasion I was told that I was brave. I didn’t think it was particularly brave. I was moving for a job that was a lot less stressful than my current one, to a place that would allow me to be lazier than I ever was in London. As for making friends, how hard …

In my previous job I had to get up ridiculously early and I hated it. I am not a morning person in the slightest. So I was surprised to find that when it came to research for my novel I was willing to get up at 5.15am, having taken a days holiday from work. It is funny the affect that dreams and determination can have on you!
The first half (or so) of the book takes place around the area of Colliers Wood and Morden in South London. (Google Map). I …