Spring cleaning and streamlining can be heart-warming and soul destroying. I have literally thousands of magazines that I rarely use, but have built up quite a library (albeit not always ordered) of reference that was there if I needed it. But then I started running out of room and had to do that whole evaluation thing of 'is it worth the space I'm losing it to and could I make a little money off clearing it at the same time?' The answer to the first bit is yes as I've always been a hoarder and though I invariably need something as soon as I chuck it out, I have too much clutter for anything short...

Back when I had the health BLIP at the end of 2008, the doctors said I'd probably have good days and bad days in the months to follow. To be fair, most of my days have been exceptionally good and I know I've been very lucky. However the last 36hrs or so weren't quite as 'chipper' with some light dizziness and aches and just feeling a bit off my game. It's nothing I'm too worried about, partly to be expected, but it was annoying and distracting as I had to limit my time at a computer screen when there's a strong need for me to be at it a lot (Cause and Effect, I guess).  But feeling...

I've recently decided that every single day I should acheive something. I fully admit that on certain days, getting up will fall into that category, but if I write something, design something, clean something, sort something or just something something then I can look back and say the day wasn't a washout. This weekend there was a lot of somethings done. I managed to design six DVD sleeves for HLWW, work on the design for another possible project that I hope to hear more about this week, finish an article for Impact, get things packaged for ebay and also sort some more stuff for the local auction...

Today was almost spring-like, which for those of you not in England, means it didn't actually quite rain. There are times when I feel like the show-runner of my own life. Like Joss Whedon but with no vampires, less death, fractionally less angst and just a bit less interesting when viewed from the outside (So, Dollhouse, I guess?). I kinda look back (or ocassionally forward) and spot the themes of the year. 2008 was definitely nick-named 'Watershed' and I had the feeling well in advance that certain stuff would come to a head and if not a tectonic shift, then certainly an alphabetising...

I'm sure it's not down to Comic Relief, (hence the nose to the left of this blog entry) but I've been in a funny mood all day.  Funny as in strange, rather than in 'Ha-ha... Mosby, you're so HI-larious!' Pretty sure I was dreaming about  chilling out with Jill, her pets, chocolate and for some strange reason, the art of Facebooking, when the cell-phone alarm woke me up. Got up early ready for my tried and trusted accountant to come around and pick up my financials. He got lost on the way to my house. Thank God I don't believe in metaphors. Had a long chat about the nefarious...

Well, I'm okay to go to America. Or at least, ESTA likes me. That's the first line of defence against undesirables wanting to go to the US and very similar to that pesky green form that asks you if you were ever a terrorist, saboteur or member of the Nazi party and, more importantly, if you're bringing any meat or fish into the country. I have no plans on any of those levels, so all should be good. I have about forty days to go, so I'll probably start throwing things into one of the bags in the...

So, a good eight months before I usually get around to a week of scrutinising them this closely, I've spent the last two days going through my accounts for last year (well, Nov '07 to Oct '08) in a bid to head the taxman off at the pass. Yes, yes, I appreciate it's all legal and essential(ish), it's just the attitude with which I've been talked to at by Taxwoman that sucks. Ah well, I'm quite pleased that I've managed to document all the needed material in only 48hrs and without having to complain to my bank about missing statements and the like. So now it's just down to the ironic hope that I...

Despite the outwards signs of a jet-setting lifestyle and the high visibility industry in which I've chosen to be industrious, this is not the kind of profession to enter if you wish to make a lot of money. There are perks and moments of glamour, but all too often it's a hard slog. Ask any writer and they'll tell you that however shiny the finished product, there's blood, sweat and years that go into it. Ask any freelance writer and after the weeping stops they'll also tell you that they do it for the love, because they couldn't do it for the money. But they'd still appreciate that cheque, please....