Clare Macnaughton's Blog, page 31
January 6, 2014
Real Life: 2014 Year of the Blog
It’s bliss at my house. I am home alone. The Grenade and The Menace are back at school. Hagar is back at work. For me, I have a year of endless unknown opportunity ahead of me. I have no work contracts lined up; it’s just me, my blog, my book, my You Tube channel and you, the reader. I watched Daybreak on ITV, this morning and heard that the chancellor is talking about a further £25 billion in austerity cuts. The wind is raging and the rivers are flooding and there is a foreboding sense that the general public are now on their own to weather the storms of the future. At least, we all know where we stand. It’s time to protect our own interests. I recognised that 4 years ago when the blizzards cut off the supply chain and the supermarkets emptied. It was why I moved to the country and rented a rambling, old house, with minimal heating but instead log fires. Watch it here – on AMMMTV
For me, 2014 is the year of the blog. Blogging has come on so far in the three years since I began. It’s creating so many opportunities for individuals who want to own their destiny. I have watched the independent, online blogging community grow and strengthen year by year. Business is finally cottoning on to the power of owning your own media and being your own journalist. The digital age means that we don’t have to court those in the press to write our words we can be our own press. We can make things happen for ourselves.
There is the culture in the military, where the spouse is seen as an extension of the serving spouse.
It can be a bitchy place. Any draconian system dominated by outdated traditions and hierarchy is bound to create resentment. The military breeds resentment. I won’t bore you with the detail but if you want to see it live then read this Facebook thread about the above photo. Hagar’s old job was one that meant my blogging made everyone very uncomfortable, although they had no choice because despite that fact that Hagar was in the military – I AM NOT IN THE MILITARY and would never have joined up. It’s just not my bag. This drove them crazy and made them jump up and down like ‘Rumpelstiltskin’. Those days are now past and Hagar and I are now happily separated so I can be an ‘independent writer and blogger’ and he can be who he is.
And so 2014 is the year of the blog. I began blogging because I wanted to be able to write with complete freedom, and although I have had traditional publishing contracts, they often sub your writing. Sometimes they don’t improve your content. This has an impact on my reputation; but, at the same time, takes away control from me, the writer. As part of the journey, it became, also, about brand, and where could I take blog with a branding and marketing head on.
Working closely with my best friend, Fiona MacDuff at Kifi Creative the blog brand identity was born and so we have a logo with which to develop products. The question of today is can you create a brand first and then sell product second?
The blog, then lead to me self publish the book: A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline by Clare Macnaughton on Kindle, Paperback and audio. I have shifted approximately 800 copies since I published in February 2013. I know that many of you have read the book and are keen for me to write the next one, but unless I have dramatically increased the audience, I am unable to invest in the emotionally draining energy that the book will undoubtedly cause, until I am confident there is a readership. SO my lovely readers, if you love the book and you want more then please help me by encouraging your friends to buy, read and review the book. The independent, self-published, female author relies heavily on the support and word-of-mouth of her readers. The bourgeois world of publishing is so misogynist they don’t want a strong, unapologetic female voice unless they can stereotype you first.
I have had some very welcome support from the Women’s Institute. I auditioned for a speaker slot to be a speaker at their weekly meetings and the ladies loved it. I have six Women’s Institute speaker slots booked over the next year. These women have seen it all and what’s interesting to me is that they can’t believe that in some ways women haven’t moved on as far as they would have hoped. Of course, the military exacerbates the situation, especially with a backdrop of conflict to make the circumstances even tougher so I know that there are many women who have more freedom and genuine financial independence than me.
And so with growing the audience in mind I want to take the book one step further and develop it for the stage. I have not written a stage play and so I am looking for a stage writer to help me. I have already found a theatre that is willing to host the play in September 2014. If you are a stage-writer and you are interested in developing this project with me, then please email me at: amodernmilitarymother@gmail.com
In the meantime, whilst I develop the above, this year is about managing my life more productively and with greater efficiency and using the business acumen that the last 20 years of work experience have given me. It’s about time, ‘I ate what I cooked’ by this I mean that I should implement the business practices that I do when I am a consultant working under contract. I am hiring myself, to work for myself to deliver myself some better business. And so it’s back to the database building for me. It’s time to get my blog in order.
How about you? What are your plans for 2014? Do you look upon the year with renewed vigour and optimism?
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January 2, 2014
Real Life – My 2013
This photo was taken New Year’s Day 2013 where I awoke with a black eye, which I was advised to coat with toothpaste in order to dry out the cut. It was not a great start to a turbulent year. Not a publicly turbulent year. A privately turbulent year. Let’s just say I car crashed (nb: this is a metaphor – I DID NOT drink and drive!) into 2013 like a drunken moron. Fortunately, I could scurry away to Paris where I was an English broadcast journalist on the yacht race the Vendée Globe 2012.
You can read all about my #VG2012 experience here – some very bad hair days:
http://amodernmilitarymother.com/tag/vendee-globe
and here:
http://amodernmilitarymother.com/tag/vendee-globe-live
Paris was a great place to hide – although the minute I stopped being a drunken moron I became a sick, lurgy filled moron. However, I discovered French cold and flu relief remedies and soldiered on. I ate a lot of sushi and steak tartare, met Emmanuel Petit and worked ridiculously long days 6am – 8pm. It was awesome.
I came back to Blighty and it snowed so we went sledging.
Then it was back to Les Sables d’Olonne for the winner’s finish. A young rookie won it – Francois Gabart and a Brit came third – Alex Thomson. It was historic for us in our Vendée Globe bubble not sure if many others gave a shit though. I’d like to be wrong. I did find out why the French hate the English so much, apparently it’s because we burnt Joan of Arc.
It was pretty cold so I got a new onesie!
David Willetts invited me to Soldiering On and we danced the night away with sort of celebs. It was slightly surreal.
Then we opened up the French house ready for the summer season. If you fancy a 10% discount then book before 31st January. All details can be found here:
http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/france/FR4420.htm
On the way back we popped into Disneyland Paris and spent an arm and a leg and a torso.
Then I self-published my book.
And went to do some media interviews here’s two:
BBC Breakfast - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI2zZqR7X4s
BFBS Radio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFzhvFN9TDM
The Menace turned 5 years old and then not long after The Grenade turned 10 years old. Where does the time go?
I tried to lick Marco Pierre White – he did mind.
http://amodernmilitarymother.com/celebrity/macnaughty-meets-marco-pierre-white
I recorded a version of my audio book. You can buy it here:
Christo Nicolle took a family photo of us all
http://www.christonicolle.com/
I started a column in The Salisbury Journal
http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/sj_opinion/modern_military_mother/
The Grenade left boarding school and came to live with me so Hagar moved into the mess and Warren Evans gave him a new bed
We got some new pigs and the ducks had ducklings.
A few people in the village got their knickers in a twist about MC Macnaughty - ie; me hosting Stockfest our local musical festival – I may have got drunk last year (2012) and said ‘Strap On’ and it may have offended a few folk not to mention the fact that I was a drunken moron – although some thought it was funny, others struggled to find their sense of humour and then went on to blow the whole thing out of proportion. It all got a bit baity and the village is still kinda recovering from the trivia but I guess that’s village living. Anyway, it was fine and I didn’t get too pissed and it was still fun.
I met Marco Pierre White twice and didn’t try to lick him.
The Grenade and The Menace went to the same school for the first time ever. Things became more settled. There is hope for the future.
The autumn came. Hagar went to Canada for ages.
http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/sj_opinion/modern_military_mother/10683115.Gin_and_Jam/
The Menace needed glasses which she has already lost. The piggies went to market to become Christmas dinner. The Menace broke her arm.
And The Grenade released a single.
itunes.apple.com/gb/album/messed-up-world-single/id766580199
He is raising money for the service family SSAFA. Please support him.
Check out the video.
The Christmas we hunkered down as a family. My column in the Salisbury Journal drew to a close.
And this year we spent New Year’s Eve watching films together as a family and thankfully, I didn’t car crash into 2014.
Happy New Year xxx
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December 18, 2013
A Great Festive Recipe
Christmas is a time to dream about presents, faith, family, lovers and most importantly food, so is it not appropriate to postpone the diets and get down to some serious cake making?! Try our ‘Marble Cake’ which infuses a chocolate and plain mixture with half melted chocolate chunks to create a marble effect! This ‘Marble Cake’ recipe will not only come in handy during Christmas but can make you very popular amongst family and friends…they’ll be asking you to bake it even after Christmas is long gone! Look below for ingredients and how to make the perfect Marble Cake:
A fabulous cake at Christmas
You Will Need:
8 oz of Self-Raising flour
8 oz of white sugar (granulated)
8 oz of Butter (unsalted or salted)
8 oz eggs (usually approx. 4 eggs)
100g chocolate roughly chopped into chunks (I use Aldi everyday essentials milk chocolate but any chocolate brand will do…you can even replace milk chocolate with white or dark)
Nutella chocolate spread (You can put in as much as you like)
Serves 12
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees (Gas Mark 4 or 5)
Start off with blending together the butter (make sure it is softened) and sugar until it becomes a paste.
Add the eggs to the mixture and blend once again until it is mixed thoroughly.
Now add the self-rising flour and mix.
Once this is complete then butter the baking tray and pour the mixture into it using a spatula.
Pour in the Nutella and mix with the spatula in a figure 8 pattern. Keep adding the Nutella until you feel that it is half plain and half chocolate (add less or more depending on what ratio you would like).
Now roughly mix in the chocolate chunks.
Place into the pre-heated oven for approximately 25 minutes. Do not open and close the oven door too much as it can cause the cake to deflate or remain uncooked in certain parts. To check is the cake is cooked stick a knife or fork into the middle and if it comes out clean then the cake is cooked. (Be careful…you might just stab a chunk and think the cake is undone!)
Once done serve hot (with custard or ice cream if you like!) or cold…either way tastes delicious!
So, there you have it! A simple and easy to cook recipe to be enjoyed by all age groups! I hope you have a wonderful holiday break and Merry Christmas to all!
Author Bio:
Former British Airways cabin crew member, Karen Rayner currently lives in Warwick with her husband and two children, Charlotte and Jack. She is the founder of Children’s Funky Furniture, an online furniture store which provides imaginative and creative furniture items that appeal to young children. Karen also writes extensively about how to create artistic and vibrant bedrooms that children can relate to and enjoy. Follow Karen on Google Plus .
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December 17, 2013
Popular children’s bedroom themes
When it comes to decorating your children’s bedrooms, both a combination of creative thinking and elbow grease are required. Sometimes a child’s bedroom is as much fun to decorate as it is to rest in.
Nautical
An underwater theme is a popular choice for many children, especially those who wish to sleep alongside a variety of marine life. From hanging surfboards upon the wall to creating a deep-sea mural to using a treasure chest as a bedside table and a ship as a bed, there are a number of ways to style a nautical-worthy bedroom.
A fairytale inspired room
Kid’s love fairytales – from indulging in stories of cowboys and Indians to imagining what it’s like to become a princess or a famous ballerina for the day – you can make your little ones very happy by creating bedroom themes taken straight from the pages of one of their favourite books.
From choosing themed childrens beds to creating a feature wall adorned with life sized images of their favourite characters, all that is required to fashion a fairy-tale bedroom is a large dose of imagination.
Football mania
Many kids are football mad, which makes such a pastime a popular bedroom style. In such a scenario, choosing a loft bed is a great idea. The space underneath can be used to create a football goal, allowing your little ones to indulge in their favourite pastime whenever they desire.
For more boy-friendly bedroom ideas, take a little inspiration from these ten fun themed room concepts.
Sleeping beauty
Aside from being a popular storybook, sleeping beauty is also a popular children’s bedroom theme. Whether you choose to buy new furniture adorned with fairytale emblems or revamp existing furniture sets, there are a number of ways to create a fantasy-styled bedroom today.
Vintage
From china cabinets to traditional iron bedsteads to antique-style quilts and hand woven rugs, vintage themes are a good option for little girls who are a little too old for fairytale stories yet still enjoy a girly style. This particular theme is one that can be adjusted over time, making it a timeless option that will last for years as opposed to a few months.
Creating a vintage bedroom look doesn’t have to cost the earth, and once the bedroom furniture is in place, soft hues, delicate patterns and textured fabrics can be used to create an instant feminine style. You can always take modern furniture and distress or age yourself if you feel creative enough.
Paisley
Another popular choice when it comes to decorating a little girl’s bedroom is paisley. This glamorous and feminine style is a great option for ages ten and above. In order to create a modern take on this look, think ‘contemporary preteen meets young Indian princess’.
Choose one feature wall and decorate with pastel hued, print wallpaper. Adding a bedspread with the same pattern will tie the entire look together whilst creating an extravagantly girly set-up – perfect for your very own little princess.
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Games to suit the mood you’re in
Being in charge of one little angel or a brood of four or more can be a hectic and demanding job, and we all know how good it is for us to be able to take time out now and then. It’s not just the mum who benefits – the kids will have an easier-going, more relaxed mom if she’s had time to herself to have a breather for a few minutes.
Playing games online is one such way you can take that time. But you have to choose the games you play to suit the mood you’re in – otherwise they can leave you feeling more stressed than before you decided to take that little segment of me time!
Playing online casino games is a great example. Sitting and playing slots games can be a perfect way to wind down while you have a cup of coffee. They don’t demand any intellectual input from you – you just decide which game and how much to bet per spin. Of course, many of the casino sites now also let you play for free in demo mode, so you don’t even have to think about what amounts of money you’re putting down – you’re only playing with virtual coins, after all.
Similar non-effort games include keno, lotto or bingo. There’s no way you can influence the results of these games, so you can just sit back and relax and see what happens. With bingo, you can also chat to other players in the bingo chat rooms – and if you need to vent or you’re just feeling a little lonely, it’s a great way to find someone to strike up a conversation with.
Then there are the games that require a little more of your brain’s effort. Games like blackjack where, although you can’t predict what cards are going to be dealt next, you can make decisions with the cards you already hold. Should you hit, stand, double down or split the hand you have? Every decision will have an effect on the outcome of the game.
And if you’re really up for a bit of a challenge, then playing online poker is the way to go. You need to be on your toes to play this game well. For one thing, you’re up against other human beings, not just a machine, and you have to be able to out-think players who may be more experienced at the game than you are. And when you’re playing poker, you’ll need more than five minutes to spare, so this might be a game best held back for after bedtime in the evenings – when you know you’ll be able to concentrate without being interrupted.
Whether you feel like playing a game to relax with or one that challenges you, you’ll always find something to suit you at any of the main online casinos.
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December 13, 2013
Toy Reviews: InnoTab3 and Wooden Market Stall
If you are stuck for some last minute toy ideas – here’s two that will delight those boys and girls aged between 3-10 years old.
Read, Play, and Create!
Now kids can learn and have fun on their very own tablet! VTech’s InnoTab 3 Learning App Tablet expands children’s minds with age-appropriate games, apps and more. Tilt the InnoTab 3, touch the color screen and explore with the D-Pad to learn essential subjects. Microphone activities add to the fun! Read interactive e-books and learn vocabulary with the story dictionary. The durable, kid-safe design is perfect for little hands and learning on-the-go. Inspire your child’s creative side with the 1800 rotating camera and video recorder. They’ll paint, draw and save artwork with the Art Studio. They can even create their own MP3 playlists and watch their favorite shows. Read, play and create with InnoTab 3, only from VTech!
Learn with your Favourite Characters?
Have fun and learn with a large library of cartridge games featuring your child’s favorite characters. Each is packed with exciting activities to entertain your child as they solve math problems, develop memory skills, learn science concepts and so much more. Interactive e-books teach reading and vocabulary, while creative activities and camera fun inspire your child’s imagination. Available as cartridges or downloads from VTech’s Learning Lodge (sold separately).
A World of Learning Fun!
VTech’s Learning Lodge features more than 6001 educational games, e-books, music and videos developed specifically for each child’s unique stage of development, as well as their age and interests. The broad library of subjects includes reading, math, social studies, science, creativity, problem solving and so much more! Starting with activities suitable for toddlers and expanding to grade schoolers, the Learning Lodge gives every child an opportunity to expand their learning potential while keeping them entertained.
Read
E-Reader – Go on reading adventures as stories come to life with interactive e-books. Your child will watch the story as it’s read or touch the words one by one to read at their own pace.
Story Dictionary – Discover new words with the story dictionary. Touch the highlighted words to learn their meaning!
Play
Touch Screen Games – Tap, flick, rub, spin and drag your finger to play games. Use the stylus for more ways to play.
Motion Games – Tilt or shake the InnoTab 3 to play games with motion-sensing technology.
D-Pad Games – Learn with the D-Pad! Change direction with fun learning activities, like the new science game, H20 Go, included with InnoTab3!
Sound-activated Games – Use the built-in microphone to interact with games and add to the fun!
Create
180 Degrees Rotating Camera and Video Recorder – Kids can take pictures and make amazing movies with the 2.0 MP camera with enhanced photo features!
Wonder Cam – Your child can take silly pictures of themselves or their friends! Create funny faces and photo frames, fantasy effects and kaleidoscope creations with over 55 fun effects.
Art Studio – Your child will unleash their creative side as they color, draw, paint and decorate with special stickers, stamps and more. Your child can even save their artwork.
The wooden market stall is a fabulous children’s toy that brings so much fun and joy to every child. It provides a great opportunity to help your children interact and experience what it’s like to have their own little business. Whether they are the buyer or the seller it brings together the interaction and fun of using the market stall and they will see the similarities in real life situations.
It provides an opportunity to help develop your child’s communication skills as they ask their buyers what they would like to buy, weighing products with the additional wooden, spring loaded weighing scales and then making transactions with the bead slide cash register. The interaction helps to build your young ones self-confidence and helps to prepare them for the outside world transition.
The market stall is a solid wooden, free standing product that is easily movable, to keep up where ever your child decides to place the stall. Being a light weight structure it can be used in any of your house rooms or if the need arises the market can be easily moved outside.
Features Included:
The wooden market stall has 2 shelves and a bench top for customer sale and service.
The two shelves are open and can easily hold any additional life size fruit, vegetables and other small sized toys ready to be sold.
The stall has an adjustable roof that is attached to the main structure of the stall providing a more real life experience.
It comes equipped with a set of wooden, spring loaded weighing scales to weigh any fruit and veg before sold.
It also comes with a bead slide cash register to for sale transactions.
Suitable for ages 3+
Please note: Groceries not included but can be purchased seperately by clicking here.
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December 12, 2013
Do your smoke alarms all have batteries?
Christmas often becomes ‘Crisismas’. Screaming kids, drunk adults and general chaos as you cram all your relatives into too small a space and then eat too much, drink too much and fill your kids with sugar so they can go hyper and drive you totally mental.
So in the calm before the storm – just check that your smoke alarms have batteries in them that work. Better to be chilled this Christmas instead of all burnt out!
Wot no smoke alarms? Buy them here: www.sdfirealarms.co.uk
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DVD Review – SCOOBY-DOO! ADVENTURES THE MYSTERY MAP
Get ready to experience the world famous Scooby-Doo! and the crew like never before, in an original movie with a brand new puppet format. Zoinks!
Scooby-Doo! Adventures The Mystery Map DVD sees new-look Scooby and the gang embark on a mad, pizza-fuelled dash to find pirate Gnarlybeard’s hidden treasure.
Confronting more than a few chilling obstacles along the way, watch as the slobbering-sleuth and his band of crime-busting puppet pals sniff out the clues, only to have the map stolen by the frightening Phantom Parrot. Ruh-roh!
The gang must track down the mysterious bird to recover the map if they ever want to reach the spooky ship. But, once on-board, what will Gnarlybeard be willing to do to protect his booty?
Scooby-Doo, where are you?! The new format DVD, Scooby-Doo! Adventures: ‘The Mystery Map’,is available from 21st October 2013.
Includes bonus cartoons: The Backstage Rage and Robopup
Don’t take my word for it check out what my 5 year old daughter, The Menace has to say:
Buy the video on Amazon:
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December 11, 2013
Food and Wine – The Perfect Match
I was sent 6 bottles of wine to taste and I wanted to create a tasting menu so that the food complimented the wine. The wine drove the menu decisions as opposed to the food driving the wine choices. But with the season to be jolly fast upon us here are some great food and wine combinations that are easy to cook and always a dinner winner!
1.) Esk Valley New Zealand Riesling 2011 £12.50
A full bodied, dry style of Riesling – citrus, peach, honey and a long fresh finish. Serve chilled as an aperitif with seafood.
Esk Valley New Zealand Riesling 2011 £12.50
I served it with:
King Scallops & Chorizo on a bed of shredded little gem lettuce hearts, drizzled with balsamic and chilli oil dressing
2.) Errazuriz Chile Sauvignon Blanc 2009 – £9.99
A light crisp white – white peach, lemon and a hint of black pepper
Errazuruz Chile Sauvignon Blanc 2009 £9.99
I served it with:
Roast blackberry glazed pheasant, blackberry and vodka coulis, on a bed of watercress with quails eggs dipped in celery salt
3.) Villa Maria New Zealand Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 – £19.99
A layered and balanced red – dark cherries, plums and subtle spicy cloves
Villa Maria Reserve Pinto Noir 2010 £19.95
I served it with:
Pork slow roasted in apple juice, blanched carrots and chard & boursin puree
4.) Kleine Zalze South African Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Matured 2010 – £13.49
A medium to full bodied red – rich dark berries, plum and spicy aromas
Kleine Zalze Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Matured 2010 £13.49
I served it with:
Medium rare ribeye steak with potato rosti
5.) Vidal New Zealand Reserve Series Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2010 – £14.99
A deep flavoured red – black pepper, spice, cherry and florals
Vidal Reserve Series Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2010 £14.99
I served it with:
Baked goats cheese, roasted tomatoes on the vine and charcoal heart crackers
6.) Lourensford Winemakers Selection Noble Late Harvest Semillon 2009 – £10.20
A full bodied sweet dessert wine – apricots and honey flavours
Lourensford Winemaker’s Selection Noble Late Harvest Semillon 2009 £10.20
I served it with:
Flat apple tart and a scoop of vanilla ice cream
What meal would be complete without a rumsy wumsy wobbly coffee and choc!
7.) Chairman’s reserve Finest St Lucian Rum £18.00
Good dark brown amber colour. The pot still richness comes through on the nose with sweet honeyed fruit and spicy vanilla from the oak. The palate is balanced, with a mellow but complex mix of ripe raisin fruit, tobacco and spice. The rum has a long enjoyable finish.
Chairman’s Reserve Finest St Lucian Rum £18
I served it with:
A wobbly coffee and chocolate truffles
Then we all had to lie down as we were flupp! (Full up!)
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December 10, 2013
Real Life: Sorry – do I need to apologise?
On Friday, whilst I was feeling miserable with a streaming cold, and heading out the door to the Carol Concert at Salisbury Cathedral, I received a message, via Facebook:
“Been going through all your posts for Ben and you don’t seem to be getting anything. I think the reason is why would people want to spend money on this as you have no cause, other than just for Ben’s own mega stardom? I think you need to push your charity more than Ben, this isn’t about Ben this is for charity as no one is going to support someone they don’t know so I think you have got the angle all wrong….. What do you think? And I also think it’s starting to look desperate rather than tactical.”
Ouchie - I have to confess it did sting a bit. Maybe, because I was feeling so godamn rough, and was heading out of the door; but I felt it was a bit harsh.
But the truth is this. I am just making it up as we go along. Ben wrote the song, and Ant produced it, and we could publish it so we did. Somebody said, ‘it should be Christmas number one’ so then I created the hashtag #BenUKXmasNo1. I knew how to put it out there, and so, I did. I wanted to give Ben a break because I am proud of his song and I think it’s incredible that he wrote something so dark and poignant,and relevant to our existence. I figured, sometimes, you might just catch a break, and then who knows what will, and can, happen. Ben believes in his song, and I grew up in a household of cynical, negative adults, who called themselves ‘pragmatists’. I have been swimming to the light against their tide of doubt ever since. I will support my children and help them in any way I can, and I will also help myself.
But ask yourself this – why should music producer Anthony Clark work for free? Why should Ben work for free? Why should I work for free?
Why should we give our content away? Do you work for free? Does your utility provider give you free energy? Do you expect the supermarket to give you free shopping?
For me – it’s not about mega bucks, but it’s about acknowledging that music production, songwriting, promotion, management, or any other creative outlet, isn’t something that we should expect to be given away for free. It’s not about mega stardom – Ben is 10 years old and he WROTE the song from his heart. It’s good and it’s catchy. I think that should be acknowledged. This situation was not designed. It was a ‘carpe diem’ – ‘why not, let’s just do it moment.’ Why because we could and, therefore, we did.
If you want to support Ben and SSAFA – a charity the supports military families then please buy Ben’s song:
itunes.apple.com/gb/album/messed-up-world-single/id766580199
Alternatively – google Messed Up World by Ben Macnaughton and you’ll find it.
I do appreciate that it is annoying to have someone push their products down one’s throat; but if I don’t fight my work, and I don’t have the budget to buy in the love, then nobody else is going to stand in my corner. 2013 has taught me that this can be a lonely path because going against the tide and having these difficult conversations is alienating. This is partly because following your own path can be a lonely path. At the same time, seeking the protection of the herd can also prevent forward progress. I am going to continue to forge my own path because then at least I will know that I gave it my best shot.
I am not going to lie to you that since Hagar was arrested in 2010, and acquitted in 2012, I have been through an emotional mangle. Trust doesn’t come easy anymore. I am still getting burnt. Humans can be cruel. I refuse to give up and refuse to stop forging my own path. Even in the face of the naysayers. I know that it would be easier if I could just let my little self published book die, but I can’t because I believe in it. I wish that I could give up on my son’s song, but I can’t because I believe in it, and I believe in him.
2013 has been a year of closure. Lots of real life chapters have closed and I have hope for the future. My children are happier. They are settled and more confident. They are cheeky and funny. It’s such a relief. The stress of the war is fading in their memories and they are behaving like children who haven’t lived with military craziness.
Hagar and I are still separated, with no plans to change the status quo in the future. We are working together to raise our children. He has a very busy year next year and will barely be around anyway so to be honest what difference does it make.
My column in the Salisbury Journal draws to a close next week, which gives me some time to do more work here in my writing home.
In 2014 I am not planning to stop, in fact I am planning to try even harder:
The plans for 2014 are:
1.) Go limited. I think the time has come to become a limited company. I am looking for a business partner and investor to join me. (Timeframe: Jan/feb)
2.) Release 2nd edition of A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline and donate some of the royalties to local charity Louie’s Smiles and SSAFA (Timeframe: Mar/Apr)
3.) Keep plugging Ben’s Song (Timeframe: Forever)
4.) Release French translated version of A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline (Timeframe: May)
5.) Write the stage play of A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline (Timeframe: Production Sept)
6.) Speaker engagements – I have 5 Women’s Institute bookings during 2014
7.) A regular, weekly, Real Life blog – with all the latest news.
When I am ready, and not before, I will write the next book but to be honest, I am not going to do it until I have kicked the arse out of the first book. These words don’t come easy; they are raw and they come from the heart. The war ends next year, although it won’t really end but the media will talk about it less and the fighting will be quieter to the UK population. But this time in war fighting history is significant and it shouldn’t stop being examined from both sides of the conflict; at home and away.
Business Consultancy: Cardio Comms Courses
One of the challenges I have faced living in a remote, rural part of Wiltshire is finding consultancy work. In 2014 I will be running marketing communication workshops for small to medium businesses to help them address the marketing needs. I can also offer marketing audits to help identify how to improve customer engagements in the modern, digital age so you get more bang out of your marketing buck.
If you want to know things such as:
1.) What is PR?
2.) Can PR work for me?
3.) What is the difference between Facebook, Twitter and blogging?
4.) How do I plan a successful integrated marketing campaign?
Or alternatively, if you would like a bespoke course to suit any specific communication challenges then I can tailor make a course just for your business.
For more information on my “Cardio Comms Courses”
Please contact me:
Clare Macnaughton
clare@maccom.co.uk
07885 194188
The post Real Life: Sorry – do I need to apologise? appeared first on Modern Military Mother .
