On twitter today I saw a plea from nfp Synergy to journalists to help promote charities more. I rarely miss an opportunity to mention a charity or useful service to my readers it’s all about thinking public. Admittedly like most people I have my pet charities in additional to those for animals!

Seriously – where possible I try to point those in need of the right support to an appropriate charity -whilst being aware that many writers object to writing free of charge it is a gift to help others through our writing. Giving a voice to those that for one reason or another are loss for words is rewarding.

Anyway I don’t have time to bake cakes..and we all do what we do best!

My above named latest publication is now with my Agent/Publisher Owen Burnham and was written out of love and respect for my own mother. No other role in life is more rewarding and/or demanding than that of being a mother.  A little taster…..

‘They say there is nothing stronger than the bond between a mother and her children and for the really lucky ones among us aside of that bond may come a lifetime of the best mentoring one can receive and, of course, a beautiful friendship.

The advice given selflessly by a mother is based on her own wisdom, life’s experiences and driven by pure love and a desire to help you reach your potential safely and feeling secure in that love.

This project has been in the making for many a year and predominantly so since my own Mother died in 2001. I hope that I never took her love for granted but maybe it’s a case of only when they are no longer accessible on a daily basis we then truly begin to appreciate just how wonderful they were.

I know when my own mother died I felt I had loss my sense of purpose and extend my genuine empathy to those of you who may have lost your mother and subsequently feeling the same.   Annie Manning ©’

Few years back I met a nice guy called Ian Starkey an avid Chelsea fan at a Stroke Association event. He had been a black cab driver who had suffered a stroke. We chatted and I agreed he should write a book and encouraged him to join a creative writing class. Ian’s book ‘From Black Cabbing to Blackouts’ has now been published and available from Amazon.  An honest and insightful read  into his recovery and experience.

As a stroke survivor myself I try where possible to help others and of course promote the excellent work of the Stroke Association and other stroke support charities such as InterAct Stroke Support. (please see my website for further information http://www.anniemanning.com)

Please visit. http://www.stroke.org.uk  and http://www.interactstrokesupport.org  

Always remember your customers have the answers so involve them, ask their opinions and communicate regularly -keep your research and marketing fresh. Stay curious yourself and encourage those around you to do likewise.

Recently working with the M.D. Giant Steps Create; Shelford Chandler confirms how  we all have an innate ability to be creative. Shelford runs collaborative workshops. Please see my recent interview with him for Work Your Way’s website, where he shares his tips for introducing curiosity into our lives.

http://linkis.com/workyourway.co.uk/aMYvA

I know so many friends and colleagues that lead such manic lives; work, families, friends and community they get lost in it all.

A lot of depression starts from people feeling undervalued and under pressure; feelings of not coping can often be helped by distraction. Nothing better than learning something new that may not only take you out of your comfort zone but dig you out of a self-imposed rut. It’s not being selfish to do something for yourself -but a lot of people especially women somehow convince themselves it is!

As a long overdue break away from the screen and to lose a few pounds from sitting at it…I decided to join a jive swing dance class. I am loving it and cannot recommend it enough; being with like-minded people of all ages just having fun…and doing something that is just for them is contagious! I am still struggling with co-ordination but who cares??

Please visit; http://www.JiveSwing.com

Amazing after three hours of dancing I don’t even feel tired and it is a well proven fact that looking after one’s well-being and taking exercise gives one energy. The more energy one has the more able we are to cope with whatever life throws at us -it is a positive circle.

Do something for yourself today..and everyday.

Please tell me I am not the only person who feels that aside of the scientific DNA that family spirit lives on in new arrivals.

We have been blessed in our family with a beautiful female baby, who is so alert yet has an amazing karma. I definitely could feel something wonderful in her presence and believe that she will be keeping the love and vitality of my Mother’s spirituality alive.

Another earth angel has arrived for certain.

Find time for those you know that are recently bereaved. All too often after the funeral has passed they are left alone at a time when they are struggling and need their friends even more. We are all guilty of assuming they want to be left for private time…if in doubt ask and please, please extend invitations in a world of coupledom the recently widowed feel left out.

Nothing worse than feeling bereft and being ignored -there are no words but sometimes a squeeze of a hand or a hug will say a lot but more importantly mean a lot.

Why is it that teenagers just ‘get technology’….could it be because they need their phone surgically removed?

The more we practice the easier it gets ..so off to play all day on my phone. Can’t beat them join them.

The recent post on facebook with a photo of an old phone box as ‘my teenage mobile phone’ rang home! Literally.

There’s nothing better than a cup of earl grey tea in a real china cup and saucer. There are those visitors that you know must have their cup of builder’s tea in a huge mug. Then there’s those special guests that expect Gran’s finest tea set and fancy fattening cakes on a multi-tiered cake stand and don’t spare the calories!

But nowadays we find all manner of items lurking within a pretty matching cup and saucer. The craze for putting candle wax in the cup, dipping said cup in glitter then deliberately pairing it with a non-matching saucer has taken off..I love it.

More recently when ordering desserts I have been served with creme brulee, yes you’ve guessed it in a tea cup, with the smallest shortbread in history with two strawberry pieces thrown in for luck. Yummy, pretty but nevertheless strange.

Tea cups are for tea…tea leaves left trailing around the surface to be read and one’s destiny revealed.

My good friend and brilliant journalist Deborah Durbin and I have this long standing joke…if on a day to day basis we a) wake up…still breathing and b) get down the stairs without falling down them …then everything else that happens that day is a bonus.

While the above is of course funny but true, setting oneself goals or challenges is always a good thing. Last year mine was to complete four courses/qualifications all holistic/counselling. I amazed myself and those around that I did actually do it, pass my exams and with distinctions but I had to withdraw somewhat from normal/social life. I was surprised how quickly and interestingly so the year passed.

Last night I re-watched the film ‘Julia and Julie’ wherein an enthusiastic home cook set herself a challenge to cook 525 recipes in 365 days and write a blog on the experience. This in turn gave me my subject for today’s blog -setting a challenge.

In life we often need to change our routine it may be for health reasons i.e. to exercise more and eat less, the former often encourages taking part in a sponsored swim,walk or run. This personal challenge in turn raises funds for a good cause and we may find ourselves setting another challenge to raise a certain amount.

So, hopefully today’s blog has got somebody out there; learning something new, starting a diet and running a marathon and it’s not even nine o’clock.