Friday 27th March 2015

Today has been a fun day.

Woke up this morning excited to see my friend Thomas, got up early this morning and went to meet him off the boat, good to see him. Went to sell my old phone then home for a cup of coffee and a catchup, always enjoy seeing people from the hospital where I spent some time last year.

This morning I had an interview about a new job, with my old company funnily enough, but was happy enough to have the interview and think it went well. I think I have a lot to offer a care company like Inspire, and Im keen to get back to work so I can help out where I can, hopefully scope for career progression there too. A different line of work but I have experience of care work from the past so should work out OK.

Home went to the park played a bit of football and sat in the nice weather then home and chilled out with Millie my cat, Thomas was out came back had some dinner then started having a few drinks, Thomas got tired so has gone to bed, so just siting writing this now, planning on drinking in the house then going out later on, looking forward to it as haven't been out for a couple of weeks.

Today I got some good links on the book front, a company who promote ebooks replied saying they really liked it and were keen to promote it which was good, had a few tweets / emails from crowd funding companies too. Im keen to push on with the drive for funding in the coming weeks, I know how much money I need just need to find it then that will set the wheels in motion.

So overall today a busy day for different reasons, feel like this weeks gone by really fast, but think Ive made some good progress and contacts with potential funders for my book / getting back to work. Also found out today my new flatmate can't take the room anymore so having to readvertise it, hopefully get someone soon, Ive advertised it but if no response soon will have to go back to the solicitors for help. Will update tomorrow.

Thursday 26th March 2015

Today has been fine, bit of a lazy day not much going on but fine.

Woke up early this morning answered some messages then fell asleep again till around lunchtime, woke up did some work on laptop made some phone calls about jobs then snoozed again till early afternoon, then did some work on my laptop and promoting my book online. Looking at the reports for downloads I haven't had that many downloads of it, maybe 100, but I need to do more work promoting it then hopefully more will come, Im working on a plan for this.

This afternoon I went to the gym / for a swim, always nice, then to the book shop to have a browse / read some of a Paul McKenna book called I Can Make You Rich, looked good had a short read of it, was thinking of buying it but I have other books to read just now first, my policy at the moment is to read the ones Ive got then buy more. Once my plans to make a bit of money come true, hopefully within the next few weeks, then I am going to buy a new Amazon Kindle and get a nice case for it, and read a bit on that rather than buying books, although I do like paper / hardbacks.

Got home from town made some dinner and answered some emails / tweets, making good contacts through Twitter lately, hoping to use it to get the funding I need to get my book published and marketed. I also applied for Dragons Den with my book ideas, Im quietly confident my idea will get accepted for this, although I know it will be very competitive to get onto the show. It would be good though and may give my project some publicity which would be good. Ive been happlly enough doing my own marketing / promotion for now but in future I would like some support, to make the project as big as I want it to be, this will involve working with other business people / businesses to get the project going on a bigger scale.

Tonight Im just watching the football on TV and writing this, got a busy day tomorrow with my friend Thomas coming and a job interview, so will be out and about with Thomas tomorrow during the day and probably a few drinks at night. Will update over the weekend depending on how much free time I have.

Wednesday 25th March 2015

Today has been a good day, busy but good.

Woke up this morning had a bit of a laze around in bed then up and answered my emails / went through social media, theres quite alot happening on that just now. Did some work till lunchtime then went out to the local park as a sunny day, reading my book and made some phone calls about a new job, got an interview on Friday with my old company in support work, Im looking forward to it, should be fun. I don't really mind what job I get but I want one I will enjoy and I know I will enjoy the care / support work, so keen to get interviews ASAP and get the ball rolling.

This afternoon I had a visit from the property solicitors taking photos of the flat ahead of leasing / sale, I decided to offer the room to Matt who I met the other day, seems like a nice guy so should be fun. Good decision and it means I can stay here rather than move out which is fine.

After that was working on my book promotion, I got a really interesting email from a company who work in crowd funding, basically they will try to find funding for me to get the book published and promoted, this is expensive and I don't have the money for it right now, however if I can get a company to fund / donate to the project I will then have the capital / money to get it published, then once it starts selling I will make royalties / money out of it which will be nice, I will use the money / funding I get to invest into the project and get it going.

This evening I went to the pub and watched the Scotland football game with my Dad, then home for tea, curry was nice. Now sitting writing this, productive day and got a few jobs done which have been pressing for a while. Im hoping to get some funding nailed down for my book soon which will start to make things happen there, which will be exciting. Also looking forward to getting back to work after some time out and see how that goes. a good day and will update tomorrow.

Tuesday 24th March 2015

Today has been a great day with lots of positives to take away from it.

Got up this morning went to the hospital for a catch up, was good and always nice to go back there. Had a good chat with Dr Runcie who Im now good friends with, she was excited to hear about my book and my plans for that, so a positive conversation. Came home in a good mood then had a flat viewing, went well and was a nice person, so think Im going to offer him the room but Im also keen to hear what the solicitors have to say about it price wise, Im still weighing up my options as still feel a little bit unsettled in Aberdeen, might be good to know we can lease the flat and then I can look elsewhere, still wouldn't mind Edinburgh or Glasgow but will see, somewhere I can concentrate away from the distractions of family friends etc.

Home got to work applying for more jobs and working on my book, got some really good contacts today, including a woman in America from a publishing agency who are keen to promote it, I told them I didn't have the money to publish it right now but she gave me some website links where you can source funding for projects like this, I applied for them and they look good, think this is the link Ive been looking for, basically a local business will donate the money to help fund the project's startup or thats the idea anyway. Ive set up the online pages today so hopefully that will be a start to the project.

That was a really positive afternoon, then went out tonight for a few beers and dinner with Dad, was going fine until he started talking negatively about the new business projects Im getting involved with  / not being very positive about my ideas, I challenged him and he didn't like it, I said if he didn't think what I was doing was good why didn't he come along to the business network and say so, he said he would. Thinking about it I don't really want him there anyway, its nothing to do with him and Im getting a little bit upset about him sticking his nose in my business and getting involved where he doesn't need to, he has said some hurtful things the last couple of days. So now I think Im going to ask him for his keys to the flat so he can't have them for a while, I need them for my friend this weekend anyway. Just sitting in bed writing this now, calming down. Update tomorrow.

Monday 23rd March 2015

Today has been a busy but good day overall.

Got up this morning and phoned the solicitors then went in to see them, had paperwork to fill in for the flat leasing, did that this afternoon. Think its the best option of them to do it for us, I do have a room viewing tomorrow but still keen on leasing the whole flat and moving out as good financial sense to do that for me and Matthew, but will see what happens. Not a big deal either way but I do fancy a change of scenery soon, will see.

Went into the shops this afternoon and read some of my book in the book shop, then home and to the park as a nice afternoon. Sun went away so came home and spent a nice afternoon in bed working on applying for jobs, found some good ones in mental health support work that Im quite keen on, some of them are good with pay weekly incentives which would be nice. The job Im seeing as primary income / pay the bills, with my freelance marketing / writing and books as side income / bonus. Although it depends on how well I get on with the freelance, I have done a lot of work today in pitching for projects, I found a good website on writing for online blogs which I entered a few pitches for, Im confident Ill get something out of these. I think I would enjoy writing for other peoples blogs rather than just my own, and hopefully make some money out of it too.

This evening Ive been reading, applying for more jobs and I made my latest YouTube video, which I always enjoy, think its quite funny to see yourself in a video, but good to give an update on what I've been up to and hopefully get some views out of it. Also been working on advertising my freelance marketing services online, feel like Ive done a lot of pitching / applying for work the last few days, so surely results will start to come this week, Im confident Ill have some solid work lined up by the end of the week and hopefully profitable, I feel like my efforts in applying for the jobs and work deserves a good financial result, I think the material Ive been reading lately about how to make money and grow your finances is starting to pay off, Ive made some good contacts in the last few days and Im sure these will lead to financial reward. So going to lay off the applications in the coming days and wait and see what comes back, my two goals at the moment are getting a new job that I will enjoy and growing my freelance marketing / writing business, so Im sure the work Ive put in recently will pay off in the coming weeks.

Tomorrow Ive got a few appointments during the day and then my Dad is coming for the night, him and Mum frustrated me today a bit, don't like the way he talks to me sometimes saying things aren't going well / they're worried about me, told him so today. Im not an angry person but I can speak up for myself if I need to, told him to stop worrying about me and focus on himself / his home life as I can look after myself quite happily.

So for now just writing this and watching TV, going to read some of my book and go to bed soon. Will update tomorrow.

Sunday 22nd March 2015

Today has been a good day for a few different reasons.

Woke up this morning and my Dad was here, we went to the pub for breakfast and then up to my younger brothers to watch the football, was a good laugh. His new house is really nice and I enjoy going there when I can, its hard without a car though.

Got home and applied for some more jobs, I noticed a couple at the hospital where I spent some time last year, these were interesting and Im going to chase up my interest this week, I have applied for a lot of different jobs this weekend so see what comes back this week, Im confident I can get something soon, hopefully a good new challenge, Id particularly like to work in mental health care work or a good marketing / communications job, there are a few Ive seen so hopefully a good result this week. Im not in a massive rush but would like something definite soon, so I can look forward to starting it.

Also this evening worked on my social media promotion for my book, made some good contacts and I noticed some paid downloads coming in which is good, Ive figured out my target / goal of how much Id like to make from it per month, I figured if 1000 are downloaded per month that will make me around £800 which will be good. This is an ideal but no harm being ambitious I suppose. The book is a side earner / project just now but one Im happy to keep ticking along and promoting / working on. Although I realise once I start my new job I will have less time but the foundations are in place now so should be manageable.

Tonight I went to the cinema and saw a good Liam Neeson film, always entertaining. Ive got a fairly busy week with getting the flat sorted and other things, I think we should lease the flat with the solicitors then I will move out, possibly into my brother and his finances flat nearby, I asked him if this would be OK today. This will be a good financial option for us both, as the flat will earn us profit on our mortgage through rent, then I can live with him until I find my own place. This is the plan anyway should be OK.

So for now just writing this, going to read some of my books and chill out tonight. Will update tomorrow.

Saturday 21st March 2015

Today has been productive and fairly busy with some good contacts made.

Woke up this morning and went to the solicitors to ask about leasing the flat, they said they would phone back on Monday. Should hopefully be a fairly straightforward process and hassle free, think its the best option for me and Matthew financially just now so glad to move that forward.

Came home to some post which had to work through, sorting out my tax return for last year as Id made a mistake on it, and found out theres been a problem with a job Id been offered recently with the references, so I spent most of today applying for new jobs, in various sectors / types, from care work which I used to do through to mental health support work / PR / marketing and communications. Im confident Ill get something lined up early next week, the care work in particular is a given I think, some had good perks with training / cash to welcome you / quick start schemes etc which Id be keen on as Im keen to get back to work ASAP. Some of the marketing jobs I applied for were start ASAP too, so I applied for some of those. I don't really mind what kind of job I get, but I applied for quite a lot today so Im sure Ill get something soon.

Nice afternoon today so went to the park and played some football in between applying for jobs, I like the park near my flat and always enjoy spending time there and always enjoy spending time in the sunshine. Looks like the weathers getting better now, hopefully a good summer ahead and nice weather to enjoy.

Today I also made a good local business contact called Ross from a company called The Wishing Tree, basically a business promotion network / community interest company, they work in terms of promoting business "wishes" and granting them. I agreed to do some work with them in return for promotion of my business and freelance writing / marketing projects, it involves donating my beloved MacBook Air but hey ho, if it means I get a lot of interest in my writing and authoring work then Im happy to do that. Im looking forward to working with some local business people, Ross sounded keen to get me involved as he thought my work with mental health books was positive and useful, good to hear the feedback. Ive got a meeting arranged soon and also speaking at a local business event which I always enjoy too.

So overall a busy but productive day on the work front, hoping to get something solid out of my applications etc early next week, sure Ill get some phone calls and emails back then, so until then just going to continue applying as and when and working on my book. Next week I need to figure out a plan for getting more money in, although I have sorted out a few things today that should help with this, and the flat will provide income once we lease it out too. Will update tomorrow.