I sneak downstairs usually in the dark like a naughty nosy child, warm up my conservatory and sit at the table.   I have no lights on (except from the computer screen) and the windows look south (with east – west views) over a field and common land full of trees.

The only company I allow, and is around at this precious time of the day is the dawn chorus from the multitude of birds that I always hear but never see.   The sun rises all round me and usually begins with a cacophony of sound from the birds, followed by streaking lights as the sun hits the horizon until I have a clear beautiful morning.  Today it is frosty and shining.

I write and hope eventually to gain some financial reward for all my efforts but lack the self-confidence to push my work. After many years of short stories I was challenged to write a novel in a month which although it took longer than a month is now being edited slowly. I still write regularly and now try to post a blog occasionally; commenting on episodes  in my chaotic and full life. I never name anyone directly and I write under my pen name of Tiggy Hayes. Dawn Chorus, the name of my blog refers to the time I write.

I am an avid follower of NANOWRIMO and find this an incredible way to allow a story to develop in its own manner.   I write short stories easily as well usually in a few days.  I do a little bit of planning and this then allows the words to tumble out.  Getting them down on the computer screen or paper quick enough is usually my problem.  I don’t know where the words come from and I often find I have a different ending or a new twist that was not in my planning at all.  The rough draft is usually good content but needs a lot of work to bring it up to readable material.

I am a fan of Swanwick Writer’s School which I hope to return to again this summer.  I come away from the week feeling so inspired and really at one with the world, having people around me who thrive on words as well and do not regard me as weird!   I belong there and meet so many fantastically creative people who encourage, challenge but never make me feel inferior.

I am a mother of three boys; two in their early 20s and one in the middle of the teenage spectrum. The eldest is a rugby nerd and lives and breathes rugby. He works locally as an estate agent whilst supposedly studying for his estate management degree via correspondence course.  He still lives at home or rather visits us  for the essentials of bed, food and clothes washing, whilst trying to buy his own property and get on the ladder.   He has gone back to playing regular rugby at the local club, after a series of episodic injuries including a whole season out through major injury on his hips (not caused by rugby but maybe exacerbated).

The next son is about to be 21 and has passed his level 2 in catering having done two stints as an apprentice chef.  He has now moved to a local restaurant where he is hoping to complete his level 3 in fine dining.   He spent his youth enjoying BMX bikes and was becoming dangerously adept at stunts until an accident on Easter Sunday severely dented both his chest and his confidence. He is enjoying the freedom of being an adult and parties till the cows come home.  He has moved into his own flat with friends and close to work.  Inevitably we see him often; when there is more month than money left or something doesn’t work.

The youngest is still at school and very sporty. He is very sociable and enjoys the company of lots of different characters. He sits his GCSEs this summer and still very unsure where he plans to go after that, so will return hopefully for A’levels.  Currently he is planning to be a world famous footballer and keep me in the manner I yearn to be accustomed to. unfortunately his football team folded so serious playing is a bit lacking currently.   Having saved a lot of money he bought a Drone for himself and has started to sell a few pictures.  I am not sure if this is a chip of his mother’s entrepreneurial block but it gets him out into the fresh air.

My husband is a fitness freak who enjoys sailing, the proper sailing not my kind of luxury yacht and Pimms type. To punish himself further he competes in triathlons and spends many hours a week away from his pressurised job pounding the streets, wheels or local swimming pool. For his significant birthday he decided to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats for the fun of it!  I joined him with the car and used the time to research a novel.

I had a rather idyllic childhood if somewhat bohemian in ways.   My mother worked from home creating businesses that utilised the old rambling rectory we lived in.  Based deep within a farming community we didn’t quite farm, but there were always animals; cats dogs, cows, sheep, pigs and horses not to mention the chickens, ducks and geese that weaved their way through our growing years.  Summer holidays came to us, together with family, friends and paying guests rather than us go on them.  The eldest of 6 children my childhood was immortalised in the story “Our Grass was Greener” written by my father  Peter G Lawrence.

Enjoy and please feel free to comment.

Tiggy