Where Have I Been? (And Why Murder Had to Wait)

It’s been nearly six months since my last blog.

Six months.

I could tell you I’ve been deep in creative thought, carefully plotting intricate murders and perfecting alibis. The truth is slightly less glamorous. Life, as it tends to, has been busy getting in the way.

There’s been a bit of everything.

A health scare, thankfully now seeming to be behind me. But it has a way of making you stop and take stock. The kind of moment that reminds you that deadlines, plots, and even fictional murders can wait… at least for a while.

Sad, unloved computer

There’s also been a first. My first Christmas with my fiancée, which, I’m pleased to report, was far more joyful than anything I’ve ever written.

Somewhere along the way, I’ve also found myself refereeing walking football. Quite how I went from orchestrating fictional murders to keeping order on a football pitch is anyone’s guess. But both, it turns out, involve managing strong personalities and the occasional questionable decision.

Scene from a murder mystery

On the work front, I’ve had the pleasure of performing a couple of live murder mysteries with some good friends in the trade. And it's always a reminder of why I started doing this in the first place. There’s nothing quite like live theatre for unpredictability… although I suspect the audience sometimes feels the same way.

And alongside all of that, the day job continues: providing therapeutic entertainment in the care sector. A world full of stories, characters, humour, and moments that could easily fill a book on their own. In fact… ooh. That idea may not be entirely off the table.

Oh yes, and somewhere in the middle of all this, I’m also planning a wedding.

So yes, writing the blog slipped. In fact all writing slipped.

But not through lack of ideas. Mostly through lack of time, energy, or simply the discipline to sit down and do it. Writers like to call it “writer’s block.” I suspect it’s more a case of life being louder than the keyboard for a while.

But stepping back has done something useful. It’s reminded me why I enjoy all of this in the first place: The writing. The theatre. The stories. The chaos.

So, no grand excuses. Just a simple truth: I took some time off, but now...

I’m back.

And, as always, there are more stories to tell.