Cleckheaton Writing Group - A Farewell to Pauline

Pauline Scatterty

24th July 1954 - 24th December 2019

Yesterday myself and other members of the Cleckheaton Writers Group paid our last respects to Pauline who died suddenly over Christmas.

We were joined at the Crematorium by Pauline's family and friends.  We gave Pauline a good send off.

I for one am still shocked by her death and there will be a big hole in the Writing Group going forward.  It won't be the same without her.  Handing around her Writers Magazine for all to look at.

I only knew Pauline from the Writing Group so it would be around six years ago when I met her.

She was enthusiastic about writing and publishing having been in clerical and writing jobs before her retirement.  Even freelancing after as a Copy Editor.

She was friendly and would always give me a lift home if I was stuck for one.

Without Pauline as Treasurer for the Cleckheaton Literature Festivals there probably wouldn't have been one as she did more than Treasurer behind the scenes.  So without Pauline, myself and a lot of other people wouldn't have had two great literature events to go to and work for, meeting great authors, poets and performers.

Plus there would be no CWG Anthology. 

Pauline (left) with Karen - CWG Founder

RIP Pauline - re-joined with your Mother at last. XXX
Sadly missed - Never forgotten.

Late Happy New Year - 2020 Goals!

Happy New Year everyone.

Hope you are all having a good start to the year.

Although it's not a great start World wise due to escalating conflict with USA and Iran.
More importantly the on going raging fires devastating Australia at the moment is an Environmental disaster.
Plus the future is uncertain due to Brexit.

Anyway a lot of what's happening can't be changed.

So I have a few plans and goals in 2020.

• Get Healthy  -  After the last few years being lazy and eating bad I have put on a stone or two.  So 2020 is the year I go back to the gym.  I also plan to eat better but not sure which direction to take.  Maybe Slimming World?  More on this later in the year.
• Walking/Hiking  -  As part of getting Healthy I am wanting to walk more and go on some hikes as there are some great walks around Yorkshire and Britain.  I plan on getting all the hiking gear too.

• Get Writing  -  After being published in 2018 in Reflections the Anthology from Cleckheaton Writing Group, the plan was to build on that.   In 2019 I did zero writing.  Basically laziness plus not in the right mind set.  This year I plan to write a few short stories and send stories to competitions and submissions.   I also want to finish the first draft of Colony X by September.

• Writing Group - 2019 I only attended Cleckheaton Writing Group once or twice but in 2020 I hope to attend once a month by booking a few hours holiday on the Monday it is on.  Hopefully will start this March time.
• Blogging  -  I am hoping to blog more in 2020 whether it is book and film reviews or reviews from Events like Edge-lit which I hope to attend in July.  I will also blog on topics such as "Feeling a fraud when it comes to writing", "Who I would like to write for".  Look out for these soon.

• Reading - 2019 was a disaster for me reading wise as much as writing was.  I only managed to read 4 books in 2019 which is bad.  So in 2020 my aim is to read 2 books a month which adds up to 24 books in 2020.  I'm not sure I will accomplish this with writing more and gym but will give it a good go.  To help I will watch less YouTube/Booktubes and will use Goodreads site to help keep count.
• Career - I hope for a career change in 2020 with better money preferably in writing or publishing in some capacity .