[image error]A month ago I set out to have a go at 50 creative projects in my 50th year and I honestly thought it would be about week 49 before I got around to this one: start a new thing. After working full-time for a year, I felt so far away from new ideas – had almost got to thinking I’d never have another one.

But ideas are funny like that. You never know when one will turn up out of the blue. And this idea didn’t even do that. I realise now, as I write this, that it’s been loitering around the edges of my mind for years, but I’ve only just noticed. Or I’ve only just paid it the right amount of attention. Maybe the window of opportunity opened. I don’t really know.

But I’ve had an idea and in the last 36 hours I’ve written six and a half thousand words and it’s like they won’t come out of me quick enough. I’m splurging, burping, vomiting onto the paper. Of course it’s all crap, the words are in the wrong order, and they’re jumbled, unpunctuated thoughts but I can’t judge them, I just have to get it out. Throw the clay onto the wheel, worry about shape and form later.

It’s also a great time for a new thing to show up as next week’s creative challenge is to switch the internet off for a whole week.  I can’t believe how much I’m already freaking out about just the thought of it, and I’m convinced I won’t make it. But if I don’t respond to comments – you’ll know why. But maybe my new thing will appreciate the acres of spare time I’ll have.

See you on the other side.