Backwards In High Heels

Being Thankful

The cold that struck me last weekend has really stuck in and had me laid low for many days, sleeping the clock round on more than one occassion. I've trapped a nerve in my neck and am stooped like Quasimodo. The Christmas lights failed. I haven't opened my packet of Christmas cards let alone written them. The telephone bill arrived. I've a to-do list a mile long. I missed the gym Xmas party because of the flu. I am the luckiest girl in the world because all that is trivial, will pass and is all to the backdrop of a loving home with enough spare change to indulge in some disposable festive fancies. Not everyone is so lucky and at a time when the news brings home the troubled lives of others, there for the Grace of God go we.

And Here's The Good News

Okay I can put you out of your misery on the great why is Beki excited-stroke-nervous (leave it any longer and we risk Kate’s health!)

Remember how excited I was to get through the first round of the BBC Sketch Factor? Well I sent in my entry for round two and was blown away to find out I was one of the finalists! They chose 23 finalists from the original 2200 entrants, and we were all invited to attend a workshop. I kept quiet as I was really nervous and wanted it under my belt before I told you all!

I attended my workshop yesterday in Manchester and to say I was nervous is an understatement! Well I needn’t have been because…

IT WAS BRILLIANT!!!

I am still doing a dance of joy jig!

There were six of us at the Manchester workshop, a really lovely bunch of people. The BBC producer and one of the writers led the workshop and it was very laid back.

We had a little room (with no windows!) and started off just by discussing the radio comedy show we'll be writing for and what was really wonderful was that the producer really pushed home that we were all winners and now 'in the loop'. There will be 10 official winners who will get some one-to-one mentoring etc for the new show but he really stressed that they want all the finalists to submit work for the new show and he wanted to introduce us to other producers so hopefully we are all on the first rung of the ladder - that was really exciting to hear and all our faces lit up! The level of encouragement was fantastic and a real confidence boost.

We then had to rewrite one of our sketches taking in some pointers from the producer. That wasn't too bad for me as mine was basically a bit of an edit as opposed to a rewrite and it was a sketch I really enjoyed in the first place so I was glad to get back to grips with it.

As we were writing we heard Jonny Vegas outside - that man has one booming voice! He was just having a normal conversation but it still put us into giggles!

The six of us then ran away to the canteen for a cuppa. A really friendly bunch and none of us had ever written sketches so we really were in the same boat.

Then the weirdest thing. We were all saying where we came from and the young guy sat next too me comes from....my village - we found out we live about half a mile apart!! From 2200 entrants 2 finalists are from our little village - unbelievable!

Oh and in the canteen we saw Gordon 'The Krypton Factor' Burns!

We came back to the room and thought of new ideas for the show. I was really nervous as to what to say in case my idea was shot down but they said it was good and after that I felt a lot more at ease and ventured a few half baked ideas!

We then had to write a new sketch based on one of the ideas we had just pitched and I just sat agog! I really thought I couldn't do it but I just sat , made notes like I do at home and eventually typed something out. The producer kept saying don't worry, it's only a first draft, just write the first half if need be, it's not an exam we just want to see how you come up with an idea and start it off.

In the end I was quite pleased with what I came up with and then it was home time!

I enjoyed myself so much, not just the writing part but because I feel I conquered a bigger fear. I am so proud of myself!

We will hopefully hear the results on Monday but as he stressed so much that he wanted all the 23 finalists to submit work and hopefully become regular comedy writers - blow me I feel a winner either way!!

Happy, happy, happy.

I'll keep you updated and hopefully sometime in the New Year you'll be able to hear at least one of my sketches on Radio 4!

Wondering...

Could it be possible when we die we will meet God and he will have a Bono complex?