A writer's haven

First and foremost, a brief apology for such a long and unjustified absence on my part. You should know I'm back and more enthused than ever to be doing what I love on a (more) regular basis.

My productivity - or rather lack of - is something I've been thinking about a great deal over the summer. A question I've found myself encountering time and time again is where is the best place to get work done. And much to my excitement I think I've cracked it.

You may be thinking nice, quiet office with a cushy leather office chair. Or you might say the relaxing atmosphere of a Saturday morning sat at your kitchen table, with a freshly squeezed OJ and the dulcet tones of Radio 2 playing softly in the background. Maybe you think you work at your best from the comfort of your bed on a Tuesday night, donning flannel pajamas large Pinot Grigio in hand.

Undoubtedly, all great places to work. Sometimes you need peace and quiet. Sometimes you need Jeremy Vine’s familiar tones. Heck, sometimes all you need is a nice large glass of something cold and Italian to spur you on to meet your word count.

But the best place of all really does come from the huge clichéd stereotype of writers. No, not the washed up, writer’s block-ridden Edward Morra in Limitless, penning his dead-end novel from the familiar squalor of his pigsty of a New York flat.

Equally, it’s not always as glamorous as Carrie Bradshaw makes it out to be, juggling her relationships and shoe collections with deadlines and interviews in the exclusive borough of Manhattan where she resides. Nor is life as a journo always quite as exciting as Tintin’s; the adventurous reporter turned eponymous hero, never without his trusty sidekick Snowy in tow.

So it’ll probably come as no surprise to you when I tell you I’m at my most productive cuddled on a sofa in the corner of a well-known coffee shop chain, hot chocolate in one hand, large calorific pastry in the other.

Writer’s block is something to which I am very familiar, despite my brief career so far. It’s not that you don’t have the ideas or inspiration, it’s that you can’t get them out. I imagine it’s similar to how a mute must feel; thoughts whizzing round your head, and simply no way to get them out, make yourself heard. It’s frustrating, agonizing, and more than anything down right bloody inconvenient. My inconsiderate arsehole of a brain obviously doesn’t appreciate the fact I have deadlines to meet, when it’s playing hide and seek with my ability to string a half-decent sentence together.

So when I’m in the grip of this foul beast (yes, I do personify it, and it really is an awful creature!) I take myself off to a coffee shop and settle myself in a corner where I can see everyone come and go. Before I know it, the juices start flowing – well, I am sort of writing about clichés, why not include a few?! – I type word after word, and sometimes if I’m lucky I read it back and not only does it make sense, but it is vaguely engaging! Huzzah.

By the time I pause for breath, I often find my mocha has gone cold and the population of fellow customers has turned over twice. But it's all worth it, because I've succeeded in putting pen to paper: a fundamental skill often frequently but temporarily disengaged in a writer's existence. I've met my word count, whilst adding some points to my loyalty card. Surely a win win situation for everyone.

Journalist problems

writ·er's block n. A usually temporary psychological inability to begin or continue work on a piece of writing. There are a thousand ideas swimming around in my head put getting them out and stringing together a passable sentence is proving practically impossible! See, did that even make sense?! It's literally driving me round the bend now! And, breathe.

Two of my passions: mountain biking and writing

Women's mountain biking - "It's what it does for your soul!"

After her first taste of mountain biking nearly 20 years ago on a Caribbean holiday, Jacqueline Easton was hooked. She soon set up her own business in Berkshire offering women-only mountain bike courses, Dirt Divas, having seen first hand what a testosterone-dominated sport it can be. Previously a professional rower, Jacqueline came from a sporting background, and found she quickly adapted to life on two wheels.

Mountain biking consists of riding bikes off road, usually over rough terrain. There are many different types of mountain biking, including; cross-country, trail riding, downhill, free ride and trials. Although mountain bikes are similar to other bikes, they tend to be specially adapted for performance and durability. The main differences being most use disc brakes and have a lower gear ratio. Skills required for the sport include endurance, balance, core strength and self-reliance; all skills that can be acquired on Dirt Diva courses.

Jacqueline recalls being inspired to take up the sport: “I’ve done a lot of other sports and I’d just come out of competitive rowing, it looked interesting so I thought I’d give it a go, and things went from there.” She loves the fact that it can enable you to see so much more of the world.

As well as providing an unrivalled level of enjoyment, the health benefits are huge too. For example, a woman weighing 130lbs can burn nearly 500 calories an hour during a moderate pace bike ride (about 12-14 mph), compared with the 207 she could burn walking the dog.

Like many other forms of exercise, mountain biking can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke and other chronic illnesses, but there’s another area Jacqueline feels it can benefit too: “It’s not just the physical activity of it… but I think also it’s what it does for your soul. It’s just the feel good factor of being out there in the great landscape. It’s just the best thing.”

Another benefit of this adrenaline-pumping hobby is that it can be relatively cheap, after purchasing the bike. Jacqueline advised to “spend as much as you feel you can” because starting out on a hefty, old, clunky bike as she described it, will put you off. Beginners should opt to visit their local bike shop, rather than being tempted by online deals, as it’s vital you’re measured for your bike. A hard tail bike (a bike with an unsuspended back end and front suspension fork) will set you back around £400.

After the bike, your helmet will be your most important piece of kit. Go for a light, well-ventilated one to keep you cool, try plenty on and expect to pay in the region of £40 for a decent one. Next up, gloves. Some riders don’t wear them but they’ll to keep your hands protected if you have a fall, which is more likely when you’re starting out. Finally, cycling pants will become your best friend once you get into this sport. As a beginner you’re not used to sitting in a saddle, and you’ll notice that it can be uncomfortable. However, these little beauties with built-in padding will keep you comfy on long rides. They’ll feel strange at first, but persevere and you’ll soon start feeling the benefits.

Perhaps Jacqueline’s most valuable piece of advice is to find buddies to go out riding with. “It makes it so much more enjoyable, as well as the safety aspect.” Riding as part of a group is the best option for beginners, as you’re just learning about your bike. Finding yourself some friends to go out with will mean people are there if you are to get a puncture or an injury, and you won’t be miles away from help. Self-reliance is something that is built up over time, as you become a more confident rider, so having plenty of others around you as you’re starting out is key.

Making friends with like-minded girls is one of the core aspects of the courses, which Jacqueline and her team run. Dirt Divas, of which Jacqueline is the founder and director, was set up in 2006. They offer a variety of courses specifically tailored for women of different abilities, designed to build confidence, be fun and make friends too. Courses offered range from Back to Basics, which aim to increase confidence and improve technique, to Drops and Jumps, aimed at the more adventurous rider looking to push their boundaries. The courses take place in Berkshire, and you can expect to pay around £99 for each course. You need to bring your own bike, as the courses are focused on building your confidence on the bike YOU ride.

On any given course there can be up to 30 women, split into groups of no more than six. These small groups mean each girl can hone her techniques under the eye of her coach. Each coach has come from a wide and varied background in mountain biking, and their combined years of experience reaches nearly 120 years.

Jacqueline feels her company might help women who feel apprehensive about taking up the sport, given that it seems to be so male dominated: “It’s really all about giving them a really good time on the day of the course and introducing them to other girls who are all incredibly supportive of each other.”

She described how it can be a little scary and intimidating to go out with the guys when you’re just starting out; you need to build your confidence, instead of being worried about being stuck at the back all the time. “They’re going to be quicker, they’re going to be more gung-ho in their attitude. You’re always trying to keep up with them, rather than just enjoying yourself - not that we have anything against the guys in all of this!” she laughed.

So what are you waiting for? Few others sports can promise excessive calorie burning, superb scenery and a generous helping of companionship; no Y chromosome required!