Biography
Born on the Isle of Skye, I spent the majority of my working life in corporate environments, all the while knowing that I was destined for something else, I just didn't know what. Then in 2012 I found out, which prompted an insane drive to write a memoir. But in order to do that I had to 'sacrifice' sitting at a screen all day long yet still make a living doing something other than what I really wanted. Which is how I ended up waitressing then construction labouring ... all the while trying to finish the Mission.
The longer it took, of course, the more 'children' it produced. Mostly stories ... naturally I began to look at other ways of telling them. Then when I felt the urge to learn how to create visual content, I joined a short film-making group in Edinburgh and will be directing my first short in August 2024. And now, since I do not expect to be making any money from my story-telling passion any time soon, the only logical way to get paid to do something that aligns with my goals is This ...
So far, the only direct experience I have in this field is as a crowd extra in a Bollywood movie, Badass Ravi Kumar, which is due for release in October 2024. This was through GAP Bollywood and part shot in Glasgow.
One of the reasons I have lasted three years as a woman in a heavy-going construction environment is that I am known for my diligence, not spending all day on my mobile phone - and of course turning up. I am also well acclimatised to being on my feet all day.
Skills
writing (as an author)
speaking/writing French
drawing/illustration/calligraphy, though a little rusty
my singing is a bit rusty but with practice, should still be able to nail Non de Rien in French!
My accent is neutral Scottish. I have a good ear for picking up other accents. When I lived in France in the 90s, I allegedly didn't have a British accent.
construction labouring: moving plasterboard and timber, taking and signing off deliveries, clearing up after messy people, liberal use of the F word and acting tough as and when necessary
former waitress: serving customers, carrying food, taking payments, advanced in the art of customer banter, more polished use of language than in the building trade (can alternate quite happily between the two to great effect); also serving champagne and canapes to guests at private functions
former corporate receptionist; more hospitality skills, meeting/greeting, language and mannerisms definitely more sophisticated than in the building trade
former office administrator/secretary; squinting at a screen, scrolling through emails, taking telephone enquiries, typing up documents, wading through spreadsheets all day long, one too many trips to the coffee machine