September's arrived, bringing a definite chill in the air. I would be lying if I said I had not already fished my two onesies down from storage and said goodbye to my multiple pairs of denim shorts. Yes, summer seems to officially be over here in England (surprise, surprise) and TV seems to be following suit.

 

From chills in the air to chills down your spine, ITV's Chasing Shadows is the start of a four part drama that promises to start off September's schedule well. I'll be constructing an ep-by-ep review of this as it airs but with big names (many of whom are Doctor Who alumni) such as Noel Clarke and Alex Kingston, it's certainly one to watch. At first impressions, the lead role of Sean Stone (played by Reece Shearsmith) is acted brilliantly but is, as often seems to be the case, a little unconventional in his approach to life, death and multiple murderers. Circulating around runaways, missing persons, the police and a suicide website, it's clear Chasing Shadows will whet our appetite for mess and murder.

 

Which brings us onto ITV's other early offering in the return of Scott and Bailey. Featuring lead roles by Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp, Scott and Bailey is another police drama, but without the either obtrusive or socially awkward male protagonist (see above: case in point). I've been a fan of Scott and Bailey since the first series in 2011, so I'm particularly excited about its return next Wednesday (I actually squealed upon viewing the advert). I read a great interview with Suranne Jones courtesy of What's On TV which seems to suggest that, as always, there will be an abundance of personal drama  for all the characters, as well as the police-based drama we've come to know and love.

 

Continuing through September is the third season of Scandal, which airs here in the UK on Sky Living. Last night took us to episode 6, Icarus, which is currently buffering on Sky Go. The first five episodes have been wrought with marital and political drama and debauchery, so I'm intrigued to see how the season continues through the month. I stumbled across a few differing opinions on the third season from fans in America who are gearing up for season but as our little island doggy paddles some way behind, I'm trying to avoid all spoilers and make up my own mind. So far, so good.

Depending on your opinion of Drake, using his lyrics as the basis for the title of a life goals post is either inspired or a low point in life! I can kind of share Drake's sentiments however as I very much feel like I'm starting from the bottom. It's taken a good few years to decide but I think I know what I direction I want to take my life in now. And yes, it does mean that I will be starting from the bottom but everyone has to start somewhere.

 

I want to be a writer. I want to be the person who sits at a read through for a TV drama and hears people acting out the words that I have written. I want to run around a city - London, Paris, New York, anywhere - wearing jeans, a nice shirt and my hair knotted in a messy bun on top of my melon shaped head., watching people and writing about them. I think I've always known I wanted to be a writer, I just never had the guts to admit it out loud because there was always so much standing in my way. There still is - if not more - stuff standing in my way but whatever career path, whatever plans you have for your life, I'm pretty sure there are going to obstacles to overcome.

 

So since I want to write, I figured I would write down exactly what I want to achieve in 2014. The last three years I've had the comfort in knowing that I'd be staying on at university, I would be on the same campus, doing the same things with people I've come to call some of my best friends. This year, that certainty isn't there and it's scary. I'm scared that I'm going to lose contact with people because of geographical reasons. I'm scared that my hometown will gradually chip away at my determination. I want to keep wanting this future I've imagined for myself and I'm going to try and do what I can to keep myself motivated.

 

That's where these life goals come in:

1. Graduate!

It's all well and good having all these post-uni plans but I need to actually put the work in and graduate first! It's going to be a tough few weeks but I'm ready for it.


2 & 3. All in the aim of improving as a writer. I don't care if I get two words published in an online magazine no one has heard of or a poem published in an anthology twenty people subscribe to - I just want to start making progress! And I figured that writing workshops are going to be the best way to network and make that happen!

4. Of course with having a jobs come the benefit of earning money! I've spent the last four years avoiding buying too many new clothes and going on trips to places because I need to be paying for my accommodation and living expenses at uni. So the prospect of having a bit more disposable income is really exciting! And wardrobe wise, I can't wait to start building a collection and smart-casual blouses and blazers.

So here's to a productive and positive 2014!

Jade :)