Follow Your Dream

Once, when I was young and fairly stupid and before I had even thought about doing this list, I decided to audition for a Halifax TV advert. I don't know if it was the fame and fortune that attracted me, or the fact that I could get a half day off work for doing it (I worked for the said company you see!) but I sent off my application and pretty soon I had an audition date and song words to learn.

It wasn't until I stood in the audition room and had opened my mouth, that I realised that I couldn't sing, I had no chance of even being in tune and I didn't even know why I had put my name forward in the first place. After the second attempt of the song, I was asked if I wanted another go, but declined, citing the fact that I didn't think that I would improve any by doing so, of which they agreed!

Which brings me round to the fact that another Saturday has just gone by, another X Factor show begins. I always like the early stages, when you see so much hope and ambition. None so much more than a contestant that had auditioned five years ago with Cheryl Cole for Pop Star the Rivals. Nick was currently singing in working men's clubs, whilst Cheryl was busy selling out arenas with Girls Aloud. Nick had tried for eight years to crack the music business and this was his last chance of trying to make it big. Unfortunately none of the other judges shared his ambition and he was rejected at the first hurdle. Quite sad when you realise that this is all this guy has wanted to do and just by an unlikely twist of fate, he won't achieve his ambition. Which made me wonder, this could happen to any one of us. What if after all these years, when I finally finish my book, no-one likes it? Then, I guess the optimist in me says at least I tried to do something that I wanted to do with my life, and not just regretted not doing it, twenty years down the line. Hopefully Nick feels the same way.

With my list, I have resided myself to the fact that I might just have another 'Halifax audition' scenario, where the opportunity arises for me to try something new, that I may not be any good at, but at least I've tried. You can't blame a girl for trying, that's a fact.