Well okay I plagiarised that heading from the title of Frances Whiting’s book but I too, wanted to be a marching girl. That and it’s a great heading for the whimsical dreams of youth.

No, I never became a marching girl. Nor did I become the chef, the naval officer, the police women, a New York Times best-selling author or award-winning journalist travelling the world, writing for National Geographic.

Apparently, these vocations don’t happen by osmosis.

Mostly I’ve been lucky enough to have great jobs, working with great people but the nine to five has never been my thing. Temporary and contract positions offer more freedom, although not everyone sees it this way. I once missed out on a role because the regional manager decided I was “too unstable”!

Unstable it is then! With my proficiency in procrastination and aptitude for tangents, it’s the freelance writer life for me. There’s still a chance I’ll make that NY Times best seller list or evolve into a witty and entertaining story-teller.

Oh, to be Frances Whiting!