The second blog from Bryony during her week in my office.

It is that time again, and I know my fans will be desperate to feast their eyes on today’s blog about my time at 2BU. Well I will not disappoint you adoring people, because on day two I feel sufficiently able to tell you more about How 2 Be, Elspeth’s baby and my favourite of her projects. With seriousness now, I’d like to inform you about this project because it really means something. In fact How 2 Be it isn’t a project at all, it is a guide to life through the eyes of teenage girl who doesn’t know anymore than the rest of us and doesn’t pretend to. The concept is one of a dependable friend who may not have all the answers but will try pretty damn hard to find them. The main character Hailey is normal, confused and growing up in chaos, but as we watch her grow and learn about the world around her, she becomes a confidant, a teacher and in some cases a lifeline.

Although Hailey is but a twinkle in Elspeth’s eye at the moment, you can tell she is not far from hitting the big time. The reason I can tell is because, despite being now what I perceive as really old (I never really intended on growing up), I can remember what it was like to be 13. What happens to Hailey resonates strongly with the experiences I had in my own life. The difference is, what she goes through will be delivered interactively as a self-help guide to all those perplexed young girls and boys who are trying to grow, to learn who to trust, and to make it through the day without falling apart. I remember the little girl in me who had to grow up through magazines, Jacqueline Wilson stories and through school girl conversations, because my relationships with adults were at times very weak. I know that girl would have liked Hailey and quite often she needed her. She was lonely, she often felt as though she was the only person in the world who ever felt upset and she was in desperate need of consistency. Yes, I managed to muddle through my teenage years and make it out the other side, but what is the point in muddling through if you can have a companion to help carry that massive burden of growing up. Having Hailey there to hold my hand could have made quite a difference.