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‘You know, I rather like winter when I know it’s only going to last two weeks,’ I said to my mother when she visited last week.

I’ve been working in the travel industry for two years now, all the while living in London.

I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned all about some people embracing the internet and social media to sell their stories to the world (or at least, to each other) and about people who are upset that the internet and the e-reader might replace printed articles and books and that maybe we are about to drown in a deluge of poor quality writing. I’ve also learned that I don’t really care that much. I’m tired of moaning. And this is coming from the mouth of a top quality moaner, seriously – ask my oldest friends.

I’ve lost count of the times people have asked me what I do and I’ve replied that I’m a travel writer whilst feeling like I’m telling the most enormous lie. The trouble is that they often ask this rather annoying follow up question, ‘so do you get to travel all over the world and get paid for it?’

I avoid eye contact.

‘Er no,’ I reply. And I want to say, ‘no, there isn’t much place for modesty in London. It doesn’t pay to say what you think quietly on a blog with a very small audience. It doesn’t matter if you have done some good things (see my previous post) or met some big people. If you can’t sell yourself, you won’t have very much money.’

I have met more people who haven’t really done all that much, but think enough of themselves to say they have, in London than anywhere else I’ve ever lived or visited. I’m terrified of seeing what people are like in New York. And some of these are the people being paid to look after social media accounts and write for great publications. Which is great. But I think I’ve lost my trumpet. So, as the old cliche goes, I’m running away to India to try and find it.

I’d like to share something with you. It’s Brene Brown talking. If you aren’t already watching TED talks, you’re missing out. And thisamericanlife.org, if you haven’t listened to that – have a wade through the archives. I promise there’s some really great stuff there. Obviously this is coming from someone who fears she loves her LoveFilm subscription more than going to parties, and spent this morning watching Curly Sue and crying all the way through it, but there you go.

Sophie Collard on Google+