What took you so long?

Much as I'd like to believe the whole blogisphere has been asking this question, mulling over the puzzle of my as-yet missing web presence or sparking heated forum debates on 'Just When Will Simmo Start Blogging?' I'm not stupid. No one has been asking this question. No one, that is, except me.

Why someone who considers herself a writer can't bring herself to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard if you want to get all 21st century about it) has been a mystery to me for a while now. And of late, it's been bugging me so much that it's actually spurred me into action. About three years behind the rest of the masses.

Why? Well, if you've read the blog title and I still have to explain it, then maybe this isn't the read for you. But in the interests of not alienating new readers, I will elaborate.

Late should be my middle name. It's actually Marie, which (thanks Mum) is possibly less desirable, in my mind at least.

From day one I've been late. Before that even. I was conceived late in my parents' marriage, I was born late, and I've lived my life on completely the wrong side of early ever since.

It's apparent in very superficial ways. Birthday cards repeatedly get sent late, even if I've bought them early. And my present giving is even tardier. Most people are closer to their next birthday than the one I've missed by the time my gift gets to them.

Lately I've realised that lateness characterises my life in much more subtle ways. I am cautious, unadventurous, I research and I wait, and I wait some more and do more research and in the end I spend so long searching for perfection that by the time I commit, everyone's moved onto something new.

Some people, like my friend Wil, are early adopters. According to Wikipedia 'An early adopter or lighthouse customer is an early customer of a given company, product, or technology; in politics, fashion, art, and other fields, this person would be referred to as a trendsetter.'

A trendsetter! How I'd love to be one of those. A leader. A pioneer! But, alas, I am the polar opposite. I know about the trends and the new stuff (it's hard not to, living in London and working for a women's magazine) but I am a late adopter. Of trends, technology, adult behaviour, sensible moves like giving up smoking, having babies (silence, my deafening 30-something biological clock). You name it.

But, I guess I have to stop focusing on this and embrace the fact that I'm here now. Better late then never, eh?