Writing vs telly ...

8 January

Hmm; my W10 browser Edge has decided it doesn’t want to play anymore. It actually happened on Thursday and I have no idea why. I had been in a live chat to cancel my £90 subscription to MacAfee internet security, simply because I think ninety quid is far too much. After saving the chat and copying it to a Word doc too, I clicked out of it and opps, Edge won’t now work. I do have Firefox which is still working so I’m not being held up any now, but actually, I quite like Edge. Ah well …

MS Office did an update just before Christmas and it now includes suggests for reducing word counts. It’s bugging the life out of me, come on, Yanks telling me what I should write; not on folks, not on at all! Having said that, some of the suggestions do actually make sense, but most are just being pedantic, so I ignore them. One word it always picks up the word ‘actually’, as it the sentence before this one. What the software suggests is not what I want, so I ignore it. It’s just that it’s a pain in the rear end whenever it happens.

We writers are urged not over-write stories. There’s a ban on words like ‘very’, at least you would think so the way some folks go on. One wise(?) person said, ‘If you see and adjective, cut it out!’ Oh really? An American writer/tutor has a hate on the word ‘replied’ and gets shirty if he sees it in any submitted work. Some of these people need to get a lot more methinks! Anyway, I get the impression that this latest Word update is about these ‘rules’, but I’ve never really been one for obeying the rules at the best of times. This one I shall continue to ignore.

It does make me wonder though where these rules come from, who thinks them up. The why question is easy, they need fill their rice bowls. These hated words are there to be used, so why not use them? What is the point of having certain words unless you do use them? OK, I can some point to some of the rules, but I don’t see so many make a big fuss over them. Nope, I shall continue to use whatever is there to be used. Besides, I’ve seen big name writers who ignore those same rules; is that case of ‘do as I say not as I do’? If so, then perhaps I need to find some new writers to follow.

It has been so long since I did any work on Arathusia that I had where I had got to with it. The hand written first draft is standing at 151 A4 sheets; the typed up version 78 pages. Part of my problem with it was that I had difficulty in finding where typed story ended so that I could continue on without doubling up. Yesterday I spent some time looking for and finding where the story had got to. I was also missing some of my ‘prompt’ sheets I use. They cam to light the other day and that helped. So there I was, sat here, fountain pen filled, paper in front of me and heard the dreaded words … ‘Are going to some telly love?’ I managed to write 35 words, just 35! Hopefully I shall get more done soon.

I am also aware that … and Bristol Fashion ended a lot looser than I would have liked. Me old mate Bill Howe is proofing for me, and will make the changes he suggests. Bill is good and I trust him in what he says. Once that is done I shall then see where I tightened it up, and maybe even round it off a lot better than it is right now. It’s either or writing a third book to the series, something I hadn’t planned on. I’m not so sure the story line is strong enough for a third instalment though. We shall see in the fullness of time.

I shall be pleased to get out and get some new photos this year. As it stands I haven’t lifted my camera to eye level for some time now. That means that today’s photo is another for my old folders … 

 

A couple of wigeon.

Today’s funny …

While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his five-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: "Glory be unto the Faaaather. .and unto the Sonnn ... and into the hole he gooooes."

Driven to distraction

7 January

Yesterday morning I sat here staring at a blank screen and after twenty minutes I decided to see what funny to post, perhaps something else would pop into me ‘ed while I was at it. The result is that today’s funny is actually yesterday’s funny – and I still had a blank screen to star at. Normally I don’t have a lot of time for so-called writer’s block; I normally call it procrastination, or lack of discipline. After yesterday I might have a little more sympathy over the issue; we’ll see … … …

An ex-Royal Marine is creating a stir on his housing estate by ticketing cars who are parking outside his house to save paying the illness tax of parking in the nearby hospital car park. I have some sympathy with him really, but only up to a point. None of us have a legal right to park outside our own house, and that is the issue here, or is it? The head-line that attracted me to the story claimed the man objected to the poorly parking of the cars, not that they were there in the first place. Drivers who get the ticket are complaining, home owners are complaining because the drivers are angry at them. We have a similar situation outside here too, again, it’s down to drivers parking selfishly. By that I mean taking up two spaces, which means no-one else can get in.

There’s not that many complaints about it these days though, we’ve given up on it. The issue that still annoys me though is the non-disabled parking in spaces for blue badge holders. Most of the supermarkets are refusing to police the issue, certainly we have been told by Tesco they won’t do so. Perhaps it’s the aggression of so many people these days when their wrong-doing is point out to them that pushes Tesco down this path. There’s a strong market for stolen blue badges too because of the cost of parking in so many places these days. I suppose it could be argued that it’s yet another victimless crime and therefore not serious. However, by illegally using a blue badge deprives a genuine person of a much needed parking place, and that does leave a victim.

Mobile phone use is another issue where people don’t like being picked up for it. We hear cries of, ‘It’s hardly the crime of century is it?’ They should go and tell the families of those killed when they are hit in this so-called minor, or non-offence. Do you watch the reality-cop shows on telly? If so, have you noticed the number of single maned cars where they have to drive and use their radios at the same time? See, makes a mockery of it doesn’t it?

How many drivers have you seen smoking while driving? There’s not as many these days but there still a good few of them. Think about it a sec; they reach for the pack, flick it open, take one out, return the pack, pick up the matches or lighter, so far not too bad you might think, but what about lighting the damned ciggy. I’ve seen then using both hands to do so, steering with their elbows as the do so. Isn’t it time this one was tackled be now? Ahhhh … but there’s a need to raise dosh from taxes paid and that might fall by cracking down just one small minority of people.

Oh yes, we’ve heard of guys being stopped while watching a DVD and driving, of women being stopped as they apply their makeup, and another guy eating pasta as he drove. There’s even a case of woman getting a ticket for drinking water while stationary at a red traffic light (which did seem a tad silly on the cops part with that one). So yes, there’s lots of distractions out there on the roads these days, and there will be one that will be right up your street that you may end up getting a ticket for at some time. What it need is for all of us to be careful while we drive, simple as that.

Today’s photo …

 

One of my distractions, classic cars, Jan was driving though.        

Today’s funny …

A little boy came home eating a big candy bar. His mother (remembering he had already spent all his allowance) asked him where he got it.

"I bought it at the store with the dollar you gave me," he said.

"But that dollar was for Sunday School," his mother replied.

"I know, Mom," he said, "but the Pastor met me at the door and got me in for free!"

Educated idiots everywhere

5 January

Fake news, what is it I wonder? I’ve just been looking at the MSN homepage and one item caught my attention for the silliness of the headline; ‘Do you live close to a busy road? You could be at risk of Alzheimer’s.’ It seems today that whatever you do you are likely, or could develop some illness or other. I know, why don’t we all live in cotton wool shrouds, stay at home sitting on the floor in the freezing cold and without any lights. Oh, no, that won’t work will it? We could become diffy in Vitamin D and might get rickets from it. That’s if we managed to live that long that is seeing as drinking water is dangerous and cooking food could set our shrouds on fire. Needless to say, I didn’t bother reading that one.

Yesterday was the 50 year anniversary of the death of Donald Campbell on Conistone Water. There aren’t that many men of adventure like him about these days, health and safety laws have put a stop to those types of fun and games. Well, at least here in the UK it has. Bloody busybodies get everywhere these days. At least abroad those that wish to can get off the beaten track do things some of can only dream of doing. There’s a guy who took a film crew with him when he trekked across Central America. At one point he passed through an area controlled by a drugs cartel and the cops came in to stop and escort him. The cartel is known for killing outright or kidnapping people for ransom. It’s not a trek I would consider but if he wants to do it, fine, let him get on with it.

Health and safety – a term that should come with a health warning of its own. It makes me smile at times though. Like the time I went into Barclays bank here in town during a time when they remained open while major alterations were being made around the customer areas. There were the contractors, all wearing hard hats and hi-vis vests; and beside them were the bank staff and customers with no protection at all. How silly can things get? These people are what my dad used to call educated idiots, he was right too wasn’t he.

Brexit is running into all kinds of trouble again. You won’t need me to tell that the chief negotiator has resigned over the issue. But hang on a mo, did he resign over Brexit itself? Not from what I understand from the reports I’ve read and heard. No, he resigned because the PM and her cronies don’t have an idea what they should be doing and have cut him out of the process of making a plan. I can understand that you know; he is the man who is supposed to sit down with the rest of the EU ambassadors and work a deal that’s good for us. How can he do that without any clear ideas or any set targets. You have to include such a man in your planning meetings. After all, he is the one who knows how the EU works better than any minister. So why has Tittering Terry cut him out? I’m wondering if it would have been any different if Daft Dave was still in power? But that’s counter-history, something I don’t have any respect for at all. It’s the coulda-shoulda-woulda game for even more educated idiots with too much time and not enough common sense on their hands.          

Yesterday we sat in waiting for my foot butcher to arrive at 12.30; come 1pm Jan was about to phone her so I decided to check the diary first. The appointment is for today, yesterday. At least I got the time right. Anyway, we’re sat here again waiting for her now.

And so it’s photo time …

Colour for sale.

Today’s funny …

Magistrate: 'But if you saw the lady driving towards you, why didn't you give her half the road?'
Motorist: 'I was going to, Your Honour, as soon as I could find out which half she wanted.'      

readin', writin', and being a silly boy

4 January

Yesterday went off OK and our first destination was Woodlands Garden Centre. That place is an ‘ouch’ and then some. Prices are sky high and it seems to keeps changing every time we go there. Jan wanted a drink so we headed for the café and she came back with two small bottles of diet coke - £2 each! Even then she had to ask to have the crown tops taken off. Later she was looking at a new bonsai tree, £30 a time, perhaps we should have taken a gold card with us. I was happy to go there simply because there’s a Works bookshop there. I had already bought four books from a charity shop, but they are second hand books, so I too opportunity to look at the new 3 for a fiver deals on offer. Six books later … Now my TBR pile beside the bed will fall over if add any more to it. But hang on a mow, there’s an almost empty shelf in the walk-in cupboard we have … … …

It’s good and well having all these books to read but I really do need to get on and get some writing done. Peter James has his own YouTube these days called Peter James TV. I’m wondering how he manages to do so much. He writes his books, he races cars, he does this YouTube thing, and he reads loads of books. How does he do it? New writers are advised to read, read and when that’s done, read some more. That all sounds fine, at least in theory, but I find it very hard to find the time to actually sit and write. Part of the problem in not having a ‘writers space’ for me to work in, my lappy is in the living room. Another problem is my slow reading speed. At time it can take me and hour to read just 20 pages in a novel, even when I’m enjoying the book. That is why I tend to read paperback novels when I’m in bed.

Another issue is the amount of time I spend on social media, the biggest draw of the lot. But so does Peter James and so many other writers, or do they? Some employ PAs to do all of those things for him. Some also pay researchers to that side of the work for them. It does take a lot of the harder background work off your hands. But what about the oblong light show that most of us addicted to these days? I might be in middle of creative session and hear the words, ‘Are we having a bit of telly now then?’ Oh dear; while telly is on I can’t concentrate on anything else. Today will be awkward anyway because me foot-butcher is due in a couple hours, and I need to get this done ready for posting. Oh how I wish I was more disciplined …

That guy the cops shot yesterday has been named, and it’s a middle east type name, and again the cops are saying it was a non-terrorist operation. It will be interesting to see the reports from the investigation into it. Even though there was a gun in the car, what was the man doing to cause cops to open fire? Was he reaching for the gun, or was he just sat there trying to do what he was told? Another question; why was he shot and none of the others? The dead man was a known villain and had been found not guilty in an earlier firearms incident, so he was far from being an innocent man caught up in the frenzy of the moment. Like I said, the results of the investigation will be interesting to read.

In a way I think the cops are in a no win situation at times. They have a known criminal in front of them with a record of suspected firearms use; do they take the chance and let get out of the car and perhaps end killing another officer, or do they take the action they took yesterday? Damned if they do, damned if they don’t. The question for me though, could have just wounded the man and then taken him into custody? If not, why not. On the face of it he must have been acting in such a way that they thought he was danger to them. These cops don’t open fire for the fun of it. If they did, they wouldn’t be in the armed response unit for very long. Another question? Did they expect any firearm use from the guys in the car? Surly they must have, that’s why have the armed cops there. It will all come out in the wash I’m sure.

Today’s photo …

Bum end of a downed tree. Not much of a root system is there?

Today’s funny …

If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.                 

Odds n sods

3 January

Good morning folks; I’ve made a boo boo – I’m due to have a B12 injection today. I have an appointment card in my wallet telling me so, and that was the mistake. I thought it was actually already booked and the time was on the card. It wasn’t; all it had was ‘B12 due today’. Finally, I got through to the GPs at 8.35 this morning and they offered me an appointment at 10.20. At least I am can now relax over that one. I’m not looking forward to going out today though, it’s bloomin cold out there and although there is no frost on the ground, the weather forecast is for black ice and freezing temperatures.

As it was I waited for 10 minutes and then was in and out and done in around one minute. I wonder how much that cost?  

Police have shot and killed a guy in Yorkshire in what they claim was a pre-planned operation to arrest six men. Three were arrested at the same time one died and two more were arrested at an address in Bradford. The cops have said that it wasn’t an anti-terrorist operation but haven’t given any details, I suppose it will all come out later. But I do wonder why one guy decided he wouldn’t do as he was told when a number of guns were pointed at him by highly trained marksmen. I’m bloomin sure I would!

Yet again there calls for the railways to taken back into public ownership. After nearly 40 years of cash being poured into investors pockets, it’s past time it was stopped. British Rail wasn’t the most efficient rail system, but it was way better than the current farce we have now. Yes, there were delays, yes, the trains were old and dirty, but have things improved? Not much from what I see, apart from the fares going up through the roof. Rail and the water companies were two concerns that should never have been privatised. Both are huge and complex systems that don’t work very well when split into a lot of different companies. There’s no continuity services now, and certainly with the railways you can never be sure you have the correct ticket you need to travel on any particular service. It’s way past time to bring it back into public ownership.

Another British soldier has died in Iraq, but no details have been given, and yet I thought all our troops were withdrawn for there. Apparently we still have troops in Afghanistan too. If they were withdrawn, why have some been sent back? It makes no sense to me my friends, it really doesn’t, if the job was done and over with why go back?

OK, this will be a short one cos we are now off out to do some shopping, so today’s photo …

a python.

Today’s funny …

What do you get if you cross a automobile mechanic with an Egyptian mummy?
A toot and car man.           

New year, same old crap?

2 January

This time of year brings along all sorts of feelings for all of us. Some of us feel positive and look forward to the challenges and opportuneness that the new year brings. We used to feel that about birdwatching, starting the year off with a clean slate and wondering what new species we would see. We don’t go birding these days though, so now we don’t have that to look forward to. Even so we are still positive about what this coming year will bring us. However, I’m aware that there are many folk out there who think, new year, same old crap. The start of a new year must be really depressing for them. Perhaps making New Year Resolutions might help? I’m not so sure, the odd time I have done so they are in the realm of Forgottenland within a week. Now, I don’t bother. I just get on and get done what needs to be done when it needs doing.

So what do we have planned for this year then? Nothing at all really simply because we are now have to wait until we have a lot more information about Jan’s up-coming back surgery and the recovery time. This is likely to be the biggest surgery she has ever had done, and I have to be honest, she is getting nervous about it. We can’t really plan anything until that has been done and the recovery has happened. So far my health has improved leaps and bounds since last August when my back was done; what I need to do now is to get me finger out and do more than I am doing. You see …

I’m sat here writing me blog and all the time I have this little worm whispering to me to forget the blog, there’s another novel that needs writing. Of course, if I listened then the worm will whisper about the book on me kindle that needs to read; later it’s the new Asimov book I started last night; and the film I recorded late last night … … … It’s the writers worm I’m afraid, but maybe you have one too who comes and whispers to you about what you could be doing if were to stop doing what you’re doing now. And then there’s Jan; she is in the kitchen making a cuppa put came back in to ask whether we should go out for a couple of hours. I know she wants to go to a local garden centre anyway, so why not. We will be popping out for a few hours later this morning.  Actually, we could with getting out for a few hours. I could do with some new photos too …

Today’s photo …

Whipsnade rhino.

Today’s funny …

Did you hear about the man who fell into an upholstery machine?
He is fully recovered now.

Too much is too much

1 January

A happy new year to all my lovely readers, hope you have a good one.

So, what did you do with your extra one second last night? ‘What extra second is that?’ It seems that our planet doesn’t spin at a constant speed and a second had to added to one day so the atomic clocks and GMT keep the same exact time. Money markets aren’t happy about it because of the way their computers work, which now to be reprogramed. Of course we needed to be told about it because it’s such an important topic that we really do need to know about it. Let’s hope that spin doesn’t slow down this coming year or they’ll be stealing it back off us next year.

Absolute Power, the first David Baldacci book to be published in 1996, is what I am currently reading in paperback. I bought it when I saw it because I’ve always liked the film with Clint Eastward in the starring role of Luther Witney. The film does follow the book pretty well for the first 300-odd pages, then it changes, and what changes! I’ll not give them away just in case you fancy giving it a go, but be prepared for those changes. Anyway, what this paragraph is really about are the words, ‘in a New York minute’, which Baldacci uses quite often in the book, but what is a New York minute and how does it differ from say a Brum or Manchester minute. Well, it seems that it relates to the hectic life style the New Yorkers are supposed to live. See, stick with me kiddo and you’ll learn all sort of useful info. Here it is 9.50am already and I’ve given two vital, need to know information.

Seeing as today and tomorrow are a bank holidays, I’ll not burden you with any more simply cos you can’t bank them until Tuesday, I’m sure you have enough to concern you caring for all this thick heads after last night’s booze. So, I’ll leave it there for today.

Today’s photo …

Orange and white poorly parker.

Today’s funny …

Old age is when your former classmates are so gray and wrinkled and bald, they don't recognize you.