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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly comp – March 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 4 months ago
The March comp has two super entries and, maybe, another on the way? With a whisker under a week to go, and a word limit as low as 1 (2 would be better) and as high as 500 there’s tons of time to rattle of an entry. And all it needs is a happy ending. Yippee! Look there’s a one-word-entry with a happy ending. You can’t have that one though.
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Athelstone posted an update 4 years, 4 months ago
Festival of Writing is back on at York this year. Any takers?
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Not me, I’m afraid. I’m too immobile at present and in-person festivals have never been my thing. Are you going, Ath?
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I wouldn’t mind, especially if there are a few faces I haven’t seen for a while. That said it’s an awful lot of money even with the discount for members/earlybird.
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Maybe I won’t go. Having been invited to book NOW and hurry, early bird discounts are only there for a week, none of the “buy” buttons work on the site.
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I couldn’t log in to the members’ site yesterday but I managed just now. They seem to have had a few glitches recently.
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It’s been a few years since I was last there but I seem to remember I always think I’ll enjoy it more than I do (barring the company, of course!) We need to have our own ‘York’
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Yes, I didn’t get nearly as much as I thought I would out of the one I went to. It was fabulous meeting up with everyone but everything else was a bit – just, OK, really. Of course, had the agents swooned over my work at the 1-2-1 sessions and offered immediate representation, as they were supposed to, my view may have been different. But the best…[Read more]
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Oof, even early bird is still a fair bit more than it used to be. I don’t think I’ll be there. Like Sea says – I’d rather just meet up with Denizens!
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Yes, I hasten to point out that I was trying the “buy” button (unsuccessfully) not because I’d decided to buy, but to see whether there were any choices to make. Looks like you buy a ticket then choose what you want to do.
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By my reckoning, without the early bird it’s £700 (or thereabouts). What if you’re not a member of JW?
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Well, our fridge freezer passed away at the weekend, probably at some point on Friday evening so we didn’t notice until Saturday afternoon, by which point about £100 worth of frozen food was spoiled. Our neighbour over the road who used to repair kitchen appliances said it would cost almost as much to repair as to buy a new one. So that’s firmed…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 4 years, 4 months ago
In case you hadn’t noticed, we now have a choice of editors for posting in forums. The default, what you see first, is the “Visual Editor”. This is actually the main editor for WordPress, (the core software for the Den), but it is disabled by BBPress, (the WordPress plugin that gives us forums). The reason for this seemingly odd choice, is that…[Read more]
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Athelstone started the topic I Remember in the forum Blogs 4 years, 4 months ago
I remember meeting you, in 1978. The person who introduced you said you were a good bloke. It didn’t recommend you to me. But as the evening wore on, you did seem decent enough.
I remember jeans and a white T-shirt and a scruffy canvas jacket.
I remember bumping into you later in the Student Union bar. It was good to see you.
I remember the B…[Read more]
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(((Hugs)))
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Such a lovely memoriam, Ath. I’m so sorry for you that he has gone.
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Oh Ath, what a beautiful and heartrending tribute. I’m so sorry you’ve lost your old friend xx
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Bloody hell. He was three years younger than my husband. Makes you think. RIP, Paul. Hugs, Ath.
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Yeah, he was three years younger than me, too. And yes, it does make you think.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – March 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 4 months ago
I lied.
Â
Summer of sixty-one – when Percy Faith’s ‘Theme for a Summer Place’ persistently played along the telegraph wires, exhaling hauntingly into the ether – was one of much excitement and promise for the girls of the small Hertfordshire village where I lived, thanks to a recent influx into the village of no fewer than eight new males, mos…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 4 years, 4 months ago
OK. There are a few changes to look out for. The new Main Menu is obvious, as is the new presentation of messages on the Activity Page. To be honest, I prefer the old appearance, but this version has the advantage of not suffering from the “missing posts” bug. On forums, you now have access to the “Visual Editor” as well as the old “Text (HTML)…[Read more]
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Looking good! Seems easier to log in now too
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There has always been a login button for WordPress, top left, that many folks don’t spot. It goes when you’re logged in and you get a tiny profile picture top left, where you can log out. The extra login widget that was located on the sidebar is quite nice, because it replicates that functionality, but a bit bolder. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite…[Read more]
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Yes, I had the same recently. Does the WP login work if you have a WP site? My generic WP login is different to this one
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I don’t think the sites are linked in any way. Every WP site will have its own unique user lists and passwords. Obviously you can set the same name and password for different sites if you want. I have a WordPress.com userid and password. No idea what the password is as it’s years since I used it, but I’m certain it wouldn’t work here.
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Thanks. Just tried logging out and in via that login and it seems to work, useful to know
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On the other hand, I think that WordPress (.com) tries, with varying success, to track what sites are created based on WordPress, and what known userids visit them.
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Exciting! Thank you so so much, Ath.
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Athelstone posted an update 4 years, 4 months ago
A quick update on the update – as in proposed changes to the site. I hope to release these soon, but there are still some annoying bugs lurking in the dim and distant recesses of the WordPress/BuddyPress/bbPress code which I would at least like to understand first. Progress has been excrutiatingly slow, so I may release some of the more useful…[Read more]
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Since bugs and codes are completely beyond my capability to understand, this is where I pat you awkwardly on the shoulder and tell you have absolute faith in you 🙂
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*I* have absolute faith
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Your faith is much appreciated. It’s hard to sustain annoyance in the face of software that’s free and supported by a mass of volunteers. That said, it’s sometimes frustrating to follow an issue to the stage where somebody reports a similar problem, a developer responds with a few obscure statements, the online thread simply ends without any outcome.
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and it happens more than once…
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Your work is appreciated, Ath. 🙂
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Thanks, Kate. As it happens, I’ve had a nightnare day when nothing worked and the site ended up so broken that I had to restore it to the backup I did before starting. I’ll have to look at plan B tomorrow.
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Thank you for all your hard work, Ath.
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Just checked out previous autumn challenges and much impressed with new, improved ease of use. My IT skills being all but nil I hugely appreciate your efforts – thank you..
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Athelstone started the topic Monthly comp – March 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 4 months ago
We need some light. Up to 500 words with a happy ending. Thank you.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – February 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 4 months ago
Gosh, thanks Raine. I think there were some really excellent entries this month. I put my win down to luck – and sneaking “Madrigal” into my story.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – February 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 4 months ago
Congratulations Ath, an intriguing tale and well-deserved top place. And thank you Raine for providing me with a very useful opportunity to work out a scene in my current wip as well as inspire others to provide entertaining tales.
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly Comp – February 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 4 months ago
Thank you guys for entering! And for writing such fun pieces – they all have something special to them, I think.
@athelstone I love the details and voice of yours, the small touches that make each character so recognisable.
@sandradavies well, naked men wrestling, what more can anyone ask for really?? Love the balance of violence and tenderness…[Read more] -
Raine posted an update 4 years, 5 months ago
Just a couple more days to get your monthly comp entries in. If it helps with motivation, I’ve just had a recent one accepted for publication! So write them words, they might end up earning you money!
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Daedalus posted an update 4 years, 5 months ago
Have you seen this @thea? https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/feb/22/lavish-roman-mosaic-is-biggest-found-in-london-for-50-years
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Thanks so much for the link, Daeds! I have read about several interesting finds recently along the HS2 route, but I hadn’t heard about this mosaic in London. What a wonderful find, and in good condition too 🙂
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No problem. I was astonished that there’s still stuff like that left to find!
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Yes, there have been amazing finds. They certainly built stuff to last 🙂
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – February 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 5 months ago
A question of perception
After, naked, panting; towelling stinging sweat from our eyelids, we stepped outside through the open French windows into the still-warm August night. A quick sideways glance: he as relieved as I to no longer be the focus of intense female attention. Relieved it had ended – honourably? Yes. That could honestly be said.…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – February 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 5 months ago
Byrd
‘Somewhat overshadowed by Tallis.’
‘Sorry?’
Janet looked up from the score at Penrose who was holding his copy at arm’s length. His other hand grasped his lapel as though he was striking the pose of some learned patrician. Probably just what he was doing, she thought. She felt a twinge of guilt, but also resignation. If only he hadn’t in…[Read more]
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – January 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 5 months ago
Well done all, especially Raine. I thought it was a bit special.
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Raine started the topic Monthly Comp – February 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 5 months ago
Right folks. Two things that featured heavily in my weekend were Encanto and storms … so those are my inspirations for this month’s challenge. I want a scene with 2+ siblings interacting & a weather or astrological event. 400 words by the 28th, bonus points for Encanto easter eggs!
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly Competition – January 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 5 months ago
Aw thank you @knickylaurelle!! Glad it struck a chord 🙂 And I loved everyone else’s entries so yay everyone!
Okay, I need to think about next month – will get pondering and post something later/tmrw.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Competition – January 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 5 months ago
Congratulations Raine – so uncomfortably vivid! – and to all of you who managed to fight down an adversary, real or fictitious. And thank you Knicks for competition and comments.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – January 2022 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 6 months ago
Doug
I could be expelled, or even stuck in a young-offenders institution, but, honestly, I can’t see how they’ll ever pin it on me.
Doug isn’t a nice kid. At ten, he’s the spitting image of his dad; spitting being the operative word. He’s well on his way to being as big as him, too. Which is big.
Doug hates all the other kids at school.…[Read more]
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Or even rattle OFF an entry. More haste…