@juliec
Active 7 years ago-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition December 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 3 months ago
Just realised deadline is today – I’ll be back ASAP to read and muse over a decision.
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition December 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 3 months ago
Thanks, Ath, though I’m not sure I’d welcome being 21 again, in many ways (all those nights with screaming babies!!)
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition December 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 4 months ago
Come on folks! Jack and Jill went up a hill … As a child you must’ve wondered what happened to send them tunbling down! It’s my birthday on Friday (a horribly big one) so please present me with a story for the December comp.
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Janette posted an update 4 years, 4 months ago
Apologies for the over-long gaps between my visits to Den. So much is still going on for me, including regular follow-up hospital visits following my multiple, bi-lateral arm breaks, one arm sadly looking towards being permanently handicapped. It happens to be my dominant arm, so many problems have arisen, including housework, personal care, the…[Read more]
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Oh dear, Janette, that sucks on so many levels. All I can do is send you a virtual hug, so consider it sent.
At least you’ve been getting follow-up care. MrsB fell and broke her left humerus while we were on holiday about fifteen months ago. There were a couple of visits to local hospitals while we were still there, but since coming home she’s…[Read more]-
Oh, Richard, that’s not good. If she’s still not right, they should be looking after her. I have to say I cannot fault my treatment, and they sent me for a bone density test, which showed up Osteopenia, which they are addressing. Is a consultation with your doctor worth a go?
Thanks for the hug – sending one right back.
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Sandra posted an update 4 years, 4 months ago
December comp is up – you’ve a month to exercise your writing muscles and put one of 2022’s Resolutions into practice.
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FAB comp, Sandra! So twisty!
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Thanks, Raine – hope it inspires a good few entries
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Sandra started the topic Monthly competition December 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 4 months ago
When Jack and Jill are found – Jack unconscious, Jill bruised, with a broken wrist, on the downward path from Old Well Hill, each are separately interviewed while in their hospital beds. Each gives an implausible and conflicting account of the events which led to their injuries.
As a local journalist you want a front page story but are mindful o…[Read more] -
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – November 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 4 months ago
Thank you Ath, and thank you Knicks for a version I wish I’d thought of , so many excellent phrases. Now to try to craft an irresistible competition!!
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Squidge replied to the topic The Future of the Den – Part 2 in the forum Blogs 4 years, 4 months ago
Ath, I know I’ve not been round much recently, but that looks fab! Noticed that blogs and whatever the heading is next to it both go bold when you click on blogs, but it seems so much easier and intuitive to navigate. Thank you xxx
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Raine replied to the topic The Future of the Den – Part 2 in the forum Blogs 4 years, 4 months ago
Hi @Athelstone, sorry – no I don’t think there is a delete option currently either, it was just that I could delete it off the main wall, but not in the forum which seemed like it might cause confusion. It would be good to be able to delete your own comments though, particularly for the monthly comps & publication rights issues, but it’s not critical.
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Raine replied to the topic The Future of the Den – Part 2 in the forum Blogs 4 years, 4 months ago
It does look much improved @athelstone. Thank you for all the hard work. I love that copy/pasting from word works better & that reply threads won’t vanish. Also love the chat – I commented in there that I almost didn’t spot it though – is there a way of making it more prominent? Or listed on the ‘Activity’ drop down menu at the top?
THe other…[Read more] -
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – November 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 5 months ago
Failed on the basics.
I’d been riding pillion on a BSA since my teens. Clandestinely to start, because my parents forbade me, but by 2004 I was well past that, and three years past my first BSA rally, which had taken us to Australia. Being one of 200 bikes wending our way across rolling golden hills an unforgettable experience. Even so, that…[Read more] -
Janette posted an update 4 years, 5 months ago
Can anyone help me with my book research? I’ve come across a fatal flaw in my book and need to age up a character a little (otherwise it’s a full book rewrite, which I’m trying to avoid).
Did anyone (or anyone you know) leave school in Summer when you could have/were due to leave in the Easter break?
My MC leaves at Summer, but I need to add…[Read more]-
I can’t think leaving at Easter would’ve been that likely, because of ‘O’levels.
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Hi, Sandra,
I was one of the ones who had to stay on an extra year and leave aged 16 (in June 1974 – oops, showing my age!), which I was pleased about because I wanted to sit exams and my parents wanted me to leave to earn a wage. It was a common thing then, that some kids were expected to leave the earliest opportunity to ‘bring home a wage’, and…[Read more]-
I was 16 at Easter 1963, so can’t help you there, sorry.
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Steve says school leaving age was 15, but you could stay on. Also see wikipedia Raising_of_school_leaving_age_in_England_and_Wales
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Thanks, Sandra. I’m trying to find someone who could have or did leave at Easter. Better still, someone who remembers if it was mandatory or whether there were exceptions. My MC wants to stop on, but her parents are insistent she leaves asap. However, if something meant she couldn’t or shouldn’t leave at Easter …
It’s a long shot, and I’m fast…[Read more]
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I don’t think it’s ever been mandatory to leave at Easter – short of expulsion. You are required to choose your subjects for a full year well in advance of Easter, so that staying on is the default position, even if it’s obvious to all that a specific student is going to leave. In theory, I could have left school at Easter in 1972, but at that…[Read more]
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Thanks, Ath, that’s very helpful. My MC is being pressured by her parents to leave school and earn a wage, but the employer/employment route might be the way to go. Pity I didn’t think of this when I drafted the book.
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 5 months ago
Hi all! Thank you so much for entering this month – sorry I’m not the actual winner of last month but I’ve had fun being undeserved organiser anyway!
@knickylaurelle, I loved the dark, shadowy atmosphere to this. Lost boys and forests and witches – *chefs kiss* Some utterly beautiful imagery in here, my favourite has got to be ‘a cackle can be…[Read more]
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Thank you Raine for so topically filling the breach, setting and judging (always the hardest part) the monthly comp. I am making good progress after stroke + surgery so hope to be back to full-strength participation soon
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*giant hugs*
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Oh my goodness, Sandra, I had no idea you were going through such a hard time. Pleased to hear you’re making good progress. Take it easy. Best wishes to you and yours. xxx
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Thanks, Newbie. I count myself lucky to have come through it with minimal side effects – and a huge warm glow from the quantity and breadth of caring messages which have come my way from friends and family.
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Gerry Fenge replied to the topic The world, her dog, memories-dot, dot, dot. in the forum Blogs 4 years, 5 months ago
Great! I’d love to read some blogs from ten years ago – before all the nonsenses that started in 2016, and when there were busy Writers Forums full of blogs, shallow or profound but always fascinating…
Please post an example…
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Raine posted an update 4 years, 5 months ago
One week left to get your spooky flashes in for the October comp. Come unnerve and delight me. 🙂
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly Competition – September 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 6 months ago
Done! and lol! 😀
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Raine started the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 6 months ago
Okay, so as Sandra is offline, I’ve stepped in to set this month’s challenge. Keeping it simple, it’s Halloween month so I want <400 scary/eerie/weird words featuring one (or more) of the following:
A black cat
A skeleton (of any species)
A ghost
A small child out at night
A bag of sweetsHave at it. Entries close midnight on Halloween.…[Read more]
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly Competition – September 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 6 months ago
@knickylaurelle just to let you know Sandra won’t be able to set a challenge as she’s offline for a wee while. Did you want to set another? Or I can invent something?
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly Competition – September 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 6 months ago
Very deserved win @sandradavies, well done! & thank you for an unusual, fun challenge @knickylaurelle. Everyone’s entries were great (& fascinating insights into your psyche!!).
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Raine replied to the topic Monthly Competition – September 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 6 months ago
449 words. CW – it’s a little bit dark.
The Hounds
Dark water curls around the bases of the towers and somewhere the hounds are baying. From here, on the bared skeleton of the top floors you can see fires burning on other towers, flags red as blood flying like strings of prayers and there is safety there, possibly, but they are as far away as…[Read more]
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