@knickylaurelle
Active 4 months, 1 week ago-
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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Daedalus posted an update 4 years, 5 months ago
Recovering from Covid. It’s no joke. Be careful out there people, the risk is real
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Sorry to hear you caught it. Did it break through jabs? Hope you recover quickly and fully x
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Take care of yourself and take time to recover.
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Thanks. Difficult with all the work I have on, unfortunately
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Yes, double jabbed, last one in July.
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Ugh Daeds, as if you needed an extra thing to deal with now. Hope it doesn’t linger & hope you are able to treat yourself gently & get extensions if needed. x
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Athelstone started the topic Monthly comp – November 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 5 months ago
OK NaNoWriMo: this month I’d like you to write just 50,000 words on anything that strikes you as appropriate. No, on second thoughts, I’d like a maximum of 500 words on the topic of something difficult, a target that would take a great effort to achieve, that was either met or missed.
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🤣🤣🤣
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 5 months ago
Awwww!!! Thank you Raine, I really enjoyed the comp.
I love the other entries. We are the best! -
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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Seagreen replied to the topic The world, her dog, memories-dot, dot, dot. in the forum Blogs 4 years, 5 months ago
On the phone so I’ll keep this short…
I’m not the same person I was ten years ago (or even five years ago) and the things that impacted me then are not the things that impact me now.
I see it as growth ☺️ -
Bella replied to the topic The world, her dog, memories-dot, dot, dot. in the forum Blogs 4 years, 5 months ago
Interesting. I’ve used writing as a way to process the emotions linked to some pretty unpleasant episodes in my past. I know that a lot of therapists advise one to write a letter (never meaning to send, a la Nights in White Satin). I’ve tried that, though the letter format doesn’t work for me, whereas more of a blog style recounting does.
I’ve…[Read more]
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Athelstone started the topic The world, her dog, memories-dot, dot, dot. in the forum Blogs 4 years, 5 months ago
Read some blogs I wrote about 10 years ago that recalled events of 30 years before that. Curiously, unable to connect directly to those events anymore, in that I remember them and can recount the details, but much of the emotional impact that was there when I wrote about them is no longer available. I can remember that there was an impact and can…[Read more]
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Raine posted an update 4 years, 6 months ago
One week left to get your spooky flashes in for the October comp. Come unnerve and delight me. 🙂
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 6 months ago
=)
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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 6 months ago
Hallowed Evening
The Bakers have lived over there for nearly fifty years now. I recognise the car in the drive. They bought it just before I arrived here. Then there’s Helen Smith’s house. I know she’s still there because I saw her heading out an hour ago. She’s changed a lot over the years, but I’d recognise her anywhere. Not sure who the neigh…[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
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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JaneShuff posted an update 4 years, 6 months ago
Hallo everybody. Sorry to have been so absent lately. I’ve disappeared into the black hole that is marketing for On The Edge – along with writing book 2 in the series (currently missed two publisher deadlines for this). Hopefully things will calm down a bit after 26th October. I’m looking forward to the annual challenge!
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Never apologise for the success of a book launch (coming shortly??). Good luck with the next deadline.
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26th October. Feeling pretty stressed about it although determined to enjoy the day itself!
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Sounds exciting, Jane, if rather challenging.
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I am definitely not a natural marketer although I’ve discovered I enjoy writing articles – yet to find out if readers enjoy reading them!
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Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Competition – September 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 6 months ago
Woohoo, Sandra! Congratulations! ☺️
And well done, Knicky. Thanks for a challenging (for me, anyway) comp 👍
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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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Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Competition – September 2021 in the forum Monthly Competition 4 years, 6 months ago
Fabulous stories and especially well done, @Sandra. Thanks for a great comp @knickylaurelle
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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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