@raine
Active 3 years, 3 months ago-
Athelstone posted an update 6 years ago
So, the Festival of Writing will move from York to the Internet this year.
It also seems that what for many is a big attraction, the meeting with…[Read more]
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RichardB replied to the topic Monthly comp – April 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years ago
‘Shall we draw down the blinds?’
One of the things I took away from my mother’s house when she had to go into a care home, not long after our move to Wales in 2011, was a bread-knife. They don’t make ’em like this any more: it has a bone handle, smoothed from decades of use, and a finely serrated blade (in contrast to the great hacking teeth of…[Read more]
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Sandra replied to the topic Monthly comp – April 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years ago
Bringing a little light
I suspected, on reading the rules, if I did submit anything it would be something of a cheat, because there’s not a lot that’s actually old in itself in this room. Not much in the way of ‘things’ really, anywhere in the house (although I do have, in the loft, my great-grandfather’s two writing boxes such as Jill describes…[Read more]
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JaneShuff posted an update 6 years ago
Is anyone else watching Mark Kermode’s Secrets of Cinema on BBC 4 and on IPlayer? I am really enjoying it and finding it quite interesting on structure and genre. Well worth a watch IMO. Of course it may have been on for ages and I am very behind the times!
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Ah – thank you! I completely forgot that was on. I shall head there forthwith.
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Only a very small proportion of my payments are in cash these days and I think the last cheque I wrote was about 3 years ago. I have two pound coins in my pocket and I think that’s all the cash I’ve had for about a month. These are unusual times in that we are trying to minimise the shopping we do in person, i.e. I’m unlikely to nip out to the…[Read more]
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I had to hunt out our cheque book when confinement started as we’re having to do a lot of payments by cheque. I couldn’t even remember what colour it was.
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I’ve not written a cheque since October 2019. The one before that was written in April 2019. I haven’t handled cash since 31st March when the pharmacist called round with a prescription I had to pay for. Credit card points are building up nicely. Silver linings and all that.
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Amanda Berriman (Skylark) posted an update in the group
CoronaMo 6 years agoHello *waves* How is everyone doing? So much for my intention to spend more time in the Den – it’s been two months!! Things went a bit hectic in Feb/March with a lot of time and energy going into researching/organising stuff for Peter’s ongoing recovery/physical health. Of course many of those plans have now been cancelled! But subsitute dates are…[Read more]
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Great to hear from you, @skylark! I’ve been wondering how you were managing with Peter with all appointments cancelled. Hope you have a good cycle out – I can imagine that big smile of his right now.
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It was a GREAT cycle (see FB post). We’re getting on fine – just muddling through as everyone else is. I’m not sure we’re that brilliant at the physio side of things but doing something is better than nothing. It’s great to have another exercise that he can do now though. Burn up some more energy!
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Lovely to hear your news @skylark. And so glad your bike ride was a success. Enjoy your family time!
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I saw the little clip on FB, and it looks utterly splendid! Especially wonderful to have right now I imagine!
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@raine It is! It’s been a bit of a worry the last month that his only exercise has been doing Wii sports in his standing frame and our unqualified attempts to mimick his physio sessions. I feel better knowing we can go out biking two or three times a week – a good cardio workout for him with the hills we have around here!
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@janeshuff Thanks! We are making the most of what we can of this strange time. Hope you are keeping well xx
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Amanda Berriman (Skylark) replied to the topic Dipping my toe back in in the forum Blogs 6 years ago
Hi @johnalty it’s good to be back, though it would help if I came back and then didn’t disappear again for months! Sigh. I have good intentions and then life happens…
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Squidge posted an update in the group
CoronaMo 6 years, 1 month agoHi all. Been having problems logging in again, but Jules has worked her magic and got me into the Den.
How are you all doing? I’m a bit like Kaz – head space not into writing much, so editing Tilda 3 is very slow going. I mean, how hard can it be to describe an underground (ie in a cavern) market? We’ve taken to cooking and baking with the kids…[Read more]
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Hi Squidge. Much the same as you, my head space is not into writing. I’m doing what I can and have forgiven myself for the fact it’s so slow. Apart from that we’re pottering on, enjoying the glorious weather from the safety of our own garden and surrounding countryside during the permitted hour a day we’re allowed out.Nature is slowly expanding to…[Read more]
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Hello, Squidge and Jane. I was interested to read how present circumstances are affecting your writing. Like you two, I am keeping busy (and maybe distracted) with the simple things of life and enjoying the slower pace, actually. Not to say there isn’t the general underlying anxiety, but trying to keep hopeful and positive despite all the…[Read more]
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Squidge replied to the topic Monthly comp – April 2020 in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
Not the best poetry, but hey ho…
It has no chain, though once it might,
It’s on a shelf, mainly out of sight.
I wound it up and heard it tick
Then set the hands with a firmer click.
Triangles mark the quarter hours
and rectangles? The intervals and other hours.
It’s made by Smiths, a British firm
Not Timex, Rolex or another well known.
It’s…[Read more] -
KazG posted an update in the group
CoronaMo 6 years, 1 month agoPopping in to say hello – I’ve been in a most peculiar head space and sure it’s do to with It That Shall Not Be Named, but slowly getting some focus and clarity back. I’ve felt like a cabbage moth, flitting from here to there and never really settling, when I need to channel the caterpillar, with her steady devouring progress.
Also, I had some…[Read more]
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Thanks for the catch-up Kaz – and brilliant (and not undeserved) news about the residency. Fingers crossed all will come to pass … whenever.
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Fingers crossed from me too @kazg. A lovely boost though.
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Retreat sounds amazing Kaz – and I am totally not surprised they were won over by the Needlies!! Love them so much. On the + side, by the time this is all calmed down a bit, you will be in SERIOUS need of a bit of time away, so it’s nice to know there is that waiting for you. How is Book2 going atm?
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Thanks @janeshuff, @sandradavies and @raine! Sorry I didn’t see this Raine, I’ve been a bit erratic on all fronts lately. Book 2 is crawling along, it needs much more attention than I seem able to give it, unfortunately! I had so much great beta feedback and I know what needs to change to make the book stronger – but getting my head in a fit state…[Read more]
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I don’t think you’re alone in suffering from scattybrainitis @kazg. Sending reinforcing hugs.
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Thank you, gratefully received @janeshuff (I MISS HUGS) x
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JaneShuff replied to the topic March competition in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
Congratulations Raine. And thanks to everyone for their stories and the pleasure they gave me as well as John for the competition.
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Seagreen replied to the topic March competition in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
Congratulations, Raine, and thanks, John. Glad poor Henry lightened your day. I have absolutely no idea where he came from, but he was a timely visitor 🙂
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Athelstone replied to the topic March competition in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
Well done, Raine! Thanks for the comp, John.
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John S Alty replied to the topic March competition in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
So, four very different entries this month. Eenie, meanie, minie, mo.
Seagreen made me laugh, Jill made me smile, Raine worried the hell out of me and Athelstone made me melancholy.Can’t separate you, all excellent.
But I’m going to give this months prize to Raine for all that energy and power.
Well done all of you!
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Seagreen replied to the topic March competition in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
UNTITLED (395 WORDS)
Rheology: the study of the deformation and flow of matter.
Henry considered himself an expert in such matters. Lying on his back on the grass, unable to move, he was suitably impressed by whoever had applied the sky for this particular assessment. It was, he knew, the most perfect finish he’d ever seen. A solid block of c…[Read more]
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John S Alty replied to the topic March competition in the forum Monthly Competition 6 years, 1 month ago
Last day to get your entries in!
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RichardB posted an update 6 years, 1 month ago
My elder son – 40 this November – is a bit of a free spirit and so is his missus. Just before Christmas they announced that they were going to give up their jobs, sell up (not that they actually owned a house) and go off globetrotting. They weren’t to know, but they didn’t exactly pick the best time for that, with the result that they are now…[Read more]
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I hope they are managing to make the most of it. My sister and brother in law were stranded in the Galapagos and it was no fun at all. They got flown to mainland Ecuador last week and should be on their way back to Canada today, all being well.
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His verdict on the situation was, ‘It could be worse.’ Knowing his attitude to life, not to mention his fondness for sardonic humour in e-mails, I rather doubt that they’re suffering unduly.
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Janette replied to the topic Good news this time – finally! in the forum Podium 6 years, 1 month ago
Thank you, everyone, for your support. It means a lot. @Hilary, please never give up. I’ve been told there couldn’t be a better time for pitching, what with so many events cancelled and agents working from home. And you deserve a break too.
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For me it works, big time. The up-front cost is way less (especially for members) so paying extra for a one to one session is not an issue as far as I am concerned. And it (presumably) keeps the headline price down for those who may not have anything to present to a one to one but simply want to learn.
That’s a good point. To be honest, I don’t imagine they had much choice and the reduced price is welcome. Plus they promise a session with Neil Gaiman. But never mind that: PHILIPPA EAST in June and AMANDA BERRIMAN in August!!!
I saw this too – wondered whether to sign up this time.
I’m not going to rush into it, but it might have some interesting bits – along with those I mentioned earlier 🙂
I’m thinking about it too although our broadband connection may not be upto it. I’ve told my SE course group about our internet troubles several times recently. I’m becoming a broadband bore. Anyway, a stand-alone 121 therefore might suit me well if I choose to go for one.
Hello everyone! I’m venturing back into the online writing world, having spent most of my time on Twitter. I see some of you there but not everyone, so this is a means to reconnect. @libby, internect connexions are such a pain. Instead of locking down in our country house where we have oodles of space and nature all around, we stayed in Paris…[Read more]
Hello @giselle. Lockdown has certainly shown up with extra emphasis the significance of tech in our lives, and especially how its failings can disrupt us. I don’t do social media and live a fairly low-tech life, but making online connections has become vital and so frustrating when they don’t work 🙂