I've finally narrowed down my New Years resolutions/Goals. They're not world shattering, but hopefully they will give me some focus over the first part of the year.
1) Finish current round of revisions of Odd Squad: Now you see me... and review to see if it can be sent to Critters, or whether it needs a new round of revision
2) Once revisions of Odd Squad: NYSM have allowed me to polish it to the best I can get it, start sending out to agents. (Majority of the agents in the UK still want printed copies sent via snail mail, which appears to be different to the process in the States.)
3) Finish drafting Odd Squad: Rain of Fire.
4) Complete the London Marathon in April in less than 4 hours.
5) Take my new notepad with me everywhere I go.
6) Talk to anyone and everyone, and generally be a more open person.
7) Decide whether I should throw my hat in the ring (at the end of January) when they are looking for volunteers to write the next Pantomime for my Drama Group.
And that's about it. So, what have you guys set yourselves?
Thursday, 5 January 2012
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Still positive
This new positive thinking lark is going quite well.
In a conversation today, I mentioned that 'Every cloud has a silver lining.'
On reflection, I then realised that where I live, the sliver lining had probably been stolen and sold as scrap metal. Then, on further reflection, I realised that this would create job opportunities for silver lining makers, and silver lining fitters. Thus proving to myself that even negative things can have a positive spin.
In a conversation today, I mentioned that 'Every cloud has a silver lining.'
On reflection, I then realised that where I live, the sliver lining had probably been stolen and sold as scrap metal. Then, on further reflection, I realised that this would create job opportunities for silver lining makers, and silver lining fitters. Thus proving to myself that even negative things can have a positive spin.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Back from the Back of Beyond!
Think of the most remote, distant place you can possibly imagine. Can you see it? Good. Now drive a further half a mile down the road, and that is where we stayed for the New Year.
The whole of my wife's side of the family descended on a clump of small cottages in Sticksville (ok, it wasn't really called Sticksville, but it does sum up the isolated nature of the village) for my Brother-In-law's 40th birthday on new years eve.
It was an incredibly manic time, with an excessive amount of laughter, and I have come away from there with a renewed insight on life and the way forward.
If ever I'm asked to describe myself, I usually come up with something along the lines of being an optimistic optimist. That I believe that everything will always work out right, no matter how bleak things may look. I also like to think that I'm a lucky, and that always see the positive in things. (no body ever actually asks me this, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.)
BUT
Over the last couple of years, I have to admit, I haven't fitted that description. There's been dark clouds on the horizon, and I've tended to look towards the negative side of things, and not taken opportunities that have come my way.
Usually at this time of year, my only resolution is not to make one. This year, however, I did some navel gazing, and realised just how lucky I am, and that the good things in my life far outweigh the not so good. I've realised that I have an incredible family, and that I'm lucky that my kids who are in their late teens, still choose to hang out with me. I have learnt a tremendous amount about the art of crafting a piece of work to get it near ( or hopefully up to) a publishable state. I've also found a whole new bunch of writing friends who rock and offer the most amazing support and inspiration at a level I never dreamt was possible. Like I said, the pluses greatly swamp the minuses.
With these thoughts in mind, I'm going to break with my tradition of traditionally not making resolutions, and I'm working on a set for this year. When I've reached a handful that I'm pleased with, I'll let you know.
I hope you all have a prosperous and exciting New Year.
The whole of my wife's side of the family descended on a clump of small cottages in Sticksville (ok, it wasn't really called Sticksville, but it does sum up the isolated nature of the village) for my Brother-In-law's 40th birthday on new years eve.
It was an incredibly manic time, with an excessive amount of laughter, and I have come away from there with a renewed insight on life and the way forward.
If ever I'm asked to describe myself, I usually come up with something along the lines of being an optimistic optimist. That I believe that everything will always work out right, no matter how bleak things may look. I also like to think that I'm a lucky, and that always see the positive in things. (no body ever actually asks me this, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.)
BUT
Over the last couple of years, I have to admit, I haven't fitted that description. There's been dark clouds on the horizon, and I've tended to look towards the negative side of things, and not taken opportunities that have come my way.
Usually at this time of year, my only resolution is not to make one. This year, however, I did some navel gazing, and realised just how lucky I am, and that the good things in my life far outweigh the not so good. I've realised that I have an incredible family, and that I'm lucky that my kids who are in their late teens, still choose to hang out with me. I have learnt a tremendous amount about the art of crafting a piece of work to get it near ( or hopefully up to) a publishable state. I've also found a whole new bunch of writing friends who rock and offer the most amazing support and inspiration at a level I never dreamt was possible. Like I said, the pluses greatly swamp the minuses.
With these thoughts in mind, I'm going to break with my tradition of traditionally not making resolutions, and I'm working on a set for this year. When I've reached a handful that I'm pleased with, I'll let you know.
I hope you all have a prosperous and exciting New Year.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
A Fairy Story
After yesterday's post causing so much confusion, I thought I'd clarify a few things before I start.
I'm not sure about where you are, but in the UK, Christmas trees can be topped with either a star, or a fairy.
Yes, a fairy. One of those little mythical things with wings that Peter Pan hung around with.
This is the story about why we have a fairy on the top of a Christmas tree.
(The above part of this entry is true, the rest…. Well, I'll let you make your mind up for yourselves.)
It all started during the build up to Christmas. Santa was in an incredibly foul mood. One of the reindeer had gone lame, and the runners on his sleigh had a couple of untreatable patches of rust. To add to his misery, he could feel the beginning symptoms of 'Man Flu' creeping up on him.
To top things off, just when he was thinking that things couldn't get any worse, the head of the Elf Union passed him a note advising that he Elves would be going on strike as from Midnight. This sent him into new unexplored depths of rage.
Just then, a fairy came in the room. "Hey Santa, what should I do with this tree?"
I'm not sure about where you are, but in the UK, Christmas trees can be topped with either a star, or a fairy.
Yes, a fairy. One of those little mythical things with wings that Peter Pan hung around with.
This is the story about why we have a fairy on the top of a Christmas tree.
(The above part of this entry is true, the rest…. Well, I'll let you make your mind up for yourselves.)
It all started during the build up to Christmas. Santa was in an incredibly foul mood. One of the reindeer had gone lame, and the runners on his sleigh had a couple of untreatable patches of rust. To add to his misery, he could feel the beginning symptoms of 'Man Flu' creeping up on him.
To top things off, just when he was thinking that things couldn't get any worse, the head of the Elf Union passed him a note advising that he Elves would be going on strike as from Midnight. This sent him into new unexplored depths of rage.
Just then, a fairy came in the room. "Hey Santa, what should I do with this tree?"
Monday, 19 December 2011
A load of...
Last night I was following a lorry when it started to shed it's load.
I couldn't believe it! Surely he must know that the load wasn't secure. I started flashing him, tooting my hooter, and pointing at the back of of the lorry.
Eventually, he pulled up, and I jumped out and ran up to the cab.
"You're losing your load mate. It's going all over the road!"
He looked me up and down, gave a 'tut' and shook his head. "I'm gritting the road you fool!"
I couldn't believe it! Surely he must know that the load wasn't secure. I started flashing him, tooting my hooter, and pointing at the back of of the lorry.
Eventually, he pulled up, and I jumped out and ran up to the cab.
"You're losing your load mate. It's going all over the road!"
He looked me up and down, gave a 'tut' and shook his head. "I'm gritting the road you fool!"
Friday, 16 December 2011
Sale!
My local bookshop is doing a pre-Christmas sale. There's a massive sign up in the window:
One third off all titles!
How could I resist? I rushed in and bought…
The Lion, The Witch, and
One third off all titles!
How could I resist? I rushed in and bought…
The Lion, The Witch, and
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Sky's the limit
Last night, I was asked to give a talk at my daughter's Rangers group (the next level up from Girl Guides) about astronomy.
So far, we've tried to do this three times, but it's either snowed, or been raining, which as you might have guessed, isn't ideal. Last night, however, looked promising. There was patchy cloud, but the gaps in the clouds revealed some very clear skies.
I'm pleased to say that the talk went very well. We covered things from the basics, like naming the planets, looking at the relative sizes of planets/stars, to black holes and comets. The questions they asked were well thought out, and not asked for the sake of asking questions. It was a fun evening.
The highlight was when we went outside, and through the gaps in the clouds, they saw a handful of shooting stars (luckily it was the peak of the Geminiid meteorite shower), and we also saw (with the aidof my telesocpe) Jupiter and three of it's moons.
Originally, when I decided to write this post, I had an incredibly clever idea to link this back to writing. Unfortunately I've had lunch since then, and the idea has slipped away.
So far, we've tried to do this three times, but it's either snowed, or been raining, which as you might have guessed, isn't ideal. Last night, however, looked promising. There was patchy cloud, but the gaps in the clouds revealed some very clear skies.
I'm pleased to say that the talk went very well. We covered things from the basics, like naming the planets, looking at the relative sizes of planets/stars, to black holes and comets. The questions they asked were well thought out, and not asked for the sake of asking questions. It was a fun evening.
The highlight was when we went outside, and through the gaps in the clouds, they saw a handful of shooting stars (luckily it was the peak of the Geminiid meteorite shower), and we also saw (with the aidof my telesocpe) Jupiter and three of it's moons.
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