David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 132

Writing - My Christmas (4)

To a degree Boxing Day can be a bit of a mix and match sort of day. The big day is over, it's a week to new year and folk may well have over-indulged. Entertainment is a little on the sketchy side and there are often large numbers of sports fixtures. It is often a day when puzzles and quizzes emerge.
[image error](No you're not intended to complete this one.)
Two things that I came across today just seemed a little off the wall.
Boxing Day Quiz 2013
All the questions relate to events in the past 12 months and all the solutions are numbers. Contestants must use their knowledge and judgment to get as close to the right figure as they can.
The way I play it with my family is to divide players into two or four teams depending on the size of the party. There are 20 questions and, to make it fair, each player/team should write their guesses down before revealing them. One mark for the closest answer and three if, by some fluke or genius, you get it spot on.
Good luck.
Answers at the bottom.
1. The UK is in the middle of a baby boom. How many popped out last year - the highest figure for 40 years?
2. In 1860 the Royal Mail delivered some 564 million letters. How many did the newly privatised company deliver in the last financial year?
3. Ozzy the tightrope-walking dog from Norwich became a Guinness World record holder this year. The Border Collie/Kelpie cross successfully crossed a 3.5m rope in the fastest ever recorded time. How long did it take him?
4. How many full-price long-sleeve Gareth Bale home shirts could you buy from the Real Madrid official store for the price the club paid for the world's most expensive footballer?
5. A six-bedroom home in South London, in need of "extensive repair and refurbishment", became Britain's most expensive ever council house this year? How much was paid for it? 6. According to the latest official statistics, in the previous 12 months, how many UK adults were convinced to try that internet thingy for the very first time?7. What is the latest official estimate for the number of centenarians (people aged over 100) in the UK?
8. How many times was the announcement of Nelson Mandela's death on BBC Breaking News re-tweeted?
9. According to analysis of census figures this year, what percentage of London residents don't speak English as their main language?
 10. Boris Johnson amazed onlookers by completing an extraordinary basketball trick shot outside City Hall while promoting a London competition. The pictures promptly went viral. How many views did the original video get on YouTube?
11. What proportion of elderly people in England will benefit from the £75,000 cap on social care costs announced by the government this year?
12. Crowds at Premier league football matches look set to be at a record level this season - currently an average turn-out of more than 36,500 at each game. What is the current average for matches in Scottish League Two, according to ESPN?
13. The average Brit is sometimes described as the man or woman on the Clapham omnibus. But we learned this year that the number of bus trips taken by the average Briton in a year is the lowest since records began. How many?

14. If you are enjoying a Boxing Day reviver, you won't need telling that alcohol in the UK is more expensive than the average elsewhere in the EU. In percentage terms, how much more expensive?
15. James Brown from Nottingham hit the headlines this year for his remarkable collection of vacuum cleaners. How many different models does James have in his collection?
16. Figures for the malnutrition cases admitted to hospital in England caused a stir earlier this year. They revealed, for example, that in 2008/09 there were 30 admissions for malnutrition to hospitals in Somerset. How many were there in the county in 2012/13?
17. David Beckham announced the end of his professional footballing career this year. How many professional games did he play for club and country?
18. According to figures this year, what proportion of conceptions in England and Wales occurred outside marriage or civil partnership?
19. Prince George's mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, was born in Reading. What proportion of babies delivered, like the prince, in the Borough of Westminster have a mum who was born in the UK?

20. John Lewis bought an entire advertising break during the X-Factor in November to show their Christmas animation, The Bear and The Hare. How much did the spot cost them?

ANSWERS
1. 812,970, 2. 58 million 3. 18.22 seconds, 4. 879,822, 5. £2.96m, 6. 616,000, 7. 13,361, 8. 78,117, 9. 22.1%, 10. 1.11 million, 11. 4%, 12. 457, 13. 61 (Men 53 and women 69), 14. 43%, 15. 322, 16. 215, 17. 761, 18. 57%, 19. 27%, 20. £400,000

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China



The enigmatic country that is China is a great one for slogans created to adjust the behaviours of the populace over the years. The one represented above from 1979 is serious and translates as,
'Have fewer children, raise more pigs'
It was part of the one child per family policy which is still in force but under scrutiny as the birth rate falls.
I suppose it would be quite an amusing exercise to create slogans for our own countries at this present time, for example
Don't trust the banks hide your cash under the mattress!
Don't let global warming kill the art of knitting.
and so on.
God Bless

Writing - My Christmas Day

Christmas Day is as it is! It can be beautiful, fun, exciting, adventurous, peaceful and fulfilling and it can have it's frustrations. As I have aged and my circumstances have changed I feel fewer of the negative aspects of the day. Does that seem ridiculous? Negative aspects of Christmas Day!!! What's the guy talking about?

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It can't all be put down to sprouts! Although I did hear that you have to be over 30 before you qualify to like sprouts. I also heard that the old wives tale about not picking sprouts until they have experienced a frost has some truth in it. The frost causes the plant to release more sugar and so the sprouts are slightly sweeter. A little like the production of Ice wine.
As I said it's not all down to the food. Christmas Day can be stressful particularly for the ladies. I know that's a little sexist or traditional, call it what you like, whoever is responsible for the food, gift purchasing and servicing of the guests may well become a little wound up.
I have got round that by eating out! If you find a place that is satisfying both gastronomically and fiscally stick with it.
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I also went to church which was fun. Yes I mean that - FUN! There was chocolate orange, prayers, children, carols, and a wonderful feeling of Christmas. It was great watching the kids show their presents and join in with the celebrations. It was also concise - well the turkey was in the vicar's oven!
I saw 2/3rds of my own children as one is in Salzburg, so it was okay. The days you see your kids when they are grown up are good days.

Gifts exchanged, food eaten and home by 2pm. Christmas over for another year? On the BBC Breakfast news programme this morning a man from the Salvation Army was being interviewed and ended with the most direct and simple message. He said wouldn't it be great if the feeling we have for others at this time of year, which is generated by Christmas, actually lasted all year.
Did I have a good Christmas? I hope you all did.
Christmas acrostic
C is for carols a welcoming singH is for holly the red and the greenR is for reindeer that pulled a great sleighI is for illumination to light our wayS is for Santa who brings things for freeT is for tinsel to decorate a treeM is for Magi to welcome a kingA is for angel with a message to bringS is a star that has lighted the way

God Bless

Writing - Christmas is a time for stories

First things first. Merry Christmas to all who have sampled or bought books this year.
Merry Christmas to all those who have followed and read this blog whether it be once or everyday.
Merry Christmas to everyone I know.
Secondly, Christmas TV, blogs, poetry, songs and carols are full of the Christmas story. Yet there is a growing number of our younger generations that apparently don't know the story that is the real Christmas. I find that very sad.
However, Christmas is also a time for stories with a small 's'. All kinds of stories are told and shown and that could only be a great time for writers of all genres. Where would our lives be without stories?
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Most Wanted Artefact
My 6th Steele novel, tentatively entitled 'Most Wanted Artefact' is progressing. The first 7k words are completed and I'm perceiving that feeling of 'I know where I'm going next' which I find quite exciting. After the self-imposed sabbatical away from Steele, the characters are still there for me. 
I was reminded of the difficulty some people find in starting writing by a friend that I've known for almost sixty years. It was the usual thing of starting and not being happy with what you've written, then the fatal mistake of going back and trying to re-write. My advice to anyone in that position is to complete three sections after the beginning before going back to look again at what you have done. You may change some things but there will be the dawning realisation that you are a writer - TRUST ME

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Finally

My publisher, CN, have published some social network advice for writers this Christmas. See the link below,

http://www.completelynovel.com/articl...

Copy and paste to your browser.

God Bless

A Tuesday Recipe - Light fish pie

Light Fish Pie

I know I have made a variety of fish pies but as Christmas was coming, and having already eaten two turkey meals (on separate occasions!), I saw the word 'light' and fancied fish hence the above.There are only king prawns and smoked haddock, no cream and no herbs!!! It struck me as quite a plain recipe and, as I had some dried dill and fresh basil, then it seemed logical just to add some flavour without calories. I love fresh basil particularly with potatoes dishes and tomatoes. The dill is usually served with salmon but it goes well with most types of fish.
I served the fish pie with roast potatoes and garden peas as below.

The recipe is on the relevant TAB.
Books and stuff
Still on the subject of personalising Christmas the Carol concert at my church last evening was very well attended and well received. One of the favourite choir items was 'Bethlehem Down' and I found a link to it on youtube but it isn't our little church choir!
http://youtu.be/yefnj5kvJTw
You may have to copy and paste to your browser.
After the performance we were saying farewell to a member of the choir who is moving away. She is a very kind lady and had previously bought all of my books. As we were saying farewell she said the words that all writers would love to hear at some time or another - 'keep writing you're a great storyteller'. The best Christmas present so far.
God Bless

Writing - My Christmas (3)

A Nativity Scene
Like churches throughout the land on the Sunday before Christmas Day the children put on a version of the Nativity story. There was a selection of songs, poetry and readings performed solely by the children who had been well taught by dedicated and talented adults. It wasn't the usual format as seen in the photo above but what was important was that the story was told.The church was packed, probably 150 to 200 people attended. We may draw in more to our congregation as a result. 
Carol Service


This evening the choir gave the annual Carols by Candlelight service which was a mixture of modern and traditional carols as well as readings appropriate for the evening.
It was a success and very well attended. I remember, going back 26 years, there have been congregations of no more than 20 or 30, there must have been 100 tonight. Some people may think that insignificant but in terms of growth it's great.

God Bless

Writing - 10 things we didn't know

 Quantas' Sydney to Dallas service is the world's longest commercial flight at 8,568 miles (13,790 km).
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2. Mothers think the youngest child is shorter than they really are despite correctly estimating the height of their other children.

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3. An apple a day really does keep the doctor away, especially for the over-50s.

There not just talking about apples but fruit in general.

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4. There is only one floating cat sanctuary in the world - in Amsterdam.

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5. Penguins huddle like traffic jams, using a stop-go series of movements to keep the group warm.

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6. Tea is more popular in France than coffee is in Britain.

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[image error]7. Cliff Richard's hit Mistletoe and Wine was originally written as a protest song about poverty.

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8. The fashion for tight-fitting jeans caused problems for the manufacture of dollar bills.

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9. One in every 200 young American women says they became pregnant while still a virgin.

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10. The British send more traditional greeting cards per capita than any other country in the world.

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News
Once again Nigella Lawson's shenanigans dominate the news, both TV and newspapers. Apparently we're worried about her 'brand' being affected by the adverse publicity. I'm not worried. Perhaps it is Mr Cameron that is worried! Let's get on with some real news please media.

God Bless

My Christmas (2)

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A Christmas Cold
All but one singing event complete trouble free and now I have the seemingly compulsory cold! On top of that I couldn't sleep because of nasal congestion, and was later than usual for my weekly trip to the supermarket!
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Crowded supermarket
As I didn't arrive at the car park until after 9.00am and as it is the last Friday before Christmas, the car park was packed filling me full of trepidation. When I entered the multi-product emporium I wasn't surprised. It was heaving!I hate shopping at the best of times but with a cough and accompanying less savoury cold symptoms (I leave those to your imagination.) it was not pleasant. Still I managed to purchase what I needed and was home by 10.30am.

News

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The court case of fraud brought by Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi against two personal assistants has been not proven.
Having worked in the bank it is a simple fact that if you give someone your credit or debit card and the pin number then you have handed over access and it can not be fraud.
Justice has been served.

Marketing and Sales

Since launching Cessation there has been an increase in movement of all my books. Last night I sold a complete set of Steele novels to a friend which was wonderful.
It struck me that although the Steele novels stand alone they do follow on and could well be sold as a series as opposed to a serial!


And on the bookcase,
but wouldn't it be good to sell multiple sets!!!
God Bless

Marketing and sales

A good week or two since I released Cessation. It helped people focus on my Steele novels as well and last night I sold all five to someone.

Writing - My Christmas (1)

I was reading some advice about selling books at this time of year and one of the pieces  was about personalising and broadcasting your Christmas so I thought I would begin with one of my favourite activities.

The performances of the Messiah by Handel is so relevant to so many people and it is also love of mine. I first heard extracts from it as a teenager in the 1960's by a small male voice choir in a church in Hetton in the north east of England.
Since I was first admitted (you have to audition and are retested every three years) to Huddersfield Choral Society in January 1996 I'd just missed the Messiah performances as they are always in December. We have performed this work at least twice yearly since. In fact for four years running we performed it twice in Huddersfield and once in the Royal Albert Hall, London. I estimate about fifty times in its entirety and I have been involved in two recordings of the work which is available on the society website.
The people in Huddersfield often feel that their Christmas doesn't begin proper until they have been to a performance. The Huddersfield Town Hall holds between 800 and 1000 people and is always full on both nights, and the audience are real officianados. While the soloists were doing their thing I spotted a couple who were mouthing every word! (I hope they weren't actually singing)




The reason why my blogs have been a little thin this week. The week before Christmas Huddersfield Town Hall rings with the sound of Handel's Messiah given this year by Huddersfield Choral Society and accompanied by Royal Northern Symphonia.

Neal Davies (Bass), David Allsopp (Countertenor), Martyn Brabbins (Conductor), Susan Gritton (Soprano), Joseph Cullen (Chorus master), Ben Johnson (Tenor)
The piece doesn't alter and so the orchestra, soloists and conductor make the difference. Both performances went very well.

The advice about marketing and personalising my blog suggested photographing the turkey!!! I may fight shy of that but we'll see what happens.


God Bless

Poetry Thursday 90 - Dickens Christmas

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Charles Dickens
Cratchit at Christmas
Managing on a meagre wageto continue life on this dear stage.But Tim will die in less than a yearif the present conditions remain so drear.
Father Bob is doing his bestto provide for his wife, Tim and the rest.Year by year Scrooge tightens the screwthe better to watch how his gold mountain grew.
His past life shown by help from abovenobody would know Scrooge capable of love.But he himself lived life suppressedruled by wifeless father much distressed.
What will happen should things not changethe fates of many not rearranged?Your mean acceptance of inevitabilityof prison and workhouse chilly charity.
The future filled with loneliness and paindeath will sing you a lonely refrain.But learn the lessons and change your waysthen look forward to many better days.
‘Happy Christmas’ Scrooge guffaws.The children hope for Santa Claus.Bob Cratchit can’t believe his earsbon homie after cheerless years.

Tim will live with Scrooge’s aida better life now Bob’s well paid.The old city shines with a festive glowbringing white chip sparkle to frost and snow.
Happy Christmas one and all!It’s time for all to have a ball.Happy Christmas ho ho ho!The former miser’s face does glow.©David L Atkinson November 2013
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Scrooge’s View
He disliked his life so took little part.Money printed by business without heart.Locked away while Marley worked at passing,counting his heaps was of his own choosing.Ebeneezer’s lot was not a happy onebut his existence had a steady aimTo build his fortune before he’s doneand know that no other was to blame.
Marley returned – a restless spirit disturbedwarning his partner of what the future held.Presaged the visitations of Christmas messengers,of three ethereal future forecasters.Scrooge would have preferred to be without.Wishing for night’s sleep with no dreaming.He did not need pictures filled with doubtto contradict a life of fiscal scheming.

The visits happened as predicted they wouldleaving Scrooge in a very different mood.His spirit lifted and life could become kindif the miser was of a more positive mind.The spirits of Christmas past, present and futurehad shown how helpful he could be,to guide, support and be a teacherto colleagues, friends and family.©David L Atkinson December 2013
 Belle’s Sonnet
A lovely man with marvellous prospectspays attention and woos me in dances.Takes me towards what the love struck expectsgambling together on futures chances.Time like the onrushing wind is passingand my heart is yearning for his presence.Scrooge works hard – golden fortune amassingI’m still possessing my soul in patience.There comes a time when you can wait no morewhen your own life is passing in limbo.‘It’s too late Scrooge I release you in lawit is time to take my future and go.
Belle’s life takes a turn good marriage she makes.While Scrooge alone loveless money he takes.©David L Atkinson December 2013


[image error] Christmas Day
Do you think he's got enough?Is the turkey cooked properly?We've spent a fortune on the stuff!He's playing away happily.
Why is it always the boxes?Aunt Doris could be more helpful!Hope heat doesn't cause me blotches.Aunt Gladys never thinks me able.
He'll get into the toys tomorrow.and Doris is the same every year.Stick your head out for a blow.Gladys has always been queer!
A beautiful meal - well done,Time to take aged aunts homeHow about brandy and a bun?No more your shaped like a dome!
Happy Christmas one and allwe hope the message is clear.Jesus is there to answer our calland will be there again next year.©David L Atkinson December 2013