David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 66
October 25, 2015
Writing - telling stories is an integral part of life.
How many times have you heard or used the words 'tell me a story'? As children we demand stories in any form that we can get them but sadly as we get older the majority seem to leave story-telling and reading behind.
[image error]
Entertainer Max Bygraves used the catch phrase to introduce his amusing tales and jokes but you never heard anyone say 'no thank you'. There are a number of ways of approaching the subject.
If writing appeals then think about what you want to achieve. Do you want to share something personal, by expressing yourself with poetry? Do you want to try and entertain, challenge, engage people emotionally, by telling a story in script form? Those who write scripts for TV or radio work to strict formats in terms of structure and length, and wouldn't describe what they do as creative writing. It’s also worth thinking about whether you want to involve others in the process. Writing a book or poetry is very internal, a more intimate experience. Whereas if you want to do more than simply write a script, it becomes a collaborative process. Whatever your aim, set yourself a target, and write! Think about what matters to you. Why do you want to write about it? That way you are writing from the inside out.
[image error]
We haven’t all immersed ourselves in classic literature or drama. Many young people today head to technology first without thinking of picking up a book for inspiration. If sitting down to pen your seminal novel feels daunting, why not have a go at blogging. Find your voice and your style. If the results end up as a book that’s great. But if they never make the jump from screen to page that’s fine too. What matters is that you are writing.
[image error]
They say that everyone’s got a book in them. I thought that I had and so far have completed 9! Maybe it’s time to find out! Look around you for inspiration; perhaps an item on the news or a newspaper story will spark something. Look around you; think about that conversation you heard on the bus… JK Rowling was stuck on a delayed train when she came up with the idea of Harry Potter. If you get as far as submitting a manuscript to publishers, don’t be disheartened if you are rejected, 12 publishers rejected Rowling! While you are waiting to be discovered, why not self-publish? It’s a booming market with 18m self-published titles sold in 2013, a rise of 79% in a year.
Write poetry
Poetry is a great way of expressing yourself through words. You needn’t be daunted – remember a limerick is only five lines. There are numerous styles of poetry, with conventions in terms of length, verses and rhyme. However that doesn’t mean you have to follow rules. Do you want to write for children or adults? If writing for children appeals, investigate the work of writers like Michael Rosen. The author of 140 books, he was appointed as the fifth Children's Laureate in June 2007, succeeding Jacqueline Wilson. Another inspirational modern writer to look at is dub poet, playwright and author Benjamin Zephaniah, who has written hugely successful works for children.
There are lots of other different genres for writing, such as plays, radio, articles, letters to newspapers, TV and so on. You can write for adults, children, you can produce SF, Romance, Adventure and more.
[image error]
The elephant in the room could soon be the urge to write. As I continue to pen my stories and poetry I am learning. One incontrovertible fact is that you can write for as much or as little time as you need. If you are worried about continuity then re-read, you'll find yourself polishing your words as you go. Some people have to be well organised and need to timetable their activities but if you try and commit to an hour's writing but the ideas dry up before time is up then frustration may build. If you only write for ten minutes but carry the train of thought with you into other parts of you're life, it will blossom. Don't be hard on yourself but enjoy the magic of holding the pen or seeing your fingers hovering over the keys, knowing in your heart that you will produce words in a way that are unique to yourself.
Keep writing.
God Bless
[image error]
Entertainer Max Bygraves used the catch phrase to introduce his amusing tales and jokes but you never heard anyone say 'no thank you'. There are a number of ways of approaching the subject.
If writing appeals then think about what you want to achieve. Do you want to share something personal, by expressing yourself with poetry? Do you want to try and entertain, challenge, engage people emotionally, by telling a story in script form? Those who write scripts for TV or radio work to strict formats in terms of structure and length, and wouldn't describe what they do as creative writing. It’s also worth thinking about whether you want to involve others in the process. Writing a book or poetry is very internal, a more intimate experience. Whereas if you want to do more than simply write a script, it becomes a collaborative process. Whatever your aim, set yourself a target, and write! Think about what matters to you. Why do you want to write about it? That way you are writing from the inside out.
[image error]
We haven’t all immersed ourselves in classic literature or drama. Many young people today head to technology first without thinking of picking up a book for inspiration. If sitting down to pen your seminal novel feels daunting, why not have a go at blogging. Find your voice and your style. If the results end up as a book that’s great. But if they never make the jump from screen to page that’s fine too. What matters is that you are writing.
[image error]
They say that everyone’s got a book in them. I thought that I had and so far have completed 9! Maybe it’s time to find out! Look around you for inspiration; perhaps an item on the news or a newspaper story will spark something. Look around you; think about that conversation you heard on the bus… JK Rowling was stuck on a delayed train when she came up with the idea of Harry Potter. If you get as far as submitting a manuscript to publishers, don’t be disheartened if you are rejected, 12 publishers rejected Rowling! While you are waiting to be discovered, why not self-publish? It’s a booming market with 18m self-published titles sold in 2013, a rise of 79% in a year.
Write poetry
Poetry is a great way of expressing yourself through words. You needn’t be daunted – remember a limerick is only five lines. There are numerous styles of poetry, with conventions in terms of length, verses and rhyme. However that doesn’t mean you have to follow rules. Do you want to write for children or adults? If writing for children appeals, investigate the work of writers like Michael Rosen. The author of 140 books, he was appointed as the fifth Children's Laureate in June 2007, succeeding Jacqueline Wilson. Another inspirational modern writer to look at is dub poet, playwright and author Benjamin Zephaniah, who has written hugely successful works for children.
There are lots of other different genres for writing, such as plays, radio, articles, letters to newspapers, TV and so on. You can write for adults, children, you can produce SF, Romance, Adventure and more.
[image error]
The elephant in the room could soon be the urge to write. As I continue to pen my stories and poetry I am learning. One incontrovertible fact is that you can write for as much or as little time as you need. If you are worried about continuity then re-read, you'll find yourself polishing your words as you go. Some people have to be well organised and need to timetable their activities but if you try and commit to an hour's writing but the ideas dry up before time is up then frustration may build. If you only write for ten minutes but carry the train of thought with you into other parts of you're life, it will blossom. Don't be hard on yourself but enjoy the magic of holding the pen or seeing your fingers hovering over the keys, knowing in your heart that you will produce words in a way that are unique to yourself.
Keep writing.
God Bless
October 24, 2015
Writing - 10 things we didn't know last week
A wealth of trivia ranging from sleeping crocodiles to look-alikes.
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1. Crocodiles can sleep with one eye open.
Rather like my father!
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2. Biff Tannen's older self, as portrayed in Back to the Future Part II, was based on Donald Trump.
Spot the idiot!
---------------------------------------
[image error]
3. The US used to relocate beavers by parachuting them out of planes.
Now if we did this in the UK the queue of animal rights activists would be a mile long!
---------------------------------------
4. Eating a Mediterranean diet may slow the ageing process by five years.
Interesting that perusing the photographs of healthy Mediterranean diets don't show meat and yet my knowledge of Italian food includes all manner of animal protein. Similarly, yesterday it was said that eating bacon and sausage was as carcinogenic as smoking cigarettes. I believe that when posts become available at health organisations the people appointed tend to be vegetarians as that is deemed by the powers that be as 'healthy' so it is hardly surprising that the pronouncements made from such organisations are biased towards vegetarianism. A little one-eyed for my taste and it should be remembered that the human animal is in fact an omnivore which is designed to eat both meat and vegetarian food.
---------------------------------------
5. Using long, complicated words makes you appear less intelligent than if you use simple language.
In my opinion using long words is a floccinaucinihilipilification exercise.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
6. Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world.
Well done to them.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
7. Parents are four times more likely to tell their daughters than their sons to be careful in future following an accident.
How on earth has anyone come up with that pronouncement? Surely age, number of siblings and social situation would go towards governing such responses.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
8. Howler monkeys with the loudest voices tend to have smaller testicles.
'Oh no I haven't!'
---------------------------------------
[image error]
9. Cambridge spy Guy Burgess's mother discovered that he had defected to the Soviet Union by reading about it in a newspaper.
She thought he'd gone to the corner shop for a loaf of bread.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
10. China's best Obama impersonator cannot speak English.
The ears have it!
---------------------------------------
God Bless
[image error]
1. Crocodiles can sleep with one eye open.
Rather like my father!
---------------------------------------
[image error]
2. Biff Tannen's older self, as portrayed in Back to the Future Part II, was based on Donald Trump.
Spot the idiot!
---------------------------------------
[image error]
3. The US used to relocate beavers by parachuting them out of planes.
Now if we did this in the UK the queue of animal rights activists would be a mile long!
---------------------------------------
4. Eating a Mediterranean diet may slow the ageing process by five years.
Interesting that perusing the photographs of healthy Mediterranean diets don't show meat and yet my knowledge of Italian food includes all manner of animal protein. Similarly, yesterday it was said that eating bacon and sausage was as carcinogenic as smoking cigarettes. I believe that when posts become available at health organisations the people appointed tend to be vegetarians as that is deemed by the powers that be as 'healthy' so it is hardly surprising that the pronouncements made from such organisations are biased towards vegetarianism. A little one-eyed for my taste and it should be remembered that the human animal is in fact an omnivore which is designed to eat both meat and vegetarian food.
---------------------------------------
5. Using long, complicated words makes you appear less intelligent than if you use simple language.
In my opinion using long words is a floccinaucinihilipilification exercise.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
6. Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world.
Well done to them.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
7. Parents are four times more likely to tell their daughters than their sons to be careful in future following an accident.
How on earth has anyone come up with that pronouncement? Surely age, number of siblings and social situation would go towards governing such responses.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
8. Howler monkeys with the loudest voices tend to have smaller testicles.
'Oh no I haven't!'
---------------------------------------
[image error]
9. Cambridge spy Guy Burgess's mother discovered that he had defected to the Soviet Union by reading about it in a newspaper.
She thought he'd gone to the corner shop for a loaf of bread.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
10. China's best Obama impersonator cannot speak English.
The ears have it!
---------------------------------------
God Bless
October 23, 2015
Writing - Clive James views his passing
I have watched Australian journalist and TV star Clive James over the years and he's one of the most amusing presenters however, I didn't know that he wrote poetry.
[image error]Clive JamesClive is dying. He has leukemia and another couple of terminal conditions that he terms 'the full set'. He is 76 and has completed a collection of poetry 'Sentenced to Life' which he wrote expecting it to be his last. He is a poet who is not afraid to rhyme, it is in his nature to be organised and so his poetry reflects that need for organisation. Most poignant of all he has written a farewell poem - Japanese Maple.
My daughter’s choice, the maple tree is new.
Come autumn and its leaves will turn to flame.
What I must do
Is live to see that.That will end the game
For me, though life continues all the same:
Like many poets of whom I tend to be envious, Clive James has what I call mastery of imagery. God Bless him in his passing.
My poetry collections are available from the links at the side of the page and below.
Steele My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.
Cessation
This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind
and
Words from the Raindrops
God Bless
[image error]Clive JamesClive is dying. He has leukemia and another couple of terminal conditions that he terms 'the full set'. He is 76 and has completed a collection of poetry 'Sentenced to Life' which he wrote expecting it to be his last. He is a poet who is not afraid to rhyme, it is in his nature to be organised and so his poetry reflects that need for organisation. Most poignant of all he has written a farewell poem - Japanese Maple.
My daughter’s choice, the maple tree is new.
Come autumn and its leaves will turn to flame.
What I must do
Is live to see that.That will end the game
For me, though life continues all the same:
Like many poets of whom I tend to be envious, Clive James has what I call mastery of imagery. God Bless him in his passing.
My poetry collections are available from the links at the side of the page and below.
Steele My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.
Cessation
This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind
and
Words from the Raindrops
God Bless
October 22, 2015
Writing - as therapy
When I write I feel better in fact it is almost a treatment for me.
Writing therapy
Writing therapy has been in use for many years but not necessarily described as a therapy. There are writing interventions online, in schools, in colleges and more. It is often delivered by a consultant and is built around tasks that involve the subject writing about situations in a variety of ways. On such intervention which is in common usage is the writing of a letter never intended to be sent. I have taught letter writing in school in this way and have seen it used by writing forums as an exercise.
WWII diarist.
Anne Frank is a shining example of the power of writing therapy. Here is the above quote completed and while reading it remember this girl was in hiding from the Nazis for two years before her eventual capture and death in a prisoner of war camp.
“Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year old school girl. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I feel like writing.” ~ Anne Frank
Bad dreams
We are told that if you are having unsettled nights and troubled dreams to keep a notepad by the bed and write down what you dreamed. That process is supposed to help rid your brain of the problem. I have my smartphone by the bed and voice record words that occur during the dark hours. It has led me to write poems and include ideas in the fiction I produce.
Writing as a therapy is cheap, available to all and works on everything from anxiety to depression. Unlike many treatments there are no side-effects, it is available to anyone of any age, pretty much anywhere, over the counter. Jim Pollard, writer and editor with a particular interest in men's health, states that if it were a drug it would have a larger profile than Viagra, but you don't need pharmaceutical companies just a pen and a piece of paper. The miracle treatment is what I'm doing right now - writing.
[image error]
Talking therapies are much lauded at the moment and when I was wanting help with depression I would have loved to try it rather than the chemical intervention. In the end I began writing. The beauty of writing over talking is that you can write whatever and if you don't like it tear it up and try again. You can choose the words, the tone and the scope in short you are in control. For those less comfortable in verbalising their problems it provides the ideal medium, as it is concrete and available anywhere.
Finally, therapeutic writing can unleash creative writing. The above poster says it all really and the style, content, quantity and genre are entirely your choice. Feel empowered.
I leave this with a beautiful quote from Anne Frank's Diary,
“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.” ~ Anne Frank
God Bless
Writing therapy
Writing therapy has been in use for many years but not necessarily described as a therapy. There are writing interventions online, in schools, in colleges and more. It is often delivered by a consultant and is built around tasks that involve the subject writing about situations in a variety of ways. On such intervention which is in common usage is the writing of a letter never intended to be sent. I have taught letter writing in school in this way and have seen it used by writing forums as an exercise.
WWII diarist.
Anne Frank is a shining example of the power of writing therapy. Here is the above quote completed and while reading it remember this girl was in hiding from the Nazis for two years before her eventual capture and death in a prisoner of war camp.
“Writing in a diary is a really strange experience for someone like me. Not only because I’ve never written anything before, but also because it seems to me that later on neither I nor anyone else will be interested in the musings of a thirteen-year old school girl. Oh well, it doesn’t matter. I feel like writing.” ~ Anne Frank
Bad dreamsWe are told that if you are having unsettled nights and troubled dreams to keep a notepad by the bed and write down what you dreamed. That process is supposed to help rid your brain of the problem. I have my smartphone by the bed and voice record words that occur during the dark hours. It has led me to write poems and include ideas in the fiction I produce.
Writing as a therapy is cheap, available to all and works on everything from anxiety to depression. Unlike many treatments there are no side-effects, it is available to anyone of any age, pretty much anywhere, over the counter. Jim Pollard, writer and editor with a particular interest in men's health, states that if it were a drug it would have a larger profile than Viagra, but you don't need pharmaceutical companies just a pen and a piece of paper. The miracle treatment is what I'm doing right now - writing.
[image error]
Talking therapies are much lauded at the moment and when I was wanting help with depression I would have loved to try it rather than the chemical intervention. In the end I began writing. The beauty of writing over talking is that you can write whatever and if you don't like it tear it up and try again. You can choose the words, the tone and the scope in short you are in control. For those less comfortable in verbalising their problems it provides the ideal medium, as it is concrete and available anywhere.
Finally, therapeutic writing can unleash creative writing. The above poster says it all really and the style, content, quantity and genre are entirely your choice. Feel empowered.
I leave this with a beautiful quote from Anne Frank's Diary,
“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.” ~ Anne Frank
God Bless
October 21, 2015
Poetry Thursday 183 - Bees and The Black
I have got myself hooked into the lighter animal thing and so we begin with the humble honey bee.
[image error]
The Bee
Strictly speaking it can’t fly at all,it’s body is heavy and the wings are too small.that’s why in flight it zigs and zags,when carrying the nectar - flying drags!
It lives and works in an organised town,drones, eggs and a queen to look down,and view the results of all the efforts,of her subjects in black and yellow sweaters.
We humans would be lost without them,pollinating the flowers on every stem,bringing us food for every year,keeping Earth free from hunger and fear.© David L Atkinson October 2015
This next poem is focussed on the release of imagination and is based in part on my own dreams and also words that trigger thoughts on the darker side.
[image error]
The Black
I lay a long time last night waiting for sleep to come,a child would call for Mum or suck a thumb,but when you attain 65those options are no longer alive.
Thoughts circling in my head,as vultures waiting for the dead,Vaudeville acts taking to the stage,entertainments from a bygone age
Staring into the eyes of madness,an owner plainly dangerous,a smile that may touch those evil optics,deception in the unsmiling lips.
The future calendar dominates thoughts,traps, pitfalls, hazards of all sorts,better to remain as one,and live a calmer life alone.
A lion stalks corridors and halls,piercing eyes and drooling jaws,why does it enter in the night,it can’t be any danger right?
The subconscious uses sleep to trick,it bends the mind in manner slick,serving up what bright daytimes lack,utilising the hours of black.© David L Atkinson October 2015
God Bless
[image error]
The Bee
Strictly speaking it can’t fly at all,it’s body is heavy and the wings are too small.that’s why in flight it zigs and zags,when carrying the nectar - flying drags!
It lives and works in an organised town,drones, eggs and a queen to look down,and view the results of all the efforts,of her subjects in black and yellow sweaters.
We humans would be lost without them,pollinating the flowers on every stem,bringing us food for every year,keeping Earth free from hunger and fear.© David L Atkinson October 2015
This next poem is focussed on the release of imagination and is based in part on my own dreams and also words that trigger thoughts on the darker side.
[image error]
The Black
I lay a long time last night waiting for sleep to come,a child would call for Mum or suck a thumb,but when you attain 65those options are no longer alive.
Thoughts circling in my head,as vultures waiting for the dead,Vaudeville acts taking to the stage,entertainments from a bygone age
Staring into the eyes of madness,an owner plainly dangerous,a smile that may touch those evil optics,deception in the unsmiling lips.
The future calendar dominates thoughts,traps, pitfalls, hazards of all sorts,better to remain as one,and live a calmer life alone.
A lion stalks corridors and halls,piercing eyes and drooling jaws,why does it enter in the night,it can’t be any danger right?
The subconscious uses sleep to trick,it bends the mind in manner slick,serving up what bright daytimes lack,utilising the hours of black.© David L Atkinson October 2015
God Bless
October 20, 2015
Writing - Back to the Future, 1984 and Cessation
Periodically, writers dip into the future, in fact some writers have made a living from it, others just feel the need to speculate.
[image error]1984 - George Orwell
The book was published in 1949, when the aftermath of war was finally dissipating, and people were looking to what the world could be like in 30+ years in the future. It was full of Big Brother watching us and political control that smacked of Nazi-ism and the deception of the ordinary citizens by the state. How far is it from the truth?
Let us consider.
North Korea could well be the model for the book if the latter had just been written. There are other countries with similar records, China as another for example.Then there are the revelations by Edward Snowden about the surveillance activities of GCHQ and the NSA. The depth and extent to which they watch us is frankly worrying.
Other stories with similar themes would be the film 'V' where the anti-hero quotes 'people shouldn't be afraid of their governments but the governments should be afraid of the people'.
[image error]Back to the Future II
Then of course there are the Back to the Future films the second which is of particular relevance. In the movie the first journey is forward from 1989 to October 21st 2015 and much has been made of the predictive success of the film.
What did it get right or wrong?
Well we are not quite able to fly cars around or skateboards but the silent running of today's electric vehicles is similar to those in the film. The idea of throwing rubbish into a tank to fuel the car may seem even more far-fetched but in Bristol and Bath there are buses that run on waste food and sewage.Biff paid a bill with his thumbprint which is indirectly possible today. There are apps that allow you to pay using your smartphone which may have to be accessed by using your thumb. Similarly, there are computer operated door locks and even my central heating is controlled through my smartphone.Marty wore a talking jacket and we have lots of wearable technology.In the film there were shoes with self-tying laces and Nike have recently applied for a patent of the same.Then there is the whole area of robotics which is currently enjoying a rapid acceleration in developments.The biggest miss is the smartphone itself. They show Marty making a call from a street payphone.
Cessation
The dystopian novel I published in 2013 is somewhat less positive than the BttF franchise. It is set in 2023 and considers the state of the UK at that time.
The story is a speculative journey into a possible future that may lie ahead of us all. There is evidence that such a future may not be impossible. We have been warned that unless we increase the ability to produce electricity there could be power cuts in the next ten years. Our modern day lives are permeated through with the need for electricity and its production.
Although Cessation could be categorised as a dystopian story I find that rather a negative word and the purpose of writing the tale is to allow elements of hope in a seemingly desperate situation.
The story begins in 2023 a couple of years after the lights go out for the last time. Our group of survivors are thrown together on a farm in the low Pennines north of the M62 motorway and within striking distance of a number of northern towns which could prove useful for supplies. Initially the group is small and live on a farm called Serendipity but as time passes the size of the group waxes and wanes for a variety of reasons.
This book is available in paperback and electronically. I deliver a warning at this point. Amazon advertise my story on 3 occasions under my name but the first 2 entrances are for paperback only at some ridiculous price of over £11. The 3rd entry has the paperback at £5.99 and the ebook at £2.93
God Bless
[image error]1984 - George Orwell
The book was published in 1949, when the aftermath of war was finally dissipating, and people were looking to what the world could be like in 30+ years in the future. It was full of Big Brother watching us and political control that smacked of Nazi-ism and the deception of the ordinary citizens by the state. How far is it from the truth?
Let us consider.
North Korea could well be the model for the book if the latter had just been written. There are other countries with similar records, China as another for example.Then there are the revelations by Edward Snowden about the surveillance activities of GCHQ and the NSA. The depth and extent to which they watch us is frankly worrying.
Other stories with similar themes would be the film 'V' where the anti-hero quotes 'people shouldn't be afraid of their governments but the governments should be afraid of the people'.
[image error]Back to the Future II
Then of course there are the Back to the Future films the second which is of particular relevance. In the movie the first journey is forward from 1989 to October 21st 2015 and much has been made of the predictive success of the film.
What did it get right or wrong?
Well we are not quite able to fly cars around or skateboards but the silent running of today's electric vehicles is similar to those in the film. The idea of throwing rubbish into a tank to fuel the car may seem even more far-fetched but in Bristol and Bath there are buses that run on waste food and sewage.Biff paid a bill with his thumbprint which is indirectly possible today. There are apps that allow you to pay using your smartphone which may have to be accessed by using your thumb. Similarly, there are computer operated door locks and even my central heating is controlled through my smartphone.Marty wore a talking jacket and we have lots of wearable technology.In the film there were shoes with self-tying laces and Nike have recently applied for a patent of the same.Then there is the whole area of robotics which is currently enjoying a rapid acceleration in developments.The biggest miss is the smartphone itself. They show Marty making a call from a street payphone.
CessationThe dystopian novel I published in 2013 is somewhat less positive than the BttF franchise. It is set in 2023 and considers the state of the UK at that time.
The story is a speculative journey into a possible future that may lie ahead of us all. There is evidence that such a future may not be impossible. We have been warned that unless we increase the ability to produce electricity there could be power cuts in the next ten years. Our modern day lives are permeated through with the need for electricity and its production.
Although Cessation could be categorised as a dystopian story I find that rather a negative word and the purpose of writing the tale is to allow elements of hope in a seemingly desperate situation.
The story begins in 2023 a couple of years after the lights go out for the last time. Our group of survivors are thrown together on a farm in the low Pennines north of the M62 motorway and within striking distance of a number of northern towns which could prove useful for supplies. Initially the group is small and live on a farm called Serendipity but as time passes the size of the group waxes and wanes for a variety of reasons.
This book is available in paperback and electronically. I deliver a warning at this point. Amazon advertise my story on 3 occasions under my name but the first 2 entrances are for paperback only at some ridiculous price of over £11. The 3rd entry has the paperback at £5.99 and the ebook at £2.93
God Bless
October 19, 2015
Tuesday Food Blog - Normandy Pork Casserole
I remember making 2 recipes years ago, one was Normandy Pork and the other Somerset Pork. I saw a recipe for the former in casserole form as opposed to pan fried and decided to try it.
Normandy Pork Casserole with Mustard mash
Those of you who are familiar with me will know that there is no celery (devil's food) in the recipe. I replaced it with carrots.
The difference between the Normandy and Somerset versions is in the added alcohol. When I cooked these I used a light french wine for the former and cider for the Somerset variety, but of course they use cider in France as well.
The 'Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind' potatoes are made from mustard mash. Again I combined parsnip and potato, I like the apple flavour and it goes well with the creme fraiche but then added a tablespoon of Dijon Mustard. As I am my own worst critic I would say that this would have been better without the parsnips, but even so it went well with the creamy sauce of the casserole.
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These days I tend to use Morrison's own brand creme fraiche when making anything with a creamy sauce, in soups or mashed vegetables. It claims to be less calorific and has a distinctive tangy flavour which suits me.
The full recipe for the casserole is on the appropriate TAB at the top of this page.
God Bless
Normandy Pork Casserole with Mustard mash
Those of you who are familiar with me will know that there is no celery (devil's food) in the recipe. I replaced it with carrots.
The difference between the Normandy and Somerset versions is in the added alcohol. When I cooked these I used a light french wine for the former and cider for the Somerset variety, but of course they use cider in France as well.
The 'Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind' potatoes are made from mustard mash. Again I combined parsnip and potato, I like the apple flavour and it goes well with the creme fraiche but then added a tablespoon of Dijon Mustard. As I am my own worst critic I would say that this would have been better without the parsnips, but even so it went well with the creamy sauce of the casserole.
[image error]
These days I tend to use Morrison's own brand creme fraiche when making anything with a creamy sauce, in soups or mashed vegetables. It claims to be less calorific and has a distinctive tangy flavour which suits me.
The full recipe for the casserole is on the appropriate TAB at the top of this page.
God Bless
October 18, 2015
Writing - Related events
Pick a moment in time.
Any moment in time.
What were you doing on that day? I hate that question because of the nature of my memory. I have a good memory in some respects and terrible in others.
[image error]
Let me explain.
I have performed in numerous musicals when I've needed to learn lines and songs and remember them for weeks. For over thirty years I taught classes of children, remembered their names and much of their backgrounds and abilities. BUT when the musicals were finished or the class had moved on my memory wipes clean, not completely so, but rather like a chalk board, that has been cleaned with a dry cloth, there are still traces of what was there before. It seems that when something is no longer relevant my mind clears it out.
Portfolio June 2015
This memory thing isn't a particular problem except that I notice the same thing has happened with the stories and poems I write. I remember the gist but not the detail.
Is this important?
Well it depends I suppose on what you're using memory for.
Learning - essential, but it is the application of knowledge that is important.
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Two of the questions that are often used to trigger memory are, what were you doing when JFK was shot?ORwhat were you doing when the planes hit the twin towers on 09/11?
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In the case of JFK I was 13 years old, it was a Sunday, 22/11/1963 and it was in the evening. As a teenager it was a very quiet part of the weekend when thoughts were about the beginning of a new school week. At that time TV programmes were limited and so it was quite a shock when they were interrupted by a newsflash bringing the sad news of the president's assassination.
It was very different with the twin towers. I was teaching and being picked up from work by my wife and it was she that told me of the disaster when I got into the car.
[image error]
The story I'm writing at the moment, another Steele adventure, occurs in September. Part of the action takes place on the Saturday evening coinciding with the last night of the promenade concerts. This is a major event in London that occurs at the Royal Albert Hall and attracts around 6000 in the audience plus the special guests, a huge orchestra and large choir. This is all vital and relevant information to how the story has developed and the intentions of the actors therein. The action could occur without such a major event but I felt that it enriched the story at that point.
[image error]
Of course you could go off at a tangent at the introduction of such an event so it is necessary to consider the balance of information introduced and its relevance. An activity to be frequently visited when writing a story.
April 29th 1950
I was born at 06:10
Number 1- song 'My Foolish Heart' by Billy Eckstine
FA Cup Final - Arsenal 2 - 0 Liverpool
Douglas S McKiernan became the first CIA agent to die while on a mission.
Motor Fishing Vessel Mary Heeley wrecked on the Isle of Man.
God Bless
Any moment in time.
What were you doing on that day? I hate that question because of the nature of my memory. I have a good memory in some respects and terrible in others.
[image error]
Let me explain.
I have performed in numerous musicals when I've needed to learn lines and songs and remember them for weeks. For over thirty years I taught classes of children, remembered their names and much of their backgrounds and abilities. BUT when the musicals were finished or the class had moved on my memory wipes clean, not completely so, but rather like a chalk board, that has been cleaned with a dry cloth, there are still traces of what was there before. It seems that when something is no longer relevant my mind clears it out.
Portfolio June 2015
This memory thing isn't a particular problem except that I notice the same thing has happened with the stories and poems I write. I remember the gist but not the detail.
Is this important?
Well it depends I suppose on what you're using memory for.
Learning - essential, but it is the application of knowledge that is important.
[image error]
Two of the questions that are often used to trigger memory are, what were you doing when JFK was shot?ORwhat were you doing when the planes hit the twin towers on 09/11?
[image error]
In the case of JFK I was 13 years old, it was a Sunday, 22/11/1963 and it was in the evening. As a teenager it was a very quiet part of the weekend when thoughts were about the beginning of a new school week. At that time TV programmes were limited and so it was quite a shock when they were interrupted by a newsflash bringing the sad news of the president's assassination.
It was very different with the twin towers. I was teaching and being picked up from work by my wife and it was she that told me of the disaster when I got into the car.
[image error]
The story I'm writing at the moment, another Steele adventure, occurs in September. Part of the action takes place on the Saturday evening coinciding with the last night of the promenade concerts. This is a major event in London that occurs at the Royal Albert Hall and attracts around 6000 in the audience plus the special guests, a huge orchestra and large choir. This is all vital and relevant information to how the story has developed and the intentions of the actors therein. The action could occur without such a major event but I felt that it enriched the story at that point.
[image error]
Of course you could go off at a tangent at the introduction of such an event so it is necessary to consider the balance of information introduced and its relevance. An activity to be frequently visited when writing a story.
April 29th 1950
I was born at 06:10
Number 1- song 'My Foolish Heart' by Billy Eckstine
FA Cup Final - Arsenal 2 - 0 Liverpool
Douglas S McKiernan became the first CIA agent to die while on a mission.
Motor Fishing Vessel Mary Heeley wrecked on the Isle of Man.
God Bless
October 17, 2015
Writing - 10 more things
Seems like I need to drink black coffee, sport a tattoo and adopt a Glaswegian accent - 'Jimmy'
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1. People who like their coffee black are more likely to be psychopaths.
Is this not a chicken and egg situation?
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2. Traditional societies sleep on average for six hours and 25 minutes.
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3. It was normal for women in 18th and 19th-century China to have two husbands.
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4. American toddlers are shooting one person a week on average in 2015.
Surely that is enough of a signal to the red-necks!
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5. People from Glasgow have the sexiest accent in the UK, according to Americans.
Sexy or unintelligible?
---------------------------------------
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6. The US still has not eradicated the plague.
Only 400 years behind!
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7. China is home to more billionaires than the US.
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8. Bees are attracted to caffeinated plants.
Gives them a bit of a buzz.
---------------------------------------
9. The first humans to leave Africa went to China not Europe.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
10. People with tattoos are more aggressive and rebellious.
---------------------------------------
God Bless
[image error]
1. People who like their coffee black are more likely to be psychopaths.
Is this not a chicken and egg situation?
---------------------------------------
[image error]
2. Traditional societies sleep on average for six hours and 25 minutes.
---------------------------------------
3. It was normal for women in 18th and 19th-century China to have two husbands.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
4. American toddlers are shooting one person a week on average in 2015.
Surely that is enough of a signal to the red-necks!
---------------------------------------
[image error]
5. People from Glasgow have the sexiest accent in the UK, according to Americans.
Sexy or unintelligible?
---------------------------------------
[image error]
6. The US still has not eradicated the plague.
Only 400 years behind!
---------------------------------------
[image error]
7. China is home to more billionaires than the US.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
8. Bees are attracted to caffeinated plants.
Gives them a bit of a buzz.
---------------------------------------
9. The first humans to leave Africa went to China not Europe.
---------------------------------------
[image error]
10. People with tattoos are more aggressive and rebellious.
---------------------------------------
God Bless
October 16, 2015
Writing - How do you want to be seen as a writer?
I don't know that, in the unlikely event of someone wanting to write my biography, I would happy for it to be in the hands of a stranger.
[image error]Ted Hughes 1930 - 1998
Samuel Johnson Prize is the UKs most prestigious non-fiction award. The short list this year includes Ted Hughes: The Unauthorised Life by Jonathon Bate an English Literature Professor from Oxford. Bate began work on the book with qualified assent from the Ted Hughes estate and his widow, Carol. Then last year the estate withdrew assent because it was felt that Bate was straying from the original plan of not writing a standard biography. The book was then serialised in part in a national newspaper and generated a letter from the estate's solicitors saying that it contained 'glaring factual inaccuracies and tasteless speculation'.
Of course we don't know what the outcome will be either regarding the prize or the publication but it would seem that at some point there has been a breakdown in communication. In a sense that is a shame because Hughes' fans could be missing out and the family will be left feeling upset. That is why I said earlier that if in that fortunate position of having a biographer, it would have to be someone I trust.
[image error]
The illustration above is probably true of most of us whether we write or not, but if your legacy is in part a biography, then it should be correct. The idea that a stranger was going to speculate on the type of person I am, or any of the actions I have been involved in during my lifetime, is anathema to me. It lends fuel to the idea of writing an autobiography.
Steele My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.
Cessation
This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind
and
Words from the Raindrops
God Bless
[image error]Ted Hughes 1930 - 1998
Samuel Johnson Prize is the UKs most prestigious non-fiction award. The short list this year includes Ted Hughes: The Unauthorised Life by Jonathon Bate an English Literature Professor from Oxford. Bate began work on the book with qualified assent from the Ted Hughes estate and his widow, Carol. Then last year the estate withdrew assent because it was felt that Bate was straying from the original plan of not writing a standard biography. The book was then serialised in part in a national newspaper and generated a letter from the estate's solicitors saying that it contained 'glaring factual inaccuracies and tasteless speculation'.
Of course we don't know what the outcome will be either regarding the prize or the publication but it would seem that at some point there has been a breakdown in communication. In a sense that is a shame because Hughes' fans could be missing out and the family will be left feeling upset. That is why I said earlier that if in that fortunate position of having a biographer, it would have to be someone I trust.
[image error]
The illustration above is probably true of most of us whether we write or not, but if your legacy is in part a biography, then it should be correct. The idea that a stranger was going to speculate on the type of person I am, or any of the actions I have been involved in during my lifetime, is anathema to me. It lends fuel to the idea of writing an autobiography.
Steele My hero was created post recession and so has no concept of how 'good' things were pre-2008. In 'I Have To Get It Right' when he began to flex his muscles he was working in an accountant's office. Then after the Gurentai took him under their wing and removed all of his financial worries, it was justice that was his major concern. He did become involved in international relations in 'The 51st State' but it was for the maintenance of a respectful distance between countries, rather than economic reasons. His trips into the USA had repercussions which can be read about in 'The Biter Bit' but then by the time things began to change in 2011 and the recession was really biting, Steele was trying to make sense of the state of the nation in 'A Changed Reality' and coming up against some really nasty people taking advantage of the shortage of money. By the time the USA are out of their recession Steele's steps are still being dogged by an unknown enemy from the same country. In 'Inceptus' we also find out more about what makes the man tick. The most recent Steele book 'Castled' where Steele is once again at risk from unseen enemies. It would seem that he has become quite recession proof!The most recent addition to the Steele family is Earth plc in which our hero is concerned with political and emotional issues in this crime fighting adventure.
All books are available in paperback or ebook through Amazon, Smashwords and all good book shop websites.
Cessation
This is a dystopian story that hinges directly on the state of the nation as a result of fiscal mismanagement. Having said that it is more a story of human relations, privations, love and loss.
Poetry - there are also two thoughtful collections of poetry available solely through Amazon.
The Musings of a Confused Mind
and
Words from the Raindrops
God Bless
