David L. Atkinson's Blog, page 95

Its a matter of taste

Still harping on about the beginning of a new year but it is important to reflect upon your work, periodically.

The thorny question being 'how good is my work?'
How do you judge? In the realm of the arts we depend heavily on the opinions of others which are by their very definition - subjective. Read about Charles Dickens and he was criticised for poor grammar, Dylan Thomas couldn't make a living in the UK and so on. Think about the books you like to read and then discuss reading with a group of friends, then you will find out the world of differences in taste between people who consider themselves as friends - with all that that means.
Some comments
Cessation - 'it should be made into a TV series'Steele novels - 'your work is improving all the time'; 'I am trying to get our reading group to buy your books'Earth plc - 'its good!'; 'when is the next one out?'

These are just a few modest comments I've received fairly recently and as a part of my self-review they make me feel good. As a reading public I feel one thing that we don't do well is to review, no matter how briefly. I have reviewed more works since I began writing but by no means all that I've read - perhaps that could form part of a resolution.
As I've found a method of publishing my writing that works for me, I can't see me stopping any time soon. The other day I was asked if I set myself daily writing targets and the simple answer is 'no'. I take about six months to write a full length novel which averages out at between 250 - 500 words a day, sometimes it is more, sometimes less. The point is that it fits comfortably with what I want to do.
I have read loads of blogs about writing and two people I keep going back to are Stephen Woodfin and Caleb Pirtle as they quite accurately reflect my feelings on writing. If you haven't tried them out have a look at Venture Galleries, well worth a visit. In a recent blog Stephen referred to words targets etc and he and Caleb have often said that you need to write lots of books. One of my friends, on the news that I was on the fifth chapter of my next project, was querying whether or not I was trying to write more stories than Agatha Christie. It is important to write lots because as with all things the more you do the more your skills develop. What Stephen also mentioned was that for the improvement to be continuous it is also necessary to read.

The above quote is from Harry Potter and it is something I have been described as being, in the way that I've finished the last two Steele novels Castled and Earth plc as I've left questions unanswered. I think that this cliffhanger type of ending has come from the confidence I feel in my writing, an increase in self-belief. This can only became firmly embedded with practice. J K Rowling has branched out into crime novels under the name Robert Galbraith. She has written The Cuckoo Calling and The Silkworm and I can recommend them both. Obviously having honed her skills on the Potter series has given her the confidence and skill to change genre and quite successfully.
If you write then continue to do so and enjoy the dynamism of the process the more you produce.
God Bless

Tuesday Recipe - Lentils and merguez sausage

We start the recipe blog up for 2015. It may be the last but its certainly the first.

Merguez sausage with lentils
One of my children bought me new recipe book for Christmas. It was written by Clarissa Dickson-Wright one of the 'Two Fat Ladies' 
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It is a book committed to one pot cooking and today's recipe is the first from my new book.
Nothing is ever simple however, and finding merguez sausages in Mirfield and its environs was impossible. I Googled Merguez and all I could discover is that these sausages are made from beef or mutton. I'm sure that is not the whole story and if anyone can give more clues as to the exact nature of this type of sausage I really would appreciate the information. However, I did find some beef sausage and added garlic to the pot.
The meal is served with mashed potato made from baked potatoes and the resulting left over skins were sprinkled with cheese and baked for ten minutes and accompany the dish.
The full recipe is on the appropriate TAB at the top of this page.
I also received a magic sakura as a reminder of Japan from another of my kids. (see below)
 It begins life as a dry piece of card but then ends up resembling one of the many beautiful cherry trees covered in blossom (sakura). See below.
A bit of Japan in Mirfield
It reminded me of something we chemistry students used to do when we were around 13 - 14 years old. I suppose it seems rather geeky now but we enjoyed making crystal gardens.
A crystal garden
We used a goldfish bowl, something called water glass, which is an egg preservative of sodium silicate solution, and various chemical crystals, the brighter coloured the better. I remember it working very well. What I don't remember doing was wearing goggles and gloves as they have to do these days.

God Bless

Epiphany is not over but Christmas is.

Epiphany - an experience of sudden and striking realisation.
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Epiphany is also a Christian festival held on the 6th January representing the presentation of baby Jesus to the Gentiles in the form of the Magi - 12th night.
Traditionally twelfth night is the day that Christmas decorations should be taken down. They've gone in my house today the 4th January. It is surprising how bare everything looks but that is down to me.
The concept of an epiphany (with a small 'e') is something we can all experience in a variety of situations. This reflects back when I wrote about choices and change. When you decide to write the first piece that you produce, whether it is a page of your first novel or something shorter that stands alone. The epiphany involved in writing is the realisation that once you start you have been drawn into a world from which you may never escape. Don't fight it folks!
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Freedom of Information Act
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This act came into force on 1st January 2005 and the epiphanies that have been realised as a result of this legislation have been significant. Here are some of the benefits to us ordinary folk.
MPs expenses - scandal fed by information that had to be divulged.Immigration - doubts about the 'flood' of people into the UK were disputed. Unanswered 101 calls A & E ambulance delays Restaurant hygiene Policing 'old firm' matches - 2 million pounds to police these games.
There are other topics as well and I don't agree with Tony Blair who described himself as a nincompoop for introducing the bill.
What realisations will flash into your life this year.
God Bless

10 things and so on!

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1. Raisa Gorbachev sent the UK agriculture minister a book of 500 potato recipes.
Infinitely useful - better than a lot of the claptrap that is sent both ways.
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2. Breaking Bad is the show people most often lie about having watched.

This is the truth - I have never seen it!
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3. There are only seven surviving skeletons of the quagga - a cousin of the zebra that became extinct in 1883.

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4. Women are now rarely described as "blonde" or "sexy" in conversation.

That would be because of the thought police!

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5. The threat of being eaten doesn't deter dumpling squid from having sex.

In other words 'Oh f..k it!'

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6. Jamie Oliver turned down a role in the Hobbit.

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7. It costs £300 to operate on a constipated goldfish.

And why would we want to?

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8. Churchill's future sister-in-law wrote to him in 1907 warning him not to become a Muslim.

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9. Eating a menu composed of dishes cooked with alcohol in them can push you over the legal drink driving limit.

Depends on the dish, if cooked in an open pan the alcohol evaporates off because it has a lower boiling point than water.

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10. TV comedy Miranda elicited a complaint that the show was biased against tall women.


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God Bless

The beginning of another set of firsts

A new year  heralds the beginning of many things and the repetition of customs. In Japan it is Hatsumode.

Hatsumode means the first visit of the year to a Shinto temple. In the early hours of New Year's Day sake is served and during the day Japanese singing, dancing and calligraphy is on display.The photograph above was taken in Kyoto in 2007 along with the one below.

In the UK there have been a number of news items linked with the beginning of 2015.
Health

Johns Hopkins University in the USA have announced the results of a study into causes for cancer. There may seem to be little connection between this and the start of 2015 but in fact the subject of how to stay healthy pervades our being on a daily basis but this announcement will have the health police in a tizzy. Apparently 2/3rds of cancer occur as a result of bad luck and we all know that you can't legislate against that factor.
General Election
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This year is a first for legislation that the coalition government brought in regarding the fixing of general elections. As a youngster growing up under the old system it was a bit confusing that elections occurred on the whim of the ruling party and the size of their majority. Well now it has to be every five years in May which seems much simpler.Of course, because there is an election due this year the electioneering has begun!
First Footing
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This is the tradition of having someone enter your house just after midnight on New Year's morning to bring good luck and is practised mainly in the north of England, Isle of Man and Scotland. It involves the bringing of certain 'gifts'.I remember as a youngster being stuck out on the doorstep, it always seemed to be bitterly cold, with a piece of coal in my hand. There are also gifts of a coin, preferably silver, salt, bread or a drink each with their own meaning. The gender and appearance of the first-foot varies from place to place.
Other cultures have similar traditions but whatever decide to be happy and make your own good luck.
God Bless

Writing - New Year Resolution opportunities

I can hear the collective groan as you see the first 3 words of this title of my blog. The three words can create stress, feelings of guilt and a sense of failure, within three months of seeing them.
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There is one basic issue at the bottom of all the gut churning, mind twisting, angst producing ire that are RESOLUTIONS and it is simply - CHANGE.
When you talk to people about resolutions what the discussion is about is changing human behaviour. Now I'm not pretending to have discovered something new, its really obvious the inner conflict comes from changing internal patterns of behaviour. Am I over thinking a simple part of human activity? Think about it! In the western world many English speaking people, that's billions, try and consider changing some aspect of their lives. If they don't at least the habit of making resolutions is refreshed in their heads every 31st of December and 1st January. 
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So why are we so worried about change? Insecurity is the probable answer. Until the new pattern of behaviour is firmly embedded the feeling of insecurity is the catalyst that may engineer a return to former 'safe' patterns of behaviour and that is when resolutions fail.
Of course, the need for change can come at any time of year and all kinds of excuses are made to keep us from having to embrace change. 'I'm too old to change' is a common reason as is 'I just can't change' but in fact change comes with small steps. I hate to use management training speak but making S.M.A.R.T. targets can make change possible and painless.
SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time limited.
In everyday speak - take change a little at a time. Also congratulate yourself when you achieve a target that you've set yourself. 
So have I made any resolutions? - No!Do I think I'm perfect? - No!Am I avoiding unnecessary stress? - Yes!Do I monitor my behaviours? - Yes!
My aims for 2015 is to maintain a reasonably healthy life style, to love my family and to keep writing.Best of luck with your new year.
God Bless

Writing - A Happy and Prosperous 2015

I began this poem almost exactly one year ago.


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2015
A New Year begins once againmore days to live through.Challenges to confront and overcome.Twelve more months and 52 weeks.Days long and short, dark and light.Hopefully a time to be lived in peaceand one's prosperity increased a might.
The years roll on with increased rapidityage advances in parallel.
Appreciate time with family.
Children grow into adults and parents
Time flies as if on the wings of a swift
Your own powers settle with experience
The joy of offspring gives the lift. 

A rare and satisfying occurrence.

As life barrels along age slows but excitement drives
never-ending events that seem to come with every breath.
A new life is due and soon, another offspring boon.

A small review

I've had a very busy publishing year. There have been two novels and a collection of poetry.


 A 6th Steele story - Castled   and then published this month Earth plc                                                     
Finally, the poetry.



Words from Raindrops 
Don't be shy click to buy.
One of my hobbies is to watch films and I've seen some good stuff this year. There are three that I believe worthy of mention.
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Edge of Tomorrow
Starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt
A futuristic adventure with elements of Groundhog Day which may seem a strange combination but it works. 
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Lucy
Starring Scarlett Johanssen
A computer in human gun toting form or a human taken over by human frailty.
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The Imitation Game
Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley.
A tale based upon the life of Alan Turing and his efforts to decipher the information sent by the Hitler Enigma encryption machine. If there was any justice in the world we wouldn't log on to a computer but a Turing!As things go I believe that this exceptionally good film could be cast in the shadows by the release of The Theory of Everything which promises to be a very good dramatisation of the life of Steven Hawking.
Best wishes and thank you to all those who have taken the time to read my blogs, books and poetry and a happy and prosperous New Year to all.
God Bless

Writing - Views of the year just going

There are some very talented people out there and I have found a collection of drawings done that reflect certain aspects of 2014

Brice Hall has chosen to focus on the millions of people displaced by the conflict in Syria, of whom "the vast number drift to refugee camps offering the slimmest of futures," he says.

Many campaigns throughout 2014 have sought to use social media to make their voices known. "This year so many people have been out protesting for justice, and each protest now seems to come with a hashtag," says Jamillah Knowles. 

Maryam Alsalah took this infamous image of Kim Kardashian and, with her version, drew the nude reality star sitting on top of a troubled world, adding: "she's not the biggest issue we should think about."


"As we head into winter again I was reminded of the terrible floods that were experienced by those that live on the Somerset Levels in England," says Jan Woodhouse. She adds: "There seemed to be a very slow response to their plight and no recent updates as to how they are now."
and finally

For Glenn Fitzpatrick, it was the offer by tech giants Facebook and Apple to freeze the eggs of female employees, which inspired this picture. He says: "As the gap between rich and poor gets bigger it is as if the super power companies are now looking into the genetics of what makes a successful candidate." He wonders if this is the beginning of a "Brave New World" or if it suggests the gap between rich and poor will get wider.

These pieces of art are just a few sent in to the BBC News Magazine
God Bless

Food idea - leftovers fried rice

I must confess that this year I've been less well organised with regards to buying food for the holiday period than in previous years. However, I did find some interesting ingredients with which to make a meal today.
Battered haddock and egg fried rice
As I didn't buy a turkey or a joint of meat with accompaniments there were no leftovers. If you add man 'flu' then the desire to go shopping wasn't there so I needed to search to put a meal on the table today. There were a couple of battered haddock steaks, some prawns an egg, rice and a tin of corn and peas. The egg fried rice is a great stand by and accompanies most things and it is easy.
Egg fried rice
Measure out and boil the rice according to packet instructions. Make sure the starch is washed off thoroughly. This stops the rice from being sticky. Once cooked drain carefully as water will make the next stage interesting. Heat some oil in a frying pan and add the rice, break an egg into the plan and stir the rice in vigorously then add whatever you like that will complete the dish. Some people would prefer vegetables, some might want to add protein but whatever remember if reheating food that it is piping hot. I would advise not to reheat rice in any circumstances.
I have planned something for the rest of the week and it is something akin to Lancashire hotpot and that perennial favourite in the north east - Panacaldy. The main difference is instead of lamb there will be corned beef, bacon and black pudding. Again this is the sort of dish that allows a level of experimentation.

God Bless

Writing - Game of Drones

In keeping up-to-date with modern novel writing it is important to keep in step, to a degree, with technology.
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It can't be more than a couple of years ago that my younger son speculated about 3D printing reaching the level that would permit the duplication of undetectable handguns. Since then they have been used to produce aids for disabled people and many other things. So what is next?
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Well drones are a fairly obvious choice. There seems to be no limit as to size or capability. They have been used to deliver bombs, search for lost people and to watch the unsuspecting public. It is an aspect of the burgeoning 21st century that we need to consider when writing.
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I feel that drones are quite scary from the point that there is little to limit their use. There is a delicate trade-off between security and privacy, and many argue we must be cautious of creeping authoritarianism. This is not a new argument: CCTV, satellite maps and telephony have been subjected to the same scrutiny.Apart from privacy, there are concerns that other human rights, such as the rights to dignity, liberty, life and peaceful protest could be violated by the use of robot vehicles. One drone maker has sold strike-busting drones, armed with pepper spray and plastic balls, to 25 companies.So yes there are almost an infinite number of uses for flying, robotic technology and yes it brings into question security etc but it isn't a technology only available to big companies. Private individuals can buy them relatively easily. In fact I found the following on Amazon:-
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This drone carries a 2 megapixel camera and costs £39.08 + p&p. There are a wealth of details about range and battery life on the website but any misguided neighbour may spy on others for a whole raft of dubious reasons. They then range up to over £1000 and dear knows what they are capable of but they are available for delivery this week!
The point is that if you write in the modern day particularly, political, crime or espionage novels, drones have limitless possibilities for the imaginative writer. Perhaps Steele needs to consider the use of this versatile technology.
God Bless