Alan Williams's Blog, page 23

Drawing Blood TWTW # 63

[image error]Hello, how are you? I’m good. I did have a visit to get a routine blood test this last week. It’s one of those where you have to fast beforehand, in my case nothing to eat or drink (except water) from 6.30pm the night before, so I was ready for something to eat and drink by the time it was done. I also made the most of my trip to return some library books and do a few other things whilst in town. I’ll be able to get the results in a couple of days, although if there’s anything to worry about...

Brave New World – TWTW # 62

Welcome back. The world doesn’t actually feel any different today than this time last week, but of course the UK has now officially left the EU. I think this is a mistake that we’ll come to regret but I hope to be proved wrong. Otherwise this week has been another busy work week (mostly).

If you’ve been reading these posts for a couple of months you’ll know that I was going through an upgrade of my work computer. I did do this towards the end of last year and have been using it for about six...

Under The Stars – A Journey into Light by Matt Gaw: A Review

[image error] Under The Stars – A Journey into Light by Matt Gaw

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Sometimes you read a book that you can’t put down or one that you don’t want to end, it’s rare to find a book that does both of those things but Matt Gaw’s latest might just be that book.

The day my review copy arrived in the post I was by coincidence standing on my back door step at 2.30 in the morning waiting for my dog (he’s older and sometimes gets up in the night for a wee). I was marvelling at the fact that...

Muffin Talk TWTW # 61

[image error]Greetings from my writing desk, where this paperweight joined the other “stuff” that makes it a comfy place to work, even if it does tend towards the cluttered at times. It’s been a busy week – when is it not – I feel like I write that most weeks. I’ve been out of my office most days for one thing or another or had unexpectedly long phone calls take up more time than I’d allowed for them, but overall it’s been a good week. This coming week I expect I’ll be playing catch up a little bit, but I...

End of an Era TWTW # 60

[image error]Welcome back, thanks for stopping by. It’s been a crazy week in my world but probably not as crazy as the world at large seems to be.

In the same week a poll is telling the government that the majority (70%) of people want a net-zero carbon target for the UK, the same government bails out a regional airline by offsetting some of the environmental tax that they were supposed to be collecting from their passengers and saves them from going bust (at least for the time being). It seems that...

Time Flies TWTW # 59

[image error]Well where have the last few weeks gone? I’m not sure I really know if I’m honest. Taking a break from writing here over the Christmas period and into New Year means that I’m struggling a bit to get back into it if I’m honest. I did take some time off over that period, but I mostly kept moving forward with client work to make sure I stayed on top of some deadlines that are coming up (which so far I think I have). It means that I don’t really have that much to say other than perhaps Happy New...

Selected Best Bits of 2019 (Books, TV, Films)

2019 has been a bit of a mixed bag for me, it’s had some great highs and some very low lows. This post is however about the books, tv and films that I’ve enjoyed this year.

Books

GoodReads tells me that I’ve read 71 “books” this year. There are a few short stories and novellas in there, as well as several Maigret novels which are quite short, and a few audiobooks, but I’d say I read more than my target of 30 books that I set at the start of the year. So what were the highlights? Well I’ve...

TWTW # 58

[image error]I’ve been head down working all week and as a consequence have very little else to write about. So I’m going to take a break until the New Year.

Wishing you compliments of the season, see you in 2020.

All Work and No….Well You Know What I Mean TWTW # 57

I’ve tried to write this post several times. Each time I’ve wanted to rant about the General Election. I’ve just tried to write about it again, but I can’t. I just can’t

So in more positive news, I’ve managed to secure client work, that if I’ve got my timetabling right will take me through to nearly the end of February. One item fell off of the list but was replaced by something else. So work looks like it’s going to be busy. It might mean that these posts also get a bit curtailed over the...

Big Sunrises TWTW # 56

[image error]Hello! The morning light this week has been pretty amazing. I’ve been up early several times and enjoyed the sunrise. It’s also been an exceptionally busy and stressful week. A lot of family things happening with a backdrop of work, client meetings and associated craziness.

I’m glad I went ahead and made a start getting my new laptop set up, and if nothing else I am completely amazed by the battery life. Since I went freelance, I’ve never really had an “office” as such. The closest I get is...