Billy Young's Blog, page 27
March 11, 2011
11th March 2011
More steaming off artex this weekend to look forwards to, though there isn’t much left to do luckily. Hopefully I’ll get it finished tomorrow so I can watch the rugby, Scotland v England, on Sunday. I’ll listen to the TV as I work tomorrow to the other games but I need to get the job finished so I can’t take the time to watch them. I might, if I’m lucky, get to see some of the second game Wales v Ireland. That should be a good game.
Not had as much time to write down my ideas or any verse this week as I was moved to cover for Davie. He strained his back and was off for a couple of days. So I took over at his job unloading the tins and putting them into large metal baskets. These are then put into a large boiler to be cooked for an hour or two. It sounds like a simple enough job though when the tins are coming down the line at a hundred miles an hour and you’re leaning into this basket it’s a different story. I can also see why Davie hurt his back. I could feel the muscles in my back pulling towards the end of today. I was glad when the last tins came down the line.
Anyways it’s the weekend now with tow days off to relax a little. Well apart from the kitchen that is. And with what is happening in Japan at the moment as well as the troubles in Libya my little aches are nothing really. In fact it makes you realise how luck you really are.
Oh before I go I should mention that if you go to Smashwords.com and look fort one of my books use the code RAE50 and get it at $0.99. It’s a special to celebrate ebook week so ends Saturday 12th March 2011. So hurry or you will miss it. Happy reading.
Not had as much time to write down my ideas or any verse this week as I was moved to cover for Davie. He strained his back and was off for a couple of days. So I took over at his job unloading the tins and putting them into large metal baskets. These are then put into a large boiler to be cooked for an hour or two. It sounds like a simple enough job though when the tins are coming down the line at a hundred miles an hour and you’re leaning into this basket it’s a different story. I can also see why Davie hurt his back. I could feel the muscles in my back pulling towards the end of today. I was glad when the last tins came down the line.
Anyways it’s the weekend now with tow days off to relax a little. Well apart from the kitchen that is. And with what is happening in Japan at the moment as well as the troubles in Libya my little aches are nothing really. In fact it makes you realise how luck you really are.
Oh before I go I should mention that if you go to Smashwords.com and look fort one of my books use the code RAE50 and get it at $0.99. It’s a special to celebrate ebook week so ends Saturday 12th March 2011. So hurry or you will miss it. Happy reading.
March 4, 2011
4th March 2011
I’ll wrote a poem in Scots today while at work. It was one of those flashes of inspiration brought on by a work colleague. It’s quite fun when that happens. It is something I used do when I was younger, writing in Scots my first tongue as they say here. Though many see as no more than a regional accent these days. I find that sad as it is a language, the spoken word of the Lowlands of Scotland, used by my nation’s greatest poet, Robert Burns. Part of the problem lays in the past when it was discouraged in schools and the whole educational institution. Not much has changed really though it is now recognised by the government, but unlike Gaelic it gets little funding other than in January as it comes up Burns night. Because of this I have noticed over the years it has slowly begun to vanish as more English sneaks into what we say. I suppose this has been going on since more formal government educational systems took over from the parish Sunday school of centuries past. No more clearly is this seen than the beginning of the year or New Years when Burns is sang the World over.
Anyway I will need to type the poem into the computer and edit it before posting it on GoodReads.com which will be something for me to do this week end. I’m also working on another poem inspired by work. This time though it is in English so no need to go checking spelling or struggling with my word processor.
Why would I struggle with my first language I hear you ask? Well it is my first spoken and as I said above school don’t teach it. So we don’t learn how to write in it. You can only really learn it by going to college, something I never did. I taught myself when I was younger. It was a sort of lame rebellion of sorts, which didn’t last long and it has been a long time since then.
And I have more work to do on my kitchen, Magz is getting impatient to have it finished. :~)
Anyway I will need to type the poem into the computer and edit it before posting it on GoodReads.com which will be something for me to do this week end. I’m also working on another poem inspired by work. This time though it is in English so no need to go checking spelling or struggling with my word processor.
Why would I struggle with my first language I hear you ask? Well it is my first spoken and as I said above school don’t teach it. So we don’t learn how to write in it. You can only really learn it by going to college, something I never did. I taught myself when I was younger. It was a sort of lame rebellion of sorts, which didn’t last long and it has been a long time since then.
And I have more work to do on my kitchen, Magz is getting impatient to have it finished. :~)
February 25, 2011
25th February 2011
I finished Banshee Fires of Revenge and it is now available from Smashwords.com. I uploaded it midweek after I sorted the errors as well as formatting it. Now it is also ready to be uploaded to Lulu.com which I will be doing in the March, probably late in the month.
Already I’m beginning to get a fuller picture of the next book in my head. Characters are taking shape along with the world they inhabit or more correctly the social situation they are faced with. It is quite a dark world that is of greater concern to the main character than his family or workmates. I’m not sure how it will turn out this time. So often I know the end to my stories but this time I still haven’t seen where this tale will take me. Maybe after I sit down and work out the plot, we’ll see. I can see where the tale starts, I can even see the family watching the news and the main character realising that things aren’t right. I best not say any more on it.
I’ll be doing more DIY this weekend scraping and steaming artex from my kitchen walls. Of course I will also be heading for town with Magz so she can choose her birthday gift. I think she is secretly looking forwards to it though she has done her usual, which is saying I shouldn’t bother but how could I do that when I have some pennies that I can use to show what she means to me?
Already I’m beginning to get a fuller picture of the next book in my head. Characters are taking shape along with the world they inhabit or more correctly the social situation they are faced with. It is quite a dark world that is of greater concern to the main character than his family or workmates. I’m not sure how it will turn out this time. So often I know the end to my stories but this time I still haven’t seen where this tale will take me. Maybe after I sit down and work out the plot, we’ll see. I can see where the tale starts, I can even see the family watching the news and the main character realising that things aren’t right. I best not say any more on it.
I’ll be doing more DIY this weekend scraping and steaming artex from my kitchen walls. Of course I will also be heading for town with Magz so she can choose her birthday gift. I think she is secretly looking forwards to it though she has done her usual, which is saying I shouldn’t bother but how could I do that when I have some pennies that I can use to show what she means to me?
February 18, 2011
18th February 2011
Magz wasn’t too happy last Saturday. She gave me a Valentine’s card late Friday night and I told I hadn’t gotten her anything. So come Saturday she wanted to go down town; of course I didn’t want to. Of course come Monday by the time I got home she was in a lot better mood. I’m cruel aren’t I, hehehe but she did like it and hasn’t stopped showing it off to everyone.
Calum has finally finished reading through my next book. He’s marked all the mistakes so I can sort the errors this weekend. As he said now I don’t have anything to moan at him about now. Well until the next one that is.
I have quite a bit of writing to work on this weekend as the notepad I bought last week has been very handy for scribbling down some rough poetry ideas as I work. Well at least when I get a moment to quickly get the verse or two down. After getting home I would type some of what I wrote down into the computer editing it as I did so. I even posted one on Absolute Write forum to get some critique too.
So it has been a good week all round. To make things better I was given a list of my holidays from wok for the coming year. I wasn’t expecting holidays as I haven’t been there long but there you go. The first one isn’t until April and Magz has already got plans for me, getting rid of the artex off of the walls. No rest for the wicked as they say, hehehe.
Calum has finally finished reading through my next book. He’s marked all the mistakes so I can sort the errors this weekend. As he said now I don’t have anything to moan at him about now. Well until the next one that is.
I have quite a bit of writing to work on this weekend as the notepad I bought last week has been very handy for scribbling down some rough poetry ideas as I work. Well at least when I get a moment to quickly get the verse or two down. After getting home I would type some of what I wrote down into the computer editing it as I did so. I even posted one on Absolute Write forum to get some critique too.
So it has been a good week all round. To make things better I was given a list of my holidays from wok for the coming year. I wasn’t expecting holidays as I haven’t been there long but there you go. The first one isn’t until April and Magz has already got plans for me, getting rid of the artex off of the walls. No rest for the wicked as they say, hehehe.
February 11, 2011
11th February 2011
On the way home today I dropped into to town to get Magz a gift for Valentine’s. I didn’t spend a lot but did get her a small gold pendant in the shape of a heart as well as a card, all for under twenty five pounds. She hasn’t a clue as I told her that I was home late because we had to drop off a workmate somewhere. I left the excuse vague as I hadn’t really thought it out much. I know I should have had a better reason for getting home late but hopefully she doesn’t suspect anything, so please keep the secret. I leave the card and gift on the coffee table on Monday morning before going to work then phone her at one of my breaks to see what she thought of it. I know I’m a big softy but I like to do things like this when I’m working. It shows our loved ones that we care doesn’t it? Even if we can’t always show it.
Calum is still to finish proofreading though he is getting closer to the end. So not long till it is ready to be uploaded to Smashwords and out into the world. Then I’ll need to save the money to publish it through Lulu. Before I can do that I will have Magz birthday gift to get. For that I’ll take her down town on a Saturday so she can pick something she wants. Sounds easier than it usually is with Magz, she is one of those women that never wants anything for herself and I know the excuse she’ll use. She’ll say I should keep my money for my book. She is more important though, you’re family should be though shouldn’t they? I think so anyways.
Calum is still to finish proofreading though he is getting closer to the end. So not long till it is ready to be uploaded to Smashwords and out into the world. Then I’ll need to save the money to publish it through Lulu. Before I can do that I will have Magz birthday gift to get. For that I’ll take her down town on a Saturday so she can pick something she wants. Sounds easier than it usually is with Magz, she is one of those women that never wants anything for herself and I know the excuse she’ll use. She’ll say I should keep my money for my book. She is more important though, you’re family should be though shouldn’t they? I think so anyways.
February 4, 2011
4th February 2011
Another week gone and it’s time for the weekend. It feels good. Still waiting for Calum to finish reading the new book, though I haven’t been nagging him this week. I can’t promise that I won’t this weekend so I can finally get it finished. Mind that is nothing to what is happening around the world when you think of it. Of course he’ll still treat it as if it was, after all he is only sixteen.
I am still working though this is four weeks. They haven’t said that I’m getting kept on but at the same time they haven’t given me a letter saying their letting me go, which is good. So I’ll be off to work come Monday anyways. It may not be my dream job it is a job though. It is great not having to be grill every two weeks like you were a criminal. That is how it feels sometimes when you sign on. And the government is continually making it harder for people yet seem to let the ones that have never worked off easy. Mind it is always greener in the other pasture isn’t it.
Well I’m going to relax this Saturday and Sunday. I’ll read my computer magazine and nag my son, hehehe. Other than that I haven’t really got much planned though I should start getting the plot to the next tale sorted. I just can’t seem to get the drive for it while I still have Banshee Fires of Revenge out there. I will just have to be patient.
I am still working though this is four weeks. They haven’t said that I’m getting kept on but at the same time they haven’t given me a letter saying their letting me go, which is good. So I’ll be off to work come Monday anyways. It may not be my dream job it is a job though. It is great not having to be grill every two weeks like you were a criminal. That is how it feels sometimes when you sign on. And the government is continually making it harder for people yet seem to let the ones that have never worked off easy. Mind it is always greener in the other pasture isn’t it.
Well I’m going to relax this Saturday and Sunday. I’ll read my computer magazine and nag my son, hehehe. Other than that I haven’t really got much planned though I should start getting the plot to the next tale sorted. I just can’t seem to get the drive for it while I still have Banshee Fires of Revenge out there. I will just have to be patient.
January 28, 2011
28th January 2011
Isn’t strange how as you get older life seems to pass faster, yet when we were young it dragged by ever so slowly? I know that this week has past as any other but it feels like I was only starting the week yesterday. Yes I know being busy working away means I don’t notice the time as each day slips past. Though I might understand this it still strikes me as strange as I can remember when I was a kid, being bored with nothing to do, wishing for time to speed up. Of course now I just wish I could find an extra hour or two each day. Saying that makes me feel old though I’ve really only hit the middle years of life. That’s scary as if this is me now what a moaner will I be when I am old, hehehe.
I nagged my son last weekend a little too much to read my book that it has now sat untouched all week on the coffee table. Of course he has had school and his own things to do. I’m just a little impatient to get it finished and uploaded to Smashwords to offer it as an ebook. Of course that isn’t easy when you’re talking about something that you created yourself. A bit like life really, first the log process of making the story then followed by hours, day, weeks of editing and then we just want to rush to the end.
I nagged my son last weekend a little too much to read my book that it has now sat untouched all week on the coffee table. Of course he has had school and his own things to do. I’m just a little impatient to get it finished and uploaded to Smashwords to offer it as an ebook. Of course that isn’t easy when you’re talking about something that you created yourself. A bit like life really, first the log process of making the story then followed by hours, day, weeks of editing and then we just want to rush to the end.
January 21, 2011
21st January 2011
Great news this week at work, I might be getting kept on. One of my fellow workers got a new job so today was his last day. That means there is now an opening, which is good for me. When I asked my line supervisor today what the chances of me being kept on he said that it was “very good.” You can’t get much better than that. It may be minimum wage but a job in this day and age is still better than the brew (unemployment).
Woking does mean that there is less time for writing but I do get the weekends for that. Talking of which my son has begun reading through my next book, Banshee Fires of Revenge. My sister has the same printer as I do so she lent me her to print up my story. Hopefully he won’t take to long with it. That just means me nagging him a bit to get reading or he’ll take forever. I can’t blame him though as he has his own interests though he does like to read as well. I also finished the cover ands uploaded that and the synopsis to my site and GoodReads.com.
I will now need to start getting my plot together for my next tale. I’ve been thinking about it for a few months now trying to figure out how to approach it. It isn’t a horror this time but more of a speculative fiction set in the future, a dark tale though. I’ve even been thinking of a title yet I’ll decide when it is done whether to go with one of two I have in mind. Of course I don’t want to say too much about it just yet.
As to my troubles with the Jobcentre and Tax Credits well as I said the other week it has finally been sorted. God is certainly smiling on me today, “Thanks Big Man.”
Woking does mean that there is less time for writing but I do get the weekends for that. Talking of which my son has begun reading through my next book, Banshee Fires of Revenge. My sister has the same printer as I do so she lent me her to print up my story. Hopefully he won’t take to long with it. That just means me nagging him a bit to get reading or he’ll take forever. I can’t blame him though as he has his own interests though he does like to read as well. I also finished the cover ands uploaded that and the synopsis to my site and GoodReads.com.
I will now need to start getting my plot together for my next tale. I’ve been thinking about it for a few months now trying to figure out how to approach it. It isn’t a horror this time but more of a speculative fiction set in the future, a dark tale though. I’ve even been thinking of a title yet I’ll decide when it is done whether to go with one of two I have in mind. Of course I don’t want to say too much about it just yet.
As to my troubles with the Jobcentre and Tax Credits well as I said the other week it has finally been sorted. God is certainly smiling on me today, “Thanks Big Man.”
January 14, 2011
14th January 2011
My financial worries continue as both the jobcentre and the tax credit office seem to have messed up my claims. Well Magz phoned them on Wednesday to see how things were progressing. Unfortunately they weren’t with the people on the phone a little lost to what was happening. In the end they told Magz to phone back today, which she did to be given more of a run-around before being told things would be sorted for next week. So now I have to find my bus fair for next week and I haven’t had any cash since Christmas meaning I will have to use the credit card. That was something I didn’t want to do but needs must as they say. At least we haven’t run out of food and the kids are well. Though the worry is telling on Magz as her health isn’t the best as you know. I’ve told her that it will it will be fine but they are only words; only of use if you listen to them.
Anyways work has been good, hard but good. Unlike last time I’m working in the main production hall. Last time I was through the back in packing which was a lot easier, a lot less lifting and bending. The early rises aren’t as bad as I thought they would be and have seemed to get easier as the week has past. I will be glad of a long lie-in tomorrow morning though. Of course knowing me I’ll probably wake early and struggle to get an extra hour or two before giving in and getting up, hehehe. I think we are all like that though, don’t you think?
Anyways work has been good, hard but good. Unlike last time I’m working in the main production hall. Last time I was through the back in packing which was a lot easier, a lot less lifting and bending. The early rises aren’t as bad as I thought they would be and have seemed to get easier as the week has past. I will be glad of a long lie-in tomorrow morning though. Of course knowing me I’ll probably wake early and struggle to get an extra hour or two before giving in and getting up, hehehe. I think we are all like that though, don’t you think?
January 7, 2011
7th January 2011
Just got off the phone with my previous employer, they rang to ask me back for three to four weeks work at full time hours. Though I am pleased to go back to work I have still not gotten any money from the jobcentre so have very little for bus fares for the next two weeks as I will have to work a weeks lying time. I know that in the end it will work out and my family will benefit from it but in the short term things are going to be very difficult. Not the easiest start to the New Year.
On a brighter note my artwork for the next book is almost complete. I still have to get ink though for my son to read over the story to find any mistakes. He doesn’t like to read off of the screen and feels he would make a better job of checking it for me if it is printed up. Well I can’t complain as he only wants to help me out to the best of his ability. He’s also giving me advice on my cover or rather how to get the best from the paint package I’m using to create it. I’m not sure why I’m having problems this time when I have managed in the past and only had my son adding the text for the title. Anyways it is getting there, hopefully I will finish it this weekend as after that I won’t have much time to do anything as the new position has a very early start seven am. This in turn means getting up at around half five in the morning so I can get the bus to get to work on time. That just means a lot of very early night though and little time for writing or any other pastimes. Still we do what we must to give our families as good a life as we can don’t we.
On a brighter note my artwork for the next book is almost complete. I still have to get ink though for my son to read over the story to find any mistakes. He doesn’t like to read off of the screen and feels he would make a better job of checking it for me if it is printed up. Well I can’t complain as he only wants to help me out to the best of his ability. He’s also giving me advice on my cover or rather how to get the best from the paint package I’m using to create it. I’m not sure why I’m having problems this time when I have managed in the past and only had my son adding the text for the title. Anyways it is getting there, hopefully I will finish it this weekend as after that I won’t have much time to do anything as the new position has a very early start seven am. This in turn means getting up at around half five in the morning so I can get the bus to get to work on time. That just means a lot of very early night though and little time for writing or any other pastimes. Still we do what we must to give our families as good a life as we can don’t we.
