Billy Young's Blog, page 28
December 31, 2010
31st December 2010
It’s the last day of the year and as most of us have been doing I’ve been busy all day cleaning the house. It isn’t like the house isn’t clean already but for the bells we spend all day getting it cleaner as if it will bring us something better in the year to come. I remember as a kid wondering what all the fuss was about. It is only now that I see that it is more to do with visitors see your house at its best. Yet the people that we have coming to our houses are the same people that know us and know how clean we keep our homes. So why is it different as the year ends?
I was told when I was younger that it wasn’t lucky to carry last years muck into the next year. I never did work out why that was and if I asked was always told the same thing, “Because it is.” If I tried to question the logic further I’d soon feel the back of a hand to silence my inquisitiveness.
Like me my kids hate this day because of the extra work that is involved in getting thing clean. They have asked the same questions as I used to ask but I have tried hard to make them see that it is just one of the things we have to go through to be ready for the bells and the New Year. As the years have passed and they have grown older them have stopped asking the questions though I still get the look and I now wonder did I have that same look at one time. I suppose I must have.
HAVE A GREAT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
I was told when I was younger that it wasn’t lucky to carry last years muck into the next year. I never did work out why that was and if I asked was always told the same thing, “Because it is.” If I tried to question the logic further I’d soon feel the back of a hand to silence my inquisitiveness.
Like me my kids hate this day because of the extra work that is involved in getting thing clean. They have asked the same questions as I used to ask but I have tried hard to make them see that it is just one of the things we have to go through to be ready for the bells and the New Year. As the years have passed and they have grown older them have stopped asking the questions though I still get the look and I now wonder did I have that same look at one time. I suppose I must have.
HAVE A GREAT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
December 24, 2010
24th December 2010
Hope you all have everything ready for tomorrow. Magz has managed to make our few pennies stretch far enough to make Christmas a good day for the family and I’m looking forwards to sitting back tomorrow night with her after stuffing my face.
Today was my last day of work. I got told on Monday that the job was at an finish at the end of the week. Still I did know it was only temporary but had thought it was to last for a bit longer. Yet I can’t really complain as it did help with getting things sorted for the festive season. And at the same time you never know something else may arise meaning I get a call back. Live in hope that is all you can do in life, give up on that and there isn’t a lot left is there. It isn’t always easy to do as life can be very crushing at times. It is on those times that I have cried out to the big man up stairs and he has seen me through. I suppose that is why I continue to hope that the future will bring the things that I want; why I keep on writing.
Well enough of my reflections and hopefully you all have a great day tomorrow, that all your dreams are fulfilled. God Bless.
Today was my last day of work. I got told on Monday that the job was at an finish at the end of the week. Still I did know it was only temporary but had thought it was to last for a bit longer. Yet I can’t really complain as it did help with getting things sorted for the festive season. And at the same time you never know something else may arise meaning I get a call back. Live in hope that is all you can do in life, give up on that and there isn’t a lot left is there. It isn’t always easy to do as life can be very crushing at times. It is on those times that I have cried out to the big man up stairs and he has seen me through. I suppose that is why I continue to hope that the future will bring the things that I want; why I keep on writing.
Well enough of my reflections and hopefully you all have a great day tomorrow, that all your dreams are fulfilled. God Bless.
December 17, 2010
17th December 2010
Still not got the ink for the printer. With the expense of Christmas that isn’t much of a surprise really. Well everything is almost bought for that so hopefully Magz will find the cash for it next week. Of course that all depends on those last minute presents that always seem to appear at the last minute. No matter how well we plan and how much we think we have everyone covered there is always one or two that we forget. Even though we start early in getting things in it seems that there is never enough money to go round yet we still get there in the end. I suppose that I can only put it down to the wife and of course our creator.
Work has been good this week though it has been pretty cold for most of the week. Even though it wasn’t very cold earlier in the week the place that I work has been freezing. One of my co-workers says that it’s always like that but too hot in the summer. It would be good if the job lasted long enough for me to find out myself, I suppose I will just have to hope that lasts as long as possible.
I’ve not done much writing this week though I have managed to write a couple of poems. As I said last week I posted another poem from the Nowhere collection. Check it out its called Christmas Shop and I’m quite pleased with it, see what you think. Hopefully I’ll get some inspiration this weekend and write a couple of more though I’m not sure if I’ll will post another yet maybe in a few weeks time if I create one that I think is as nice as the two I’ve already posted. If I don’t do some more poems then I will play a game of Civ V. I should start getting my ideas down for my next story though I’m not sure how to approach it. Maybe I should just let it ferment inside my head over the festive period and see what comes in the new year.
Work has been good this week though it has been pretty cold for most of the week. Even though it wasn’t very cold earlier in the week the place that I work has been freezing. One of my co-workers says that it’s always like that but too hot in the summer. It would be good if the job lasted long enough for me to find out myself, I suppose I will just have to hope that lasts as long as possible.
I’ve not done much writing this week though I have managed to write a couple of poems. As I said last week I posted another poem from the Nowhere collection. Check it out its called Christmas Shop and I’m quite pleased with it, see what you think. Hopefully I’ll get some inspiration this weekend and write a couple of more though I’m not sure if I’ll will post another yet maybe in a few weeks time if I create one that I think is as nice as the two I’ve already posted. If I don’t do some more poems then I will play a game of Civ V. I should start getting my ideas down for my next story though I’m not sure how to approach it. Maybe I should just let it ferment inside my head over the festive period and see what comes in the new year.
December 10, 2010
10th December 2010
I’ve finished editing Banshee 2 but found that my printer needs ink. So I need to wait till I can afford more before my son can read it through again. It could be after Christmas before I can get the ink though. In the meantime I’ll continue with the poems that I’ve started, which I have written more of. I will post some of them on GoodReads, though not all of them. The ones I like best will find there way onto my profile under my writing that I have posted there. I’m calling the collection Nowhere as they could be set anywhere really. I hope that they will all have that same child like voice so as to really test me. At the moment I have about six or so complete or near complete in the collection. I’m not sure how many I will in the end create but it will be something fun to do over the next couple of months by which time I should have ink for the printer.
There was a leak at work last night. As we were leaving we could hear what sounded like a river running through the main cooking hall. It turned out that one of the main water pipes had sprung a leak because of all the freezing weather. Anyways they had it fixed by the time I got to work today. One of the supervisors seems to be a dab hand at sorting things around the work. Lucky as they would have had a hard time finding a plumber at this time of year.
There was a leak at work last night. As we were leaving we could hear what sounded like a river running through the main cooking hall. It turned out that one of the main water pipes had sprung a leak because of all the freezing weather. Anyways they had it fixed by the time I got to work today. One of the supervisors seems to be a dab hand at sorting things around the work. Lucky as they would have had a hard time finding a plumber at this time of year.
December 3, 2010
3rd December 2010
The snow is falling as it has most of the past week, though I’ve bin luckier than some. We’ve only had a few inches around my way whilst other parts of the UK have had a few feet. The cold has been a bigger problem though as there isn’t a lot of heating where I work, which has made for a very chilly week. Extra layers of clothing has helped though. Mid-week I couldn’t feel my feet, they were like two blocks of ice. I was so glad when my shift was over and I could head home to defrost.
I’ve nearly finished re-editing Banshee 2. Next my son will read through it and see what my wife and I have missed. He’ll also look at punctuation, one of my weak points. I have a book that helped explain some of it but you know how it is. No matter how much study you put into something some of it never sticks, does it? Anyways I’ve done the best that I can which is all any of us can. Well at least I should have it finished this weekend ready for my son to see what he thinks.
I’ve also been writing more poems though I’m not sure of them. I think I’ve managed to keep the childhood voice of Spindly Bob but just think that they need a bit more work. Still it is just for fun and it has been that. Once I’ve done what I have to this weekend I’ll have a look at them and see if I can get them right. Not sure if I’ll post them, maybe just some of them.
I’ve nearly finished re-editing Banshee 2. Next my son will read through it and see what my wife and I have missed. He’ll also look at punctuation, one of my weak points. I have a book that helped explain some of it but you know how it is. No matter how much study you put into something some of it never sticks, does it? Anyways I’ve done the best that I can which is all any of us can. Well at least I should have it finished this weekend ready for my son to see what he thinks.
I’ve also been writing more poems though I’m not sure of them. I think I’ve managed to keep the childhood voice of Spindly Bob but just think that they need a bit more work. Still it is just for fun and it has been that. Once I’ve done what I have to this weekend I’ll have a look at them and see if I can get them right. Not sure if I’ll post them, maybe just some of them.
November 26, 2010
26th November 2010
Posted another poem on my Goodreads profile called Spindly Bob. I thought it up in the way to work. It was just a bit of fun but I got some good comments when I posted on Absolute Write, a writers forum, and have decided to follow the advice to write a series of them. I’ve begun a second but it needs a lot of work; I may post it or others that I have yet to start at a later date. I’m treating it as an exercise in characterisation while I continue editing my book, which is going well. I’ve managed to rewrite a part that was pointed out by Magz that she felt needing expanding. There is still a long way to go though before it’s finished. Though that isn’t really a problem as I still haven’t managed to save enough to think about using Lulu to publish it, so no rush. I will be able to publish the Ebook version once complete through Smashwords but as I said I have the time to get it right.
Work certainly has made this week flyby. It only seems like yesterday was Monday. I know it wasn’t but it does feel like it was. Its funny how that happens sometimes, isn’t it? Yet then again in equal measure at other times a minute can seem like an hour or more. Anyways I got my first wage this week and it was a couple of pounds more than I was expecting. Then Magz pointed out it was because on my first day last week I started an hour early for training. Of course there isn’t much in the way of training as there isn’t a lot to the job. It was pleasant till I got home to think I was making more than I will get next week. Still at least I’m not on the brew.
Work certainly has made this week flyby. It only seems like yesterday was Monday. I know it wasn’t but it does feel like it was. Its funny how that happens sometimes, isn’t it? Yet then again in equal measure at other times a minute can seem like an hour or more. Anyways I got my first wage this week and it was a couple of pounds more than I was expecting. Then Magz pointed out it was because on my first day last week I started an hour early for training. Of course there isn’t much in the way of training as there isn’t a lot to the job. It was pleasant till I got home to think I was making more than I will get next week. Still at least I’m not on the brew.
November 19, 2010
19th November 2010
I’m enjoying my new job. It isn’t the most exciting thing in the world but my new colleagues are a cheery lot. It’s good to have a good working environment, it makes a job so much easier. Not that the work is really that taxing, very light actually. All it involves is checking the labels on the tins before sticking them in those small cardboard trays you see in supermarkets. So it is good that my fellow workers are good to get along with.
It being four hours means money is still tight and I have to put in for housing benefit. I handed a form into the work today so they can fill it in then I get it back to hand back into the housing. It’s just so they can get an idea of how much I’ll be earning so they can work out if I am entitled to any help with the rent. Hopefully I will as it would make things a little easier over Christmas. Still at least I’m off of unemployment and that has got to be a good thing. I’ll get the form back on Monday with any luck.
Magz is still not keeping to great but trying to make her take it easier isn’t that simple. She went shopping today while I was working. Fair enough she had my two kids with her. I say two though my son is now sixteen, which means he is now classed as an adult here in Scotland. It’s not easy remembering that he is as old as he is sometimes. You can’t as a parent really think of your kids as your little ones, even when they tower over you, hehehe, which my son does with me now. How did he get so big?
It being four hours means money is still tight and I have to put in for housing benefit. I handed a form into the work today so they can fill it in then I get it back to hand back into the housing. It’s just so they can get an idea of how much I’ll be earning so they can work out if I am entitled to any help with the rent. Hopefully I will as it would make things a little easier over Christmas. Still at least I’m off of unemployment and that has got to be a good thing. I’ll get the form back on Monday with any luck.
Magz is still not keeping to great but trying to make her take it easier isn’t that simple. She went shopping today while I was working. Fair enough she had my two kids with her. I say two though my son is now sixteen, which means he is now classed as an adult here in Scotland. It’s not easy remembering that he is as old as he is sometimes. You can’t as a parent really think of your kids as your little ones, even when they tower over you, hehehe, which my son does with me now. How did he get so big?
November 12, 2010
12th November 2010
Went for a job interview today and two hours later got a phone call confirming that I got the job. It’s only part-time, 20 hours a week and only till the end of January but it gets me through Christmas. The other good thing is that I can still try to make sure Magz takes it easy as I will only be working 4 hours 5 days of the week. I start at 2pm and finish at 6 leaving me the time to be sure she doesn’t over do things. I only applied for the job on Wednesday so was surprised to get a call asking me to an interview yesterday and I wasn’t to sure if I had done to well at it. I have to go in an hour early on Monday so they can run through what my duties will be. All I know at the moment is that it’s something to do with labelling tins. Still it’s a job and I’ll find out more on Monday.
My daughter has been acting up every morning this week when I got her up for school. You know the thing where they want you to believe they’re really, really ill. Of course it all came to a head yesterday morning when she earned herself a grounding. Of course by the time she got home all week she had nothing wrong so was able to go out to her cousins. She didn’t get away with any of it though thanks to the trusty thermometer as well as, of course, the tried and tested back of the hand touch test. Anyways she seems to have got the message as she had no complaints about going to school this morning, let’s hope it continues that way next week. It does make you smile though.
My daughter has been acting up every morning this week when I got her up for school. You know the thing where they want you to believe they’re really, really ill. Of course it all came to a head yesterday morning when she earned herself a grounding. Of course by the time she got home all week she had nothing wrong so was able to go out to her cousins. She didn’t get away with any of it though thanks to the trusty thermometer as well as, of course, the tried and tested back of the hand touch test. Anyways she seems to have got the message as she had no complaints about going to school this morning, let’s hope it continues that way next week. It does make you smile though.
November 5, 2010
5th November 2010
After seven units of blood and a week in hospital Magz is home. She still isn’t fully fit but she seems to act as if she was back to her old self. That is until it all catches up with her at which point she tries brushing it all off. Trying to get her to take it easy is a job in its self. Mind I have been leaving her sleeping while I get the kids out to school, of course what else can you do.
Talking about kids it was my sons sixteenth birthday this week. My daughter took over making his birthday cake though Magz had been planning to make it herself. Tammy though wouldn’t let her mother do anything, which annoyed her. Everyone enjoyed the cake though even my sister, who was forced to have a piece. Sally isn’t a big eater of sweet things but did say it was good. She was only given a small sliver so we didn’t torture her too much.
It was also my niece’s birthday this week. Unfortunately with Sally just moving back to Killie recently there was no cake for her or party. She wasn’t happy about the last thing as her mother had said last year that she would get one this year. Well that was before Sally decided to make the move north of the border. But Leslie is only fourteen now and we all know that at that age things are a lot different from what we old one see it as.
As you can tell it has been a very busy week with little time for working on my book. I will need to get on with it as soon as things settle down a bit more. Of course I first have to get Magz to take things easy long enough for her to get back on her feet properly.
Talking about kids it was my sons sixteenth birthday this week. My daughter took over making his birthday cake though Magz had been planning to make it herself. Tammy though wouldn’t let her mother do anything, which annoyed her. Everyone enjoyed the cake though even my sister, who was forced to have a piece. Sally isn’t a big eater of sweet things but did say it was good. She was only given a small sliver so we didn’t torture her too much.
It was also my niece’s birthday this week. Unfortunately with Sally just moving back to Killie recently there was no cake for her or party. She wasn’t happy about the last thing as her mother had said last year that she would get one this year. Well that was before Sally decided to make the move north of the border. But Leslie is only fourteen now and we all know that at that age things are a lot different from what we old one see it as.
As you can tell it has been a very busy week with little time for working on my book. I will need to get on with it as soon as things settle down a bit more. Of course I first have to get Magz to take things easy long enough for her to get back on her feet properly.
October 29, 2010
29th October 2010
It has been a very difficult week this week, full of worrying over my wife. She has been very ill and had to go into hospital on Tuesday. She beginning to feel better but is still there. You can imagine how hard it has been as the doctors didn’t know what was wrong. All that we knew was that her blood count fell to very dangerous levels. It should be between 11 and 12, well Magz’s fell to 5.9 on Tuesday. After several transfusions it is now more stable and they seem to have figured out what was wrong, something to do with a stretched bowel. I don’t really understand it very well as she only got told today and I haven’t been able to go out to see her today as yet though I will be there tonight. The most important thing though is that she is that she gets better.
Because of the wife’s medical emergency everything to do with my book has been on hold. I just haven’t had the spare time to do any work on my book. It has been a struggle just finding the time to do an online job search and to check on my email. Mind it wasn’t really worth my time checking for a job as there hasn’t been anything suitable or not that I could do for almost two weeks. You would have thought with Christmas just around the corner that there would be more out there, even if it was only temporary. Mind saying that being unemployed has made it a little easier with my wife being ill at the moment. How much harder would it have been if I was working?
As it is I have been finding it hard to sleep as when I go to bed that is when I start thinking. All day I’m to busy to think about things but at night lying alone in bed, well that is when your mind begins to runaway with itself. When you do fall over it is only for a short time as you seem to wake yourself because the bed is empty. There isn’t that comforting sound of your partner beside you snoring away. I hope she’s well enough to come home soon.
Because of the wife’s medical emergency everything to do with my book has been on hold. I just haven’t had the spare time to do any work on my book. It has been a struggle just finding the time to do an online job search and to check on my email. Mind it wasn’t really worth my time checking for a job as there hasn’t been anything suitable or not that I could do for almost two weeks. You would have thought with Christmas just around the corner that there would be more out there, even if it was only temporary. Mind saying that being unemployed has made it a little easier with my wife being ill at the moment. How much harder would it have been if I was working?
As it is I have been finding it hard to sleep as when I go to bed that is when I start thinking. All day I’m to busy to think about things but at night lying alone in bed, well that is when your mind begins to runaway with itself. When you do fall over it is only for a short time as you seem to wake yourself because the bed is empty. There isn’t that comforting sound of your partner beside you snoring away. I hope she’s well enough to come home soon.
