Billy Young's Blog, page 29
October 22, 2010
22nd October 2010
What a day I have had. My sister told me something that shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Apparently my mother has disowned my two kids as she doesn’t reckon that they are mine. Well she might need a blood test to tell that they are mine but I don’t. I do feel a bit hurt buy it but then again she has never had anything to do with them. Now I know why she has never wanted to be a part of their lives. Mind she was never really part of mine either. Well it is her choice as she is the one missing out not me. I just wish things were different for the kids sake, me I’m used to her not really wanting to be a part of my life. But now she saying this, it makes me angry.
My wife finished reading through my new book and I have started re-editing. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I haven’t made too many errors. There is one or two things that need a little expanding, like when Mandy is telling Alice (her sister) and Frannie (the late Mickey’s girlfriend) what she knows of the cottage in the woods. I thought I might need to do that when I was first writing the scene but took the lazy way, serves me right them that I now need to go back and rework it. Luckily there isn’t a lot of areas like that though I’m still not sure of the end, something to look at and maybe change or not. As I said it need some thinking about.
Job hunting is going poorly. I’m searching the internet daily during the week but there isn’t a lot out there. I did get a couple of applications for part time work, which is now off in the post. Well it is better than sitting about on my rear. Mind Magz wants me to get started stripping the kitchen so we can redecorate and I really will need to get it done. So maybe next week, I know I should just get stuck in and no excuses.
My wife finished reading through my new book and I have started re-editing. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I haven’t made too many errors. There is one or two things that need a little expanding, like when Mandy is telling Alice (her sister) and Frannie (the late Mickey’s girlfriend) what she knows of the cottage in the woods. I thought I might need to do that when I was first writing the scene but took the lazy way, serves me right them that I now need to go back and rework it. Luckily there isn’t a lot of areas like that though I’m still not sure of the end, something to look at and maybe change or not. As I said it need some thinking about.
Job hunting is going poorly. I’m searching the internet daily during the week but there isn’t a lot out there. I did get a couple of applications for part time work, which is now off in the post. Well it is better than sitting about on my rear. Mind Magz wants me to get started stripping the kitchen so we can redecorate and I really will need to get it done. So maybe next week, I know I should just get stuck in and no excuses.
October 15, 2010
15th October 2010
My daughter made the dinner tonight. She may be only thirteen but we taught her how to cook early n life, as we did with my son as well. My wife and I thought it important that they knew their way around the kitchen. Though I must admit that the dinner Tammy made was very simple, a tuna salad. She tried though and that is the special thing about it. Out of both my kids it is my son that is the better chef, mind he did cookery and passed his SQA in the subject. It is also something he wants to do as a career. I must admit I do like cooking as well, at least sometimes. Anyway Tammy’s salad was very good.
My wife has almost finished reading through my manuscript. That means I better get on with working on the graphics for the front cover. I must admit that I have spent another week playing Civ V. Naughty me. When I haven’t been playing that I’ve been job hunting with little success. I have though applied for a couple of jobs, now comes the waiting time. While I wait to hear if I got one of them or not hear as is the usual case, I continue the great search. It can be depressing but that why we take that little bit of pleasure from those things our families do, as with dinner tonight.
My wife has almost finished reading through my manuscript. That means I better get on with working on the graphics for the front cover. I must admit that I have spent another week playing Civ V. Naughty me. When I haven’t been playing that I’ve been job hunting with little success. I have though applied for a couple of jobs, now comes the waiting time. While I wait to hear if I got one of them or not hear as is the usual case, I continue the great search. It can be depressing but that why we take that little bit of pleasure from those things our families do, as with dinner tonight.
October 8, 2010
8th October 2010
Had my interview to resign on this week even though it is a rapid reclaim as I haven’t been in work for more than twelve weeks. You would think that it would be just a matter of turning up and showing proof of who you are well no. I was luck though, the lady I had wasn’t too bad so everything went without any real problems. Unfortunately she couldn’t stamp a form for funding to go on a training course to get my security badge. I have to wait till I have conformation that I am getting my benefits. In the mean time I’ve begun the great search for another job and glad to say that I have already applied online for several. Sadly they are only Christmas jobs, still it is better than the nothing I have at the moment. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
I have been playing and learning Civ V all week. Well at least at night anyways. My wife isn’t in any rush to complete the editing and as I haven’t the money to publish that is fair enough, maybe I might make the book better as she will have been more thorough. Not that she hasn’t been great in the past but I tended to try and rush her more in the past than I have this time round. It is one of the things I would warn new authors about is rushing to get your work in print. Take the time to edit and rework it till it is perfect. It is so easy to think your work is ready and then find errors you had missed and if you self publish as I do that would cost you more in proof copies. Slow down, take your time and get it right, even if that means setting the book to the side for a few weeks so you can look at it with fresher eyes.
I have been playing and learning Civ V all week. Well at least at night anyways. My wife isn’t in any rush to complete the editing and as I haven’t the money to publish that is fair enough, maybe I might make the book better as she will have been more thorough. Not that she hasn’t been great in the past but I tended to try and rush her more in the past than I have this time round. It is one of the things I would warn new authors about is rushing to get your work in print. Take the time to edit and rework it till it is perfect. It is so easy to think your work is ready and then find errors you had missed and if you self publish as I do that would cost you more in proof copies. Slow down, take your time and get it right, even if that means setting the book to the side for a few weeks so you can look at it with fresher eyes.
October 1, 2010
1st October 2010
Well I was right about my job not lasting much longer. Monday was the last day as the orders failed to appear. At least I got six week s out of it, which paid for some of Christmas. Last weekend I got my wife a bracelet in 9ct gold for chrimbo (Xmas). I also got my graphics pad and have now started work on the cover though it isn’t going to well. Still I have the time whilst seeking another job to mess around with the idea I’m working on and if it still doesn’t come to I can try something else.
Magz got me a game for my Christmas, Civilization V. She pre-ordered it but has given it to me early as it was supposed to come with an add-on which seemed to be missing. After two or three days struggling with support and installing the game I still haven’t managed to get the add-on. The DRM in this game means you need to be connected to the net and Steam to install. All add-on, updates are supposed to be automatically downloaded to the game. I’m not sure about you but I don’t like things like that. Call me paranoid or whatever but I like to be in control of my computer and not some faceless company. The game itself is good and I have enjoyed the new look, I’m just not sure of having Steam on my system. Is a game worth compromising the security of home computer?
I know all this is because games companies are trying to stop the pirates but it isn’t them that suffer. Rather it is the legitimate users that suffer while the pirate doesn’t have the same hassles. You can see why illegal downloading is said to be on the rise. Not that I condone piracy but I can see why it is happening and upsetting customers isn’t going to help solve the problem. If anything it may drive some to the dark side and rather than end the problem, make it worse.
Magz got me a game for my Christmas, Civilization V. She pre-ordered it but has given it to me early as it was supposed to come with an add-on which seemed to be missing. After two or three days struggling with support and installing the game I still haven’t managed to get the add-on. The DRM in this game means you need to be connected to the net and Steam to install. All add-on, updates are supposed to be automatically downloaded to the game. I’m not sure about you but I don’t like things like that. Call me paranoid or whatever but I like to be in control of my computer and not some faceless company. The game itself is good and I have enjoyed the new look, I’m just not sure of having Steam on my system. Is a game worth compromising the security of home computer?
I know all this is because games companies are trying to stop the pirates but it isn’t them that suffer. Rather it is the legitimate users that suffer while the pirate doesn’t have the same hassles. You can see why illegal downloading is said to be on the rise. Not that I condone piracy but I can see why it is happening and upsetting customers isn’t going to help solve the problem. If anything it may drive some to the dark side and rather than end the problem, make it worse.
September 24, 2010
24th Septeber 2010
I got my new graphics pad yesterday from Dabs. It’s a Trust but I have still to really check it out though it does look good. Over the weekend I hopefully put it to some use designing my cover for Banshee 2. I have a couple of ideas in my head which I’ll need to experiment with. Magz is still reading through the book so I have time to work out the cover.
My older sister has been visiting from England over the past few days. It has been good seeing her and getting to know her again. Last month was the first time I had seen her in around 28 years, a long time. As you can guess my family isn’t very close. We weren’t always together as children, one of those stories best left in the past. Though now meeting after all this time we can look back and smile at who we were back then as well as all the things we got up to.
I’m still working next week though I’m not sure how long it will last. Another order is supposed to be coming in but I’ll wait and see. The orders are very slow this year; I suppose that is the sign of the recession. I just hope for more work to come in. I should be grateful for what I have got already, after all it was only for 2 weeks when I started and it’s been almost 6 weeks.
My older sister has been visiting from England over the past few days. It has been good seeing her and getting to know her again. Last month was the first time I had seen her in around 28 years, a long time. As you can guess my family isn’t very close. We weren’t always together as children, one of those stories best left in the past. Though now meeting after all this time we can look back and smile at who we were back then as well as all the things we got up to.
I’m still working next week though I’m not sure how long it will last. Another order is supposed to be coming in but I’ll wait and see. The orders are very slow this year; I suppose that is the sign of the recession. I just hope for more work to come in. I should be grateful for what I have got already, after all it was only for 2 weeks when I started and it’s been almost 6 weeks.
September 17, 2010
17th September 2010
I thought my job had come to an end yesterday after finishing the last order. Last night though while playing Civ 4 I got a phone call to tell me I was needed next week after all, which is great news. I was so dreading having to back on unemployment benefit. What makes it worse is that the staff, who is supposed to be there to help, make you feel as if you are something they have stepped in. I know that is unfair as some are helpful but just too often I have had to deal with those that treat the client badly. Well I don’t have to worry about that for at least another week and I have a long weekend to add to the good day it has been.
I still have a touch of the cold I had last week. It seems to just want to hang in the background, but I seem to be over the worst of it now. It really ruined my weekend last week though it had shifted mostly by the start of the new week, that is something to be grateful for. Nothing worse than working when you have a cold weighing you down.
I ordered a new graphics tablet as since my computer upgrade last year my old one doesn’t work with my new system, no serial port. Anyways I have a new one on the way, and I am looking forwards to using it to create the cover for Banshee 2. Talking of which my wife is still reading through it but there will be some editing to some areas near the start before passing it onto my son to read. In the mean time I will soon be able to work on the front cover though I haven’t worked out what I will do for it. Still that is part of the joy of self publishing, isn’t it?
I still have a touch of the cold I had last week. It seems to just want to hang in the background, but I seem to be over the worst of it now. It really ruined my weekend last week though it had shifted mostly by the start of the new week, that is something to be grateful for. Nothing worse than working when you have a cold weighing you down.
I ordered a new graphics tablet as since my computer upgrade last year my old one doesn’t work with my new system, no serial port. Anyways I have a new one on the way, and I am looking forwards to using it to create the cover for Banshee 2. Talking of which my wife is still reading through it but there will be some editing to some areas near the start before passing it onto my son to read. In the mean time I will soon be able to work on the front cover though I haven’t worked out what I will do for it. Still that is part of the joy of self publishing, isn’t it?
September 10, 2010
10th September 2010
I’m running late doing my blog this week as I have the worst man flu you can get. Though it didn’t stop me punishing myself by going to work the past two days, but it was a struggle, especially yesterday. By the time I got home all I could do was go to bed where I swear someone set a fire under me. Unfortunately it hadn’t broken by the time I got up this morning. So it was man’s best friend in these kinds of times, Askit. I took two to work with me and had one before starting and the other at lunch, I just wish I had the foresight to take some to work yesterday. Well at least I have the weekend to get rid of it though my boss had wanted me to do overtime tomorrow. Luckily it was cancelled today, the Big Man upstairs was sure looking out for me there.
I’ll be needing another Askit soon as I can feel my mind wandering into that fog bank. Also my fingers are finding the keyboard hard to traverse, hitting more wrong keys than right. I really need to sweat this out as I can’t seem to concentrate. This must be the most boring post in the history of blogging. Sorry about that.
I’ll be needing another Askit soon as I can feel my mind wandering into that fog bank. Also my fingers are finding the keyboard hard to traverse, hitting more wrong keys than right. I really need to sweat this out as I can’t seem to concentrate. This must be the most boring post in the history of blogging. Sorry about that.
September 3, 2010
3rd September 2010
It has been a great week weather wise as well as working. Only had overtime last night, which made the week fly by. What’s more I don’t have any tomorrow, so a full weekend to relax. Not sure what I will do with time, but I am looking forwards to a long lie in. Though I must admit the extra pennies that the overtime I did last week looked good on my wage slip this week.
I’ve been picking blueberries from my bush I got last year. My wife made a couple of pies from them, unfortunately one ended on the floor. My daughter dropped it in her eagerness to help her mum. As you can imagine my wife Magz was mighty disappointed as the smell wafted up to her nostrils telling how good it would have been. The dog did seem to have a big happy smile on its face afterwards. I might even get enough off of the bush for another pie, yum.
Magz is still reading through my new story. She reads each chapter a couple of times. She says that’s because the first read is to enjoy the tale and the second time is to really look for the errors. When I try that I find the second time the words just mash together and I can’t really see the mistakes. I like to break it down into paragraphs and read them twice. Maybe she just has a better span of attention than I do.
I think I just might do a little gardening tomorrow. I see the weather isn’t to be to bad but may get a bit of cloud as the day goes on. And that blueberry pie needs the berries pickin’.
I’ve been picking blueberries from my bush I got last year. My wife made a couple of pies from them, unfortunately one ended on the floor. My daughter dropped it in her eagerness to help her mum. As you can imagine my wife Magz was mighty disappointed as the smell wafted up to her nostrils telling how good it would have been. The dog did seem to have a big happy smile on its face afterwards. I might even get enough off of the bush for another pie, yum.
Magz is still reading through my new story. She reads each chapter a couple of times. She says that’s because the first read is to enjoy the tale and the second time is to really look for the errors. When I try that I find the second time the words just mash together and I can’t really see the mistakes. I like to break it down into paragraphs and read them twice. Maybe she just has a better span of attention than I do.
I think I just might do a little gardening tomorrow. I see the weather isn’t to be to bad but may get a bit of cloud as the day goes on. And that blueberry pie needs the berries pickin’.
August 27, 2010
27th August 2010
Work, work, work is all I seem to have done this week. Overtime every night this week as well as last Saturday and I have more tomorrow. So as you can imagine I am fairly tuckered out, but in a good way. Because of all the extra work I haven’t had much time for anything else. It’s been one of those go to work, come home and eat dinner before heading off to bed, sort of weeks. As I said work, work, work.
My other half is reading through my story though I not sure how she is getting on. Last we spoke of it was a couple of nights ago and I was telling her to write down her suggestions. My little lemon tree seems to have decided it doesn’t want to live. Even the new shoots that appeared a few weeks back have withered. I don’t seem to have much luck with citrus trees as the wife’s attempt at an orange tree has also faded fast over the past week or two and it was doing well before that. It’s almost like this house has a thing against plants as I have struggled with other plants. There just doesn’t seem to be a place, a window or room for growing things. Usually you find there is such a room don’t you? But not this house. Though my garden plants seem to be doing very well, last weekend I got my first crop of blueberries, Now to wait and see what the wife is going to do with them as there isn’t enough for making wine with, maybe next year.
My other half is reading through my story though I not sure how she is getting on. Last we spoke of it was a couple of nights ago and I was telling her to write down her suggestions. My little lemon tree seems to have decided it doesn’t want to live. Even the new shoots that appeared a few weeks back have withered. I don’t seem to have much luck with citrus trees as the wife’s attempt at an orange tree has also faded fast over the past week or two and it was doing well before that. It’s almost like this house has a thing against plants as I have struggled with other plants. There just doesn’t seem to be a place, a window or room for growing things. Usually you find there is such a room don’t you? But not this house. Though my garden plants seem to be doing very well, last weekend I got my first crop of blueberries, Now to wait and see what the wife is going to do with them as there isn’t enough for making wine with, maybe next year.
August 20, 2010
2th August 2010
My old employer phone on Tuesday and I started back at work Wednesday. It is only for two or three weeks at present but they are expecting more orders, let’s hope they get them. My feet are killing me because of my tendonitis but it is so good to be working again, even if for a short time. I have even been asked to do overtime tomorrow, which I am happy to do as it will give me more money next week with my first wage slip. It will help towards Xmas though it might seem a little early to be thinking of that, but I have to start planning for it.
As you can imagine work on editing stopped on Wednesday but I’ll try and get it finish this weekend. Then I can leave it to my family to put in their comments so I can improve it further. While they do their bit I’ll do some gaming and think about the cover. To do it though I’ll need to get myself a new graphics tablet as my old one doesn’t work with my computer after last years upgrade.
Talking of upgrades, my son has done up his computer this week. After saving for months he finally was able to get the parts this week. I felt proud of him earning the money from a small job as admin on some sites that were willing to pay him for the work he does. It isn’t a lot but it teaches him about earning a living, an important thing at fifteen. To add to this he donated the old parts to his sister, who has also benefited now. It is times like this when you feel good. That somehow you aren’t the ogre you sometimes think you are when getting on their case about something minor. That those monster filled times are just you trying to teach them the right course in life.
As you can imagine work on editing stopped on Wednesday but I’ll try and get it finish this weekend. Then I can leave it to my family to put in their comments so I can improve it further. While they do their bit I’ll do some gaming and think about the cover. To do it though I’ll need to get myself a new graphics tablet as my old one doesn’t work with my computer after last years upgrade.
Talking of upgrades, my son has done up his computer this week. After saving for months he finally was able to get the parts this week. I felt proud of him earning the money from a small job as admin on some sites that were willing to pay him for the work he does. It isn’t a lot but it teaches him about earning a living, an important thing at fifteen. To add to this he donated the old parts to his sister, who has also benefited now. It is times like this when you feel good. That somehow you aren’t the ogre you sometimes think you are when getting on their case about something minor. That those monster filled times are just you trying to teach them the right course in life.
