Making changes to the site and WB support pages so - I had better go do it before I think of something long winded and complex to say in here.
Oh, wait...
No only joking :-)
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The Path to Hell...
Is paved with good intention...
Last weekend I promised an upgrade to Yotna's Den. This weekend it may even happen {blush}.
Too many ideas, too little time and sometimes too big a plan for life. And shucks folks that's just me :)
So I had best get on doing things ;-)
Last weekend I promised an upgrade to Yotna's Den. This weekend it may even happen {blush}.
Too many ideas, too little time and sometimes too big a plan for life. And shucks folks that's just me :)
So I had best get on doing things ;-)
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Changes to Writers Block
Oh the delights of messing around with things you partly understand :-)
As is seems of interest at WB and at Urbis I have added Chat to the WB forum. Has this been fun? Relatively yes as an ex-troubleshooting guy this sort of messing around appeals to me on a very fundamental level. If we ever got a new instrument in the Lab the rule was 'put the manual in the drawer and try to use it' opening the drawer was admitting defeat (we were all male so this may be a man-thing).
Oddly this process didn't result in breaking instruments, eventually in time we would get it to work and along the way pick up a lot of tips about what to do when the damn thing failed to work; so yes there was some method in our joint madness.
The process of upgrading, breaking and messing around with php reminds me of the old days. I even spotted a bug that was in some one else's code and repaired it (feeling vaguely god like). I have some more tweaking to do, oddly this fills me not with dread but barely suppressed delight.
My only question is - is there any hope for me?
As is seems of interest at WB and at Urbis I have added Chat to the WB forum. Has this been fun? Relatively yes as an ex-troubleshooting guy this sort of messing around appeals to me on a very fundamental level. If we ever got a new instrument in the Lab the rule was 'put the manual in the drawer and try to use it' opening the drawer was admitting defeat (we were all male so this may be a man-thing).
Oddly this process didn't result in breaking instruments, eventually in time we would get it to work and along the way pick up a lot of tips about what to do when the damn thing failed to work; so yes there was some method in our joint madness.
The process of upgrading, breaking and messing around with php reminds me of the old days. I even spotted a bug that was in some one else's code and repaired it (feeling vaguely god like). I have some more tweaking to do, oddly this fills me not with dread but barely suppressed delight.
My only question is - is there any hope for me?
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Back after a short break...
After a couple of busy days on the medical front. Start my treatment tomorrow and hope to get back to normal life and work just after the Easter holiday. Not much else to report today - more exciting things will have to wait for tomorrow.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Well then...
Time to forget sport (in particular England's Footie performance) we beat Kenya - but judging by what I saw the Aussies do to South Africa... Damn these ex-collonial's :-)
Got my review done even after a late start thanks to the double whammy of sarcoid and the clock's going forward one hour. Just lost at golf on the WII twice - kids! You have them, rear them and then they beat you!
Got my review done even after a late start thanks to the double whammy of sarcoid and the clock's going forward one hour. Just lost at golf on the WII twice - kids! You have them, rear them and then they beat you!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Art & sport...
Take up much of my time today Euro '08 Qualifier for England against Israel and the World Cup Cricket against Kenya both could see us taking an early bath :-(
I'm messing around with more renders of my High Elves in the bit in-between and working on a review of one of Aery Soul's products...
Not a bad Saturday really as long as the sports results are as good as my art ones :-)
I'm messing around with more renders of my High Elves in the bit in-between and working on a review of one of Aery Soul's products...
Not a bad Saturday really as long as the sports results are as good as my art ones :-)
Friday, March 23, 2007
The winds of change
Heh, I'm going to be making a few changes to the home page of Yotna's Den this weekend just to reflect some of the more recent activity in Writer's Block and Post a small notice about 'Those were the days' Mind you I need to talk to Esu first!
Playing with some options in .php today and they worked well; I'm starting to get a handle on it (although not totally as I can't account for one effect...)
Of the the old consultant on Monday and then (hopefully) back to work at the beginning of April.
I would actually welcome that... This is fun but life is even more so ;-)
Playing with some options in .php today and they worked well; I'm starting to get a handle on it (although not totally as I can't account for one effect...)
Of the the old consultant on Monday and then (hopefully) back to work at the beginning of April.
I would actually welcome that... This is fun but life is even more so ;-)
Thursday, March 22, 2007
How real is virtual?
On to my other fascination today; CGI. Now one thing about Yotna is that things often perplex him, this is one of them.
I as a hobby do some 3D art - now let's ignore how I do this and look at one of the movements in the genre. Artist's producing computer graphics are working in an artificial media; producing 'virtual art' hence we know it is not real. However with more powerful computers and increasingly sophisticated software our images can become very detailed, and approach reality.
Many artist take great care and time to produce images that are as close to reality as they can. The greatest compliment one can pay them is to say 'I looked and for a minute I thought it was real'. So lets take this to its logical conclusion; eventually we render the perfect reality. So good no one can tell it is not a high quality photograph of a real event.
So it would get ignored, no one would give it a second glance; all of the work and care would be for nothing, just 'another' photo.
Now that to me is paradoxical; why do we want reality in our virtual worlds? What is this magnet that draws us back to making it 'believable'?
I find it odd, I suppose, as my favourite 'real' art forms are Surrealism and Impressionism. Even so I still find myself striving to get the lighting, pose and atmosphere 'right' - how odd, for there is no right; just our human perception of what looks 'real'. I think that's where I came in, so time to leave the theatre.
This seat is vacant. Be warned however it is virtual.
I as a hobby do some 3D art - now let's ignore how I do this and look at one of the movements in the genre. Artist's producing computer graphics are working in an artificial media; producing 'virtual art' hence we know it is not real. However with more powerful computers and increasingly sophisticated software our images can become very detailed, and approach reality.
Many artist take great care and time to produce images that are as close to reality as they can. The greatest compliment one can pay them is to say 'I looked and for a minute I thought it was real'. So lets take this to its logical conclusion; eventually we render the perfect reality. So good no one can tell it is not a high quality photograph of a real event.
So it would get ignored, no one would give it a second glance; all of the work and care would be for nothing, just 'another' photo.
Now that to me is paradoxical; why do we want reality in our virtual worlds? What is this magnet that draws us back to making it 'believable'?
I find it odd, I suppose, as my favourite 'real' art forms are Surrealism and Impressionism. Even so I still find myself striving to get the lighting, pose and atmosphere 'right' - how odd, for there is no right; just our human perception of what looks 'real'. I think that's where I came in, so time to leave the theatre.
This seat is vacant. Be warned however it is virtual.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Global hot air?
I was watching this programme the other night that was looking into the whole area of climate change. I was actually suggesting that the whole 'greenhouse' argument was at be vapid and at worst totally misguided.
It featured a number of leading scientist's who have become highly critical of the approach being taken to the whole 'global warming' debate. This included and eminent professor who actually took legal action to get his name withdrawn from the last IPCC report (details)
He did not want his name associate with the scientific conclusions - which had been greatly modified by the NGO's and Governments concerned. Interestingly the IPCC wanted to keep his name tied in to the report. I pleased to say he won and his name was removed.
There seems to be a consensus that there is too much concentration on CO2 and too little on the major influencer's on our climate (one of which (by a long way the biggest) the Sun.) One proponent suggested that the approach of trying to predict climate by assessing the CO2 levels alone was like trying to predict a car would breakdown by looking at one of the nuts on its rear axle. In other words not only not that reliable, but mis-guided.
So what do people think? Is it possible this is another Y2K? Is it possible that the developed world sees global warming as its best way to stop the 3rd World developing and competing with it?
I really don't know? But the questions are thought provoking...
Or are they?.
It featured a number of leading scientist's who have become highly critical of the approach being taken to the whole 'global warming' debate. This included and eminent professor who actually took legal action to get his name withdrawn from the last IPCC report (details)
He did not want his name associate with the scientific conclusions - which had been greatly modified by the NGO's and Governments concerned. Interestingly the IPCC wanted to keep his name tied in to the report. I pleased to say he won and his name was removed.
There seems to be a consensus that there is too much concentration on CO2 and too little on the major influencer's on our climate (one of which (by a long way the biggest) the Sun.) One proponent suggested that the approach of trying to predict climate by assessing the CO2 levels alone was like trying to predict a car would breakdown by looking at one of the nuts on its rear axle. In other words not only not that reliable, but mis-guided.
So what do people think? Is it possible this is another Y2K? Is it possible that the developed world sees global warming as its best way to stop the 3rd World developing and competing with it?
I really don't know? But the questions are thought provoking...
Or are they?.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Of sex and violence...
Now that got you to read it didn't it!
Seriously though two topics on my mind today. One is sex (never further than 30 seconds away from any males mind) and the other is violence or as it would be pointless violence. First the sex and then the violence (I find it more rewarding that way :)).
Of sex:
When I think how steeped our culture is in this I find it amazing how little we seem to understand it. Now in my own culture the Victorian's went to extremes to avoid the subject; at least we have got over that one. Or have we? Are we in the process of negating it as a serious subject by creating a smoke screen of deliberate provocation. In other words is western culture making passive voyeur's of us all? It is possible, and in that process we have so much to lose. Make sex another commodity and you deny its inherent importance to us all. For sex without emotion is just masturbation by another name.
Of course masturbation gives us control, just as the pornographic video or still does; but it does not give us communication - it does not teach us humanity. There are things which can not and should not be detached from sex with others, the communication and the basic emotion it involves. To do this risks the loss of something very real; something that should, be tangible and felt by us all. For in this respect we are the same.
On violence:
London has just seen a spate of pointless deaths of young men stabbed on its streets. Six in the last week and now the copy cats are breaking out in other Cities. Why? Well maybe just maybe we have made voyeurs of those young men. A generation of kids who have no guidance except for the input they get, the commodity they respect. That respect is given to drugs, power and a culture of live fast, die young. How can this have happened? We stopped caring; we walked by on the other side of the street. We had the attitude that 'Its not my problem' - for so long that suddenly it is. We stopped communicating as parents, mentors and fellow humans.
They were lost causes, social issues, junkies - whatever they weren't us. But they were, they are and if we deny that we deny it at our peril. Or at someone else's.
Margaret Thatcher was once famous for saying "There is no such thing as society." It would be a real shame if we, the human race proved her right. But I hope we won't I hope we will prove eventually that all humans are fundamentally the same.
Seriously though two topics on my mind today. One is sex (never further than 30 seconds away from any males mind) and the other is violence or as it would be pointless violence. First the sex and then the violence (I find it more rewarding that way :)).
Of sex:
When I think how steeped our culture is in this I find it amazing how little we seem to understand it. Now in my own culture the Victorian's went to extremes to avoid the subject; at least we have got over that one. Or have we? Are we in the process of negating it as a serious subject by creating a smoke screen of deliberate provocation. In other words is western culture making passive voyeur's of us all? It is possible, and in that process we have so much to lose. Make sex another commodity and you deny its inherent importance to us all. For sex without emotion is just masturbation by another name.
Of course masturbation gives us control, just as the pornographic video or still does; but it does not give us communication - it does not teach us humanity. There are things which can not and should not be detached from sex with others, the communication and the basic emotion it involves. To do this risks the loss of something very real; something that should, be tangible and felt by us all. For in this respect we are the same.
On violence:
London has just seen a spate of pointless deaths of young men stabbed on its streets. Six in the last week and now the copy cats are breaking out in other Cities. Why? Well maybe just maybe we have made voyeurs of those young men. A generation of kids who have no guidance except for the input they get, the commodity they respect. That respect is given to drugs, power and a culture of live fast, die young. How can this have happened? We stopped caring; we walked by on the other side of the street. We had the attitude that 'Its not my problem' - for so long that suddenly it is. We stopped communicating as parents, mentors and fellow humans.
They were lost causes, social issues, junkies - whatever they weren't us. But they were, they are and if we deny that we deny it at our peril. Or at someone else's.
Margaret Thatcher was once famous for saying "There is no such thing as society." It would be a real shame if we, the human race proved her right. But I hope we won't I hope we will prove eventually that all humans are fundamentally the same.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Writing days
What I wonder makes a day a good day for writing? I think mainly it is the muse but there is more to it than that, some days I can just go and not even notice the time drifting by. I got through 1500 words in about 2 hours. Now these are words that will be pawed over, nudged and altered, but even so that is no bad going for a writer.
Of course for a typist that is nothing 100 wpm, 15 minutes of work. But when you are creating things are slower (come to think of it; if you type like me they tend to be slower anyway). Why does it appeal, it is that very thing creation; piling words up in a unique sequence to paint your story is ultimately satisfying - it is also why criticism hurts sometimes...
Of course for a typist that is nothing 100 wpm, 15 minutes of work. But when you are creating things are slower (come to think of it; if you type like me they tend to be slower anyway). Why does it appeal, it is that very thing creation; piling words up in a unique sequence to paint your story is ultimately satisfying - it is also why criticism hurts sometimes...
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Reviewing...
I was asked the question today 'would you like to do some serious in depth reviewing?'.
Easy answer to that one yes. I find it enjoyable and I learn myself when I am doing it. To me the review process is related to how well any writer keeps me immersed in their world. I tend not to nitpick grammar to much but things that interrupt the storyline or 'remind me' I'm in a story tend to irk me:
These are the common ones:
First rule of reviewing - don't expect to be thanked :-)
Easy answer to that one yes. I find it enjoyable and I learn myself when I am doing it. To me the review process is related to how well any writer keeps me immersed in their world. I tend not to nitpick grammar to much but things that interrupt the storyline or 'remind me' I'm in a story tend to irk me:
These are the common ones:
- Repetitive use of words - e.g. guy or guy's - this is very common.
- Clumsy sentence structure when an author writes as one would not think or speak.
- Over use of devices 'show not tell' is a good rule of thumb; but some over use it dreadfully.
- Tell with no show - 'shopping list' story telling.
- Avoiding cliches for the sake of it -- some cliches are natural and alternatives smack you in the chops.
- Falling in love with a clever phrase - 'look at me I thought of this' and now I will shove it down you throat... Even clever things can bore one.
First rule of reviewing - don't expect to be thanked :-)
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Temper and tantrums
Ever noticed the way we snap at those closest to us at times? We tend hurt the people we don't want to because of life's frustrations - there is an expression 'You don't S**t on your own doorstep'.
In fact we tend to do exactly that - or at least I'm willing to hold up my hand and say I do.
This isn't an apology; just a statement.
I think that home allows us to be ourselves - sometimes for good and occasionally not so...
Odd blog today but there we are :)
In fact we tend to do exactly that - or at least I'm willing to hold up my hand and say I do.
This isn't an apology; just a statement.
I think that home allows us to be ourselves - sometimes for good and occasionally not so...
Odd blog today but there we are :)
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Muses and the such...
My muse like most comes and goes at times to suit itself - sometimes without even closing the door. Disconcerting, except it is with me at the moment - the only trouble being that I plan and organise what I am going to do in my mind; then I write it and out pops something other; no matter if I try to get back to plan once the fingers start to type they are off and on their own to some extent.
Whilst I find this confusing and occasionally a damn nuisance as I have to rewrite or re-plan things; but mostly I'm happy with the output.
As a biologist I have wondered about this process - it must be somewhere at the nexus of the sub-concious and concious mind. Probably that is where most of creativity lies anyway - at the borderline to our dreams.
Is this process common to others, or is it due to my habit of thinking and then later writing on the fly that makes things this way?
Just an idle thought from a less than idle mind. Sort of.
Whilst I find this confusing and occasionally a damn nuisance as I have to rewrite or re-plan things; but mostly I'm happy with the output.
As a biologist I have wondered about this process - it must be somewhere at the nexus of the sub-concious and concious mind. Probably that is where most of creativity lies anyway - at the borderline to our dreams.
Is this process common to others, or is it due to my habit of thinking and then later writing on the fly that makes things this way?
Just an idle thought from a less than idle mind. Sort of.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Back
Ooops missed out yesterday; not been too chirpy with the old sarcoid... Still bit better today. I have such and exciting time planned - of to the hospital to pick up my scans and X-rays to take to my private consultant on Friday. Then lunch with an Occupational Health Consultant my employers have hired. So not much real work done today I guess. At least things are moving and I may get some good help on dealing with this.
Finished chapter 1 of The Blackest Hole last night - off for edit then review on WB and elsewhere. Part of me loves that bit as I get feedback, the other part hates it as I realise how dumb I still am as a writer *LOL*
Finished chapter 1 of The Blackest Hole last night - off for edit then review on WB and elsewhere. Part of me loves that bit as I get feedback, the other part hates it as I realise how dumb I still am as a writer *LOL*
Monday, March 12, 2007
Ooops
Seems to be a problem on the forum;
If you are seeing:
Connection Problems
Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later.
Then you have the same problem as me :-( I'm currently on to SMF to try to resolve the problem)
It will be up and running just as soon as possible...
Sorry for the interruption.
Yottie.
If you are seeing:
Connection Problems
Sorry, SMF was unable to connect to the database. This may be caused by the server being busy. Please try again later.
Then you have the same problem as me :-( I'm currently on to SMF to try to resolve the problem)
It will be up and running just as soon as possible...
Sorry for the interruption.
Yottie.
Of classification and claptrap
Interesting isn't it just how addicted we human beings are to pigeon-holing things. It is a dreadful fault and has lead to many misunderstandings, disagreements and yes even wars. I suppose if you consider this Eugenics is the ultimate destination of purposeless classification.
In places it is needed, my original field of work (Biology) uses classification for very valid reasons - it is an assistance in finding the relationships between species, phyla and genus. A way of making sense of very complex relationships.
When it comes to people this form of classification becomes redundant - for we are one species (yes, even men and women [tic]).
So why do we persist? I think it is due to our original tribal nature - knowing who was 'us' and who 'not us' was vital to survival. If you walked up the the wrong caveman and hugged him, it could be a very poor evolutionary choice!
We no longer live in real tribes so we invent 'virtual' ones- my team, my street, my town etc. Sometimes these choices are harmless, sometimes not. It is harmless to be a football fan, but harmful to be a football hooligan.
So what brought this frustration of mine bubbling to the surface? A very simple comment on a reply to a post. The thrust of the reply was 'This is a site for serious writers, may be it doesn't suit you".
Which of course translates to, "This is a site for serious writers [like me], and we may not want 'your sort' here".
BTW just for reference, I was just an observer of both the original piece and the subsequent comment. There also seemed to be the retort that - some people here wish to be published - ah, the *holy grail!*
Well as a purely amateur writer I have no interest in publication at all, but does the desire to be published (and lets face it; being paid is what most people mean) make you 'serious'?
I doubt it personally, it means you want something back - and as people - we all want different things back. Don't get me wrong, I don't criticise those who are driven to be professional, but it is just one of many paths.
So can I be amateur and serious? Oh yes, I can. Can I therefore call myself a serious writer? No. Can any professional writer call themselves serious? No. That is a subjective label and one that can only be applied correctly by one person. The reader.
I wish people would refrain from using their attitude to others as a crutch for their own insecurities. Look for, and celebrate the similarities, for our differences are what make us individuals - not better or worse - just us, ourselves (the one person we are truly stuck with).
Now would that not make for a more tolerant world?
In places it is needed, my original field of work (Biology) uses classification for very valid reasons - it is an assistance in finding the relationships between species, phyla and genus. A way of making sense of very complex relationships.
When it comes to people this form of classification becomes redundant - for we are one species (yes, even men and women [tic]).
So why do we persist? I think it is due to our original tribal nature - knowing who was 'us' and who 'not us' was vital to survival. If you walked up the the wrong caveman and hugged him, it could be a very poor evolutionary choice!
We no longer live in real tribes so we invent 'virtual' ones- my team, my street, my town etc. Sometimes these choices are harmless, sometimes not. It is harmless to be a football fan, but harmful to be a football hooligan.
So what brought this frustration of mine bubbling to the surface? A very simple comment on a reply to a post. The thrust of the reply was 'This is a site for serious writers, may be it doesn't suit you".
Which of course translates to, "This is a site for serious writers [like me], and we may not want 'your sort' here".
BTW just for reference, I was just an observer of both the original piece and the subsequent comment. There also seemed to be the retort that - some people here wish to be published - ah, the *holy grail!*
Well as a purely amateur writer I have no interest in publication at all, but does the desire to be published (and lets face it; being paid is what most people mean) make you 'serious'?
I doubt it personally, it means you want something back - and as people - we all want different things back. Don't get me wrong, I don't criticise those who are driven to be professional, but it is just one of many paths.
So can I be amateur and serious? Oh yes, I can. Can I therefore call myself a serious writer? No. Can any professional writer call themselves serious? No. That is a subjective label and one that can only be applied correctly by one person. The reader.
I wish people would refrain from using their attitude to others as a crutch for their own insecurities. Look for, and celebrate the similarities, for our differences are what make us individuals - not better or worse - just us, ourselves (the one person we are truly stuck with).
Now would that not make for a more tolerant world?
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Sunday's and quiet days...
Muchco sport today: 6th round of the FA Cup saw a spectacular 3-3 Chesea & Spurs draw and the 6 Nation's Rugby has England against France. Now I'm not a big rugger fan but playing the French is something of a must watch.
Later this week of course the 'Real Man's' game sees its highlight the Cricket World Cup! 6 weeks of Cricket... Hell for some, but bliss for me.
BTW I'm not a sports fan by nature (Cricket excepted) but I tend to support England in most things.
So, not too much going on in my house other than shouting at the 'telly' - always a worthwhile pursuit :)
Later this week of course the 'Real Man's' game sees its highlight the Cricket World Cup! 6 weeks of Cricket... Hell for some, but bliss for me.
BTW I'm not a sports fan by nature (Cricket excepted) but I tend to support England in most things.
So, not too much going on in my house other than shouting at the 'telly' - always a worthwhile pursuit :)
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Quizes and the like
Ha, turns out my sibling's have both been busy:
The youngest one as of last night is back with his gf. This is a relief as it has cheered him up and I really like her. The storm it seems has passed.
My eldest son has set up a quiz 'Which British Prime Minister are you?
Turns out I'm:
You scored as Henry Campbell Bannerman.
You are Henry Campbell-Bannerman. People never seem to remember who you are, which is grossly unfair because you can keep your head in a crisis when others are losing theirs. You are also a great visionary and won’t sell out to the Man. You will even laugh in the face of death, your last words being “This is not the end of me”. And yet, I’ve forgotten you again already.
Strangely, or maybe not - so is my wife Esu!
If you want a go the link is below. Of course being a younger brother my other son refuses to do the quiz 'on principle' :-)
http://www.quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=321179&first=yes
The youngest one as of last night is back with his gf. This is a relief as it has cheered him up and I really like her. The storm it seems has passed.
My eldest son has set up a quiz 'Which British Prime Minister are you?
Turns out I'm:
You scored as Henry Campbell Bannerman.
You are Henry Campbell-Bannerman. People never seem to remember who you are, which is grossly unfair because you can keep your head in a crisis when others are losing theirs. You are also a great visionary and won’t sell out to the Man. You will even laugh in the face of death, your last words being “This is not the end of me”. And yet, I’ve forgotten you again already.
Strangely, or maybe not - so is my wife Esu!
If you want a go the link is below. Of course being a younger brother my other son refuses to do the quiz 'on principle' :-)
http://www.quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=321179&first=yes
Friday, March 09, 2007
Of communication and breakdowns...
Strange isn't it how with some people, even by simply posting comments you find a real rapport - a wavelength to communicate over. Yet with others for no apparent reason you have issues on most of the occasions you communicate?
I have never found it an easy matter to put right and often in trying I make it worse.
Still just pondering, today is a good day for the last 24 hours I have been feeling a bit better. My god, this morning I managed to get up at 09:10 (this may not seem and achievement but - it is).
So busy, busy today first chapter of 'The Blackest Hole' to start with I think, then the world is my lobster.
Nice day here today - I think spring has sprung... Next thing will be the sap rising... Heh, with any luck ;-)
I have never found it an easy matter to put right and often in trying I make it worse
Still just pondering, today is a good day for the last 24 hours I have been feeling a bit better. My god, this morning I managed to get up at 09:10 (this may not seem and achievement but - it is).
So busy, busy today first chapter of 'The Blackest Hole' to start with I think, then the world is my lobster.
Nice day here today - I think spring has sprung... Next thing will be the sap rising... Heh, with any luck ;-)
Thursday, March 08, 2007
1974 to 2007 what changes?
Let me take you back to 1974 when I had a 28 inch waist, long hair and the most appalling taste in clothes on the planet.
I was 19 and I had just broken up with my gf - we decided on a trial separation (actually suggested by my Dad - who advised me if we were apart for a while we would soon 'know'). Turns out he was right - 3 days were enough and just one year later Esu and I married.
Fast forward to 2007... Today I'm spending some time with my youngest son (19) who has just started a trial separation from his gf of some 3 years. I hope to cheer him up and I would do anything to help ease his hurt - as I know it only too well.
Of course, I cannot. Such is the nature of both love and being a parent. I can offer platitudes, sometimes strangely familiar ones.
So have things changed in the 33 years - massively (the waist line and hair for sure).
Have the things that really matter changed? Not one iota - and I find that reassuring. People matter as they did then, emotions matter as they did then; all the rest is detail - just as it was then.
A toast then to life, love and things staying the same.
I was 19 and I had just broken up with my gf - we decided on a trial separation (actually suggested by my Dad - who advised me if we were apart for a while we would soon 'know'). Turns out he was right - 3 days were enough and just one year later Esu and I married.
Fast forward to 2007... Today I'm spending some time with my youngest son (19) who has just started a trial separation from his gf of some 3 years. I hope to cheer him up and I would do anything to help ease his hurt - as I know it only too well.
Of course, I cannot. Such is the nature of both love and being a parent. I can offer platitudes, sometimes strangely familiar ones.
So have things changed in the 33 years - massively (the waist line and hair for sure).
Have the things that really matter changed? Not one iota - and I find that reassuring. People matter as they did then, emotions matter as they did then; all the rest is detail - just as it was then.
A toast then to life, love and things staying the same.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Productive day
Today has been good :
- Finalised The Blackest Hole - Preface
- Posted the Preface to The Mistress of Wyldefire Hall
- Posted Burnt Feathers Review
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Of life and frustrations
Damn this silly disease! I have just been signed off work for two weeks due to it. I really can't afford the time away from work, but on the other hand I know I'm not up to my job at the moment. The Doc's are still postulating on how and if to treat this flare up and I sit here like some confused observer at the centre of it.
Right, now I have that off my chest.
I'm about to sit down and write the only question is what? Too many choices. I think it will be the 'Mistress of Wyldefire Hall'. She is due to start the story in a foul mood and I reckon I can get that off pat today :)
Oh I should check to see if Esu has edited my review.. and get it posted if she has.
My word, am I glad I have this to take my mind off things.
Right, now I have that off my chest.
I'm about to sit down and write the only question is what? Too many choices. I think it will be the 'Mistress of Wyldefire Hall'. She is due to start the story in a foul mood and I reckon I can get that off pat today :)
Oh I should check to see if Esu has edited my review.. and get it posted if she has.
My word, am I glad I have this to take my mind off things.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Still fiddling
This becomes an obsession I have now added a page with Writer's Block Reviews on it linked into WB forum itself. As this may increase traffic and membership of the forum. Still groggy from the old Sarcoidosis ( a lung condition I suffer from) not up until well gone 11 once again. Doubled edged sword really, as I can't work it gives me time to play with my hobbies. But as I'm a salesman it gives me grief with my territory and work-flow ho-hum - nothing I can do about it. Off to the Dr's tomorrow to see if I have any referral's for a second opinion...
Still life's to short to be maudlin.
Got a good response to The Blackest Hole preface on Urbis; completed a new review for the WB which just need an editorial eye before I post it. Esu should like it though its one of her preferred author's Burnt Feather's - who also is ill at present. Not heard from him which is a bit concerning...
BF if you read this get well soon and I will attempt the same.
Still life's to short to be maudlin.
Got a good response to The Blackest Hole preface on Urbis; completed a new review for the WB which just need an editorial eye before I post it. Esu should like it though its one of her preferred author's Burnt Feather's - who also is ill at present. Not heard from him which is a bit concerning...
BF if you read this get well soon and I will attempt the same.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Ho Hum... Html fun
Damn I publish Html so rarely that I have to re-learn it every time. Still barring any hiccups its all in place including hit counters.
So onwards and upwards.
Things to do today
Publish the preface of 'The Blackest Hole' to Urbis for comments.
This week
Start writing the Mistress of Wyldefire Hall for Chloe's Sanctuary.
Pick up Holmes and Hove 'An Unfortunate Affair' and finish if I can.
Next chapter of Vampyre Daze to ASSM and SOL.
Images if I have time...
So onwards and upwards.
Things to do today
Publish the preface of 'The Blackest Hole' to Urbis for comments.
This week
Start writing the Mistress of Wyldefire Hall for Chloe's Sanctuary.
Pick up Holmes and Hove 'An Unfortunate Affair' and finish if I can.
Next chapter of Vampyre Daze to ASSM and SOL.
Images if I have time...
Friday, March 02, 2007
Ok it all checks out
If you have any problems on the new site please leave me a comment here or e-mail me from the site. Ta.
I hope you enjoy the site.
Yottie
I hope you enjoy the site.
Yottie
Welcome to the blog...
You will notice that the Den has had the decorators in to celebrate the public opening of Writer's Block. I shall update this blog much more frequently now as my web presence is shifting gear. Damn that Yotna he's a busy body!
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