Whilst viewing small properties this week, a vendor showed me his Yardon !
What a fab word ... Yarden ... A Yard ... with a Garden !
Presumably a Garden has grass and much plantation whereas a Yard has paving flags. A Yarden therefore is a fusion of paving flags with some plantation and/or tubs with plants.
I love this word and would love to see it in the dictionary ...
It isn't in the dictionary already ... is it?
Happy Yardening ...
Gillian
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
I am ...
I am going to write Chapter 8, I am going to write Chapter, I am going to write, I am going to, I am going, I am, I ... am going to write Chapter 8.
See y'all in a week or so ...
Gone to write Chapter 8 ...
Gillian
See y'all in a week or so ...
Gone to write Chapter 8 ...
Gillian
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Write - Invite
Take a look at this for a great fun idea ~ Short Story competiton with an unusual style ...
The basic idea seems to be this:
Most Saturdays, around 5.30, click on to Write Invite [see below]. There you'll find a choice of themes. Enter the compeititon, pay £4 [through paypal] Write for 20 minutes. Chance to win £50.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.write-invite.com%2F&h=c2348
Have a go. Easy to register. Fun to do. See you there ...
Gillian
The basic idea seems to be this:
Most Saturdays, around 5.30, click on to Write Invite [see below]. There you'll find a choice of themes. Enter the compeititon, pay £4 [through paypal] Write for 20 minutes. Chance to win £50.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.write-invite.com%2F&h=c2348
Have a go. Easy to register. Fun to do. See you there ...
Gillian
Sunday, 2 January 2011
To Kindle or not to Kindle ? ...
Okay, so I might be a bit late on the band-wagon, but I've got a Kindle at last !!
After researching ebooks v paperback and writing an article for a Blackpool Arts Festival newspaper, I was amazed to find how many readers enjoyed not only the tactile effect of a paperback, but the smell, I began to wonder how I would cope with a Kindle. I ended up with my vote for the paperback which was really unfair as I had only toyed with an ipad for a few days and only seen a smaller reader like the Kindle over someone's shoulder at an airport.
I received one for Christmas, thanks to hubby and so far, managed very nicely thankyou. I played around with the font sizes and downloaded a book [£7.99!], 'The Road to Wigan Pier', by George Orwell. I apologise for not knowing his real name, Eric Arthur Blair. I know my memory's not brilliant but as an English student, fairly ashamed I didn't even know this fact !
Back to the Kindle:
It's easier to handle than I had expected ~ Easier to hold ~ Needs only one hand ~ It's like holding one side of a book, so you don't have to prop the other side open.
The screen appears to have a matt finish with a texture which looks like paper ~ reminds me of the fire effect on a TV monitor in a pub - but better.
Changing the size of the font is handy ~ especially if you're tired.
Yet it feels strange to not have a page number up on the screen [probably due to chosen font size?] and also, I can't gauge where the next chapter is.
I could however take a dozen books on tour with me ~ and only carry the weight of the Kindle and charger. That's a bonus. Now I need to find somewhere to go ...
All in all, I do enjoy using the Kindle ... But don't feel left out, I love you paperbacks just as much as ever, I always will.
Gillian
After researching ebooks v paperback and writing an article for a Blackpool Arts Festival newspaper, I was amazed to find how many readers enjoyed not only the tactile effect of a paperback, but the smell, I began to wonder how I would cope with a Kindle. I ended up with my vote for the paperback which was really unfair as I had only toyed with an ipad for a few days and only seen a smaller reader like the Kindle over someone's shoulder at an airport.
I received one for Christmas, thanks to hubby and so far, managed very nicely thankyou. I played around with the font sizes and downloaded a book [£7.99!], 'The Road to Wigan Pier', by George Orwell. I apologise for not knowing his real name, Eric Arthur Blair. I know my memory's not brilliant but as an English student, fairly ashamed I didn't even know this fact !
Back to the Kindle:
It's easier to handle than I had expected ~ Easier to hold ~ Needs only one hand ~ It's like holding one side of a book, so you don't have to prop the other side open.
The screen appears to have a matt finish with a texture which looks like paper ~ reminds me of the fire effect on a TV monitor in a pub - but better.
Changing the size of the font is handy ~ especially if you're tired.
Yet it feels strange to not have a page number up on the screen [probably due to chosen font size?] and also, I can't gauge where the next chapter is.
I could however take a dozen books on tour with me ~ and only carry the weight of the Kindle and charger. That's a bonus. Now I need to find somewhere to go ...
All in all, I do enjoy using the Kindle ... But don't feel left out, I love you paperbacks just as much as ever, I always will.
Gillian
Six Months to read a book ...
Yes, it's true, the holiday chicky-litty, light-hearted, fun, easy-to-read, no pressure, rom-com I chose to read whilst away for a few days in the sun last summer, has just been binned. I couldn't possibly pass it on to anyone else to read. Giving anyone a pile of trivia with an interest level of minus 1 to a reader or non-reader just wouldn't be fair.
As a follow up to the The Devil Wears Prada, Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger was one of the most boring reads I have ever undertaken. With every movement and utterance expressed the the nth degree, I wondered how I ever managed a routine day without logging my every movement and comment. I know I'm sounding harsh - but has anyone ever asked for their money back when they've endured a poor read? I often wonder where do the trading standards stand on this? After all, the blurb does promise 'dining at the glitziest restaurants, attending the most outrageious parties ... jetting off the the trendiest hotspots.' I suppose a book is like a hair-doo / cut - we just cringe, accept it in public ~ and complain later.
Having had my moan - I have to say that I can completely see the novel on the screen. The heartbreak, the eccentric in-laws, the rock-stardom and the romantic re-union. Sadly, Ms Weisberger didn't manage to create a realistic heartbreak, the in-laws were gaudy but boring and the rising rock star, Julian, lacked charisma, energy, musicality, sex-appeal, any kind of power or pzazz ... in fact, totally rock-star-less. As for the sorry to repeat it again, boring, what was her name, oh yes, Brooke [nick-named Rook or Rooky by the un-romantic Julian], the text was virtually faint for most of the time. Come to think of it, I still don't know what Brook/Rook/Rooky looks like and I sure find her name irritating.
It makes me think ~ I could have easily written something like that. Ok, I hear you say ... Get on with it. Point taken. I do beleive there's always something to learn from every experience in life - and plenty to learn here. This story is so simple. And people are buying it [even if it is on the back of The Devil Wears Prada]. The husband becomes famous. The wife is left behind. They make up in the end. There aren't too many characters. The one main girl-friend appears at the most obvious times. We know what's going to happen next [Something to learn NOT to do]. No real surprises [Something else to learn NOT to do]. It's easy when I think about it. Just follow the basic plan. Simplify my story, delete some characters, save them for the follow up novel, in fact, save them for the next 2 novels. So why am I wasting time talking about someone else's novel instead of getting on with mine?
Point taken. Off to write the beginning of chapter 8 ...
And maybe next time I'm looking for a holiday chicky-litty, light-hearted, fun, easy-to-read, no pressure rom com type novel, I'll try something more intentional ~ something from my long reading list or even just go to see a film ...
Thoroughly inspired to get writing now I've got that off my chest ...
Gillian
As a follow up to the The Devil Wears Prada, Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger was one of the most boring reads I have ever undertaken. With every movement and utterance expressed the the nth degree, I wondered how I ever managed a routine day without logging my every movement and comment. I know I'm sounding harsh - but has anyone ever asked for their money back when they've endured a poor read? I often wonder where do the trading standards stand on this? After all, the blurb does promise 'dining at the glitziest restaurants, attending the most outrageious parties ... jetting off the the trendiest hotspots.' I suppose a book is like a hair-doo / cut - we just cringe, accept it in public ~ and complain later.
Having had my moan - I have to say that I can completely see the novel on the screen. The heartbreak, the eccentric in-laws, the rock-stardom and the romantic re-union. Sadly, Ms Weisberger didn't manage to create a realistic heartbreak, the in-laws were gaudy but boring and the rising rock star, Julian, lacked charisma, energy, musicality, sex-appeal, any kind of power or pzazz ... in fact, totally rock-star-less. As for the sorry to repeat it again, boring, what was her name, oh yes, Brooke [nick-named Rook or Rooky by the un-romantic Julian], the text was virtually faint for most of the time. Come to think of it, I still don't know what Brook/Rook/Rooky looks like and I sure find her name irritating.
It makes me think ~ I could have easily written something like that. Ok, I hear you say ... Get on with it. Point taken. I do beleive there's always something to learn from every experience in life - and plenty to learn here. This story is so simple. And people are buying it [even if it is on the back of The Devil Wears Prada]. The husband becomes famous. The wife is left behind. They make up in the end. There aren't too many characters. The one main girl-friend appears at the most obvious times. We know what's going to happen next [Something to learn NOT to do]. No real surprises [Something else to learn NOT to do]. It's easy when I think about it. Just follow the basic plan. Simplify my story, delete some characters, save them for the follow up novel, in fact, save them for the next 2 novels. So why am I wasting time talking about someone else's novel instead of getting on with mine?
Point taken. Off to write the beginning of chapter 8 ...
And maybe next time I'm looking for a holiday chicky-litty, light-hearted, fun, easy-to-read, no pressure rom com type novel, I'll try something more intentional ~ something from my long reading list or even just go to see a film ...
Thoroughly inspired to get writing now I've got that off my chest ...
Gillian
Monday, 13 December 2010
Surprise Package ... Lonely as a Platform Bench
Just opened the post and in a white padded envelope, it seemed like a book had arrived ... my deductions were correct yet I hadn't ordered anything from Amazon. It wasn't the Delicious Mag I wait for, mouth watering every month. It wasn't even an enforced Natural Remedy mag the result of once ordering some Acai Berry ... It was this :~
and ... on ... page 150 ... this :~
Lonely as a Platform Bench
Lonely as a platform bench
she butts her fag end into
grey ash mountains, waiting
for the past to disappear,
her mobile burrs, spews
whispers in her ear,
soggy as a wet newspaper.
A star point flashes
on the neck of a green glass bottle,
she drinks to its signal
ten maybe more, fall to the floor,
the present grows painless
and the world withdraws.
Drums roll inside her head, in her bed,
waves break in measured thunder,
castles toss across the sky and turn,
all lies un-leaving
as the sun comes up
honeyed on the window sill,
the lonesomeness begins.
Lonely as a Platform Bench
Lonely as a platform bench
she butts her fag end into
grey ash mountains, waiting
for the past to disappear,
her mobile burrs, spews
whispers in her ear,
soggy as a wet newspaper.
A star point flashes
on the neck of a green glass bottle,
she drinks to its signal
ten maybe more, fall to the floor,
the present grows painless
and the world withdraws.
Drums roll inside her head, in her bed,
waves break in measured thunder,
castles toss across the sky and turn,
all lies un-leaving
as the sun comes up
honeyed on the window sill,
the lonesomeness begins.
Gillian Hesketh
That feels good. Now for the collection ....
Jill
I want to finish reading it ... honest I do ...
I took it on holiday. I took it in the lounge with me during recouperation. I've taken it to bed with me on many occasions ... but I still haven't managed to finish Last Night at Chateau Marmont by Lauren Weisberger. In fact, I'm only up to page 95 ! Granted, nothing much has happened yet, other than a small record deal and a meal with 'in-laws' so the question is ... Do I continue with it? Should I force myself? Is it because I already think I know what the ending would be? I can already see it as a Rom Com movie, apologies for English readers ~ I mean, film of the 'Devil Wears Prada' sort? Would it be rude not to finish it and move on to Anton Chekhov's Short Stories [selected and edited by Ralph E. Matlaw]
Your comments please ...
Decisions Decisions ...
Gillian
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
~ Found it ...
Can't believe it ...
1. What has happened to the depths of my brain ... to my long term memory ?
2. Where was Chapter 4 ?
3. Where had it been hiding?
4. How come it suddenly appeared ~ out of the blue?
During a laptop exchange, I sensed something was missing. It wasn't until an edit tidy-up that I reaslised what it was ... Chapter 4 !
I talked myself into the fact that I had at some point, merged chapter 4 into chapter 3. I began to belive it. I thoroughly believed it ~ There wasn't really any other choice.
Chapter 3 has now been tidied and spruced up. So, I was deciding whether to go straight in, making Chapter 5 the new chapter 4 ~ just like that rich, luxurious, exciting, dark navy is the new black this season ? Or switch 5 with 6 and speed up the pace of the story ~ something I never argue with.
NO ... Wait ... Voila ... As if by Magic ... Chapter 4 appears ! ... all 11 pages PLUS Chapter 4B !! Something I had completely forgotten about - where Verity takes over the Mother and Toddler Group - introduces new characters, a sub-plot and a friend ... You're right the scence for the necessary outcome could be more exciting ...
Nevertheless the recent find has scared me. What else is lurking out there in hidden in files, boxes, emails ... in the dark places in my memory ???
So, excuse me everyone while I take a couple of days to sort this one out.
I could just delete it of course, and make Chapter 5 the new Chapter 4, like navy is the new ....
See you soon, Gillian
1. What has happened to the depths of my brain ... to my long term memory ?
2. Where was Chapter 4 ?
3. Where had it been hiding?
4. How come it suddenly appeared ~ out of the blue?
During a laptop exchange, I sensed something was missing. It wasn't until an edit tidy-up that I reaslised what it was ... Chapter 4 !
I talked myself into the fact that I had at some point, merged chapter 4 into chapter 3. I began to belive it. I thoroughly believed it ~ There wasn't really any other choice.
Chapter 3 has now been tidied and spruced up. So, I was deciding whether to go straight in, making Chapter 5 the new chapter 4 ~ just like that rich, luxurious, exciting, dark navy is the new black this season ? Or switch 5 with 6 and speed up the pace of the story ~ something I never argue with.
NO ... Wait ... Voila ... As if by Magic ... Chapter 4 appears ! ... all 11 pages PLUS Chapter 4B !! Something I had completely forgotten about - where Verity takes over the Mother and Toddler Group - introduces new characters, a sub-plot and a friend ... You're right the scence for the necessary outcome could be more exciting ...
Nevertheless the recent find has scared me. What else is lurking out there in hidden in files, boxes, emails ... in the dark places in my memory ???
So, excuse me everyone while I take a couple of days to sort this one out.
I could just delete it of course, and make Chapter 5 the new Chapter 4, like navy is the new ....
See you soon, Gillian
Thursday, 18 November 2010
E.B. White ~ Plan Your Day ...
Elwyn Brooks [E B White - 1899 - 1995]
American writer, Honorary Pultizer prize winner, contributor to The New Yorker Magazine and author of Charlotte's Webb and Stuart Little:
I love the idea of this quote ...
"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult."
[E. B. White]
Souce: Wikipedia.
I remember feeling like that ... maybe need to find that place again ...
Gillian
American writer, Honorary Pultizer prize winner, contributor to The New Yorker Magazine and author of Charlotte's Webb and Stuart Little:
I love the idea of this quote ...
"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult."
[E. B. White]
Souce: Wikipedia.
I remember feeling like that ... maybe need to find that place again ...
Gillian
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