Write-Place

Watched  The Grumpy Guide to Christmas  last night - amusing, if not predictable. All those so called celebs telling us how much they hate Christmas, but obviously revelling in the revenue that moaning about it brings by talking about it on TV. As Ozzy Osbourne said "When I was a practising alcoholic it was the best time of the year, but when you don't drink it's just another day". They also talked about sending (or not sending) cards at Christmas and how you always get one from someone who you have never heard of. Me, cynical as ever, thought - that never really happens, it's just you have forgotten or something. But, another one of those coincidences that aren't  really coincidences happened this morning.   I received a Christmas card through the post this morning... from someone I've never heard of.                                              ...

In case anyone missed it on Tuesday 29th November via almost every social networking site available  - I   won a competition . At risk of being repeatetive, the competition involved Vintage Inns, Sir Andrew Motion as judge, and one line of poetry. I have graciously accepted and enjoyed the dining out part of the prize (at  the Boat Inn , Sprotbrough) and am now waiting for the other parts - a framed copy of the poem and a signed copy of Andrew Motion's latest collection of poems "The Cinder Path". Now, I have to admit that apart from knowing he was poet laureate at some time in the past, that was about all I knew of Andrew Motion. My main studying time of poetry was, of  course, before the days of Google at the sweep of a thumb and the click of a button. That's my excuse anyway, but I did feel obliged to read up a bit about the man responsible for my latest 'literary prize'. As coincidence/luck/fate or whatever would have it, a few days after the compe...

It did cross my mind not to write a blog about Christmas - before, during or after the event. Which ever way I talk about it I know that I will appear either 'holier than thou' or scrooge- like. I will certainly seem hypocritical.  However, I have buckled under the weight of my thoughts - which apparently are not so dis-similar to those of many others at this time.  There's nothing new in feeling a bit pressured at this time of year. Most of us want our family and friends to have the best possible...  everything.  Best tree. best decorations, best lights, best food and drink, best time together and most of all best presents. Whether this 'best' is  for ourselves or for what others think of us is something that's a bit too uncomfortable to think of. I hold my hands up here - I reckon I'm a pretty good contender for the top prize in this game. I want my family and friends to have THE BEST, be it mince pie, cracker or party, while talking about peace an...

Only six hours left to make an entry in the  Writers Online  monthly One Word Challenge and I am struggling to produce a poem based around the word 'putrid'. The 200 word story was difficult enough but this seems to be beyond me. ( I have less than 6 hours left really, because I won't be able to stay awake till anywhere near the deadline of midnight tonight) But then I just happen across the headline in today's news that Alastair Campbell has used the word today at the Leveson inquiry. Then, by luck, fate, chance or coincidence, my wandering mind also rests on the website of   Newspaper Blackout .  Problem solved. Wonder what anyone makes of it. (ironically this is the perfect time to use the highlighted text which I have been trying to lose for the past few posts !) | Newspaper Blackout Poem Take one newspaper, article, marker. Cross out words.  Leave only those you like, and soon you’ll have a poem, they said. Created from running puddles of text...

Well, I've told everyone and anyone that I can think of about this so I ought to write it here as well.  I HAVE WON a   competition   BY WRITING ONE LINE ! I've never quite had the opportunity to say "less is more" but I think in this case I can. Here's part of the "press release" (yeah, you did read that correctly ... ! ) "Brenda co-authored an eight-line poem inspired by Sir Andrew’s work on Vintage Inns’ latest press campaign, which honours the Great British rural pub. He has been judging the best line submitted each week, so they can be added to gradually complete the verse. When Brenda entered, the competition stood at six lines completed: The muted brilliance of autumn leaves The wind’s deep voice soft-tickling the trees. The parting notes of swallows’ cresting calls As dappled sunlight fades and evening falls. The bonfires’ tongues call to the dying sun Bright harvest moon ascends, her reign begun. And Brenda’s suggestion for the...

I'm not one for quoting statistics, mainly because my memory is so bad I forget the figures in between reading them and writing them down. But I thought a few numbers might wake me up a bit this morning, so sit up and pay attention ! Today is "Mega Monday"  according to the media  and estimates are that there will 3,300 purchases a minute online. High street shops are struggling with sales down by 2.1% 25% of all our  Christmas shopping  will be online up 16% from last year 12% of online sales will be made on a smartphone 1 in 3, that's 11 million will use the computer at work to online shop. Does this mean we prefer shopping online to going to the shops ? Not really, is the apparent response - it depends who we are and where we are and what mood we are in that day. This sounds about right to me. I went shopping on Saturday and am still feeling that if the only shop I walk into again is our corner shop, then that's fine by me. I'll probably feel di...

This is probably old news to many people, but it's new to me, very interesting, amazing, almost unbelievable and more than a little disturbing.  Scientists have developed a prototype contact lens which can generate  info-vision – the ability to stream information across a person’s field of vision.  "Do what ?"  I hear you asking. I said the same to myself. Soon we could be sending and receiving texts and emails, catching up with the latest news and generally social networking without even logging on to a computer or phone. Images and messages will just appear in front of your eyes. It will one day be able to show directions and TV programmes.  Yes, honestly. Just imagine, you might never need that old fashioned Sat Nav ever again and you could watch Corrie and Enders while you are driving too. Get rid of that ancient Sky HD recording thingy that you just got installed.  After blogging about my new  phone  just the other day, it seems a littl...