Love-Hate Technology

Back in the day...

There used to be fog. I remember walking home from high school in thick dense fog. I used to have a little torch, barely a couple of inches in length and it hung on my key-ring that only had one front door key on it. I also remember my ever-watchful relatives ready to report to my parents if I was ever late home. Very strict. There were always consequences.

There used to be snow. Inches and inches of it. So beautiful. Heavy and crunchy and white. During the day if the sun was shining it hurt the eyes. And at night it had an other-worldliness that allowed me to imagine that I didn't live in that dark and dingy house.

The school encouraged most of us girls to learn to type. I didn't want to go and work in an office but it was going to be better than factory work so I obeyed. The old method was to follow the charts and once you put your fingers on the keys of the typewriters, there was an order to follow. Rote learning. It worked.

I became a touch typist. My speed increased and my accuracy improved. I got up to 60 words per minute. Not bad.

I remember tippex. The dry and the liquid. Need I say more?

Then came the word processors. OMG. I hated them and I loved them. As well as faster, my typing got sloppier. However printing, proofing and correcting was so much easier. I remember when I worked for the NHS.  The good-feel atmosphere of the office. The smoke that hurt the throat and the noisy clatter of the keyboards as the girls typed up page after page of policies or minutes of meetings.

For my first attempt at a novel I tapped away on an Amstrad. I loved the tidy look of those floppy disks. We had two boxes of them.

Yesterday I had to change names (there are certain literary rules to follow for good practice), for several characters in my not-out-yet ghost novel. Search and replace took no time at all. I love it.

How on earth did Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, et al manage? I imagine them scribbling night after night, and admire them so much for persevering.

eBook To Paperback

The writer part of me is never happy unless I'm writing something new.

But when you are an author like me, who does everything from writing the book to its final publication, (except for the cover - I don't do the covers), it means much of the time, you can feel like you're not writing.

Recently I've spent over three weeks taking an eBook (a collection of short stories), published six years ago, to make it available in paperback. As I worked on it, I kept feeling that I was losing time. My friends tell me it is still writing. I know they're right and yet...

So to make me feel better, here's fresh writing. This blog is on my recent activity.

Manna For Heaven was published in 2014. A collection of 12 short stories. None of them are flash fiction, which I only started experimenting with in 2014 and therefore can be for another post :).

The cover was designed by someone on Fiverr. There are many designers on there and would recommend the site. Especially if like me, you have to watch your spending.

What I did find was that you never actually spend £5. For me it was always much more.

I liked this one very much. The hand drawn peacock was something I requested. But I soon came to dislike the font but six years down the line, I have become wiser on what I like and don't like about covers; so that's good.

This cover was designed by someone else on Fiverr. Again, I wanted something a little different to what others had out there, but I never used this. Until now. Thankfully I had this made both for eBook and paperback.

A few years ago, I downloaded templates from Createspace, (now KDP), and I still use those for my paperbacks.

1. I used the 5" x 8".
2. My eBook was in Word. Trying to put it into the template didn't work, it kept numbering each paragraph - stuff of nightmares. I couldn't understand what I was doing wrong and wasted loads of days. And then I had an epiphany! Er, not really. I just remembered Notepad.
3. I copied and pasted it into Notepad where it lost all its formatting. Then copying it from there, I pasted it into the template. It worked.
4.  Now I worked through the document. Inserted the title of the book on the left and right pages and the page numbers centre bottom. Then the main stuff. Went through the chapter heading and the body text etc. Paragraph by painful paragraph.
5. When all done, I logged into KDP, filled in the necessary information and uploaded both the MS as a PDF, and then the cover. Which was already in the PDF format.
6. I ordered a proof copy.
7. The feedback from KDP was that I had insufficient pages of text to suit the spine. Which meant I needed more stories.
8. I looked at the spine, and it was only just okay but I could see that it would benefit from a few more stories. Luckily I had some in published anthologies with other authors. So I added three more.
9. Another PDF done and uploaded. Another proof ordered. This one dearer than the first because of the increased pages.
10. Copy arrived, I went through it again - I'm amazed at how patient us writers are - and then went onto KDP and authorised the book to be available for publication/purchase.

The whole process, from start to finish took around three weeks. I've still to rework the eBook because the collection has extra stories in it.

Hearing back from readers who have really loved the characters, joined them in their adventures etc, is the most wonderful thing for a writer.  I am no different.

LOVE IN LOCK-DOWN

Hugs, touching another's hand whether it be cold, hot or sweaty, a kiss - I'm missing all that I'd taken for granted before. To those in similar situations, please accept a virtual love from me.

So...being of sound mind, I'm writing about my new love.

He's round, cuddly, makes a great noise when I turn him on, and he delivers! :)

If you're thinking what I'm thinking you're thinking...naughty!

It's my ARE2D2. I'm a Star Wars fan. Actually I love most things fantastical. Escapism has worked all my life for me and still does. I got my little fella from John Lewis with a voucher that paid towards half of him. I ordered him while my lovely friend Neill (who does a lot of my book covers for me), was here, (when it comes to trying new kitchen appliances I'm a bit of a chicken). With company to share the 'worry' in case it blew up (ridiculous, yes?!), we did sausages and bacon.

Delicious.

So my air fryer, that's right, it is a strange love, but because I live in a free country I'm allowed, I eat more healthily. I've not used grease at all. It's non-stick and comes clean very easily.

I also love it because it saves electricity by avoiding putting on the oven.The settings allow time and temperature adjustments. I usually start with a low heat setting than is recommended and then check and do for a bit longer.

 Plus there's no spatters to clean up because there's no frying involved.

I chose this model, it was just under £100, because it had a larger bowl than others I looked at. And the cuddly shape of course.

I've cooked breakfast stuff as mentioned in above paragraph, and chips and fish/fish fingers, pies, roasted vegetables, re-heated samosas, pakoras, (which are now delicious compared to the soggy or dried out versions I've had previously using microwave/oven). I've baked bread and cooked a few other items that I can't recall at the moment. This air fryer will also bake cakes but as I'm pre-diabetic I've avoided that for now.

My romance is getting stronger. Although it would be lovely to have a conversation with my ARE2D2, maybe it's better this way as he can't gaslight me. :)

Cheating With Willie

When is a promise really a promise? After all, a lie isn't a lie if you cross you fingers behind your back.

I'm likening this blog post to a white lie, because I agreed to blog every week. Today is the day and I'm short on time; I've not done my 1500 words on the draft novel; my walk was short; had lunch on the hoof; fewer brews; and you can't count telephone calls because they're like alcohol; you either love them or hate them. :)

So instead of a long chat, here's a little, (copy and paste) cheat.

Below is a flash fiction story published in the first Vicious Vignettes. These little stories are challenging, but I love writing them. The Willie Griffin story was so much fun. I love him and he now has a slot in every collection. This tale was reduced from 500 words to just over 200.

I liken these to making a yummy sauce; they get stronger.

Enjoy.

Another Day For Miss Flower

Starting the morning buoyed, holdups along the track, late train, no time to collect a snack, Miss Flower arrived in the school playground and scanned the building. At the last window she spotted the dour Head Teacher staring, glaring through the double glazing before snapping shut the blind.

However, having a good day, the administrative staff are much kinder with, ‘Good morning, Miss Flower. No Willie Griffin again. But Mr Davies is already searching the place.’ Nodding she’d heard them Miss Flower wondered whatever next because Willie’s mother could not be disturbed. Not after the last debacle.

Ready to be welcomed by 2BF with chaos and uproar, she was dumbfounded because they were reading and not clowning. She dumped her bag on top of their still-to-be-marked English Literature exercise books – it was one of the many piles littering the Victorian desk’s restricted surface. Normally stressed by mess, she wasn’t because her Teaching Assistant was returning from sick leave. By the end of the day, the clutter would be no more and there’d be a reprieve.

Hari Kumar spoke, ‘Willie Griffin’s missing, Miss.’

‘He’s in the library. Who wants to go tell Mr Davies?’ Logging into the computer she readies it for registration and hangs up her coat. She turns and smiles.

By the door was grim Mr Davies. ‘I’ve just told the Head,’ he said. ‘Willie Griffin’s jumped. He was at the window ledge, grinning. I lunged and grabbed and missed.’

Strange Seeds

I have a lot of interests including gardening. Since moving here, my seed collection has increased.

When I say my vegetable gardening, I mean, my attempts at it. I feel a real sense of satisfaction when the green foliage unfurls and shows itself. I can almost hear it say, 'hello'. Then, as with children, the hard work begins.

Last year I got patty pan squash seeds. In April, I planted six seeds. First only one came up. Only when I transplanted it to a bigger pot that I found another was showing signs of emerging and so I left it to continue.

Here they are.

Is it just me, or they are not related?

One is of the squash family but the other?

Any ideas welcome.

The Sequel To Seven Stops

This blog is being written specially for those who read my first novel, Seven Stops. My grateful thanks to you for doing so.

I started this for my Masters Degree in 2003, because part of the spec was a 60k word novel in as polished as condition as possible.

After the studying was over and I received my files back, (along with the lovely certificate which hangs on my wall), I read the comments the tutors made on my longest creative piece. Without doing anything with it/them, I continued to look at their notes for years, because I was bringing up kids, had jobs and other general life stuff to do, so the manuscript stayed as it was, stuffed in a drawer.

Finally, with loads of encouragement from friends and the children, the reworking began. I owe so much to their patience. Especially those who read and re-read my work in progress, with the finished piece very different to the original idea. The process from this point to publication, took over seven years. which seemed very appropriate and makes for an excellent talking point!

The artwork was done by my friend Tracy, and the special fonts by another close friend, Neill. I was delighted with both their interpretations of the book's content.

I have attempted writing the sequel Seven Stops many times, but every time, I got stuck. My mind was full of other novels/story ideas that kept driving me, taking precedence, (there's 10 out there on Amazon with a few in paperback, and the 11th, a ghost novel is ready for its synopsis), until, and the way I like to describe it; 'the characters tried getting me to listen to them to give them closure after I finished the book on 'hope', and now they were refusing to speak to me.'

However, it seems, left alone with only the gardening and solitary walks, they've taken pity on me. The result is Secret Steps. I have no idea about the cover but I love the title.

Today, I am almost half way into the first draft. The correct procedure for most of us writers upon finishing the raw piece, is to put it away for a few months and work on another project. My deadline is 20th May 2020 and on that day I aim to do this.

To my wonderful readers, I am forever grateful for your patience and ask for a little longer. I also welcome ideas for a cover because you know how the Seven Stops ended and the minds of the characters: Anna, Phil, Ashleigh and Lynsey Culpepper, Max and Alex Tearle, Meera and Jack Smith, Jay, Faith, Cassie, et al.

On their behalf, thank you :)

Milk Kefir - Probiotic

About five years ago a friend told me about Kefir.

'Did you say it's live?' I asked.

'It's good for your gut. Helps rid it of the bad bacteria and - '

I wasn't listening to her. 'But it's live. It could take over my whole body and literally eat me from the inside!'

She was calm and patient and kept a straight face. 'It'll help with your IBS.'

Regardless of her assurances, just imagine me doing that running away fast as my little legs will carry me with my arms flailing in the air.

Now? I am loving it. What changed my mind? I had to go see the doctor. I was tired, getting out of breath and my weight was going up and up. A blood test revealed that my cholesterol had rocketed etc, and Statins were mentioned. I requested time to think.

I did some research which involved going to see my good old friend, and I left hers armed with some water Kefir grains, as well as instructions on what to do with them. I put them in the fridge and did nothing for a week with them except open the fridge door, stare, and close it again.

Then I did more reading and watched loads of YouTube videos. That was how I got into Kefir. My friend to the left is what I had today.
I tried water kefir first. But I couldn't take to the taste unless I added fruit juice or other flavouring, which inevitably meant my sugar levels increased. In January 2020, I decided to try milk Kefir and bought some on-line from a safe website.

I am loving this stuff. Making it at home means it's cost effective; very important to me as I'm on a budget. It's healthy. I know this because my IBS has lessened as well as my cholesterol.

The little daffodil on the left has no relevance to Kefir, but was broken by the howling wind; so I probably terrified it by bringing it indoors and sticking it into a bottle.

I put the Kefir grains into a glass jar. Initially there were only about four and I thought the supplier had diddled me. I used full fat milk (blue top in my area), and filled it about half full. 24 hours later, the culture had fed and risen to the top of the jar and was ready. You can see the separation. Once you put it through either a stainless steel or plastic sieve, into a jug or similar container, put the grains that are left in the sieve, into either a fresh jar or the same (I reuse my jar around 5 times) and add the milk, so the cycle begins again.

The sieved liquid is ready to drink. To me it tastes a lot like yogurt. I tend to add a few grains of salt sometimes...yummy...don't tell the doctor.

If left longer, the above picture is of 48 hours later, it becomes thicker.

Last week I decided to try my hand at making cheese from the Kefir. I know you can use the Kefir water but I didn't. I carefully got rid of it so I could use the Kefir at its thickest. After retrieving the grains the usual way, I put the jar safely to one side.

I have found it handy to have more than one sieve and have learned a lot about getting the size of containers right :).

Placing the sieve over a jug, I lined it with a (untreated) coffee filter, and poured the mixture in. Folding the paper over, I put in a segment of satsuma for flavour, placed a small weight to increase the drainage and put the whole thing into the fridge to continue draining. 

This is my final result.

I've had it spread over toast, over crackers, and I've enjoyed it in a sandwich with ham and salad. It has a mild taste, very similar to fromage frais. Given how mild it is and I like it, I'm toying with the idea of having a go at making ice cream with it.

I'd welcome any tips.

Pre-diabetic And Still Want Cake

Until recently I used to find it difficult to name my favourite food but not now.

I love a Sunday roast with all the trimmings, including Yorkshire puddings. I love a sausage sandwich and a burger with lots of onions. I love Chinese food particularly noodles and I love pasta dishes, (when I was younger I wanted to marry a cook), and then I discovered Mills & Boon romances, and a chef on a white horse? No the image just didn't do it for me.

It wouldn't be right to not give a shout out to my mum. My taste buds tingle even now at the memory of her chicken curry. For a vegetarian, she always got it so aromatic and flavourful. Her curries and mine will be for another blog.

Now, if it was my very last meal (because I'd done a dastardly deed for real, not in my fiction), I would not choose anything savoury. Hoping the authorities wouldn't be 'tight' on me, I'd check/request that my plate, tray or table would be a supersize one, on to which my beloved would be ladled, spooned, or dished. So, a deep breath and starting with apple pie and custard, I'd continue with my list until told I'd gone beyond the prison's budget or just ordered to stop.

This I had in Knutsford a few weeks ago.
Apple Crumble with cream. Had it been with ice cream the sweetness would have done damage to several areas of one's, ahem, physique, one of which is the face.


This muffin with shop bought blackcurrent jam is just a sample (the picture was taken quickly because it kept nagging me to eat it), of a lovely friend's baking. Just like its brothers and sisters it was oh-my-actual...so yummy. I told myself I would share them but I ate four. As a result, I had spots galore.

This dessert I had recently at a pub in Newbury Park. Under all that syrup the apples were a perfect blend of sweet and tart.
Much as I felt guilty about not eating it all (I wasn't paying for the meal), my taste buds actually rejected it.

Wouldn't it be nice to eat all of the above without repercussions? I used to be able to with negligible weight gain. But now it is a dream.

I love our NHS and am very grateful for it. At the last annual maintenance on me, the tests showed my cholesterol and sugar levels were too high. I am now pre-diabetic and have to watch everything I eat and drink.

It's tough when you've a sweet tooth. Sugar in my tea, cakes with my tea, biscuits with or without tea, etcetera. Plus, when I am writing, I snack. Its as if my brain won't engage with my fingers unless my mouth is being rewarded!

After searching the internet and discussing my 'condition' to death, I'm currently experimenting 'mix and match' with artificial and natural products to sweeten my drink/food in order to meet my cravings.

See my Stevia plant? I'm loving its sweet leaves but when I soaked them in water...I couldn't stand the look or taste.

Natvia: I have to add about a quarter spoon of granulated Tate & Lyle to make it palatable. In fact it enhances the flavour of my morning coffee, but in tea I still find it 'not right'.
Xylitol: This I'm fine with but it does mean more trips to the bathroom, so it's being used sparingly.
Stevia Sweetners: These don't do it for me. The taste lingers on my tongue for ages.
Honey: I love this but it increases my sugar levels and so am only using it as a treat.

I can't resist fruit but am cutting down on it. I've tried coconut sugar too. It was very expensive and delicious with a sort of caramel taste, but one of the worst ones for someone with my diagnosis.

This is an incredibly delicious lemon cake that another friend who makes cakes the traditional way (without cutting back on anything), made for me. It doubled the rash on my face and so I was forced to find a kind soul to take it off my hands. My nice neighbour came to my aid :)



Another session with the diet nurse soon. Let's hope the levels are lower.

Writer Aspiring To Be A Gardener

When I downsized, I had a tick list of what I wanted. As a writer of fiction, I pretty much was able to conceive getting everything my heart desired.

One of my ‘I would like’ was to have a smallish garden. And in that garden I would grow pretty flowers, plants and vegetables.

It wasn't to be. What I have is a back garden that is mostly flagged, badly, and very ugly. The above picture is of somebody else's. 

Another 'I would like' was a solid raised bed (to bend over without wrecking my back), in which to grow lots of yummy, healthy vegetables easily. However, this is England and it does rain a lot. And because costs have to be contained, compromise is the only way I could have the cake and eat it too. A brick construction was too expensive, so I opted for a wooden one. The price for a ton of soil was an unpleasant surprise too, but I was already committed.

I planted onions, potatoes, garlic, salad, and turnips. The onions were beautiful. The seven potatoes I pushed into the soil produced a very pleasing amount for a beginner. The mixed salad leaves grew faster than I could eat them. The garlic disappeared and caterpillars stripped my turnips of their leaves.

Lots of sun, wind, rain and months passed, and finally it was time to harvest. So I got out there with alacrity and returned inside with similar speed.

Woe is me, why is my soil crawling with black flies? I asked aloud.

The answer wasn't quite, 'Fear not my child,' but near enough. My digging on the internet resulted in reassurances such as, I had nothing really to worry about but I could treat the problem, or let nature take its course. I chose the latter.

It is now Spring and I have noticed that my raised bed's planks are not as sturdy as before and it wobbles, probably due to the amount of water in the soil etcetera. I am not going to think about having to scoop and tidy away a ton of soil if the thing collapses.

I wonder what 2020 has in store for this amateur gardener and writer of creative fiction? More of my Vicious Vignettes for definite. There's three collections so far. I love writing those because they're fun and perfect for everyday life. Or maybe I should just run away? But I haven't a clue where to and of course that isn't the end of the story.