I'm beginning to get the impression that I could be doing something right either that or my eyes are playing up, because according to my kudos counter, I have 140,000 of the little darlin's.
As I fly towards my dotage at the speed of light, I seem to have gathered another anniversary of my emergence on this planet. All it seems to bring these days is another ache or pain somewhere new which seems an awful price to pay for a few birthday cards. Such is life (or my one appears to be).
Then again, I'm living the dream and have been for a very long time, so perhaps I shouldn't complain.
I went to see Philomena, starring Judy Dench and Steve Coogan, based upon the book written by Martin Sixsmith about an Irishwoman's search for her son who was taken from her when he was a toddler and adopted by some Americans in about 1956. It was very good, some funnies and lots of sadness - a chick flick.
Judy Dench was excellent as always and much to my surprise, so was Coogan as journalist/author Sixthsmith who was originally reluctant to get involved with this mad Irishwoman. For those who don't know the story, I won't spoil it other than to suggest you go and see it.
As we speed towards episode 2200 of Bike, do I detect people are getting bored with it? It seems comments are fewer than usual and even the kudos are a bit lower than I usually get - or am I being a little hypersensitive? Do readers want me to continue or has it had its day?
As for the number of transgender people in a single dwelling in Portsmouth, I was in a house with six others, which makes seven last week, so perhaps my storyline wasn't quite so preposterous as it may have first seemed, just a tad unusual.
Following the German legislation about intersex babies having the option of no sex recorded on the birth certificate, this intersex woman who is also a therapist calls for more legislation in Europe.
We have had a series of power cuts here, which after working a twelve hour day did little for my temper. It also caused the computer to go down three times. I am therefore not risking anything tonight. I hope to restore normal Bike service tomorrow. (This is what happens when you sell off all the utilities to foreign companies - idiot politicians, shoot the lot of them).
It would appear that the Gulf States Cooperative Council are considering a Kuwaiti proposal to carry out sex tests on immigrants wishing to work there with the intention of preventing entry by transgender people.
I do wonder if I came to the wrong planet because I was seeking one with intelligent life forms!
In a blatant attempt to double the number of my readers to four, and still basking in the afterglow of completing SNAFU - at least in its first version (I want to do a full edit when I have time)- I'm inviting readers to inform me which of my outstanding serials - not including Bike - they would like me to write another episode.
To refresh memories these are:
Charlotte's Tale.
Soldier of Misfortune.
PFH - The British Kid.
Totally Insane.
Or if you don't fancy any of those, a brand new short story.
I had loads I could have done today, from mowing grass to doing laundry to riding my bike. I was too tired or lazy to do any of them. I didn't even get dressed but have sat about in my nightdress all day reading Snafu - I'd quite like to do another chapter of that if I can find the energy and I'm quite pleased with some of the earlier chapters.
It was good to meet up with Mads and the rest of the crew on Friday evening for dinner at a very reasonably priced carvery to fortify us for the stresses of the next two days.
Life seems to be intent on stopping me from having any time to myself, which is when I write as well as sleep, eat and poo - okay, TMI. Tonight, after a second twelve hour day in succession, I had two long phone calls, the second from my needy friend and it's sucked all the energy from me.
Tomorrow evening, I shall be trying to get my act in gear enough to pack for the Gabicon, so I honestly don't know when I shall next have time to write and post the next episode of Bike, possibly not until after the weekend. So please have patience, even we superhumans have off days.
No one ever suggested that it was easy being a writer, though I always thought on BC it was easier than most places because of the friendly atmosphere. I'm not so sure anymore. I'm seriously thinking I might stop writing Bike, perhaps it's run its course - maybe I don't have anything to say anymore without apparently upsetting people, maybe I should just bow out and let someone else entertain people for nothing.
I'm still thinking about it. I won't withdraw my stuff as others have done but I might not post here again either.
I don't believe in muses, writing is a cerebral thing and it's something I've always done. I've written Bike most days for the past six years to prove to myself it can be done without loads of drama, or special conditions - I just sit there for an hour/ ninety minutes and out pops the next episode. In some ways it's easier than writing from scratch because my characters are well established and I have plot lines I can continue or even pick up from a while back.
A blog on the Guardian based upon an article in the NY Times. I hope this is one trend that doesn't cross the pond, it's plain stupid and the parents should be prosecuted, it's tantamount to abuse.
Especially interesting because it's the number of kudos I appear to have in my account. So once again my thanks to all who've contributed, I do appreciate it and Whizz thinks they taste wonderful - go figure.
We're probably having more new material every day than ever before, so it's easy for earlier works to be forgotten. I asked Sephy to resurrect Stephanie's Deal as a retro-classic to remind readers who might have missed it before. I just finished reading Torey's 'Switching Playing Fields', and its sequel, 'On The Flip Side'; two stories with a lovely feelgood factor about them. I highly recommend them to those who haven't previously encountered them.
We're approaching 2100 episodes of Bike and I thought I'd better ask the readers if they want me to continue. Bonz and Whizz have indicated they have no difficulties in continuing providing I give them a rise in the number of munchies they get to eat
- blackmailing little monsters.
Judging by the response to the recent birthday episode, I suspect this question is possibly rhetorical, but I feel I should ask it every now and again, just to make sure, and assuming that the management are also happy to continue finding space for my daily ramblings.
A BBC4 film about the thespian couple who loved each other but couldn't live together. It was very well performed by Dominic West as Richard Burton and Helena Bonham-Carter as Liz Taylor. If you get a chance to watch it, do.
I think it's worth reminding people that there are some cracking stories on this site in the archives, both stand alones and serials. So do feel free to browse, but remember to give the authors a Kudo or a comment or both.
Checks can be made out & sent to:
Joyce Melton
1001 Third St.
Space 80
Calimesa, CA 92320
USA
Note: $6000 is the operating, maintenance and upgrade budget. Amounts received in excess of the $6000 will be applied to long term debt accrued over the last 19 years.
