Over four years ago I walked away from this place for reasons which by now have lost their relevance. Since then I haven't written a word. Which is probably a relief to many. Until last Thursday when I had an idea and was foolish enough to start to write it down.
And I found some of the old enjoyment. So in the hope that someone else may enjoy the reading of it, here it is.
Comments and even criticism will, as always, be warmly appreciated.
The general indifference to Chapter 2 of 'The Van ...' has been quite deafening. I have therefore decided to discontinue it. At least as a TG/TV tale. I still think there is mileage in the idea and am toying with rewriting and perhaps posting in on Fictioneer in due course. I enjoy writing and, if other commitments permit, that is perhaps the way forward for me.
I have left unfinished and unloved for far too long 'The Van that Changed the World.'
This has played on my conscience as I hate the idea of leaving anything unfinished. I haven't much of a conscience in truth but it does seem to let down those who have read the first chapter. Such a waste of their time! Everytime I see someone else has been lured into reading it I have a pang of guilt.
This is an old topic but it was brought back to mind today. I once wrote something called 'The Deception of Choice' which was posted in 17 episodes plus an Epilogue. I was pleased to see that today Episode 1 achieved 6,000 hits. Not all of the 6.000 read it of course but arrived at it either by curiosity, mischance, or poor typing skills. I even went there myself several times. Nearly 4,000 have to date dropped in on the Epilogue yet only 2,000 hit on Episode 17, whereas over 4,500 landed on the shores of Episode 14.
Those readers possessed of a specially sensitive and caring nature may have passed sleepless nights a couple of months ago as they agonised over the problems I was experiencing whilst trying to insert pictures and fancy text into the teaser of "An Eft in Her Bra."
Such exceptional souls may recall that Bobbie offered to compile an idiot's guide for those, such as myself, to whom computers and all associated with them are shrouded in a malignant mist.
An Elf in Her Bra has been in Hatbox for about a year and is now eligible for release to the general public.
During the last twelve months I have been inundated with many requests regarding my future intentions for it. Many are those who many have implored, begged, indeed offered financial incentives, in a vain attempt to influence me.
In spite of all such, and ignoring all threats, I have decided to indeed release it in the Public Domain here at Hallowe'en. So there!
These reflections were sparked by the comments following Nancy Cole's 'A Different Kind of Courage' Part 17. And in particular by Angharad and Karen's contribution. :)
"Nearly 60 years ago, the writer James Morris married Elizabeth Tuckniss. Their relationship endured divorce, the death of a child — and his sex change. Now they have cemented their partnership with a civil union."
But would it? Did The Bard get it wrong? Or did Juliet rather, for it would be a cardinal sin to ascribe to a writer the sentiments uttered by a character.
I offer this as a diversion. I was going to post it at the end of June when I returned from holiday but as times seem a little troubled I thought it would be best brought forward as a sort of affirmation of my belief in this site.
It may have been there for months. Everyone else probably knows about it, commented upon it even, but I have just noticed another male/female brain test on the BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sex/add_user.shtml
According to the blurb -
'Some researchers say that men can have 'women's brains' and that women can think more like men.
This is from Everybody's Scrapbook of Curious Facts, compiled by one Don Lemon and published well over 100 years ago. The author is unknown and the story line alas is not beyond criticism although it could be read as an early manifestation of feminism!
I came across it in a newspaper article by a Robert Richardson many years ago. He remarked that it may lack Maupassant's humanity and Maugham's style, but it is a story in a class of its own.
I think it is quite remarkable and should be known to a wider audience. Judge for yourself. I was reminded of it on reading the alliteration in Jezzi's sparkling 'Bimbo Bread'
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