BeWitched, BeSmurfed, Bea-Stowed, Be Damned

BEWITCHED

We went off to Bolam Lake Country Park last weekend.  Oh, what a beauty spot it is. Dave took some great photos (and I didn't do so badly myself!).

That wonderful outing prompted me to dig out an old rhyme I'd written as part of a commissioned article:

Autumn Leaves, Pheasant Eaves

http://trifter.com/europe/united-kingdom/autumn-leaves-pheasant-eaves/

... for The Pheasant Inn, Falstone, Kielder in Northumberland National Park.

www.thepheasantinn.com

 

So I cobbled the poem - changed it into something a little different - and out popped -  
THE SPELL

When I had it published on Wikinut - it was awarded the
*STAR PAGE*.  
Here's the link:

THE SPELL
http://www.wikinut.com/the-spell/25hec_ng/r83q6jyk/ 

BESMURFED

Phil (my grown up son) and I, took ourselves off to see the new SMURFS 3D Movie the other afternoon.  A bit bemused (beSMURFED, I might add) to see a whole host of kids there - hardly an adult in sight except for the ones chaperoning (!!) - we should have known better than to expect the place to be littered with adult idiots like us. "Ooops!" I thought, but OH, the movie was ace.

We laughed all the way through from the very start to the credits at the end.  You need to go see it, even if it's just to see Asrael (Mr Krinkle in real life), the wizard Gargamel's Ginger Tom!  Brilliant.  

  

BEA-STOWED

I was in heaven when I opened my post and got my August Issue (11) of Debut Magazine (Park Publications). Because inside the mag was a cheque for £25 and a note to tell me I'd been place 2nd in the READERS' CHOICE PRIZE WINNERS for my published story in the May Issue (10)
There I was on the editor's page -

2nd Prize SHEILA NEWTON... 

ME, BEA AN' BETSY MAKE THREE.

 BE DAMNED!

Well, I'LL BE DAMNED.  All of my organization - Google diary, keeping up-to-date with my novel and my assignments went RIGHT OUT OF THE WINDOW since I last blogged here.  ALL THAT PLANNING - GONE!

My commission for the Tyne Bar was a priority - with research, visits to the bar, photographs etc. - and then of course, the writing of the piece.

 My invitation to write the CD Jacket blurb for the Boneshakers' new album,  

'SHAKEN AND STIRRED'  

was a mad dash in researching and writing the script.


I needed to complete an 'about writing' article and send off the manuscript to the publishers.

I needed to get my next North East Life Mag article underway.

PHEW!!!!  

 NO TIME FOR MY NOVEL.

NO TIME FOR MY NEXT WRITERS BUREAU ASSIGNMENT.

I need to get ORGANISED again SOON

NO TIME FOR THE CATS. NO TIME FOR GARDENS OR MR BLACKBIRD.

My beautiful Orchid

THE CATS, THE BIRD AND THE GARDEN WEREN'T PUT OUT - THEY JUST GOT MERRILY ON WITH IT!

The Delectable Rosie

The Sensational Mr Jim

Cheeky Mr Blackbird

Pretty Lilies and Hydrangeas   

Now, believe me (if you can) constant readers, next time I blog here, I'll be organised -

BET'CHA' (!!)

A Wine Glass, Walking, Waterfalls - and Wikinut!

A WINE GLASS

Monster Wine Glass!

It was my husband's birthday last month - and his favourite present was from our son, Phil.  A great, big, huge MONSTER of a wine glass!

 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVE


WALKING

That's me, in Holywell Dene

It was such a bonny day last Sunday, that Dave and I went off in the car to Holywell Dene in Northumberland, to walk in the woods and meadows.  What a find!  Just 15 minutes drive from where we live in the town of North Shields and we were out in the glorious countryside, sun beating down on us, a flask of tea in our back pack and a smile on our faces at the beauty of the place.  We didn't walk right down to the coastline on this walk, but you can - and we probably will next time.  There'll be an article about our wonderful walk in Holywell Dene written by yours truly VERY SOON.  So watch this space, 
constant readers.

WRITE ON:

It's all happening for me AGAIN on the writing front, folks.  I received some information about a course on writing stage plays.  It looks brilliant.  Doesn't start until next May.  Hope it doesn't get in the way of the forthcoming OLYMPICS.  I'm going to apply, though - and hope I get accepted.
There's another course - a Creative Writing Workshop via Tyne Met College - starting September that I'm considering.  Having given up my writing courses, I'm beginning to miss the company of the writing fraternity (notwithstanding the excellent support I get for writers online, of course: not to mention my dear writing buddy, Fleur, in SA.

 ...And then...I've been getting organised, dear readers and made a start on getting my first novel underway - PROPERLY...AT LAST!!  It's called 'Lavender Cat', a story for young adults.  Wish me luck - keep your fingers well and truly  XX'd for me, won't you? 

Over the last week or so, I've published an article for Purple Slinky online: 

Swan-ee, How I Love Ya!

http://purpleslinky.com/offbeat/swan-ee-how-i-love-ya/

and a feature on my North east Life blog/column:

All Fall Down in Windermere!

Just the Ticket – A Walker’s Paradise on Windermere Lake

http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/community/blogs/detail/just-the-ticket--a-walkers-paradise-on-windermere-lake/id/5509/

Time to have Fun at the Tyne Bar!

...and...I've been commissioned by the Tyne Bar, Ouseburn,Newcastle to write a feature for them.  I'm honoured, Tyne Bar. Thanks.  I'll be writing the feature soon.  I'll keep you posted, constant readers.

 ...and... there's more (!!!) ... I've been invited to write the jacket of the fabulous BONESHAKERS blues band's forthcoming 
11-track CD.  I'll keep you posted on that too.


  



WATERFALLS

Startling Stock Ghyll Force

Continuing the saga of my jaunts with my Australian sister, my next piece of writing is about the stunning waterfall of Stock Ghyll Force in Ambleside.  It will be featured in North East Life Mag online - and possibly elsewhere.  When (if!!) it's published, I'll give you the link.

WIKINUT

"What a name!" I hear you say.  I did too.  However, I checked them out, applied and got accepted to write for them.  I've written two features for them up to now.  Here they are:

Parc Guell in Barcelona

Viva Barcelona!

http://travel.wikinut.com/Viva-Barcelona!/1hocwet0/

Boneshakers Blues it at the Sand Dancer Pub

The Land of the Sand Dancer

http://travel.wikinut.com/The-Land-of-the-Sand-Dancer/15w3msfv/

I hope you enjoy them.  In the meantime, I must get back to this novel of mine.
Go and have fun, dear readers.  And may all your dreams come TRUE.