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.

Saturday Soiree, Sunday in the Sun - and Swans!

SATURDAY SOIREE

Iron Man

I had the greatest night out with 'my girls' in Newcastle last Saturday.  

At Pinocchio's Restaurant

We had a lovely Italian meal in Pinocchio's, after rummaging around the courtyard of the Black Swan where a stunning statue of the 'Iron Man' is displayed in all its glory!  



 Leah and I did a 'knees-up and bums-out' around the statues at Central Station (much to Dawn's chagrin) after tanking up just an eensy-weensy bit in the Long Bar!

Whoops-e-Daisy!

Tan Stripes on Show (Dawn is definitely NOT AMUSED!)

Big Laughs in Flairs

Givin' it Large!

We boogied on down at the famous '80's bar, 'Flairs' just off the Bigg Market .  The fascinators and posh frocks were out in force after Ladies Day at the Races.  And, oh, what a superb time we had. We laughed all night at the afro wigs and the Arnold Schwarzenegger look-a-like-ee(!) We danced and sang to all the golden-oldie songs of the 80's - and cocktails and southern comforts were on our Long Bar and Flairs menu.  Mmmm!
Then we all bought a girls' night out key ring, complete with photograph- how very BIZARRE! 

The Three of Us...

 SUNDAY IN THE SUN

The garden's looking great, now that summer's here, the sun's out (most of the time!) and my tubs and baskets are vibrant with all the colours of the rainbow.  This year, my resident blackbird is getting fat on cat food and my resident frog hops about happily, catching flies and enjoying the watering can. 

So this hungover Sunday afternoon, we 'hung over' in the garden until it was time to go down to Newcastle's Tyne Bar to see the 'Scoundrels' rock band.

The amazing sounds of Russ's Stratocaster and Ronnie's blues harp echoed as we parked the cars down the road.  Maybe they heard those soulful sounds all the way down the Tyne to the Wear!  The band played on the famous open-air stage, with perfect acoustics under the tunnel of Ouseburn Lock.  After a great afternoon, Leah went off to Walker, Dawn and Steve drove to Sheffield - and Dave and I went home to CRASH!!  

 WRITE ON:

 It's been a busy couple of weeks.  I've been taking part, once again, in the Writers Weekly 24 hour writing contest.  It's the greatest fun, any of you competitive writers out there.  It's an American company - and I know they're bone fide, having already won an honourable mention prize from them last Winter.  If you're interested in joining in with the next one, go to:
www.writersweekly.com - or just click on the shortcut link below

I want to enter the Fall 2011 contest.     

I've also entered the WOW Women on Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction contest (750 words max).  That's great fun too.  I keep getting to first base with them - but no further.  MAYBE THIS TIME!
If you want to enter - or join WOW - go to:
www.wow-womenonwriting.com 
or just use the shortcut below:
Click to Download the SUMMER 2011 FLASH FICTION Contest Terms & Conditions PDF 

You can read my short, short fiction story, 'Oh, Lord', published by Authspot Online, if you click on the link below:

Oh! Lord

http://authspot.com/short-stories/oh-lord-3/

And my latest penning for North East Life, 'North Meets South on the Shields Ferry' is at:

North meets South on the Shields Ferry

http://northeast.greatbritishlife.co.uk/community/blogs/detail/north-meets-south-on-the-shields-ferry/id/5292/ 

...SWANS 

It's been time, this week, to write about my experiences in Windermere (See my last Writing for my Life blog, 'A Tale of Two Sisters'). One of the articles is PARTLY about SWANS, the other is ALL about SWANS.

 So...


My North East Life Blog, 'Walkers Ticket on Windermere Lake' will be published soon.
My Article, 'Swan-ee, How I love Ya' will be up for publication soon too.  
I'll give you both links when I get them.










For now, CONSTANT READERS, au revoir.  Talk to you SOON

A Tale of Two Sisters - An' The Adverb's a Cissy!

A TALE OF TWO SISTERS:

I haven't blogged here for such a long time and I apologise, dear readers.  But there's a reason - a good reason, honest!
My sister Barbara came to visit from the hot deserty salty air of Karratha in the North West of Australia for six weeks, armed with a Brit Rail pass for two - and we travelled the length and breadth of England, trekked hither and thither, investigated every bit of woodland, moorland and craggy landscape we could find. We saw wildlife galore in the strangest places, doing the strangest things!

Seagull eating chips in St Ives

Squirrel in Sefton Park, Liverpool

Red Robin, Red Lion, Dittisham, Devon

Hareshaw Linn, Northumberland

Bunny on Northumbria University Campus, Newcastle

St Bees nr. Whitehaven, Cumbria

Preening Swan at Windermere

Digitalis Overdose in Durham!

  

Heron up a Weeping Willow, St James's Park, London

Moorhen makes a nest in Dover

Family of Ducks in Calais

We flew to Corfu for a week of wonderful wild scenery awash with birds, butterflies and beautiful critters.

Beautiful Butterfly settles on Ground

Stunning Bird in Treetops

Tortoise Crossing the Road

 

Yellow Butterfly in the Pink (Orange?)

Cheekiest Parrot EVER!

Window-Box Wild Cat?

We rediscovered our roots in LOVERLY LIVERPOOL.

Back to my street in Liverpool 1

My Nanna's house in Liverpool 15

In short, we had a BALL and I'll blog each trip in GLORIOUS DETAIL - so - WATCH THIS SPACE!

WRITE ON:

On 16th June, I was published FOR THE SECOND TIME by the fabulous FLASH FICTION CHRONICLES with a tongue-in-cheek, 'about writing', piece about the ADVERB.

 Here's the link:

Flash Fiction Chronicles: Adverb: Amigo or Adversary

http://www.everydayfiction.com/flashfictionblog/adverb-amigo-or-adversary-2/#comments

...and if you go to the 'Little Leaf Guesthouse' Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/littleleafguesthouse

you'll find 'Adverb' posted there too!!  Thank you Little Leaf - the best B and B not only in St Ives, Cornwall, but in the whole country too!!

 My commissioned article about GORGEOUS LA GREZE and the stunning countryside and hilltop villages of the MIDI-PYRENEES in Southern France has been published online by TRIFTER.  Here's the link:

Gorgeous La Greze of the Tarn

http://trifter.com/practical-travel/gorgeous-la-greze-of-the-tarn/

John and Judi of La Greze

So...thank you for your patience constant readers...

...And I'll talk to you soon