Today’s Pictures: 1 June 20

One of the gateways that allows Forestry Commission wagons into the forest for maintenance work. The route into the trees in now lined by oaks, beeches and pines. The idea here is to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Here, in the UK, June 1st is the first day …

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Today’s Pictures: 31 May 20

This track, one of the few that are gravelled, has the appearance of a path through a park. Mind you, if you step off it, as we usually do, you soon know you're in an untamed forest! The idea here is to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Thought …

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Today’s Pictures: 30 May 20

An old stile on a track in the forest. The idea here is to brighten the day for those people isolated indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic. And, as a contrast, a shot from our day trip around Lake Maggiore, Northern Italy, just as the sun was setting. This was taken September 2018, when we took …

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Finding the #Write #Words? No. 33: The Oxford Manual of Style

Continuing the description of books on words and language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 33: The Oxford Manual of Style Paperback, 1033 pages. Published in 2002 by Oxford University Press, this is the edition I own. I bought it as part of a bundle offered by a book club, so …

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Finding the #Write #Words? No. 32: The Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors

Continuing the description of books on words and language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 32: The Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors Hardback, 448 pages. Published in 1981 by Oxford University Press. There was a revision in 2000, producing a second edition, with 416 pages. A used copy of that …

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Finding the #Write #Words? No. 31: The Little Red Writing Book

Continuing the description of books on words and language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 31: The Little Red Writing Book Paperback, 160 pages. Published in 2007 by Writer’s Digest Books. This is the edition I own and I can’t recall what I paid for it. You can buy it new …

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Today’s Picture: 09 May 20

Pictures taken on our forest walk to brighten the day, especially for those confined inside. And, today, a lovely walk, captured as a photo essay, to celebrate my 72nd birthday. The morning sun flares through the canopy. From the narrow track, we come to a wider 'forest road'. This shaded, narrow track is so steep …

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Finding the #Write #Words? No. 30: The Last Word

Continuing the description of books on words and language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 30: The Last Word. Hardback, 312 pages. Published in 2009 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. This is the edition I own and I can’t recall what I paid for it, because it was one of a bundle …

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Today’s Picture: 05 May 20

Oak grove. Pictures to brighten your day. If you enjoy this, please share it, so others can enjoy it, too. Thank you. Horton Bridge. Up to the 1960s, this bridge carried steam trains. Now, the heaviest traffic is a very occasional Forestry Commission Landrover, Horses and riders, dogs with their walkers, and roughie-toughie women, and …

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Creative #Writing #Contests Table Updated

On the 1st of every month I remind followers of this blog the creative writing contest table has been updated. (I update it several times every month, but this reminder is posted just once!) If you’d like to be reminded by email, please click the ‘Follow this blog’ button at the top of the right-hand …

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Finding the #Write #Words? Post 29: The Grouchy Grammarian

Continuing the description of books on words and language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 29: The Grouchy Grammarian Paperback, 186 pages. Published in 2003 by BCA. This is the edition I own and appears to be the current one. You can buy it new in paperback for £9.95, Used from …

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Daily Forest Walk Picture 30.04.20

Spreading some light and pleasure to those confined by the current crisis. See post 1, here, for a fuller explanation. This is post 27. Rain again today. But the sun was peeking from behind the clouds as we set off. Half a kilometre later we were treated to an extra shower. It rained for much …

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Dust & Lightning, by Rebecca Crunden: #BookReview.

124 pages Dystopian Science Fiction This science fiction novella is listed under the ‘dystopian’ tag. However, it contains the currently essential ingredient, hope, so leaves the reader in an uplifted mood after a journey through some pretty dire times. It’s a well-written piece, with very few editing needs. Most importantly (to me, anyway) it’s easy …

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Daily Forest Walk Picture 29.04.20

Spreading some light and pleasure to those confined by the current crisis. See post 1, here, for a fuller explanation. This is post 26. Morning began with two short power cuts, which rather interrupted my work on the PC. After breakfast, we travelled to a nearby market town for some fresh food. In the village, …

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Daily Forest Walk Picture 28.04.20

Spreading a bit of light and pleasure to those confined by the current crisis. See post 1, here, for an explanation. This is the 25th post. It was raining when we woke. It was raining most of the night, and it’s still raining as I write this. If it doesn’t stop, for the sake of …

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