The Driver, the Moose and the Bear

Don't you hate the days when you dodge a moose only to hit a bear. What seems at first glance to be a glib metaphor was, for one Norwegian driver, all too real. Having swerved to miss a wayward moose, he then found himself confronted by a bear. The driver and the moose escaped unharmed, the bear is still at large, no doubt avoiding roads at all cost.
For the full story, click the link: the driver, the moose and the bear

No Funnies, Just an Angry Billionaire

The news has lost its way since the Olympics ended. There are few funny or heartwarming stories about, unless you're looking for cute animal stories - sweet, but samey.
There was a debate earlier in the week considering the impact the news media has on the national mood. During the Olympics, the news was largely positive, happy, celebratory even, but there was a fear that the end of the games would see a return to a preoccupation with bad news. It seems that fear has been realised.
Large in the news is Richard Branson, furious with the government's handling of the bid for the contract on the West Coast rail line. He lost the bid, he claims unfairly. Now, he may have a point, but he begins to risk sounding like a two year old throwing a tantrum because he lost out in a free-market bid. Though if I'm being honest, I'd side with Branson over the government every time.
It's an interesting story, but it's laced with vitriol, conspiracy and contempt. You read the story and, whichever side you take, your blood pressure rises. I'd like to appeal to the various news agencies to bring a little balance to the national mood. Let's have some funny stories, some happy stories, some positivity. They're better for our health!

QT Anthology Update

Some time ago I mentioned that the second anthology needed one more story, to avoid jangling my superstitious side by publishing a collection of 13 stories. At last, I have story number 14! There's some work to do on editing and conversion, but The QT Anthology, Unseen Stories is now very close to launch.
In other news, I am continuing the read-through of Book Two of the trilogy. I've found a few things I want to change, just to add the final gloss to the story, but I'm well over halfway through now and am confident it won't be long before I announce the launch date of 'Billy and the North Oakian Alliance'.

Coming soon:

An Old Friend

I've decided to take a break from my Mac keyboard. I was suspicious of it when we first got it, but it's sleek and small and looks tidy on the desk, and I hoped that with use I would grow accustomed to the flat, low bounce keys. I suppose I did to a degree, but recently I've found myself missing my old Microsoft curvy keyboard, bought as a leaving present by my former colleagues.
It's like welcoming an old friend back into my life. I've tapped out the better part of three books on this keyboard. The high traffic keys are so worn that anyone unable to touch-type would find it impossible to navigate. In fact, a closer inspection reveals the only letters still reasonably untouched are Q, F, G and B!
I have to configure it to work fully with the Mac - when I figure out how. At the moment I've lost some of the keyboard shortcuts, but even so, it's good to be back on the curve. Here's hoping it re-ignites my creativity after the excitement of the Olympics.

London 2012 Closing Ceremony

WARNING: You may want to stand back a little for this post, I plan on being effusive, possibly even sentimental, though I hope to stop short of gushing, because that's just embarrassing.

Wow! Wow! Wow! I didn't think the opening ceremony could be topped, but then came the closing ceremony!
London landmarks, a London rush hour, music performed from the backs of lorries, Bentleys, mopeds and taxis, and Timothy Spall in the guise of Churchill, emerging from the top of 'Big Ben', with Stomp doing their thing in the background.
The start was good, the concert that followed was epic. So many great artists: Elbow, Pet Shop Boys, Madness, Annie Lennox, Jessie J, Kaiser Chiefs, Brian May, Muse, George Michael, Take That, The Who, even Freddie Mercury and John Lennon contributed. The opening bars of 'Wish You Were Here' got me all excited, until I realised the only Pink Floyd member present was drummer, Nick Mason - David Gilmour, wish you'd been there.
And then there was Eric Idle, the human cannonball - I'm going to be whistling 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' for days now!
I'm going to have to buy the DVD of the evening, because our recorder only recorded erratically. He who fixes the computer confessed it was his fault for using the quick programme (? There are different programmes?) but he hastened to point out that a professionally edited recording would remove all trace of the annoying BBC presenters' banal interruptions.
Hope you all enjoyed it, and I hope I avoided gushing!
It's all finished to perfection with Team GB's own production of 'Don't Stop Me Now'. Loving Chris Hoy, and Victoria Pendleton as a tiger, and the Brownlee brothers, duelling it out with water pistols!
Thanks and congratulations Team GB!

This Christmas's Must-Have Toy

It's getting around to the time when I need to begin thinking about my Christmas list. Yes, I know it's only August, but I like to be prepared. To be honest, there's not much I really want right now, apart from a publishing deal, which I'm assured is beyond Father Christmas's powers, but I did see something today that looked like fun.
I've mentioned before on this blog my love of model making and my appreciation of the skills of those craftsmen who create exact miniature replicas. What I stumbled across today is not actually miniature, but it is a model, albeit 1:1 ratio. I suspect Father Christmas may think the price tag a little high, and I doubt we could find room for it, even though we do now have our SuperShed, but a girl can dream:
1:1 Airfix Style Model
What's the betting you still get the standard inadequate little tube of glue with it?

Running Pains

As part of our efforts to stay healthy, he who fixes the computer and I go running together. Sometimes it's enjoyable, sometimes it's a struggle, sometimes it feels like torture, and I find myself slogging along in my fitter other half's wake, scowling enviously at those far more sensible women cruising past in their air-conditioned cars.
Having seen this particular news article, however, I have made a private promise not to moan too much the next time I'm pounding along the local roads with sweat dripping down my back and my lungs threatening to pop. The story in question is that of the American relay runner, Manteo Mitchell, who broke his leg halfway into his 400 metre stint, but still carried on to help his team to qualification for the final:
US Sprinter Breaks Leg During Race
What an absolute hero! Now that sums up the spirit of the games. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Manteo.