This may not seem like the most pressing of issues, particularly given some of the appalling items in the news at the moment, but it's becoming an ever more desperate problem for me and, I suspect, quite a lot of other women, so bear with me.
Now I admit, I'm a rubbish shopper. Or perhaps I'm just a discerning one. I need new jeans, mine are all years old and falling apart, but I haven't been able to find any in the cut that suits me. A concerted hunt along the high street at the weekend confirmed my suspicion that basically all the shops are selling the same pair of jeans - the dreaded 'skinny'.
For those not in the know, 'skinny' jeans are skin tight all the way from ankle to hip. They not only exaggerate the slimmest part of the leg, the ankle, but also the fattest, on the average woman, her thighs and hips, making the leg look like an upturned, well formed parsnip. Not the look I'm going for.
Even a visit to Marks and Spencer revealed 'skinny' jeans in abundance. The only 'straight' jeans they sold were worryingly slim fitting with rib-high waists and leg lengths short enough to reveal not only the ankle but also a good portion of calf. I like my jeans long and low, I like them snug on my hips, loose on the thigh, broad at the ankle and long enough to drape over the shoe. Shops don't sell jeans like that any more.
So, if you see a blushing woman hurrying down the high street in ragged and heavily patched jeans, it'll just be me making another fruitless shopping trip. If you know of any shop, anywhere, that stocks a comprehensive variety of denim styling, please stop me and point me in the right direction. I and my knackered old jeans will be eternally grateful.
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Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Venus in Doc Martens
Regular followers of this blog will be aware that I am frequently drawn to unusual homes. I can't really explain my interest other than by saying I have a secret desire to break convention. It's probably the same part of me that finds itself admiring the patent red leather Doc Martens in the shoe shop in town, and occasionally wonders what it would be like to have purple hair. (Don't worry Mum, I'm not going to dye my hair purple - I was thinking more of bright red to match the Doc Martens!)
However, spend a few years hunting down stories of alternative homes and lifestyles and you come to realise that actually, not much is really all that different, and alternative isn't as radical as it sounds.
But then the BBC ran an article about Venus Project and suddenly I'm not only intrigued, I want to sign up today. The brainchild of the architect Jacque Fresco, the concept is that of a structured society where acquisitiveness is discouraged and knowledge seeking and cultural improvement is the primary goal of humankind while robots and machinery does the boring stuff. Sounds good to me. As one who is keen to further her knowledge but finds herself priced out of further studies, I'm ready to move in now! Added to which, some of the plans look heavenly. I could really take to living in a giant garden. I was about to say I'm going to start packing, but I suppose that might miss the fundamental point of the project.
However, spend a few years hunting down stories of alternative homes and lifestyles and you come to realise that actually, not much is really all that different, and alternative isn't as radical as it sounds.
But then the BBC ran an article about Venus Project and suddenly I'm not only intrigued, I want to sign up today. The brainchild of the architect Jacque Fresco, the concept is that of a structured society where acquisitiveness is discouraged and knowledge seeking and cultural improvement is the primary goal of humankind while robots and machinery does the boring stuff. Sounds good to me. As one who is keen to further her knowledge but finds herself priced out of further studies, I'm ready to move in now! Added to which, some of the plans look heavenly. I could really take to living in a giant garden. I was about to say I'm going to start packing, but I suppose that might miss the fundamental point of the project.
Thursday, 8 August 2013
Wednesday, 7 August 2013
Progress Report
The preparations for Lucky Dip are drawing closer to their final stages. The latest edit is now finished, and the manuscript has been passed on to the next editor for a final check. Then the whole thing will be ready to be converted into digital format ready for submission to Kindle.
So now my attention can return to writing for the third in the QT Anthologies series. I have ten stories so far that make the grade, plus a raft of others in the making, but progress stalled thanks to our holiday and work on Lucky Dip. Hopefully now I can get back into a routine of story writing, which is, after all, what I love doing.
I'll keep you updated with progress, and I will of course give you fair warning of any promotions coming up in the near future. But for now, it's back to searching for inspiration and those quirky somethings that deliver stories worthy of QT.
Thursday, 1 August 2013
The Home Stretch for Lucky Dip
'Lucky Dip', my contemporary family comedy, is currently being subjected to its final, ruthless edit. There has also been much activity in the graphics department and we have, at last, agreed on a final design (I think), so here's a sneaky preview:
This is the front cover
and here's the back jacket
This is a huge hurdle out of the way and I'm pretty happy with the result, but of course your comments and feedback are massively important, so if you have any thoughts please feel free to share them here. We're still a little way from publication, so there's still time to make adjustments.
Still to complete are the final edits, which are a little like having your teeth drilled - not fun but essential for your overall health. We're nearly there. I don't have a publication date yet, but as soon as I do I will, of course, post it here.
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Personality Test
This morning I have undertaken a deep and probing psychological study. This startling news is only trumped by the results: I'm a schizophrenic with blood pressure issues, as well as being an arrogant, introverted, confident, shy, people-orientated, withdrawn, well-adjusted, spontaneous, creative, skeptical, self-critical, imaginative procrastinator.
Gosh, that's quite a load to carry, it's as well I'm sitting down. Of course, it's just possible that the deep and probing psychological study is somewhat flawed, coming as it does from an article on the Mail's website. The article investigates the ancient art of graphology (the analysis of a person's psyche from their handwriting) and invites the reader to use their easy to follow guide to assess themselves.
I can't say I'm a believer. Depending upon the day, the situation, and how contrary I'm feeling, my writing can slope either to the right or the left, it can be joined up or separate, sometimes small enough to fit a paragraph on one line, sometimes large enough for one sentence to fill half a page. That's not to mention that I can write with both hands, though sadly not at the same time - that really would fuse the synapses of the graphologists wouldn't it!
Nor does it take account of the part early teaching plays. I was drilled in handwriting by a teacher whose own hand was little short of copperplate and who expected nothing less from us on pain of losing our 'pen license'. Such was the shame of being demoted to pencil that strict adherence of his many rules (size, slope, loop diameter and curvature, precise method of joining, etc.) was our overriding concern. Which perhaps explains why my knowledge of rudimentary history is so feeble - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Still, it's interesting to see what the experts can draw information from. I always drink my coffee with the picture on my mug facing me, and I like all the dual function light switches in my home to be in sequence. Make of that what you will. Goodness, is that a man in a white coat I see coming to the door?
Gosh, that's quite a load to carry, it's as well I'm sitting down. Of course, it's just possible that the deep and probing psychological study is somewhat flawed, coming as it does from an article on the Mail's website. The article investigates the ancient art of graphology (the analysis of a person's psyche from their handwriting) and invites the reader to use their easy to follow guide to assess themselves.
I can't say I'm a believer. Depending upon the day, the situation, and how contrary I'm feeling, my writing can slope either to the right or the left, it can be joined up or separate, sometimes small enough to fit a paragraph on one line, sometimes large enough for one sentence to fill half a page. That's not to mention that I can write with both hands, though sadly not at the same time - that really would fuse the synapses of the graphologists wouldn't it!
Nor does it take account of the part early teaching plays. I was drilled in handwriting by a teacher whose own hand was little short of copperplate and who expected nothing less from us on pain of losing our 'pen license'. Such was the shame of being demoted to pencil that strict adherence of his many rules (size, slope, loop diameter and curvature, precise method of joining, etc.) was our overriding concern. Which perhaps explains why my knowledge of rudimentary history is so feeble - that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
Still, it's interesting to see what the experts can draw information from. I always drink my coffee with the picture on my mug facing me, and I like all the dual function light switches in my home to be in sequence. Make of that what you will. Goodness, is that a man in a white coat I see coming to the door?
Thursday, 25 July 2013
News Roundup
There are a few curious news stories out there today. The first made my blood boil, but is such an important issue that I feel it should get a shout on this blog. This is the story of the army sergeant who will be made redundant just three days before he qualifies for his full army pension. If this were a lone case I might dismiss it as unfortunate, but it's cropping up again and again. There are so many service personnel facing similar situations that it seems clear this a ploy by the government and the MOD to cut the cost of giving the nation's heroes a proper pension. So, if you see an MP down the pub or, more likely, on the sun-drenched beaches of the Bahamas, bend their ear about it. Please. Those who risk their lives to keep us safe deserve infinitely better treatment.
Moving on, I was touched by the photographs of former US president George H W Bush who shaved his head as a show of support for the young son of one his security detail. The little boy is battling leukaemia, a disease that has also touched the Bush family. The ex-president decided to shave his head after seeing that various members of his security detail had done so. Best wishes to little Patrick for a speedy return to full health.
And finally, I have important health and safety advice for anybody stepping outside in the current stormy weather: wear your husband's leaky old wellington boots. Actually, I'm not sure the fact that they were old and leaking is significant and in all probability ownership is not important, but it adds colour to the tale. This is the story of the lady who was struck by lightening whilst holding a brolly, who survived with little more than pins and needles thanks to the fact that she was wearing rubber wellies.
(P.S. It's also worth bearing in mind that holding a brolly during a thunderstorm could be hazardous to your ongoing good health, whether or not your footwear of choice has a rubber sole.)
Moving on, I was touched by the photographs of former US president George H W Bush who shaved his head as a show of support for the young son of one his security detail. The little boy is battling leukaemia, a disease that has also touched the Bush family. The ex-president decided to shave his head after seeing that various members of his security detail had done so. Best wishes to little Patrick for a speedy return to full health.
And finally, I have important health and safety advice for anybody stepping outside in the current stormy weather: wear your husband's leaky old wellington boots. Actually, I'm not sure the fact that they were old and leaking is significant and in all probability ownership is not important, but it adds colour to the tale. This is the story of the lady who was struck by lightening whilst holding a brolly, who survived with little more than pins and needles thanks to the fact that she was wearing rubber wellies.
(P.S. It's also worth bearing in mind that holding a brolly during a thunderstorm could be hazardous to your ongoing good health, whether or not your footwear of choice has a rubber sole.)
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