Beware the Ides of March

15 March. Watch your backs!!!!

I've got my appraisal at work tomorrow; hardly an inspiring date. Although really, the Ides meant the full moon, rather than the later-celebrated 15th of the month. So I might be alright. Caesar probably said the same thing.

Saw 6 magpies in a tree today. They flew in front of us - not any other car - as we drove past. Apparently, six is for gold. Won a tenner on the Lottery on Wednesday; it's hardly what I'd call gold.

Funny month this, March. Stuff's going on. Times, they are a changing, and I can't put my finger on what's occuring. A big, bad, reincarnation keeps rearing its ugly head - think it might be time to investigate. I'm scared, very scared. I remember how it felt when they did what they did...

The Eyes Have It (sorry)

Watched Criminal Minds on Living this evening and have to say, the writers surpassed themselves with the concept of a taxidermist using eyes from the recent living to embed into animals' faces. It completely freaked me out.

I love animals, but don't get the 'stuffed' idea. Let them be, for feck's sake - you might love 'em but would you stuff your grandmother? Surely not - I hope.

I'm not that fussed about eyes, being a cyclops, no - I mean, a contact lense and specs wearer, but I know people who have complete personality failures over the thought of even plucking an errant lash from their eye (for Christ's sake) so I can image the reaction to this episode.

Splendid stuff (but Morgan's not the man...)

A word from Madge

There are planes out there, the like of which you've never seen, could never imagine in your wildest dreams.

There are places you couldn't even begin to conceive of.

Next time you meditate, drift away, lose yourself in reverie - do your damndest to remember it afterwards. Write it down. Don't say 'it ain't so'. It is - I saw you there.

Magenta Shaman

March 4th 2010

Fag Ash Lil and Bill

Firstly, apologies to all smokers; you're not all like this.

On the way to school, one of the mothers, who I've taken to calling Fag Ash Lil chain-smokes the entire way. When she gets to the school gate she throws the end on the pavement, still burning.

After she comes out from taking little Chavie, or whatever kid's name is, into class she and another (non-smoking but ignorant) mother stand at the gate - not over the road, or on the pavement to the side - nattering, where everyone has to squeeze past them. Many parents have little ones in prams and buggies that have to pass under their cloud of smoke and inanities.

This miserable-faced woman who moans non-stop is driving me to distraction. (I know I'm moaning but it's not a way of life!) When I walk down the road to pick my daughter up, Lil's hubby - Fag Ash Bill, joins in. I have to run past them so I don't breathe the poisons of their habit and their dialogue into my lungs.

How ignorant and selfish can you get? Poor Chavie.

BWA update

I've added another couple of short stories to the Brit Writers' Awards now, making four. Plus a poetry collection 'Twist and Turn'.

2 days to go, and I'm working 12 hour days at the moment, with a fluey daughter and hubby... Ain't gonna get much more submitted, me thinks.
 
No news from A Darker Spirit so assume I haven't been shortlisted. Tant pis (that's French, like). Look forward to seeing what Tina publishes in the first issue though. All the best to her.

Brit Writers' Awards etc

The deadline for the Brit Writers' Awards is up on  Friday 26th Feb at 5pm.

So far, I have submitted two stories and have several more to add, plus a poetry collection, but their site seems to have crashed so maybe it's been overwhelmed with last-minute entries.

Lee Hughes very kindly told me about the Sword & Sorceress Anthology 25 so I have a fantasy piece all ready for that. Not allowed to submit until the 17th April though and they're very strict - don't want my knuckles rapped! Or worse, my story rejected because I was too keen and sent it too early.

Overall, I've been trying to get this year's competition calendar organised. I've got pieces ready to submit to some and ideas for others. I am determined to make 2010 the year I get paid for writing.
 
And then of course there's Bridport (quakes in shoes). I have no chance in hell, but you have to have a go, don't you. Good luck to everyone entering comps this year.

Rant and Rage

In an effort to turn negative emotions into literary inspiration I am listing my top three hates to see whether, by some kind of cathartic osmosis, they turn into characters or stories. Not that I'm stuck for ideas, I just need to dispose of these annoyances:

1. Coathangers. They have lives of their own. They catch on everything, and I hate them. They evoke a ridiculous amount of rage in me and many things have been torn or broken by me as a result. Answer: Anger Management? Never put anything in the wardrobe?
2. Toilet paper that doesn't tear properly. It means you have to fold it a different way, which results in a completely unsatisfactory wipe of the nether regions. Answer: don't buy Tesco own-brand, which gets thinner by the pack anyway.
3. People in my space. This particularly relates to OLD PEOPLE IN SUPERMARKET QUEUES. God, they annoy me. Right up my arse, nudging - always nudging me with their trolleys, pushing me forwards into the person in front, catching my clothes on their baskets. Answer: step backwards and tread on their toes. Be prepared to use my elbows. Aaaarrgh - why can't people respect others' space?

That's it. All done now.