1^st May 2009

Got told that my job will be finishing on Wednesday coming; I can’t complain to much as I did know it would be for a short time only. It also means that I get to work more on Bublos, as I’ll have the time as I look around for another job.

Got the posts up for the fence on Sunday as planned; tomorrow my mate Mickey is coming around to help me, again, to finish it. Hopefully the weather will play ball as it did last weekend that way we might even get the hut up too. I got paint for the fence and hut which I can only use if it’s dry, so I’ve got my fingers cross though the forecast is for showers. It should be fine, I think, to paint them if that’s the case. That reminds me that I need to charge up the drill for it will be needed.

Shopping last Saturday was more expensive than I had hoped, isn’t it always the case though but I got everything that I was after, as you can probably tell from above. It was a good day out, not the usual shopping trip the family makes, more one that those of us that like DIY or gardening would enjoy. As I ambled around the huge stores full of things that you could use to improve your home or garden does make you wish you had more cash to spend. Mind you could take it too far and that is when reason would have to prevail so you don’t, lucky then I don’t have more cash then.

Comments (2):

Just popped in to say hi, my ’Onorary editor, also has the same surname as you. Thank for the comment you left. All the best with Boblos. As your see from my topic update, when you read it I succumbed and started a fourth book to my Trilogy.

Posted by Colin Knibb 21:13:49 07.05.2009;

Well it should keep you busy for a while Colin but don't stop the poetry as I enjoy reading it. Will need to get your book somewtime when I have some cash spare, not so easily found these days.:D

Posted by BillyYoung 13:37:05 08.05.2009;

24^th April 2009

I managed to write the synopsis for the back of my new book this week. I shall post it when Bublos is closer to release as I still have some work to do on it yet, as you may know if you have been following this blog. I have managed to sort out some of the story and rewrite a little of what I needed to do, though I still have more to do. The middle is building up nicely yet Joe needs to interact more with the family he is staying with. After all they have been good enough to let him stay with them without question as a favour to Urim, who save Joe from a very sticky situation. Yes the main character is coming to terms with some serious problems after watching his friend murdered before his eyes. He has also learned that there is more danger in the world than he once believed, demons and angel are more than just myth. The secret of the book has also got to be revealed in some of the reworking of the tale I am trying to shape. At least I have the basics set out already so most of it just needs the polishing that I hope will give it more sparkle or whatever it is that makes a story good. Hopefully I can do this and that if you do get a copy you will like what I have done.

I have got some shopping to do this weekend to get some bit and bobs for the garden. So I will be off to B&Q tomorrow afternoon, taking the family and make it a day out. Sunday, if the weather is up to it, I get the fence posts up but it will be a week before I get it finished. That gives the cement time to set, holding the post solid as we get some strong breezes hitting the side of the house in winter; where the fence is to go. So a busy weekend ahead though I will still find time to write.

17^th April 2009

Though I was off on Monday I didn’t get time to rest. My wife and I got a new bed, when I say new I mean we were given a four poster by some friends. So Monday I spent building it up; not an easy task when you don’t have the manual, though I did have a hand drawn sketch. I didn’t take to long to get it up; it just tried to be difficult as you can guess. It’s a big king size contraption which is taking a little getting used too, all that extra space to spread out on. The first night I woke a couple of time thinking that I was about to fall out because I’m so used to a normal sized double. It’s a bit of a weird feeling waking in the middle of the night like that, I can tell you.

I also got a hut which I’ll put up in the coming months. It will give me some where to put the kids’ bikes, freeing up the hallway where they are parked at the moment. It’s not so bad as there is plenty of space in the hall for them but getting them out of the way would tidy up the space no end.

Another good week at work. Some new faces started this week to speed up production. Though this might shorten how long I have a job, the bodies are needed to get the order filled in time. This helps the business so in the long term may lead to more work in future, a good thing then in the longer term of things. At the moment there seems to be plenty to do for the next few weeks, hopefully though more orders will come in to keep us going as long as possible; fingers crossed.

10^th April 2009

Happy Easter everyone.

The first week at work charged past before I knew it. It was a good week though and it is great to be earning a wage again. I’m off on Monday, I didn’t expect to get the Bank Holiday, so a long weekend to get working on with Bublos. With working I’ve not had much of a chance to do much to it this week. I have been thinking about it; playing with ideas as I worked away. That is one thing in favour of repetitive jobs; once you know what you’re doing you can basically switch off to what your task at hand and think about other things. Of course you still have to keep an ear out for the supervisor’s instructions, as well as what is going on around you. You don’t want to miss out on some juicy conversations or the not so funny jokes, as the case may be.

3rd April 2009

This week has just flew in, not that I felt that I was busy or anything, yet still it is the weekend already. I have been lost I suppose finishing the first draft of Bublos which I managed to do last night. Of course as you may know I have got a lot to rewrite as well as flesh out. Where to start? I was thinking in the middle though I could swap and change to keep me fresh. I still have an epilogue to write too, I do have that in my head at the moment though I don’t want to put it down till I have sorted out the rest. I know it makes no sense, who said authors ever did that though.

Spring is certainly with us this week. I can tell because my grass is needing cut again. It’s to rain tomorrow though to be dry on Sunday so with any luck the weather man will be right and I can get out then to do it. With the growing lawn, so my plants are starting to look good. I had brought them in the other week when the frost returned, now they are back out in the back garden again. Hopefully I can leave them now, after all they are able to take cold weather; I’d just like to get them a good start before facing the chilly blasts off of the north.

Monday isn’t far away now and back to work. It will be good to get out of the house, even though I shall have less time for my book. As always I will just have to find the energy to get on with my story, after all writing doesn’t really pay for its self. Rather I’m the one that has to find the money for my stories to get out there. I enjoy the whole process, though working on the story, constructing it is the best part of the journey, at least to me. Yes I get the thrill of seeing it in print but finishing the project, getting those words down is something. Now to polish it, make it something, hopefully, that the reading public will enjoy.

27^th March 2009

I got good news on the job front this week; I start back at the firm I worked for before on the 6^th of April. I take it that it will be doing the same as last time though I’ll need to wait and see. Still it will be great to get back to doing some work, as well as earning some money to pay the bills. It will also mean that I can put money aside towards the next book being published once it is finished.

I still have a lot to do though before it will be ready for that. I have some rewriting to do to the middle. I am getting close to finishing the first draft, yet as I do I see where it already needs the changes to build up the story. There is more work to be done to the start though not the full reworking that is required elsewhere.

My herbs that I was trying to grow have died. It was my first attempt at growing them so no surprise that they didn’t make it. My Lemon tree that I started growing last year is starting to show signs of new growth after the winter. On the go are also a Gooseberry and a Blueberry bush which are both looking good, time will tell. The onions out in my back door have started to sprout which means fresh spring tails soon. If I use some early it means there’s more space for the others to grow larger over the summer. I have a lot to do in the garden this year. I need to put up a fence at the side of the house to give more privacy at my back door. That won’t be till the good weather comes in, as with most things in my garden. I’m so glad to see the lighter nights coming in now.

20^th March 2009

The weather has been very good the past couple of days, giving me the opportunity to get my garden done. I have some onions on the go, as well as some herbs and some fruit bushes in the form of Blueberry and Gooseberry. Today I added to that by getting a strawberry plant, though this may need growing indoors as I don’t have a cold frame. Everything has to be grown in large planters as I don’t have a large garden but that’s alright, as long as they come too.

As always I have been writing away. I’m now onto the fourteenth chapter though I still have a bit more to do. I did take time out though last night to do some reading. What was I reading? Well it was a story on Authonomy by Rayo Azul called Sudden Dearth. I got so involved in the story I couldn’t help but read on till I reach the end of what had been posted. I’ve read some other stories that this talented author has put on the site and I have enjoyed them as well.

Last Saturday I was out on town for the fist time in a very long time. It was my mates, Mickey’s birthday. I didn’t get steaming or even close though I did have a good night. I brought a Guinness hat back home for the wife. What can I say, they were giving them away so I grabbed one. It was great night.

13^th March 2009

I have to hand in another specimen next week, just to make sure that my kidney infection has cleared up. I am feeling a lot better I’m glad to say. If you have ever had this kind of illness you’ll know how it feels. Not something that you would wish on anyone, I sure.

I managed to get more done on my story, Bublos. It is coming along, though I have got a bit to go before I can start the hard part. Rewriting and editing are always the hardest time when writing a story. It is then that you see things that you didn’t notice first time round. Even though you think you got it just about spot on, there is so much that you find that needs a little more work. Some of it is just the expected typos yet that is never all that you find. Anyway I don’t have to think about that just now.

I had an interview at the Jobcentre this week, the thirteen week one. It went well, usually though you find that the figure behind the desk looking at you as if you’re so sort of scrounger. It never seems to matter how many jobs you have applied for or that they can see on their computer that you have been work not that long ago. This time though the woman doing the interview was very friendly. Maybe it is because they know themselves that there hasn’t been a lot to go for recently. It is rather depressing when week after week you find nothing new to send a CV to. Yet you can’t just give up; can you, so you keep trying. After all living on the social isn’t going to get your family the things you want for them and when you have kids they seem to think that you have a limitless amount of cash. If only.

6^th March 2009

I have been ill this week with a kidney infection. At first I just thought it was a bladder infection so thought it would get better on its own. On Wednesday though I started to pass blood clots in my water which told me it was a little more serious than I had thought. Yesterday I got myself to the doctors and they wanted to put me in the hospital but I managed to get the doc to let me go home with a course of antibiotics. I go back to the clinic on Wednesday to make sure I’m on the mend. Hopefully no more meds and a clean bill of health.

I have been so rough feeling that I haven’t really managed to do much. My imagination though has been working overtime. When you’re ill your dreams do become stranger than normal, don’t you think? Mine certainly do. Some may even be usable in a future project. I’ll not go into what that will be other than say it would be more of a spoof horror than anything else. As I said weird dreams.

27^th February 2009

I’ve been hard at writing every night for the past week. Yes, Bublos is coming on nicely. I know though that I have a bit of rewriting here and there to do. I need to add some history of the main character Joe at the beginning of the book for it is lacking in that area. Of course though I don’t want to bog the reader down with it, still some would be good for the story. That is something that I can leave till I have the story down on paper so to speak. Still there is a lot to still get down and as I work it is evolving hopefully into something that will be a great read.

Job hunting is still going nowhere which is a bit depressing. The Jobcentre is pulling me in for an interview in two weeks to review my claim. Really all it is for is to check that I’m actively looking for work. It would be easier to find one if there was something to find. Searching online just seems to throw up the same jobs that I am not qualified to do. When I phone employers you get the same standard response that they aren’t looking for anyone at present but will keep my name on record in case this changes. The secret to getting them to taking your name mention it when they answer. This doesn’t mean they will write it down but it does beat the feeling you get when they hang up without even asking.

My cooker needs replaced and without the money that is something that my wife and I can’t stretched too. The oven door doesn’t shut unless we wedge a piece of wood under it to stop it opening. Then there is the gas burners that don’t work no matter how much we try to clean the holes. Looking around at even cheap replacements it just seems to much, even second hand. We may have to check out FreeServe to see if anyone is giving one away. Well I’ll just have to wait and see, let’s hope my lotto numbers come up even just enough for the cooker.

20^th February 2009

I got an email for JoWood this week say that they knew about the problem and were looking for a solution to it. Like me you all just think why not just send out the CD key to all those that have purchased the game. I think that just might be to simple an answer for those who are in charge of the company.

I’ve been working away on Bublos most of this week. I’m feeling pleased at how it is coming. Soon death shall come to one of the characters whilst the other will be force to flee. There is so much more still to form in my head though the basic tale is there I just have to bring it out then mould it.

My daughter’s birthday is next week. She’ll be twelve yet the way she goes on I’m sure she thinks she’s older. Too much like her mother but without the experience of years. My son and I are getting on better now after our spat over his fighting. You hear it when younger that kids will test your sanity still you don’t believe it till you have them. The early years are the simple good ones because as the get older they argue back to much and you’re the one that is always wrong in their eyes. That is unless you’re giving them money for something they want which there is always something that they just must have.

13^th February 2009

Well Friday the thirteenth is almost already over and some will be just too glad. With me though it’s been a week of hassle. It started on Saturday when I installed the second disk of the Spellforce Universe game but when I tried the code that came with it no joy. So Monday came and I tried to get help from JoWood the producers of the game. Unfortunately they don’t seem to care about their customers at all and have still not gotten back to me with a proper code. I planned to take the game back to the retailers as is my right as I have only had the game for about three months. The retailer though won’t give me a refund. So I got onto Trading Standards to get the brush off from them as well, even though I am in the right. So I’m stuck with a faulty product that was released with the problem and have no way to get it solved. What have I learned? Not to buy JoWood games from now on and if anyone ever asks what I think of the company, tell them the truth JoWood sucks. It also says a lot for Trading Standards in <st1:place>Kilmarnock as they offer no protection to the consumer in their area. Life for those of us that are struggling on the lower rungs of society are still treated with contempt by those higher up the ladder. Will it ever change not without a revolution in the vein of those that have gone before, by that I mean the French Revolution or 1917 in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Russia. Maybe that is what the rich should keep in mind.

6th February 2009

The sixth of February already, Valentines not far off and it doesn’t feel like it’s that time of year already.

My son and I still aren’t back to our norm after last week. I know I should talk to him yet don’t want to argue as that is all we seem to do. He’s my boy, I can remember him being born and taken to special care even though he was 8lb. A worrying time as he had some minor problems but they sorted them selves out and within a week he went home with us. Over the years we have always been close though now it seems like there is a gulf between us. He’s at that age where he’s trying to gain his own identity so to speak even though I can see he already has a wonderful personality already. I have always tried to encourage him, as I have with my daughter too, to express himself. Maybe that is why we are at the place we are now, hopefully though we will find a way past this troublesome time.

Nothing much more of note has taken place this week. Just the usual job hunting, this seems to be at a standstill at the moment. New jobs seem to have vanished though I am sure it can not remain like this. The only thought is how long shall it last?

Comments (7):

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Posted by anon 05:46:14 19.06.2009

30^th January 2009

I had a major falling out with my son this week. He got suspended from school for fighting, these things happen. My wife and I had to go to an interview yesterday with the school. After this Calum was allowed back into school but last night he came home after another fight with a fractured hand. I know I can’t protect him from this sort of thing yet being his dad I was greatly disappointed that he felt the need to go to the park after school for the entertainment of others. Because of this my relationship with my son has become a little strained. I guess that things will improve with time though at the moment I don’t seem to be able to talk to him without arguing.

Adding to the problems is more people or companies seem to be asking for money I don’t have. The council messed up my council tax bill last year and have now passed it over to debt collectors. I offered to pay it at what I consider a fair amount but they want more. Then there is the funeral parlour that laid to rest my father in law last year doing similar. Money can only be stretched so far before it can’t go any further which all these people that want it from me don’t want to understand.

Life never seems to get any easier, mind you who ever said it would.

23^rd January 2009

I managed to get a small amount of writing done this week. I just seem to be struggling with this one, maybe I left it to ferment in my mind to much or it could be the other stories that are crowding it out. I’ll just have to push through this, then hopefully it will start to flow.

Job hunting is at a standstill. I look at the jobs advertised in the local paper to find none that I am qualified for. It seems more and more jobs these days want some sort of licence for. To get the bit of paper you need to pay for a course; as you can’t pay for the course till you have the money which means having a job, you’re snookered. I sometimes wonder if those in charge really have got a clue or just don’t really give a damn. In the end though we just have to get on, I just hope that something comes along soon as money is getting really tight. Maybe my previous employer might get in touch if they get more work in.

16^th January 2009

Started working on Bublos this week though it is going slowly. I can see the story in my head clearly enough yet trying to find the words to take it in the direction I want is another thing. You would think that was the easy part of writing but far from it. I suppose that it’s the same for those that speak in the public arena, they to have to find the words to get over their meaning without being misunderstood. The main thing though is that I keep on going through this period for I know that I should soon get back into the flow of the story again. Maybe I shouldn’t have had the Xmas break so to speak.

Job hunting is at another standstill, there just doesn’t seem to be anything. It means I have too much time on my hands with nothing to do. Yes could use all that time to write though I’ve only managed to really do a little as I have already stated. Boredom has truly set in and I need to drive myself through it. Winter is always such a depressing time, bad weather doesn’t help. If it was nice and sunny we could all go for a walk, the rain though is off putting. Well let’s hope for some sun.

Comments (2):

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Posted by Abard 01:08:43 04.06.2009

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Posted by Clair5as 10:12:48 13.06.2009

9^th January 2009

More comments have been posted with links to sites containing adult pictures which I was forced to delete. I seem to be doing this on a daily basis now so will need to consider what I can do to stop this.  It is a little annoying though I suppose it goes with running a website.

The game I’ve been playing is going well. In fact I am now onto the first of the add-on’s. I have been a little addicted to it, rarely getting to bed till the early hours because there always seems to be one more thing to do before I quit at night. Saying that though just goes to show how much I have been enjoying it. It is keeping me from my writing which I shall need to start thinking of getting back to soon as I can always play the game once I get through the first draft of Bublos. It is good though to get a break from tapping away at the keyboard and refresh the mind.

Job hunting is going nowhere at the moment. Not surprising with the current climate in the financial market. Of course I still have to go through the daily drudgery of checking the internet, looking over the papers and phoning around employers to hear the same thing, “I’m sorry but at the moment we aren’t looking for anyone,” or “We’ll keep your name in our record and get in touch if something comes up.” I think we’ve all heard it before but what can we do other than keep on trying.

2^nd January 2009

New Year has started off rather quietly for me though tonight seems to be promising else. A family friend and her new boyfriend is coming round for a bit of a drink. We had a couple of cans with them today so as write this I’m slightly inebriated so please excuse me. Its strange real as it doesn’t feel like the New Year though I know it is. Not that I’m not happy that it is because it has to be better than last year or the previous one. The last few years have been challenging to say the least. Those are in the past now so now to hope the coming year can give us more hope.

Hopefully you have all had a great time over this joyous season; I also hope that you all have a wonderful year to come, full of all the things you have wished for.

26^th December 2008

I hope you all had a great Chrimbo and that you got everything you wanted. I got the usual socks but I also got a new body warmer from my son. I need a new one as the old one was looking very tatty. My daughter was the one that got me the socks, whilst my wife got me some new jeans. I also got enough chocolate to do me for a bit; I think they want to fatten be up so if I don’t find a new job they can throw me in the oven.

I’ll leave this post short as you can guess because being Boxing Day and all I have things to do. Again I hope you’ve had a great Christmas; have a great New Year. No doubt my next post might just be late.

Comments (1):

Thanks Billy for the link to Django Zoon The Straightener.
Can't see a contact link here so please email me from my site. I have some very spooky info for you.

Posted by Jobo Pooks

20^th December 2008

This post is a day later than usual. I could say it was because my wife was ill, which she was but that isn’t the reason. The truth is I’ve been so caught up in playing Spellforce over the past week only to hit a stone wall last night. I needed to get something from killing a dragon. After killing the beast I didn’t get the object I needed to move on with the game. I search all the places I’ve been in game to no avail. In the end I started the game over as there were lots I learned as I played the game and was sure I must have missed a few things and this was why I was having the problem. So that is the reason I never made my post last night.

What else has this week brought my way? Well not a great deal. My job hunting seems as if it’s going no where. Not that surprising this close to the festive season, yet still I can’t give up hope maybe something might turn up.

All the gifts are in for the kids and most of the food is in place. Of course there will be the last minute stuff to get, there always is. Now my wife wants the chrimbo clean, it’s a bit like spring cleaning but the weather is bad outside so you’re grateful to be indoors. Spring cleaning though you wish you could get out of the chores to take in the fresh new season, full of renewed life. Or is that just me.

Comments (4):

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Posted by ageronlefRene 23:59:24 15.02.2009

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Posted by Accousaemarma 07:33:19 17.02.2009

Glad you are enjoying it.

Posted by BillyYoung 16:15:39 17.02.2009

12^th December 2008

A week of modem hell as mine decided to stop working on Tuesday. So off I went, got a new one from a local computer store, a NetGear DG834G version 4. Got it home set it up t run fine on my computer then found my wife couldn’t connect through the wireless. I use wired but she has a wireless laptop with <st1:place>Vista. So the next couple of days I spent trying this and that to get her system onto the net. I went through pages on forum after forum to find an answer. Contacted NetGear and my ISP to no satisfaction; then I changed one setting on her laptop, now its working like a dream.

As you can tell I haven’t really been doing much more than that. When I’ve not been giving myself a sore head I’ve been playing Spellforce. I also had a fruitless search for a job as you might expect this close to the festive season. Add to the fact that so many places seem to be closing down, Woolworths being the biggest name so far, and the prospects for a job don’t look good. I can’t just give in though, just get my head down like everyone else and hope that something will turn up.

5^th December 2008

Well it has been some week with all the cold frosty weather. I don’t think has been this cold for years. Of course that has meant more money of heating the house. Well I can’t let the kids get cold. When they’re at school the central heating is firmly switched off to save money.

Signed on for the first time this week. The hunt for a new job has been slow, as you would expect. Well this close to Christmas there isn’t much going normally but with the looming recession, or is it here already, things are slower than usual. Of course the woman that signed me on acted as if she hadn’t notice the higher unemployment figures we keep seeing on the news. She looked at me as if I were something she stepped on, which is one of the reasons that I hate having to claim unemployment benefit. Not much I can do about it though as I need the help till I get another job.

I’ve not done any writing since last week; instead I’ve been playing Spellforce Universe. It’s a RPG come Strategy which I obviously have been enjoying a lot. That was until I got stuck last night and can’t find any help on the net. I’ll try again tonight to get past the mission I am on. I hope to get back to my writing as soon as I have recharge the batteries so to speak, when that will be I’m not sure, maybe after the festive period.

28^th November 2008

Well I went to the dreaded interview at the jobcentre. I sign on Wednesday afternoon, though it will take up to twelve days for my claim to be sorted out. With no working tax credits as well as no wages my family now need to make do with the little we have. Nothing new there really, I think you all understand that in the present downturn. Not that the central government seems to understand how to help the general public through this problematic time. A small drop in the rate of VAT to get us spending seems laughable. As I said before drop the VAT of gas and electric bill would have been a greater help to households across the country regardless of wealth.

It’s not been a great week for my writing as I’ve not had the drive to do that much. Though I did get onto chapter three I was hoping to get further. I have been in the forums; in particular Authonomy looking at others work. Maybe I just need to take a break from writing for a week and lose myself in some gaming. Then I can come back fresh, yet I don’t really know what to play to distract my mind. It’s not that I don’t have plenty of games I just haven’t been in the right frame of mind as I have been to consumed with my writing to think of gaming. Maybe I’m just going through the unemployment blues; anyways I’ll see what happen in the coming week and try to give myself that great big kick up the ass I need to get me going again.

14^th November 2008

Well that’s me back unemployed as my job came to an end today. I can’t complain as the job was only for five weeks but lasted around three months. Though I wouldn’t have minded it lasting till Christmas was paid for, still it did get a lot whilst it lasted. I’ll get in touch with the jobcentre next week and get started looking for something else.

One thing it does mean is I will have more time to write my new story. I managed to get the prologue done last weekend as planned. All week I have been playing with the first chapter in my mind so this weekend I’ll get it down, though not till Sunday probably. Tomorrow night I think I might just have a drink, unwind with my wife. Send the kids to bed early, well I mean early-ish then just sit back with a beer and find a movie on TV to watch together. On Sunday we can have a sleep in, get up late then see to the day.

7^th November 2008

A great week for democracy in the <st1:country-region><st1:place>U.S.A. with Obama becoming the president elect; hopefully he can fulfil the promise that his victory is seen as. Here in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Scotland we also saw voters go to the poles but with Labours triumph we may see another nail in the coffin for the 30,000 jobs in the banking sector. We can only hope that this isn’t another Ravenscraig where jobs are lost north of the border to save the jobs of those in the south.

As history was made around the world I began a new story, not Banshee 2 as I’m saving that to let the idea mature a bit in my head. No the one I’m working on is called The Bublos. Bublos is ancient Greek I believe for book, which is the object at the centre of this horror story. I haven’t done much, just started the prologue and hope to complete that this weekend. Banshee Angel of Judgement has been approved for distribution as well though I still haven’t put any of it onto Authonomy as yet. I hope to get that done tomorrow, just 10,000 words or so to give people as taste. So it should be with any luck a good weekend with plenty for me to get on with.

31^st October 2008

More links have appeared on the comments to my posting which I have deleted. Please who ever you are do not post links to other sites as I shall not have a reservations in deleting them.

I got a good review of Banshee Angel of Judgement this week from The Lulu Book Review website which really gave me a thrill. It’s one thing to think your writing is good but much better if other people think it, not that I’m saying I think I’m a great author or something that’s for others to decide not me. They did point out one critical error though in the cover, judgement is spelt without the “e”; my son is going to fix that. I can’t think how I never noticed it before though.

It has been a bit chilly this week and costing us a fortune in heating to keep ourselves from freezing. I doubt those that run the energy company will have the same problem, do you? You would think the government would do something to bring down the cost by doing away with VAT on it till the cost comes down to more reasonable levels. After all when the cost of petrol was up during the summer didn’t they make a lot of cash from the surging prices? Yes I know they just spent a fortune rescuing the financial sector. Still they don’t seem to be bother that the rest of us are struggling to keep warm or is that the plan; freeze us all till the downturn is over then thaw us out?

24^th October 2008

Lost my phone on the way home, don’t you just hate that? Now I’ll need to look out my old one as I use my phone as my alarm as well, so I need it for Monday morning. Worry about it tomorrow, it’s Friday night and not the time to think about work.

To add to my woes this week my computer went down, my own fault really though as I formatted my old drive to give to my wife. I got her an external case so she could use it with her laptop but when I took it out of my computer my new drive didn’t boot up. I tried to repair the boot up; nothing doing so had to reinstall windows, what a pain. Anyway I’m back up and running for the moment. I still have some things to do, like get Firefox installed along with some other programs I use.

I got a copy of my new book to check through, though I think I’ve already noticed one or two errors with punctuation to sort out. I can spend the weekend reading through it to find what needs sorting then order another copy to check again before approving it for distribution. I also thought about a Banshee 2, putting down a plan of the first 5 chapters at lunch yesterday. It just seemed to fill my head as I stood working away. I was so glad when lunchtime came round and I got my hands on a pen, I used the back of a wage slip in my back pocket to scribble down a brief line or two saying what each chapter was about whilst I ate.

Well I’ve got a lot to get on with this weekend so I’ll just leave you for now, see you next week.

17^th October 2008

So glad it’s the weekend at last, really need the time to recharge the batteries if you know what I mean. Sunday was the hardest day as the three of us that were doing overtime had to do overtime on top of the overtime we were doing to get an order out on time. Then the new week started Monday morning, as you can imagine I was half asleep as I dragged myself into work. The extra money pays for my son’s birthday which is coming up soon so it was all worth it for that.

Well this Sunday is the big day I go forward with getting the ISBN number for Banshee Angel of Judgement, of course though it will mean that I will be charging £1.25 for the download from Sunday ending the free period. The price of a physical copy of the book will hopefully remain the same at £6.94 though Lulu recently made some pricing changes so I shall have to wait and see hope this will impact of the cost of a purchase. I am hoping that the price will remain the same; I’ll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

What a week of gloomy news we’ve had and at a when we should be planning parties for Halloween as well as thinking of Christmas. Instead we all seem to be worrying about the cost of living whilst billions seem to just vanish into the ether like a phantom. Though the governments of the world seem to ready to help out big institutions there seems to be little in the way to help those of us struggling at the bottom of the big fish pond. I suppose that’s nothing new though is it; we just have to carry on as usual and make the best of it

10^th October 2008

Well it’s that time of the week again but not for me as I have agreed to do overtime this weekend so no time of till a week tomorrow. At least the money will come in handy as my son’s birthday is coming up, then of course there’s Christmas. It never seems to end sometimes, things that you seem to need money for I mean. No sooner do you earn it and it’s gone.

I’m planning to go for the ISBN number for my new book next week though I shall leave it as a free download till I get it so one week to go then unfortunately you’ll have to buy it if you wish to read it. I’m also hoping for feed back before the launch date.

Some changes have been made to the site recently that you may have notice or not. One of them is a feedback thingy on my newest page to the site, my reviews page of other authors’ books that I have read. I will add more reviews but at the moment there are two, so check them out and see if you might like to read them.

3^rd October 2008

Here I am again, so what have I been doing this week. Well I found a new website called Authonomy run by HarperCollins. It’s for readers, writer and anyone who has an interest in books so is just the thing for me I suppose. I’ll be uploading a large portion of A Winter Journey to the site this weekend though not all of it. I will also put Banshee Angel of Judgement or at least some of it once I go forward with the distribution package from lulu; until then it is still free to download.

Work has been good as usual yet it’s been a bit of a mixed one doing lots of different things like packing, working the turntable and even brushing the floor when there was little else for me to do even though there seems to be quite a lot of orders to fill. Strange how at the time I couldn’t find anything to do but lift the brush and give the floor a quick once over just to give me something to do. I hate it when I’m at work with nothing to do. A few years ago I worked for a firm that had us standing around for over a week with nothing at all to do not even sweep up. You would think that sound not too bad but was I bored. At first we played cards, then the boss told us off as it was against company policy; funny how he didn’t mind us just standing there though.

Comments (2):I clicked on your link on Authonomy and found this site. It's lovely, but I think that you really need someone to edit your, 'about the author' page. There are several grammatical mistakes in it. I don't mean to be mean at all. I'm just trying to be helpful.Posted by Anne 23:02:07 04.10.2008;

Thanks for the heads up it is much appreciated. I shall have a look and see if I can sort them out but you know what its like with reading your own work, writers blindness sets in so mistakes seem to pass unnoticed.Posted by Billy Young 16:31:40 05.10.2008;

26^th September 2008

Today seemed to drag in maybe because I woke in the night with heartburn and could find the energy to go get something for. So I suppose the disturbed nights rest left me just wanting to get home for a snooze that I haven’t taken as I’ll sleep better tonight if I don’t have forty winks. Anyways it’s after seven in the evening now so best to have a quiet family night in and watch some TV.

Put my new book Banshee Angel of Judgement onto Lulu this week though there are still some errors to be removed or corrected before I go forward with distribution for it. It also gives me time to get the cover image done for it. Here’s the web address to where you can get the chance to download it for free, at least for now: http://www.lulu.com/content/4167420 I hope you will check it out and if you do read it enjoy it and maybe tell your friends. Thanks.<o:p>

Well I hope the good week with the site not coming under attack again, touches hairy wood, has also been a great week for you.

Bansheegood read it's the sort of story that gets the small hairs on the neck to rise and keeps you turning the pagePosted by magz 00:07:20 29.09.2008; Another great storyA blood-curdling tale of revenge, which forces the reader to turn the page.

I loved the line, '...captives swim inside...a jar like fish in a bowl trying to find their freedom...'

This story also brings to light the dangers of superstition, hysteria and closed minds, which, ironically, can corrupt such innocence and cause the downfall of many.

It is, however, a story filled with sadness, confusion and justice, where it is not always easy to judge the guilty from the innocent.

Terrific.

Though, I won't be able to switch off the light for a while when darkness falls!Posted by Julie Elizabeth Powell, au <08:50:06 29.09.2008; What's in a name?Plenty...and if someone really has the same name, fine.

BUT

Just so there is no confusion, the last message was posted by:

Julie Elizabeth Powell, author of Gone, The Star Realm & Knowing Jack - there now, there's only one of me!

Posted by Julie Elizabeth Powell 08:57:19 29.09.2008;

 Lol

Posted by billy young 19:56:40 29.09.2008;

Saying hi...Hope you're well.

It's me again...

Julie Elizabeth Powell author of Gone and...yeah, yeah (just so you know it's er...me! lol)Posted by Anonymous 17:33:27 19.10.2008;

19^th September 2008

It’s been quite a fun week at work this week though I’m still glad to reach the weekend. I’ve been working on the turn table with my mates Mickey and Kevin, Jim was there to though I only know him through the job but we all had a great laugh as we worked away.

As you know my blog has been under attack which has at least led me to be glad that I have recently been backing things up, which I shall now try to do for comments posted by people. That is the ones that are not insulting or to inappropriate sites as my blog is not designed for such things.

Last Sunday my family finally finished reading through my new book so now I can get stuck in sorting out the errors. Once that is done I’ll upload it to Lulu; letting it be free for download for the first week or two, then make it the same as A Winter Journey. At the start of October I hope to go forward with the distribution package from Lulu as with my previous books.

What next I hear you ask or maybe not? Anyways I have a couple of ideas one is a plane historical fiction, the other is another horror that begins in Liverpool but as the main character is pursued with the aide of strangers he escapes across the world to save mankind from the time of judgement. There is a lot to think about though, yet the horror does tempt me; it’s a challenge. Well first to complete Banshee Angel of Judgement.

15^th September 2008

Seems like it’s happened again; someone has deleted my post but why? Has war been declared because I won’t let them use my site as they see fit, it does look like that. Well I’ll just need to see when they feel they have had enough fun and in the mean time just keep on as I have. Unfortunately it means that any comments you may leave might be deleted by those guilty of doing so before so I must apologize for them as they seem to have taken a dislike to not being allowed to post links to adult sites and other inappropriate address.

12^th September 2008

As you can see I've had more trouble with the site or rather someone posting links in the comments to my blog. Now it would seem that they have hacked my blog and deleted all my posts. I had some of my most recent backed up but unfortunately I lost all the nice comment people have left.

To add to my troubles today I twisted my ankle at work though it’s not too bad and I’ll rest it over the weekend, so it should be fine for Monday.

I’m now trying to get my new book Banshee Angel of Judgement ready for going to publication by the end of this month. I’ll need to get a cover together and a million and one other things to do. The mind boggles at how we humans manage sometimes thank God we do, with a bit of help from the omniscient one.

Well I hope to hear from all you nice people and hopefully the person or persons responsible for attacking my blog shall leave it alone in future. I suppose though I’ll just have to wait and see, won’t I.

5^th September 2008

The weekend at last and the chance to kick back, relax then put a game of Settlers 2 10^th Anniversary on to play. I thought about it all week as I managed to finish the third draft of Banshee last Sunday. My family are reading through it at the moment looking for the errors as well as where it needs some work, so all good there.

I managed to help my mate Kevin get a job at my work so he started Wednesday working next to me with my other friend Mickey, who started the week after me. It makes the day go by faster having you’re mates next to you that you socialize with. Still it is good to get to the weekend to just do the things you like most rather than do to pay for the bills, of course if it wasn’t for work we couldn’t afford to do those things we love.

29^th August 2008

Can you believe that it’s the end of August already? It just seems like the start of the year and what happened to the summer. Well then again we always say that don’t we? All in all though it has been a quick week, flying by before I knew it was Friday. Smiles all round then hehehe.

Last weekend I got more done to my new book than I thought I would which is great and this Saturday and Sunday I hope to finish the third rewrite; will I do another? Not sure but there are still some bits I’m not completely happy with, so maybe I might rewrite some parts though I don’t think I’ll go down the whole process again. What I have done though is looking good, at least to me.

I got two books from Lulu that I have been after for sometime Gone by Julie Powell and Real Life Dramas Volume 1 by Darren Burton so I should soon be adding to the site a review page soon or at least when I finish reading them.

Which one to start with?

22^nd August 2008

Another week, another dollar or so the saying goes. Anyway it’s been a good week at work; enjoying it a lot. I also managed to do some work on my book earlier in the week which is great. I’ll get even more done this weekend though before starting a new week on Monday.

I got my wife a new laptop from Dabs.com this week as well; it was a bargain and she was needing a replacement for her old one which was creaking at the seams. It came Tuesday but she isn’t happy with the operating system though she is persevering with it; getting there a bit at a time. She’s really happy with the computer other than that. Now I just have to pay the card when the bill comes in, nothing new there though.

Well speak to you all next week and I hope you all keep well.

1st August 2008

Job applications what a pain they are, don’t you think. I must have filled in enough this week to fill a forest, well maybe not quite that many but you get the drift. The thing about them is they seem to have been made up with the sole purpose to confuse rather than find out about you. It might be it’s a vain attempt to sort out the intelligent from those like me who struggle with a lack of a brain, hehehe :P.

Been doing more research on the 17th century, mainly on fashions worn by both sexes, more for background information than anything else; it should help with sorting out some imagery I have in my head about the book. I have still a lot to do before I’m finished though in the way of getting all that I want out of my mind onto the paper or risk losing it for another twenty odd years. Well saying that I suppose I’d better get back to it, hope you all have a good weekend.:D

26th July 2008

Due to technical problems my site went fritz so I lost all previous post sorry about that so here I am starting again from scratch. Well that's just the way the crap falls aint it.

So what have I been up to, well lots of research on the 17th century for my new book I'm working on. I've finished the first draft but now I'm adding more content hence the research. it was quite a nasty time to live especially if you were accused of witch craft. The things that happened to those poor individuals was very horrific. Torture was commonly used to extract confessions from the women and men that had been arrested for the casting of spells. One man is recorded to have staved to death in prison, as those being held on this charge were frequently refuse food and water to try to entice them to admit to the crime. On another occasion one man made claims against a group of people from his village many of whom were put to death; later it was discovered he was lying but nothing was done to him, he face no justice at all. As I said not a very nice time to live particularly if your face didn't fit or you upset someone.