Announcement: Writing Update

I’ve shared so much of my writing journey with you and I wanted to give you a quick update. After The Summer of Madness and Illusions, Delusions I’ve been working on my third book. It will be seven short stories, although very different to last time as they will be slightly longer and more character driven.

The above photo was for on recent birthday. My family gave me the surprise of printing a special design onto my cake.

I was keen to do a bit more promotion for The Summer of Madness so I decided to use Rachel’s Random Resources. I’d really recommend her services. Here are some of my favourite reviews from the blog tour.

Rajiv’s Reviews – The Summer of Madness Review
The Ladies Who Read – The Summer of Madness Review
Gemma Roman Books – The Summer of Madness Review
Pickled Thoughts and Pinot – The Summer of Madness Review
Beckie Writes – The Summer of Madness Review
Jessica Belmont – The Summer of Madness Review

Line(s) of the Day #TheSimpsons

Marge Simpson: Gosh I thought he’d be happier in his own habitat.
Wildlife refuge guy: Oh I think he is
Marge Simpson: Then why is he attacking all those other elephants?
Willife refuge guy: Well, animals are a lot like people, Mrs. Simpson. Some of them act badly because they’ve had a hard life or have been mistreated. But, like people, some of them are just jerks. Stop that, Mr. Simpson.

I’ve quoted the show about a dozen times but it really has made me laugh so much. Still running despite starting in 1989, its a show that has provided so many great scenes, especially in its earliest years.

Photography: BBC Countryfile 2020

These are my favourite six from the vote for the 2020 BBC Countryfile front cover calendar competition. Going left to right from the top the photographs are: Autumn Rays by Richard Hooper, Call of the Wild by Mervyn Chilton, Sunset Glow by Rachel Baker, Wilderness Wanderer by Harry Feather, Nectar Inspector by Steve McHale and I Walk the Line by Tom Broxup. You can see the others and vote here.

Line(s) of the Day #FunnyLanguageCartoon

I love a good funny langauge cartoon. Just had to share this Scott Hilburn cartoon with you all.

Line(s) of the Day #MollysGame

There was a track star from Pasadena in the 1930s named Matthew Robinson. Matthew Robinson shattered the Olympic record in the two-hundred at the Berlin Games in 1936. Absolutely shattered the Olympic record…and came in second. The man who came in first was Jesse Owens. Owens went on to be a legend. Matthew Robinson went on to be a janitor at a whites-only school in Pasadena. The difference was two-hundreths of a second. As if that wasn’t enough, Matthew Robinson had a little brother who was also an athlete. His name was Jack but everyone called him Jackie. 

Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain) in the poker-based film Molly’s Game (2017). Based on the book of the same name, it tells of an elite skier from a high-achieving family who ends up running a high-stakes poker game before inevitable complications arise.

Line(s) of the Day #TheIronMan #TheIronGiant

You are who you choose to be.

As said by Howard Hogarth in children’s classic The Iron Man (1968) by British Poet Laurette Ted Hughes. Known as The Iron Giant in the United States (along with the wonderful film based on the book), it tells of a giant “metal man” who appears from out of nowhere and eats all the metal before being efriended by a young boy.

Announcement: 7 Year Bloggerversary

Well a lot has happened since my last anniversary that’s for sure. But while there’s a lot going on in the world, it’s still a pleasure to be blogging, reading your posts and interacting with you all. Happy seventh bloggerversary. I thought I’d share some of my favourite posts from my time blogging. I hope you’re all having a wonderful day.

The Summer of Madness
Illusions, Delusions
My three film posters
Wimbledon Tour Review (and extra post)
Arcade Fire Gig Review
Best Sporting Photographs of 2015
Harry Potter Studios Review
Bond in Motion Review

Line(s) of the Day #BlackPanther #ChadwickBoseman

Wakanda forever!

The dreadfully sad news that gifted actor Chadwick Boseman has passed away through cancer at the tragically early age of 43. Born in South Carolina in 1976, he wrote plays, acted and directed in theatre and had small roles in television, before landing his breakthrough role as iconic baseball player Jackie Robinson in 2013’s movie 42. His talent was obvious and he was soon dazzling audiences, with highlights including starring as James Brown in Get on Up (2014) and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall (2017).

But it was as T’Challa, the king of the African nation of Wakanda in Black Panther (2018), that he is most associated. It wasn’t just anyone who could have played such an iconic figure, one who represented so much and to so many. Known for his kindness, his sensitivity, his dedication to the craft as well as his natural warmth, grace and presence on camera, Chadwick Boseman was perfect for the role of such a respected leader. The fact Boseman was privately battling cancer for the final four years of his life while working as hard as ever and still continuing to inspire everyone around him, showed what a superhero he really was. Wakanda forever.

Line(s) of the Day #TheKingsSpeech

If I am King, where is my power? Can I form a government? Levy a tax? Declare a war? No! And yet I am the seat of all authority because they think that when I speak, I speak for them. But I can’t speak.

George VI (Colin Firth) in historical drama The King’s Speech (2013). Winner of Best Picture, it tells of how the future king used the unorthodox treatment of Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue to help him overcome his stammer.

Line(s) of the Day #TheFWord #WhatIf?

Nicole: Do you secretly want to bang Chandry?
Alan: Thank you. She has a boyfriend.
Nicole: Who you threw out of the window!
Alan: By accident!

Mackenzie Davis and Daniel Radcliffe in the 2013 indie romcom The F Word (What If? in some countries). The film centres on whether you can be friends with someone you wish to date but who is already in a serious relationship.