Antique

This is my entry for the excellent "Haiku Wednesday"

Antique
Past lives behind glass
Bonny babies in white smocks
The gold clasp snaps shut

Antique II
So what is antique?
Over fifty years old now
Not me just yet then

The Three Ravens

Oh my! We've formed a singing group! The lovely Rachel Harris, Mr B and me and we've named ourselves after one of our favourite songs. We are a sub group, if you like, from the South Molton Folk Choir. We don't have wild ambitions but we have found that our voices, together with Mr B's guitar and Rachel's violin (I just sing and do the occasional percussion bit) blend really well. We already have a dancing gig next Saturday in Holsworthy and we've been asked to add a little extra, so...da, naaa....our first session. The Three Ravens is a wonderful medieval song that we adore singing, it has two harmonies - add to that we were all wearing black when we practised and, Voila! Our name!

Our two cats, Sulis and Minerva, love music and show off something rotten when we rehearse.....daft things.

I have a story brewing about a small town folk choir......

Midnight Haiku

I find it both wonderful and maddening when inspiration comes in the wee small hours. Seventeen syllables...bong....bong....I turn over, hoping to remember my thoughts.....bong...until I have to switch the light on and write. I've been experimenting with Haiku and Senryu and the ideas have come pouring out, I'm happy to say. Not so happy that they like to hide until the bedroom is chilly and I am forced from my cosy cocoon to execute them.

It's bitterly cold and snowy here in our little corner of North Devon and, in wondering about Vitamin C, Mr B and myself have plumped for our home-made blackcurrant vodka. We had masses of fruit this year and one can only make so much jam!

Gentle Friday

Hoorah! Our NaNoWriMo winner's T shirts arrived this morning, along with Chris Baty's book 'No Plot No Problem' on how to gear up for the challenge. Even though both Mr B and myself completed our novels it still looks a great read. I'm not usually a logos person but I was so chuffed to have done this I just had to have one.

My writing is a little haphazard today.....I'm working on some poetry, planning the plot of the next novel and trying to catch up on some vital reading. I shall clear my head this afternoon at South Molton's Art Bazaar. I sold my jewellery there last year, but gave it a miss this time around. Hope to find a couple of Christmas presents though.

Tomorrow is singing practise with South Molton Folk Choir, the last before a couple of Christmas gigs....ooh, er!

M

.......and it's snowing!

Luscious Tuesday

Today I had my make up artist's hat on and went to the Force Cancer Support Centre in Exeter to co-run a Look Good Feel Better workshop. I do this every few weeks. LGFB is the beauty industry's charity providing workshops (and a sumptious goodie bag) for women undergoing chemotherapy. The class takes the clients, we had 10 today, from eye make removal, cleansing, then right through a routine from concealer to lipstick. The woman are all at various stages of their treatment for a multitude of cancers. We always have a hoot of an afternoon, stories and experiences are shared and everyone goes home thoroughly pampered. I love these and have one more session before Christmas.
On these days I always like to apply my own make up in similar tones to those provided in the gift bag, so today's glory face included a cream and bronze combo on the eyes from POP's smokey eyes pallete, Illamasqua cream blush in Dixie (fabulous for a lift of colour on a Wintry day) and my stalwart Chanel lippy in Vendome, a brightish brown/red. Good to go!

I am leaving my NaNo novel in it's very rough draft for the immediate future as I wish to grow it into something rather large (gulp!) so am working on another heroine for a new story. She's an English, Piscean (so she told me, now I have look it up) 29 year old actress. I'm setting the first half of the story in San Diego, where I have lived, then will probably move to London, where I have also lived, albeit in poorer conditions than this gal. Should be fun!

Christmas Blogfest

This is my first foray into the world of blogging! I have written a 700 word story for Ellie Garratt's Cristmas Blogfest (see right)
Oh my! Here we go.....

I am a participant in this year's NaNoWriMo challenge and am thrilled to say that I have reached the required 50000 words (and some!) Now my hopes for the little novel, The Case For Saucers, are for it to grow into a comely, countryside romp. Hope on...

What else? Well, I'm happy about the royal engagement this week. Although ambivalent about the Windsors, I do appreciate the economy they generate for the country and a President Cameron is too awful to contemplate, so they must remain a while yet, I feel.

Now working on characters and plot for a romance crossing from San Diego to London.....

Meanwhile, a glass of red awaits.