(Finally) CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

Paula lived a small apartment on the top floor of a large building. Most of her floor space was taken up by a collection of plants , some knee-high clusters of spiked leaves crowding around tall leafy shrubs. Silver pushed her way through the jungle that filled the short hallway, and squeezed into the living room.

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“How do you like it?” Paula shouted as she shoved the front door shut, pushing back tendrils of plants that threatened to get caught in its frame.
“It’s – cozy,” Silver said, not managing to get out the obviously expected word lovely. “And colourful.” Cluttered as well, with tall narrow china funnels placed about the room, rising up to meet handfuls of golden spherical objects which dangled from the ceiling. Coins?
“You don’t have to stay here, you know, if you don’t want to,” Paula said, following her into the room.
“Oh, I do,” Silver said hastily. “It’s really quaint.”
“And you’re broke.” Paula gave a sniff.
The more Silver gazed around the room, the more she liked it. Once she got past the clutter, the mullioned windows which looked over the city allowed in plenty of daylight. The indigo walls, mainly obscured from view by shelves of knickknacks and funnels, lent a cheerful aspect, while the cerise ceiling – sort of – worked.
Paula hastily moved some boxes and a pile of clothes to reveal a cerulean settee.
“Your bed.”
“Looks comfy.” The tasselled cushions did look inviting and for a moment Silver, who had risen early that morning, felt tempted to curl up among them, but then she remembered that there were people to save and villains to overcome so she resisted the urge.
A tiny kitchenette led off the sitting room, and Paula slipped behind a counter (festooned with silk ribbons and bunting) and turned on the hob.
“Soup?”
“Yes please,” Silver said, envisioning a rich home made tomato variety accompanied by the freshest of brown bread.
Paula was nosily removing bowls and plates from the cupboard and banging them onto the counter. When lunch arrived, the soup was brown and tasteless, and the bread, light brown and almost fresh. Silver wolfed it down anyway and asked for seconds. Superheroes needed to keep their strength up.
After lunch Paula asked what her plans were for life in the city. “You can stay here as long as you like, of course. But what will you do about money? Will your parents send you some?” “I’ll get a job,” Silver said instantly, shuddering at the thought of asking her old folks to support her. Her savings (plus a contribution from her parents) had been in her purse, but she was confident she could raise money by her own efforts.
“There might be something going in my workplace.” Paula sounded tentative.
“Great. But I thought you were studying aero-nautics, or something.”
Paula started to clear away the dishes. From the sink she said: “Well, I supplement with working in the local supermarket. I heard that they were looking for someone in the backstores.”
Paula’s supermarket - Alf’s All-purpose Store – was a ten minute walk from her apartment. Alf was a tall portly gentleman, with unhealthily high colour in his cheeks. He shook his head when Paula asked for work for her friend.
“I have a job going in the back stores, but it’s no work for a young lady,” he said, shaking his head. “Moving boxes, taking in deliveries. It’s a lad’s job.”
“I’m very strong,” Silver said. “And a hard worker. Please give me a chance.”
“She is.” Paula nodded.
Alf rubbed his chin. “I’ll give you a go then – see what you can come up with for a couple of hours this afternoon. If you’re any good, I’ll give you the position.”
He led Silver into a large store room behind the supermarket. “This is where we store the product before we stack the shelves. The delivery vehicles unload over there – see the big steel door? Now my last lad left a few weeks back and I haven’t had time to scratch my chin, so you can see it has fallen into a bit of a mess.”
Alf understated the case. The store room was lined with metal racking, full of cases of product, but the aisles in between were also filled with pallets stacked with goods, blocking off access to the shelves.
“Staff have to climb over the new deliveries to get at the other stuff,” Alf said. “So they end up using the latest deliveries to stock the shelves.”
Silver could see cases of tinned pineapples next to sachets of washing powder, detergents and cat food beside chocolates and fruit.
“I’ll leave you here til four o’clock. If you can make any sort of impression, you’ve got the job.”
Left alone, Silver studied the clutter of products. It did not take long to convince her that a full reorganisation of the storeroom was required, so she set to work, moving like products together, making sure the stock was placed in correct date order, and that everything was easily accessible to the supermarket staff. Finding a dustpan and brush as well as other cleaning materials, she swept up loose cabbage leaves and armfuls of dust, and gave the racking a quick polish as well. Everything gleamed, and she was quite pleased with the result.
Still, there was over half an hour to kill before Alf returned, so Silver opened the back door and wandered outside. A short lane ran behind the supermarket and led to the main road. Opposite the back of Alf’s was a high wall, slate rooftops appearing above it.
A sob sounded clearly from the other side of the wall, and then a voice said: “Don’t worry, Angela, help is on the way.”
You’re right, thought Silver, hopping up on the wall.
She looked down into a small garden, its perimeter was lined with shrubs but in its centre was a young tree, its slender branches waving gently in the breeze. Below the tree stood a little girl, her tear-stained face staring upwards. High up in the tree a small white kitten clung to a branch, mewing pitifully.
“Don’t worry,” Silver called, jumping over the shrubs and landing on the grass beside the child. “Is that your kitten?”
“Snowy,” the girl said, nodding. “He’s stuck.”
“I’ll get him for you.” Silver swung herself among the branches and picked up the cat, before dropping back to earth and presenting the animal to its delighted owner.
As the little child squeaked in delight and hugged the kitten, a roar sounded and someone raced out of the house waving a rake.
“What do you think you’re doing?” A woman yelled, swiping at Silver.
“Rescuing the kitten,” Silver stammered, easily dodging the blow.
“Who do you think you are? Get out of my garden,” the woman screamed.
A little shocked, Silver backed away into the shrubs. The woman screeched and lunged, so Silver hastily turned and leaped back onto the wall.
“What is wrong with people here?” she said as she dropped back into the lane.
It was not yet time for Alf to check on her work so she wandered into the supermarket. It was busy, long queues waiting at the tills, and the staff looked weary and hassled. Silver had an urge to help, and was about to off her services when a voice behind her spoke.
“What are you doing here? Keep working in the store room.”It was Alf.
“I’m finished,” Silver said, turning around.
Scepticism filled Alf’s face. “Really? Show me.”
Strangely when he saw how tidy and clean the backstore was, Alf did not look pleased.
“I meant you to do this on your own.”
“I did,” Silver assured him.
“Rubbish. It would take you a week to do this.” He moved between the racks and looked at the produce, frowning heavily. Eventually he came back to her and said sternly: “Own up. Who helped you?”
“Nobody.”
“Impossible. But it’s a good job you’ve done – all right, I’ll give you a chance, but no more friends inside my store. Is that a deal?”
“Yes, it is, sir.” Silver held out her hand and shook his vigorously.
Alf looked a little surprised by her firm grip. “Start tomorrow at 7am.”
Silver hurried back to Paula’s place, greatly relieved. What a day she had – robbed, rescued, threatened and employed, all in one day.

TRUST ME

This is a worthy cause (and will only take a second of two out of your life).

http://www.americanpapist.com/2008/11/oh-and-just-reminder.html

TWO - Sorry it's late.

CHAPTER TWO

“You’re such a disaster.” Paula grabbed the handle of one of the cases, tugged without budging it, and released. “Arrested the moment you arrive in Smokesville.”
Silver felt the colour rise in her cheeks. How shameful for a super hero to be robbed and arrested on her first day on the job.

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“Thanks for bailing me out, Paula.”
“Luckily I took the day off to meet you. Let’s leave the station. It’s only a short walk to my place.”
Silver nodded, and picked up her luggage, marvelling at the first sight of her friend in two years. Paula hadn’t visited Micropolis since she moved to the city, although her parents frequently heard from her and occasionally visited. Paula’s green skirt was of a length that barely sufficed to be called more than a belt, her top was a vivid yellow, and her make up was caked on – a white mask with startling red eye shadow. Her hair remained the same, tight corkscrew red curls, threaded with numerous colourful ribbons, but she seemed much thinner and somehow taller.
It was exciting to exit the station - busy with people and shining interior, though it was – and finally see the city. Paula led the way into an elevator. At first Silver thought it was a platform exposed to the elements, but then she realised that a transparent material, far thinner than glass, protected them. Through this she could see the rooftops of the city, bronze and golds and glass, round and turreted, and already reflecting the blaze of the midday sun.
As the lift descended, Silver could more of the city. The streets were laid out symmetrically, wide avenues and plenty of trees and pavements, cafes and parks, but the buildings were not the low storey brick, wood or stone homes that filled Micropolis. No, these edifices were spherical or conical, metallic and shining. Silver was not sure of she liked it or not, but it certainly was different.
Alighting from the elevator, she stepped on to a shimmering blue pavement which formed a square filled with trees. A delicious scent of oranges wafted towards her.
“I do like this place,” she said.
“Why, of course you do,” Paul said. “It’s the city.”
The city. Silver had grown up unaware that such a thing existed, but all her hopes once she had heard of it had been to get to this mysterious place. After all, there were not too many villains in Micropolis.
The pavement beneath her feet started to move, and Silver had to stagger to keep her balance.
“It’s only taking us to the street door,” Paula said.
Silver looked up. The blue sky above her head – false. The golden sun – fake.
“What about the view from the elevator?”
“Smokesville,” Paula said with a nod. “In the future. Some time.”
The pavement swept them up to a large glass door which slid back and allowed Silver to see the real Smokesville.
A dirty smog lay across the city, clinging to the sides of buildings which loomed above her head. The real sky was overcast, and rain threatened.
“Sometimes the fog lifts and the city looks really well,” Paul said. “And the plan is to change the face of the city in the future.”
“It looks more like a city of villains to me,” Silver said, brightening up. Surely this miserable heap of bricks hid some dark minds plotting against the hapless citizens, who would need her brilliance to defend them.
“It’s not that bad, looks better in the sun.” Paula started down a flight of steps.
As Silver followed her friends, she looked around at the buildings. Solid enough, only a few hairline fractures. She wasn’t going to be propping up any of theses.
A little further down a small crowd had gathered, craning their necks upwards. Silver’s heart beat a little harder, a tiny hope of excitement.
Picking up her cases, she ran up to join the group. Looking up, a twelve storey building stretched towards the sky, and on a window ledge on the third floor a woman stood, arms out-stretched and her back against the glass. At the next window several anxious faces peered out. Silver could hear them call out anxiously, beseeching her to come in, as well as the woman’s vehement refusals.
It was the moment she had been waiting for. Leaving her cases for Paula to look after (when she finally caught up), she gripped the corner of the building and started to climb. Nobody appeared to notice as she quickly scaled the bricks, although as she moved across the ledges towards the woman she heard the crowd exclaim at her appearance.
“Don’t be afraid,” Silver rushed to reassure the woman. “I’m here to help you. I can get you safely off the ledge.”
The woman’s eyes rolled frantically towards her. “Get away from me, get away – or I swear I’ll jump.”
“Lorena, Lorena, come inside.” Beyond the woman, at the next open window, a voice implored.
“I can’t, I’m stuck.” Lorena threw back at her. Then her eyes shot back to Silver. “Don’t come any closer.”
“Aren’t you stuck?”
Lorena’s fingers clung a little harder to the edge of the window behind her. “Of course I’m stuck. If I look down, I’ll fall.”
“Don’t worry – I can help you.”
“Leave me alone,” Lorena snarled. “I want to be rescued by Aluminium Man.”
Silver wasn’t sure she had heard correctly. “Sorry? What did you say?”
“Aluminium Man,” Lorena said fiercely. “He’s surely on his way now to rescue me.”
“So you won’t let me rescue you.” Silver struggled to grapple with this. “You want a specific hero.”
“I don’t know who you are. Why should I trust you? Besides Aluminium Man is so handsome. Oh, I think I see him now.” Her sentence ended in a squeak of high-pitched excitement.
Silver looked over across the rooftops, and through the shards of fog to see something sparkling on the horizon. Like a shooting star, the gleaming object hurtled towards them, slowing only as it came close to reveal itself as a metal man.
The metal man spoke. “In trouble, ladies?”
“Oh, Aluminium Man,” Lorena gushed. “My hero.”
As Silver watched, Aluminium Man wrapped an arm around Lorena and swept her off the window ledge. Before Silver could speak, he had flung his other arm around her and had lifted her into the air.
“Let me go,” Silver spluttered.
Aluminium Man ignored her and sped down to earth. Landing lightly amid uproarious applause, he placed both girls on their feet.
Lorena tried to fawn all over him but Aluminium Man stepped aside with a light laugh and a small bow and took off once again. Within a few seconds, he had vanished from sight. The crowd surged around Lorena to hear her speak of her great experiences with Aluminium Man.
Silver stood a little apart, still spluttering with indignation. Her first day in the city and she – a super hero - had been rescued by Aluminium Man.

CHAPTER ONE - THE CITY

CHAPTER ONE

Silver stepped off the train onto platform eight, glanced around in anticipation and inhaled deeply. Twenty-five sets of railway tracks terminated on the east side of Smokesville’s main train station, twenty-three sleek and shiny trains stood parallel to each other, at rest after delivering the hordes of commuters to the capital’s centre. Crowds milled forward, an anxious heaving mass, intent on streaming into the city streets.
But Silver paid no attention to them as they pushed past her, despite the occasional whack on the shoulder or the jamming of luggage into her legs. She stood, without moving, a few feet from where she had alighted, and stared about her. A huge colourful dome above her head obscured the sky from view, the elegant pillars supporting it stretched high above her head, a spectacle without match in Micropolis, the tiny village by the sea where Silver grew up.

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She didn’t gaze upwards for long. Her attention was really focused on the crowds about her. Their faces fascinated her, the eyes that looked intently ahead, the brows knotted in concern, the mouths, set straight and firm. Misery, unhappiness and fear – she read all three emotions on their faces. This reading, rather than depressing her, gave her a feeling of hope: these were the people she was here to help. They needed her.
Silver remained where she was, enjoying the feel of the throng passing her by, absorbing the sense of the sheer immensity of the city. Eventually most of the passengers from the train had exited through the distant barriers, and she was left alone. Behind her, a far distant circle of light indicated where the train tunnel met the outside, but her way led ahead.
Picking up a heavy suitcase in either hand, Silver set off blithely along the platform. Gently swinging her cases, Silver mused on what her first mission would be. Perhaps a force of invading gigantic grasshoppers would descend on Smokesville, or maybe a master criminal determined on destroying the livelihoods of all the citizens of the city. Or worse, plan a series of nuclear explosions that would tear the foundations of the city apart.
Silver wasn’t sure how she would handle that last scenario but she was determined to do her best to help the hapless denizens of Smokesville. After all, that was what she was born to do.
Reaching the exit barriers, she dropped her case and rooted in her pockets for her train ticket, still musing about what she could and would do.
No ticket. Of course, she had put it in her purse.
No purse.
Silver remembered some of the people who had pressed against her as they left the train. She had been too busy day dreaming about her new life in the city to notice that she had been robbed. Biting her lip, she could feel the colour rise in her cheeks. How stupid of her. And now a petty thief had run off with all her money, her savings for her visit to Smokesville.
As she hesitated around the exit barrier, a man dressed in a uniform approached her.
“Hurry along there, Miss. I’ll be allowing people to board soon.”
Beyond the exit barriers, a row of shops and stalls lined either side of a corridor, which ended in a gate forty or fifty yards away. Silver could see a crowd of people waiting to be allowed through.
“Just place your ticket in the slot there, and the barrier will raise and you can leave,” the official said.
“Well, my ticket has been stolen,” Silver said. “So I can’t put it in the slot.”
The man’s pleasant demeanour diminished. “You’ve no ticket.”
“My purse was stolen – “
“You’ve no ticket?” The man frowned. “It’s against the law to travel by train without a ticket.”
“I didn’t – it – ”
“You could be imprisoned for this.” The guard shook his head. Producing a whistle, he blew three sharp toots on it. Instantly half a dozen guards ran up from nowhere.
Silver gasped. “But my purse has been stolen – ”
The guard would not listen to her. He raised the barrier, stepped inside and took her arm, and to Silver’s shock, she found she was under arrest. Rather than come to the city to fight criminals, as she had hoped, she was now being arrested as a felon and fraudster.

CHAPTER ONE (..DELAYED...)

Due to many reasons, I probably won't post Chapter One of my Blovel tonight. Hopefully tomorrow.

PROLOGUE

The half-two bell sounded and hundreds of kids poured through the open school, screaming as they burst into the yard and spread in different directions. A little girl with her hair severely pulled back into pigtails stood waiting patiently by the railings, her coat neatly buttoned up to her neck in the wintry afternoon. Another little girl ran up to her, shrugging on her coat as she went.
“Where did you go, Susie? Why didn’t you wait?”
“I was waiting here for you, Paula,” the first child answered, falling into step bedside her friend.
Paula started to rooted among her pockets. “Someone has stolen my gloves.”
“Here.” Susie held out her hand. On the palm was a pair of woollen mittens. “You dropped them.”
“Oh.” Paula’s red curls bobbled as she snatched the gloves. “It’s cold. Miss Jones said I should be a doctor when I grow up, but my Dad wants me to be a lawyer. What about you, Susie?”
Susie hugged her schoolbooks to her chest and her eyes brightened as she considered the question. “Well, I dunno yet, but there’s a lot of – ”
“I think I should be a fighter pilot,” Paula said. She swung her bag from side to side. “Vroom, vroom...” A deep growl sounded in her throat. “You could be my co-pilot, if you liked.”
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The two girls walked through the school gate and across the field behind. The path zig-zagged through the grass along the side of the cliff and down towards the village. Susie blew out and watched her frosted breath float away, while Paula nattered away about her plans for the future.
As they walked, they passed a dozen leafless trees strung along the path. A group of boys were gathered around one, their attention riveted by something in the tree. Susie glanced up curiously.
A small cat perched on the branch; white and fluffy, it looked little more than a kitten. Its claws were dug into the wood in terror.
The boys were throwing stones, attempting to dislodge the animal.
“Hey, leave the kitty alone,” Paula shouted from the pathway.
Susie looked around for something to scare off the boys, who outnumbered them by five to two. The boys all looked older and were taller.
“Get lost,” one boy said, stooping to pick up a heavy stick. This he flung with great accuracy at the cat which yowled and jumped out of the way. The stick flew past the branch, disappearing over the cliff.
As did the cat.
Susie dropped her books and raced to the cliff edge. Staring down, she could see the uneven cliff face, protruding rocks offering precarious hand and foot holds. Without a second’s thought, she swung herself over the edge and started to climb down as quickly as possible. A flat stretch of shingle stretched at the base of the cliff. Susie’s feet touched the ground, she craned her head upwards, ran a couple of steps and caught the cat in her arms.
The animal gave a startled shriek and jumped out of her arms. Watching it race across the beach, Susie was happy to see it had suffered no ill effects from its fall. Turning, she scrambled up the cliff again.
With one accord, the five boys fled at her reappearance. Paula was looking quite startled, her mouth drooped open and her schoolbag hanging listlessly from her hand.
“Wha – what happened?”
“The cat’s all right.” Susie brushed the dirt from her hands and tried to ignore the stinging grazes that adorned her palms.
Susie walked home, feeling quite pleased that she had rescued a cat. Every day her mother asked what she had done that day, at least she had something to tell her now.
Her mother was chopping vegetables and singing as she worked. Susie watched the rhythmic flash of the knife move to the sound of the latest pop tune.
“Oh there you are, Pet.” Her mother looked up and beamed at her. “How was your day? What did you do in school?”
Susie hesitated. She hadn’t actually saved the cat in school. “The usual. Sums and things. On the way home I saved a cat from being tortured.”
“That’s nice, dear.” Mrs Powers started to roll some pastry.
“It fell off the cliff and I had to climb down to save it.”
“I don’t like you playing near the cliffs. Please take the main road home tomorrow.”
Susie picked up a knife and cut herself a piece of pastry, moving her fingers quickly out of the ways of her mother’s blade.
“Go do your homework, Susie,” her mother said. “I have to finish this pie. Have you much to do?”
“Some sums and an essay.” Susie wandered towards the door and went up to her room. When she came back down to the kitchen, her mother was putting the finishing touches to the vegetable pie.
“That was quick,” her mother said, opening the oven. “All done?”
“Yes. Mum?”
“Mmm?”
“I know what I want to be when I grow up.”
The oven door slammed shut. “Yes, pet?”
Susie took a deep breath. “I want to be a super hero.”

NEW IDEA FOR BLOVIL

You'll see it, hopefully later tonight, but it's not the one requested by Vickythistke63 and Inkpot!

HELLO NOVEMBER!!!!

November - and the month of Nanowrimo!

Or - as I think it should be called in the future - Blovelling month!

The term has been coined by Inkpot, who is going to post her Nano novel on her blog - so blogging her novel.

So the challenge is - will I do the same? And if so, shall I do likewise?

And what shall I write about?

Let me know know your thoughts, reader!!

AUGUST EDITION APOLLO'S LYRE

I have just noticed that the August edition of Apollo's Lyre is out.

You can check out my micro-fiction tale 'Last' here.

Hope you enjoy it!

YOU MAY CALL ME MASTER

Today I did my sixth MOS exam. Although there are seven, either Outlook or Access is optional, so I have officially done all that is required to be a Microsoft Master Instructor.

Of course, technically I probably am not a MMI until I pay my €150 and officially register, but at least the hard work is done.

Hurrah!

APOLOGIES & ALL THAT

Apologies fans for my erratic posting again!

This is all due to my efforts to study Microsoft applications. Hoping to do my final one Friday which will leave me a bit freer to do important things like posting and writing!

I'll be back Friday.

INKY DOES IT AGAIN

Inkpot does it again - another acceptance. Read her blog for details.

This makes the score as of today:

Inkpot: 7 Vs Valpot: 6


Who will be ahead by the close of the year?

TOFFEE AND HONEY

Toffee and Honey were sniffing around the tomato plants when I called their names, so they kindly posed for me!




Toffee thinks Honey is getting too much attention. I went out later and called Toffee, who started to come slowly over. Honey sped past her and jumped all over me, and although I ignored Honey and continued to call Toffee, Toffee turned away from me, and moved away every time I went near her. I put Honey back in her cage and managed to woo Toffee back (helped by a treat or two).

I always give Toffee prime attention, although naturally Honey gets lots too. Toffee doesn't see it that way though!

In fact, I give both of them too much attention! Pups should be banned! They are too distracting!!!!

The little pleasures of life...

Today we switched over to NTL digital TV and broadband, and I have to say it's kind of fun.

I don't watch tv much but it's nice having 60 + channels. I know, we went for the basic package, so most of those channels will not be up to much anyway, but it's still fun flicking through. Plus the advantage of getting information on each station - what's on now, what's coming up next - plus a full tv guide.

The over-enthusiastic sales person (who also put through the order before I had ordered it!) also included the digital recorder. Although it's an extra €5 per month, it's tempting to keep it. To record a programme, you simply go to the tv guide, select your programme and press ok. Couldn't be simpler!

I guess best of all, I now have 3Mb broadband (up from 1 Mb) and should no longer be constantly thrown off the air!

TOY-OPOLY

For those who know:

TO MY FELLOW NODPOTS

As you probably know, I was the winner of DNOTY 2007.

Inspired by the confidence of my fellow nodpots, I set up this blog, with the hope of living up to their expectations.

It never occurred to me to check what their expectations were.

It's never too late, so please fellow DNs, let me know what you expect from me this year!

THANKS, READERS

Thank you to all readers of this blog who kindly posted asking why wasn't I blogging.

The standard of their posts is so high that I feel that for the benefit of the world I should desist from blogging further, and allow my readers post more hilarious limericks and scary tales.

However, on the off chance my readers won't go along with this, I shall continue to post.

Anyone who hasn't done so yet, please read on the comments on my previous post - guaranteed to entertain you!

SPIDERS IN A CAR

You've heard of Snakes on a Plane?

Well, I've got spiders in my car!

I was doing some gardening over the weekend and had loads of clippings to take to the recycle park. With reservations, I put some of the bags into my back seat - afraid that wildlife would end up making a home there but hoping the 15 minute journey would be too short a time.

Alas! Already I've met 4 little arachnids. Those of you who know me know I have a deep fear of spiders. Fortunately the four I met were tiny creatures so with the help of tissues, maps and other rubbish in my car, I was able to remove them.

My only fear - how many are left?

FINAL SWIMMING LESSON

Seeing as I mentioned I was facing my final one, I may as well record how it went.

Great! Well, I wasn't made to practice my breathing, which I hate. Instead we worked on my feet (no matter how hard I try, I can't made them flex or flop!), did lots of sitting dives and practiced pulling myself out, and then spent about 20 minutes in the 2m end, doing much the same thing.

Afterwards the soles of my feet felt on fire!

Yesterday Pinky and I went to the pool and stayed the whole time in the 2m lane. it was great fun. We did 2 standing dives and 5 or 6 sitting ones. We never panicked once about being out of our depth (if we didn't have the boom to hold on to, I'm not sure how brave I'd have been!)

I hope to keep up a weekly swim for the summer.

SWIMMING LESSONS

Just a thought on swimming lessons:

I've always been afraid of the water, terrified of drowning or going beyond my depth, though as a child I loved paddling and splashing in the sea, and when the weather is warm (on holidays rather than at home sadly!) it looks lovely to glide into the water and swim.

Although I would love to be able to swim, the thought of swimming lessons never appealed - childhood memories of freezing cold pools, horrible changing rooms, disgusting chlorine all added to abhorrence at the thought of being seen in my swimsuit and doubt that I would learn anything. Excuses all, I know but I decided to stay warm and dry and on land.

Recently a friend gave me a birthday present of private swimming lessons - four half hour sessions at a fairly recently built leisure centre. I thought the instructor so good I paid for another four. The first week she made me put my face in the water (still don't like that much)... over the next few weeks she got working on my breathing, the crawl, the backstroke, treading water in the deep end, a sitting dive, and at the 7th lesson, a standing dive into the 2 meter end!

The first time she made me go in the deep end, I was petrified, though I forced myself in. I'm still nervous but no longer sick with fear, cos I know if I don't panic, I can always float, crawl or tread water long enough to reach the side.

I'm only posting this to boast of my standing dive yesterday (I lost my hearing in one ear for 24 hours afterwards). I never expected to be able for the deep end, never thought I'd be able to dive in a million years. I don't think I would have made so much progress with shared classes, although each private lesson is very intensive, gruelling and tiring, and I always dread going.

So far I've learned something new at each one. I wonder what she has in store for my last lesson next Wednesday?

SUCKED INTO THE VORTEX...

Yes, dear reader, I followed my first published fiction tale into the void.

Life is meaningless now that I can no longer read this story on line.

However, I am looking forward to the International Day of Books - I hope lots of writers have signed up for it!

WHAT THE DOG BROUGHT IN

My first published fiction piece is no longer available!

Sob! I'm sad to see it gone, but at least it was there for a couple of months!

My next will be in Apollo's Lyre, in their August edition.

READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!

Great story by Inkpot can now be read on line - check it out!

CONGRATULATIONS, INKS

Congratulations to Inkpot, who completed the women's mini-marathon today!

A gruelling 10k walk or run, in the heat of a beautiful June day.

Well done, Inkpot!

***WARNING***NOT LONG TO GO***

Just to remind all fans that my first published fiction piece "What the Dog Brought in" will not be available on line for much longer. Alienskin will soon have their June/July edition out, and they no longer archive.



I will of course have the story available on my website once its up and running, but until then, time is running out...

CALLING A SPADE A SPADE...

Last night I went to a networking session, in the hopes really of getting a job (didn't quite manage that). However, I was under instruction to call myself a writer, not merely "unemployed".

So I did.

It was hard the first time - I stumbled and stuttered but buoyed up by the thought of my publications to date, managed to get it out. It became easier as the night went on. I also called myself an IT trainer (qualified as one, just have to get the official experience!).

Need to work more on my business cards, include the blog, and perhaps set up a proper website.

LILY

M niece Lily at 9 months old - she came to visit us at the weekend (accompanied by her parents, of course!)

APOLLO'S LYRE

Another wonderful ezine!

You will be able to see my micro-fiction piece "Last" in their August edition.

Don't forget to weatch out for Inkpot's "Sky Horse" in their May edition!

CONGRATULATIONS, INKPOT!

Congrats to Inkpot, who is going to be in an anthology very soon!

Great news - keep those acceptances coming!

RUBY

Here is a photo of Ruby, newest member of the family:

Isn't he very cute?

IRREGULR POSTING

For a while it was great fun to post - every week brought more exciting news for the DNs, publishing success or t-shirts. However the last ten days have only brought rejections (for me anyway). Not that I mind that - every writer gets rejection. It's just after broadcasting a run of successes, it's not the same talking about the bad news.

On the good news front, Mirpot has got herself a dog - a six month old border collie called Ruby. I hear he's lovely, but quite nervous (I hope his past experiences were not too awful).

I'm looking forward to meeting him.

T-SHIRT

Good news today - my t-shirt arrived from Necrotic Tissue (they only accepted my story Monday of last week!).

The t-shirt is really cool, with "published" on the sleeves, and their name on the front and logo on the back.

I'd like to wear it but I don't want to wash it - would hate the text to fade!

Maybe I'll frame it, the first t-shirt of many!

DISAPPOINTING MONDAY

For the first Monday in - oh, weeks! - the DNs have received no exciting news (to the best of my knowledge, anyway).

Have to get back submitting again, slowing up here!

TO ALL THE DOGS...

The house was empty this weekend without you all.

I expected Rags to be gracefully curled up on the couch, Janna to whine excitedly when she saw me in the hopes of me taking her out to play, and Toffee to lick my face to pieces!

I also expected Woozer to drag herself up to greet me, and I still thought of our doggie friends who have moved on (Angel and Muffin) as well as Cino and Sheba.

It was nice to see Blueberry & Fudge still in residence!

INKPOT VS VALPOT

I know in our anxiety to get published, it may come across as a competition, but it's not. At least, not against each other - against the world maybe!

Recently I was musing on our success and drew a few similarities.

Both Inkpot and I had the same experience with our first acceptance - publication was a long way away but we would both be paid for our work afterwards (yet to happen for both of us).

Our second acceptance - for both of us - was for unpaid Micro Fiction.

We have also both sold Micro Fiction.

Necrotic Tissue has accepted both of us, and we will both be in the January 2009 edition!

So far this April, we have both had three acceptances (if I count Toffee's photo).

For both of us, the majority of our publications have been paid ones.

Now the differences. Inkpot has sold a short story (I've only sold micro-fiction).

Three of mine have already been published. Inkpot has to wait until May 20th for her first.

I've been paid twice, Inkpot once so far.

All Inkpot's acceptances are fiction. Almost half of mine aren't.

All these things are accurate (as far as I know!) as of this moment, but we both have a lot of other things out there, so who knows what will happen by the end of this month.

I know acceptances will come pouring in for Inkpot in the near future. I only hope I'll be able to keep up with her.

CRAZY APRIL

April has been such a busy month. Inspired by the success of Inkpot, I submitted 6 stories this month. As you know, dear reader, 1 microfiction has already been published, and another will be published next January.

As if that wasn't enough, I am trying to enter a competition with a closing date next Thursday, edit a novella for next Wednesday and get a lot of work done on my chapbook. Other competitions and deadlines are looming up in May so May will be busy too.

There is also the tiny matter of doing some MOS exams and getting a job to fund all this writing. The only problem with that is that a job will leave me with little time or energy to write (that was the case with my last job anyway, I know lots of people can do both.)

I hope I can keep up this productivity!

THANKS, TOFFEE

Got a cheque in the post today from My Weekly. I hadn't expected it because some of the letters had £25 on them, and others - including the Toffee pic - hadn't.

So thanks, Toffee!!

£25 plus a contributor copy for a readers letter and photo - not bad! Who needs to write fiction?? (Only joking)

First Fiction Sale

Those lovely - no, those WONDERFUL people in Necrotic Tissue have accepted my micro fiction tale 'Reflections' for their January 2009 issue.

This is my first PAID fiction publication. Better still, the stories of both Inkpot and I will appear in the same issue!

Yippee!

NEXT WEEK

I wonder what writing successes lie ahead next week for the Nodpots?

There's been so many in the last couple of weeks that I expect every week to bring at least one piece of good news!

CONGRATULATIONS TO INKPOT ONCE AGAIN

This is getting to be a regular post, which is great!

Inkpot has done it again - see her blog for details.

Her third acceptance within less than two weeks! And two of them are paying markets, which is really excellent.

CONGRATUALTIONS!

MANY THANKS TO INKPOT

Just wanted to thank Inkpot (Inkpoy to her friends) on all her help she's given me, especially regarding my recent submissions. I look forward to sharing the proceeds of their sales with her (some year!)

Thanks, Inkpot! I now have 5 pieces out there, waiting to be snapped up.

CHAP BOOK

Started my DN chapbook Wednesday evening.

As they are due for the anniversary on July 27th, I have perhaps two months to get it done.

I hope to be finished much sooner than that!

I am also tempted to keep a running total of all my submissions on the blog - I'm just so happy to have stuff to submit that I want to encourage myself to have something every week. For instance, last week (as I told you already) I submitted three micro-fiction (one already available on line) and a short story. This week I have so far submitted one micro-fiction, and have a short story just about ready to go.

I hope I can keep this up!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPE BENEDICT

Today is the Pope's birthday. He is 81, and celebrating it (well, I doubt if he is actually celebrating it) it in Washington.

Rumour has it that there is a party in his honour but he isn't attending, it's not his thing.

Happy birthday anyway!

Tiny pic of the party earlier today where 13000 people sang Happy Birthday.

Happy Tuesday

I had a good day yesterday.

I wanted to write a micro-fiction tale for a certain magazine (a paying market!!!). I thought of something in the morning, wrote it by lunchtime, got approval from my fellow nodpot in the afternoon and submitted it by evening.

It would be nice to finish by saying "Accepted by night" but no, not quite. At least it's not "rejected by night".

Still it's a good feeling to write and submit the same day!

DO DOGS GET HOUNDED BY PAPPARAZZI?

Watch out for Toffee in this week's (April 19th) My Weekly magazine.

Yes, the photogenic little cavalier has been snapped taking her first bath. Fortunately, she looks lovely even with her hair all wet!

Well done, Toffee!

(Okay, so I took the photo and sent in the letter. You'll find her in the Pets Corner, page 4).

YEAH! PUBLISHED AGAIN...

My micro-fiction tale The Diary can now be read on line at Microhorror.com

Yes, it's great to be accepted!

REVIEW OF WEEK

In writing terms the week was good.

The highlight was Inkpot selling her first short story - first PAID fiction sale! Yippee! Which was closely followed by her micro-fiction tale being accepted by another publication. TWO in one week - pretty good!


Although I did not have the same publishing success, I did at least submit three micro-fiction tales and one short story - hopefully they will find homes out there!

This was meant to be horror writing week, but I didn't get to it. Hopefully next week.

Otherwise, this was a bad week, with Wednesday's sad events casting a dark shadow over other achievements.

SAD NEWS

Yesterday Woozer - my sister's dog but also beloved family pet - died. She had recently celebrated her 15th birthday, and we hoped she would be with us for a bit longer. Despite her numerous health problems - including tumors and sores, bad hips from when she was knocked down as a pup, and many other things - her great and valiant spirit kept her going. Although she could only move slowly, she was always keen to go outside for a walk and her infirmities never prevented her from begging for food. She always got up to greet visitors and family when they entered the house, and was already to add her mite to any excitement or commotion among the other dogs.

She will be greatly missed.

Above is a photo taken last April when she attended Mungo's book launch of Mango, The Unlucky Monkey.

Below is a photo of Woozer as a pup, playing with one of her siblings.

AND THE NEXT!!

And CONGRATULATIONS once more to Inkpot, who has just got another story accepted for publication - see here for details.

I want to see an acceptance a day from you, Inkpot!! :)

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Inkpot who has just sold her first story!!!

A very well deserved sale, that's long overdue!!!

Yippee!! Looking forward to the next!!

CLARIFICATION

Just in case anyone thinks that in my previous post I meant that writing micro-fiction is easy, I don't.

It's difficult to think of an interesting scenario that can capture the imagination in so few words.

The good thing about micro-fiction, however, is that it is less time-consuming (ie easier to polish and perfect a couple of hundred words than several thousand) and that there seems to be a good number of markets for it.

If anyone finds a market that pays for micro-fiction, please let me know!

THE DAY AFTER...

Yes, I kept looking at Alienskin all day yesterday, checking to see if it really was my story, my name/pseudonym against it.

Well, I have to make the most of it - it will only be on-line for two months!

It still gives a buzz, so I really recommend all unpublished writers out there to have a go at micro-fiction!

For me, I hope it's the first of many.

PUBLICATION DAY

Thanks to time zone differences, today is really my publication day!

Here is the link for anyone who is interested.

http://www.alienskinmag.com/flashmic10.htm

It's a micro-fiction piece, published by the wonderful Alienskin e-zine. I admire Alienskin - they seem genuinely interested in writing and encouraging new writers, they are a paying market, and best of all, they give feedback with rejections. Naturally they have the highest of standards and recognise genius... :)

Micro-fiction, in Alienskin's case anyway, is a story of exactly 150 words, no more and no less (think of Shylock and the pound of flesh). Very difficult... well, I was lucky with this one (Thanks, Toffee!).

It's weird seeing my name on the site. Great but kind of strange.

TODAY IS THE BIG DAY

I will always remember the day after April Fools Day as the day my first fiction piece was published. Today is the big day when my humble 150 words will be revealed to the public all across the world! :)

Unfortunately, it won't be GMT, so I may not get to see it myself today, but by tomorrow at the latest, I will post the link for all my fan to read.


Other news today - okay, it's not writing news but our Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has finally promised to resign on May 6th.

I felt a bit sorry for him as I listened to his statement, and while I am glad to see him go , I can't but wonder what will replace him.

APRIL - GOOD NEWS!

Technically the good news I received in March but I have decided to attribute it to April.

As you may recall from my February post (it's only two posts below this one!), I submitted a micro-fiction tale. Well, last night I checked my mail - and it has been accepted!! My first accepted fiction piece!

It's a really weird feeling - shock and awe could possibly be applicable words. It will be available on-line from tomorrow and for the next two months - wow, it's really exciting. Okay, I wish it was The Lucky Diamond that had been accepted (co-incidentally, I got another rejection for it yesterday, which Toffee tried to eat before I could read it) but it's still a fantastic feeling. For those of you who have experienced it - isn't it amazing?? For those that haven't - keep going, persevere, it's worth it!!!

Of course, now I'm wondering why I haven't submitted loads of other stuff this year - all I have to show for the three months of 2008 is my (successful *sigh in happiness * ) micro-fiction and a short story that I actually wrote last year.

Still, it's really motivating getting accepted. I have to write lots more shorts and build up that writing CV!

PS This is NOT an April Fool Day's trick - I will post the link to my story either tomorrow evening or Thursday morning!

TIME TO SAY...I'M BACK!

I know it's been a while, but I was torn between keeping my flippant blog purely for family members or taking it a bit more seriously and posting things that other people could read (strangers!) without me dying of embarrassment!

I opted for the former!

Sorry it's been so long - I'll try and be a good little poster again (to paraphrase Frasier - I've been a bad blogger!)

So from April onwards I will be a new improved version!

FEBRUARY

February begins today, Tuesday 12th. For me anyway, cos I was away for the first week of it, and then very tired the last few days (and lazy, I know).

Today I submitted a micro-fiction piece (150 words). Horror actually, though based on a true event. Should it be published, I will post a link to it! So February got off to a good start.

On the other hand, there was bad news too, with the LD failing to please again. I have decided to start a totally new book, because I can't submit sequels of the LD to agents until the LD gets accepted! (Sorry, Vickythistles64, but there will be slightly longer to wait for the third book in the series than expected).

Also changing my plans re stories that I write every week (only two done so far this year and neither publishable). I want to write for a specific market and try and submit one a week - even if only micro or flash fiction - my writing cv is currently very very short!

Enough said for today!

REVIEW OF W/E 27TH JANUARY

Writing wise... VERY bad!! Didn't get my short story done.

On the positive side, I sent off TLD to a couple more agents.

And started my photography course with Pinky in Wednesday night. We were up at 6.30 am today to get to Glendalough for a field trip. Not only did we spend four hours there, I spend the rest of the day going through my shots editing and deciding which to submit to the tutor. Only just finished now.

Almost finished my SECOND book for the year (reading, not writing). I read the Colour of Light by William Goldman - an interesting, quite compelling read with a brilliantly drawn (though not very likable) hero who had everything he ever dreamed of landed on his plate, yet did nothing with it. Almost finished The Chins of America your.

To Vickythistles64: Will be starting on the next Lucky Diamond story soon - have thought out new beginning chapters!

YIPPEE! I'VE EARNED...30 CENTS ON HELIUM

I really don't understand how it works (and not sure I want to spend any time finding out)!

I have 8 articles published - one is no. 36/41, and strangely enough has earned me 21 cent! I think it used to be higher in the ratings.

My best one is no. 3/250 (earned 3 cent and it's been no 3 for a while).

I also have 32/173, 10/13 (Poor St. Albert!), 4/68, 7/90, 18/119 and 3/4.

None are worth reading (so don't bother) but I have found it quite a useful practice for writing articles, trying to formulate thoughts in a rational structured way. But so time-consuming, as are the necessary ratings.

I think I really will have to give it up!

TOFFEE ATTACK

Yesterday morning I was reading my book over breakfast - Bruce Campbell's biography (he starred in and was one of the people behind Evil Dead films).

Anyway, Toffee was outside, and had been for some time. Usually I hear her name tag rattle as she comes back. Failing that, she scratches at the window.

Yesterday, however, while I was deep in Evil Dead world, she launched herself against the window - just like a monster attack!!

Gave me a fright!

TOFFEE "THE CLAW"

Toffee was outside this morning and when she came up to the window, asking to be let in, I saw she had what looked like a clump of feathers in her mouth. I told her to drop them, which she did (eventually) but somehow she managed to hide something else from me when she came in.

When she dropped it onto her mat, I could see that it was - a claw!! All white and skeletal and yukky! Quite large too, I presume a cat dropped the claw in the garden, but it was horrible to see.

Ruined my breakfast!

REVIEW OF LAST WEEK

Pretty awful. Wasted too much time on the Amazon competition, waiting to see what had happened.

On the good side, I submitted Assignment 4 & lined up my two next agents. Ran out of good paper and couldn't get any in either of two Tescos (where I got it last time) or even in Easons! Very annoying! Finished my second short story, pretty awful - on to something new this week!

It can only be better than last week!

DIDN'T MAKE IT EITHER

The waiting finally ended - and I didn't make it into the top 835 semi-finalists of the Amazon competition.

It's disappointing cos every semi-finalist gets a full review from Publishers Weekly, which is what I would have loved to have got. On the other hand, I can get back to real work now.

I am shocked that Inkpot didn't make it though. Her excerpt is brialliantly written and very exciting. It was always going to be pot luck with Amazon reviewers rating them - if it's not your type of reading, it must make it more difficult to judge.

Anyway, back to reality now.

HELIUM

Well, to support and vote for Inkpot's fantasy story, I signed onto Helium yesterday to vote.

Of course, you need an account to rate the articles and stories. No problem - I had signed up before but never used it. So I requested a new password (naturally I had forgotten the original one).

Next problem - have to submit articles before rating others.

So I submitted one I had written before on St Albert the Great and was thrown immediately into ranking. Unfortunately I was only getting articles in the religion & spirituality category. It seems I need to write in a specific category to rate others in that category. So now I need to throw together a fantasy short (min 300 words) just to get me in, and hopefully see Inkpot's tale!

In the meantime, of course, I had to join in a couple of other debates. So my St Albert article is now ranked 9 of 12 (sob! didn't do well! But then the other articles all seem to be generally on patron saints, not an individual one).

Should a global climate agreement hold the US to a higher environmental standard than the rest of the world? I am current no 1 in this discussion (okay, 1 of 3!)

And for Should a woman have the right to choose abortion? I am 17 out of 237.

I could get caught up in this and spend all day in Helium!!!

REVIEW OF LAST WEEK

For some reason, I'm counting it as week one!

Overall, not too bad though not as good as I had hoped.

Finished one short story though didn't quite get the other one done.
Finished one book.
Did necessary research.
Did most of assignment 4.
Thought about my next book (The Mungo way)

A DAY OF RESEARCH

Not much writing done today. However, I did some of that magazine research I have been putting off for months. I spent over an hour in Easons, scribbling furiously as I went through some of the weekly magazines for women, looking for those that either paid for letters, photos or tips, or published fiction. I only got through 13 magazines during that time - it would have been great to have had someone with me or even a tape recorder! I'm amazed Easons didn't throw me out - they were very busy most of that time, with long queues at the till.

It's incredible how the magazine market has expanded along with the Celtic tiger. You can get a magazine on almost any subject now! They even had one for "Your Child's First Communion". I flicked through that and the article which I think was meant to be "religious" was pretty bad - most of it was about a Rabbi praying in a wood. Written by the head of the Catechists or something like that.

Anyway, time to get back to my short story!

JANUARY HAS STARTED WELL (ish)

My writing has not yet got into a good steady flow - too many distractions, I'm afraid, that I shall have to get very tough on!

I finished my first short story of the year. It's not for submission anywhere, or for any one else's eyes as I was experimenting with the first person POV and hadn't really decided on where my story was going. But I got it finished, 3880 words.

I'm only a little behind on my one story a week - if I can get my next finished by Sunday (an old one I started before but have dragged out to re-write once more), I'll be back on target.

REAL INTENTIONS

For January anyway:

Write 1 short story a week - hopefully one of these this month will be submit-able!

Complete at least two assignments for WB - this is even harder!

Other than that, I have another Lucky Diamond to write, Queen Rose to edit, etc

Oh yes, have to get a (paying) job too! :(

INTENTIONS FOR THE YEAR

To live up to my fellow Nodpots by being very disresponsible...

I intend to post most days, even just brief comments on the weather, if nothing else comes to mind.

One thing I know from the past year or two - blogging takes up a lot of time!

THANKS TO ALL NODPOTS

This is a wonderful day for me - the highlight of 2008 (it was after 12pm when I found out that I had won Disresponsible Nodpot of the Year for 2007).

What could top this award? Hopefully I will have some publishing success this year, but winning DNOTY 2007, especially in the face of such tough opposition from Mungo and Inkpot, cannot be beaten!

Thank you to all the Nodpots, especially those that voted for me!

DNOTY - AT LAST!

Undeserved, but true!