Saturday, November 21, 2009

All’s Quiet on the Western Front…

..so it seems like a good time to get stuck into revising my MS. I’m cheered to have someone - whose opinion I respect and who I know will be honest with me - agree to vet my work as it progresses. If you notice a wealth of adjectives, adverbs, clichés and general bad habits spilling over into the blog it’s because I’m fine–tooth combing the book and they’ve got to go somewhere.


It isn’t quiet everywhere in blog land-I came across a blog the other day with something like 2000 followers. The film I wanted to see as an anniversary treat is not on in our nearest complex but ‘An Education ‘ is and it sounds interesting; Lynn barber’s teen- age memories of being dazzled by an older man – and who wasn’t? Our day is really Monday but we have had so many celebrations on a November Monday when restaurants are often deserted or indeed closed so we are having it on Wednesday.


It is another wet, wet miserable day here and my heart goes out to the people in Cumbria and Scotland who are suffering floods and the resulting hardship. A brave policeman lost his life guarding a bridge and trying to prevent people crossing. The bridge gave way and he was swept to his death.

18 comments:

Barlinnie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Barlinnie said...

The community of Cumbria and the Borders are strong Pat. They will rebuild. The polis who died.. that was very tragic. He would have been 45 today.

Everyone here feels for his family, and the courage of his actions.

savannah said...

we're leading a very insular life here, sugar. i keep trying to get around to visit, but i'm not always successful. xxoxoo

Pat said...

Jimmy: I hope you and yours and Kim and family are safe.

Savannah: but you do drop in and are always welcome:)

DILLIGAF said...

Having strong ties to the Police (and don't laugh!)...my bro in law is a copper, I'm Godfather to a Traffic Cops little boy and my Uncle Ernie retired from the Greater Manchester Police at 50 and emigrated to Bolivia or somewhere - oddly about 250K of stolen money vanished from the police lock up the day he went.....well he was/is my uncle...;-)

Anyroad. That copper was the man. Sometimes we forget that even with the pc brigade tying them in knots they still put life and limb on the line for us. God bless him and those he's left behind eh?

I do expect a signed copy of your book you know - and don't sign it 'To Caz with sympathy'!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about the flooding. It's been a wet year all around and lots of flooding here, too, though thankfully, no loss of life. We had enough of that in 1993.

Gia Fernandes said...

How long have you been working on the MS? Look forward to all the discarded adjectives, adverbs etc here on the blog ;-)

Sad about the floods and the poor policeman. It's always the brave who go first.

Kim Ayres said...

We're all fine here - our house is pretty high up. I'll probably be posting a couple of flood photos soon as I've been out with the camera

Mage said...

Try and stay warm and dry.....

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I have been gearing about the Torrebtial Rains over there...That is just terrible...!
I hope they don't get that bad where you are, my dear.
And I heard that was a terrific film, Pat...Sounds like a wonderful sunstitute....!

I cannot believe I have missed so many of your posts. I haven't been feeling all that well...But there are pictures of Sweetie & Rabies in friendly positions...If you get a chance...!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I hit so many wrong keys...OY! I hope you can decipher, in spite of my mistakes....lol!

Pat said...

FourD: we had a policeman in the family also so they usually get sympathy and understanding from us.

Randall :I'm sorry to say I'm ignorant of what happened in'93.

CC: a couple of years and am now doing - hopefully - a final draft.

Kim: glad you are high - like us - although in the fifties the houses on the hill were swept down in Lynton.

Magggie: we are lying low and oddly it is quite warm.

Naomi: if the weather is really bad we'll have to curtail the plans.
I have the same problem with the keys. If I didn't correct people would think I'm quite mad.
As usual it's bed-time but I'll be over tomorrow:)

kenju said...

I wonder what that blogger was bribing followers with....LOL The most I've seen is around 700, I think, and I never went back so I don't know who it was.

So sorry to hear about the flooding.

Pat said...

Judy: it may have something to do with the fact that her husband is a famous writer.

Queenie said...

Revising, ah yes, me too. It seems there's always room for improvement! Best of luck with yours.

Pat said...

Queenie: I'm at the enjoyable stage now I've got stuck in:)

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

Have fun revising, Pat, it makes it more interesting for you and for the reader.

I saw that flood on tv, it's sad. Having suffered a frightening flood in 05, I feel for them.

Pat said...

GG: I think I'm getting it to flow better and cutting out a fair bit of dross:)