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Favourite Things

July 17, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

One of the discoveries during lockdown for me has been the Zoom app. I know of people able to get to writing events via Zoom who would not have been able to attend that same event if held “physically” due to the distance involved for them.

I would also like to see “standard” events perhaps end up having Zoom sessions as a side line to what they normally do as a way of engaging those who, for whatever reason, would find getting to the main event difficult. So Zoom has been a good thing then.

Missing seeing friends and family has been the worst element over the last few months (though that is easing of course now). Zoom has helped compensate a bit here though it cannot be the same as getting together with your loved ones.

Zoom has helped bridge the gap but can’t beat actually being with friends and family. Pixabay

[Read more…] about Favourite Things

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Tags: books, Carols, Carry On films, Chameleon Theatre productions, classical music, classical music composers, dog breeds, favourites, films, genre fiction, hymns, meals, TV themes

Walkies!

July 10, 2020 By Allison Symes 8 Comments

I’m sure many of you will remember the late Barbara Woodhouse, the famous dog trainer whose catchphrase “walkies” has lived on.

Is there a dog owner who doesn’t use that phrase, I wonder?! Certainly all three of my dogs (the bearded collie cross, Gracie; the border collie, Mabel; and now Lady who is a border collie/flat coated retriever/chihuahua mix) all knew the meaning of the word and were/are keen fans of it!

Lady the loveable. Image by Allison Symes

[Read more…] about Walkies!

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Tags: dogs, HIltingbury Recreation Ground, litter, walking

Book Games

July 3, 2020 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

I’ve mentioned before that I love word games and these can take all manner of forms from Scrabble and Boggle to The Times’ cryptic crossword. (I pass on the latter. If I go for crosswords, it is always the quick kind!).

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I will often unwind after an evening’s writing by playing Scrabble on my phone.

The advantage of using technology to play a board game is it does mean I never have to worry about losing a tile again. It does also mean I can’t lose the Q or the X no matter how much I want to at times. There is always a downside to technology!

Oh and before you ask, I have been known to get miffed when the computer, which effectively is what the smart phone is in many ways, beats me at Scrabble yet again. I am improving though.

Feature Image – Book Games. Pixabay

[Read more…] about Book Games

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Tags: anagrams, book games, creative writing, missing words from book titles, word games, word games and the writer

Journeying into Non-Fiction Writing – Val Penny

June 26, 2020 By Allison Symes 6 Comments

I recently wrote about Changing Direction here and a good example of another author who has done precisely that is crime writer, Val Penny.

Now that doesn’t mean Val is leaving her (writing) life of crime (!), but she has turned to non-fiction with the recent release of her Let’s Get Published.

Feature Image – Journeying Into Non-Fiction Writing – Val Penny. Image kindly supplied by Val Penny.

[Read more…] about Journeying into Non-Fiction Writing – Val Penny

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Tags: creative writing, Let's Get Published, non-fiction, Scottish crime writer, Val Penny, writing advice

Waterloo Arts Festival 2020 Goes Digital – Online Writing Event

June 19, 2020 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

The Waterloo Arts Festival is an annual celebration across several art disciplines all based on a theme. This year’s one was Transforming Communities. Previous topics have been Transforming Being and To Be…To Become.

bhp31l
The Bridge House Publishing logo. Image from Bridge House Publishing.

For the last three years, there has been a writing competition as part of the Festival and Bridge House Publishing have been the sponsors behind this. I’ve been privileged to have had winning stories in all three ebooks produced. Each ebook is a compilation of the fifteen winning entries in each year.

The Waterloo Arts Festival goes online for 2020. Pixabay.

[Read more…] about Waterloo Arts Festival 2020 Goes Digital – Online Writing Event

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Tags: Allison Symes, Bridge House Publishing, ebook launch, online writing event, publication news, Transforming Communities, Waterloo Arts Festival, Zoom

Lockdown Afternoon Tea

June 17, 2020 By chippy minton 4 Comments

Scone Jam Cream

In recent years, afternoon tea has become the new decadence, being offered at a number of cafes and tea shops.

The Blackbird Café at Fleming Park’s Pavilion on the Park has come up with a great way to put our love of cake, sandwiches and tea (but mostly cake) to good use during lockdown: offering a takeaway afternoon tea to help fund a lunch club on wheels service for people who are isolated during the pandemic and might not otherwise get a hot meal.

blackbird Cafe Tea Flyer

[Read more…] about Lockdown Afternoon Tea

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Tags: blackbird cafe, lockdown, pavilion on the park

Pandemics and Epidemics – I have been locked-down for 100 days

June 15, 2020 By Mike Sedgwick 2 Comments

Lockdown for 100 days

By the time you read this, I will have been locked-down for 100 days, from March 9th in fact.

This is not the first epidemic or pandemic I have experienced. The first, in 1961, amounted to nothing very much but, without prompt action, it could have been even more serious than the present one.

I returned home to my student flat late one night to find the door locked and bolted. I rang and banged and shouted and eventually my flat-mate, Taffy, appeared on the balcony.

‘You can’t come in, mate.’

‘Stop messing around, Taffy and let me in.’

‘Can’t, it’s smallpox.’

‘There’s no smallpox here. Let me in.’

Lockdown for 100 days
Lockdown for 100 days

‘But there is in South Wales and in Bradford. We are possible contacts because we spent the weekend in South Wales. We are in quarantine for 10 days and must have no contact with anyone. Public Health sends someone around with food which they leave at the door.’ [Read more…] about Pandemics and Epidemics – I have been locked-down for 100 days

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Tags: Chandler’s Ford community, community, Covid-19, Eastleigh, medicine, science, storytelling

Shops Reopening – Support Local Businesses in Chandler’s Ford

June 14, 2020 By Janet Williams 13 Comments

Excellent trainers from Up & Running

Yesterday I drove past the Fryern Arcade, and could see lots of people outside Costa Coffee.

Chandler's Ford Central Precinct: Keep Safe
Chandler’s Ford Central Precinct: Keep Safe

At the Central Precinct, I also saw a tent outside Up & Running running shop. I was quite pleased, so went to check if my trainers had arrived. I had ordered a pair of trainers a week before lockdown, so have been waiting for the shop to reopen.

Up and Running - running specialist at Chandler's Ford Central Precinct.
Up and Running – running specialist at Chandler’s Ford Central Precinct.

[Read more…] about Shops Reopening – Support Local Businesses in Chandler’s Ford

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Tags: Bournemouth Road, Central Precinct, Chandler's Ford, good neighbours, Hiltingbury, Hiltingbury Road, local businesses, local interest, news

Genre Fiction

June 12, 2020 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Genre fiction can be described as anything that is not literary fiction. Yes, I know – very helpful, not!

I have nothing against literary fiction though I suspect the only book I have in that category is the magnificent Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I was in a dilemma with her follow up Bring Up The Bodies. I know how the story of Anne Boleyn ends!

When you know there is nothing positive well… having said that, I may well try it at some point. (Mind you, I was like this with the film Titanic. I knew about the iceberg! Didn’t see anything in the film for me!). Okay, call me a philistine then…

Bound to be some genre fiction here. Pixabay

[Read more…] about Genre Fiction

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Tags: books, genre fiction, literary fiction, reading

Prosody

June 7, 2020 By Mike Sedgwick 3 Comments

handwritten poem by a 6 year-old

It’s not what you say, it’s the way that you say it. The panel game, Just a Minute depends on it. My granddaughter (aged 6) wrote a performance poem about the programme. I have kept the original spelling:-

This is

Cklap, cklap, cklap

A game of

Cklap, cklap, cklap

Consontrashon

Clap, clap, clap

No repeets

Clap, clap, clap

Or hesetaison

Clap, clap, clap

I’ll go first

Clap, clap, clap

And I’ll go second

Clap, clap, clap

Subject is

Clap, clap, clap

Enithing.

By GT

Jan 2020

[Read more…] about Prosody

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Tags: books, Covid-19, news, reading, science, writing

Changing Direction

June 5, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

One of the things I love most about writing is it keeps you on your toes. There is always something to learn. For my flash fiction, I am always inventing new characters to write about. So the chances of (a) being bored or (b) running out of things to write about are zilch. I like that!

And for non-fiction work, such as my posts here, there are always topics of interest to look into, research, and write about. It is also a joy to share local author news (and a nice bonus when I can include myself!).

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Being stretched mentally, whether you’re writing or what have you, is good for you. It makes you think. You develop much more as a person and I am sure that is one of the unspoken roles of any of the creative arts.

Taking part in any of the creative arts will make you assess where you are, where you might like to head with your chosen form, and so on.

[Read more…] about Changing Direction

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Tags: blogging, changing direction, creative writing, flash fiction, non-fiction

Books On The Radio – Local Author News – Richard Hardie/Allison Symes

May 29, 2020 By Allison Symes 4 Comments

Books have been on the radio for a long time. Often they are read through with music played to indicate scene breaks. My favourite novel, The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey, was broadcast like this. (It is repeated every so often on Radio 4 Extra so so listen out for it. It’s a cracking story and the music is wonderful).

And of course books make for good adaptations – the right sound effects and music and no expensive sets or location costs! Radio has many advantages over TV here.

A lovely selection of old radio “sets”. Pixabay. And yes I recall them being called that.

Authors of course welcome the chance to discuss their books. The problem though is it is the big name authors who get on to Radio 4 etc so other writers need to focus on alternatives. With the ready availability of podcasting as well now, there’s another avenue for writers to explore whether they set up their own or are guests on them. Oh and don’t underestimate the hard work that goes into running a podcast or preparing well to be a guest on one!

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[Read more…] about Books On The Radio – Local Author News – Richard Hardie/Allison Symes

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Tags: Allison Symes, book promotion, books, Chat and Spin Radio. radio interviews, creative writing, From Light to Dark and Back Again, internet radio, Leap of Faith, marketing, radio, Richard Hardie, Trouble With Swords

May Memories

May 15, 2020 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

May is a charming name for a lovely month, I think. It was also the name of my maternal grandmother (May Elizabeth).

May is one of my favourite months. Pixabay

[Read more…] about May Memories

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Tags: Allison Symes, family recollections, May, memories, spring, VE Day, writing news

Zooming Around and Cyberlaunch Tips

May 8, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

I trust everyone is keeping well. One aspect of the lockdown I hadn’t expected was finding the video conferencing app, Zoom, and wonder how I’ve not discovered its usefulness before. I’ve been on Skype and What’s App for a while but Zoom has come into its own. For more info do click on this link.

 

The little boxes here remind me of what you see on Zoom. Pixabay

[Read more…] about Zooming Around and Cyberlaunch Tips

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Tags: cyberlaunch tips, cyberlaunches, From Light to, social media, technology, video conferencing, writers, Zoom

Can you help? Making Mask Extenders to Help the NHS

May 3, 2020 By SO53 News 4 Comments

Calling all knitters & crafters!

Southampton District Methodist Church has had a direct plea from one of the hospital chaplains for mask extenders.

Recently some mask extenders were taken to a particularly hard-hit ward and they were very well received. This is a plea district-wide to help all our local hospitals. Below is a poster with instructions.

Can you make some mask extenders for frontline NHS workers?
Can you make some mask extenders for frontline NHS workers?

[Read more…] about Can you help? Making Mask Extenders to Help the NHS

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Tags: charity, Covid-19, crafts, good neighbours, hobby, how-to, Methodist Church, news, Winchester Road

26 Songs Medley – Fundraising for Methodist Homes (MHA)

May 3, 2020 By SO53 News Leave a Comment

Why not listen to a medley of 26 beautiful songs, guess their titles, and donate to support Methodist Homes (MHA)?

MHA is a charity providing care, accommodation and support services for older people throughout Britain.

Rev Eric Renouf’s daughter, Joy Blake, leads Singing for Wellbeing groups for two MHA Live at Home Schemes in the north of Hampshire. As a fundraising challenge for MHA, she has put together a medley of 26 songs with titles for each letter of the alphabet (with a bit of ‘cheating’ on ‘X’).

Most of the songs are taken from the repertoire she uses for the Wellbeing groups. You are invited to have a go at identifying the 26 song titles. A list of the answers can be obtained from Marilyn Pack (mjpack@renpack.co.uk).

[Read more…] about 26 Songs Medley – Fundraising for Methodist Homes (MHA)

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Tags: Covid-19, entertainment, fundraising, good neighbours, Methodist Church, music

Part 3 – The Chameleons Say Hello…to their Favourite Performances

May 1, 2020 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Hello and welcome to another installment from The Chameleon Theatre Group looking at life behind the scenes. This week, they share with us what some of their most memorable productions have been and why.

The Chameleons start with All My Sons, which they presented in October 2016.

Image Credit:  As ever, a big thanks to The Chameleons for the images.

Feature Image: All My Sons
Feature Image: All My Sons

[Read more…] about Part 3 – The Chameleons Say Hello…to their Favourite Performances

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Tags: amateur theatre, comedy, drama, entertainment, Ritchie Hall, shows, The Chameleon Theatre Group

Fun With Words by Allison Symes

April 24, 2020 By Allison Symes Leave a Comment

Most writers, certainly the ones I know, love word games. These can range from good old Scrabble to the Times crossword. I fall into the former camp! It is a very good day when I get a cryptic crossword clue right but never mind!

I am also fond of fun, pun games which are the ultimate form of word play as far as I’m concerned. You’re taking the language and “mucking about” with it. What’s not to like about that? It is how so much comedy is generated. It does wonders for your vocabulary too given you have to know the various meanings for any pun to work.

Word games are huge fun - Pixabay
Word games are huge fun – Pixabay

Radio shows such as Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth, and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue are all dependent on word play. I was sorry to hear of the death of Nicholas Parsons and hope that Just a Minute does not die with him. I am convinced he would not have wanted that and it is a marvellous show. Working with words gives endless permutations so I see no reason why it couldn’t go on.

The traditional board game of Scrabble - PIxabay
The traditional board game of Scrabble though I’d love to know why someone’s got 8 tiles here!- PIxabay

[Read more…] about Fun With Words by Allison Symes

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Tags: fun with words, humour, silly book titles, word play

How to make the daily exercise more interesting

April 18, 2020 By chippy minton 13 Comments

street name we

Taking our COVID-19 permitted daily period of exercise is good for our health, but the restrictions on “keeping it local” can make it  bit monotonous.  So why not add a bit of variety and adventure to your walk by finding a route where you can spell out a word or phrase with the first letter of street names.

In true Blue Peter fashion, here is one I made earlier. [Read more…] about How to make the daily exercise more interesting

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Tags: Chandler's Ford, coronavirus, Covid-19, daily exercise, local interest, quiz, travel

Murphy’s Law For Readers

April 10, 2020 By Allison Symes 2 Comments

Feature Image - Murphy's Law for Readers

I thought a lighthearted piece would probably be timely. Last year, I wrote a piece about Murphy’s Law for Writers so I thought I would take the topic again and look at it from a reader’s viewpoint.

So how could Murphy’s Law apply to readers then? As follows, I think, but send in your suggestions via the comments box. Some of what follows will be for when we resume normal life again but the general principles apply.

So how could Murphy’s Law affect readers? Pixabay

[Read more…] about Murphy’s Law For Readers

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Tags: books, bookshops, entertainment, humour, libraries, Murphy's Law, readers, stories
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