Duvet Days

     I've had a few duvet days this last week, and I'm afraid my appetite for writing as well as food has been somewhat quashed.  Therefore in both cases I'm getting back to normal in bite size pieces.
   
     After a couple of days in bed I wanted to fill my lungs with some good clean fresh air, so my husband and I went for a walk.  But quickly I found out that I was taking giant steps instead of baby steps.  I'm certainly not the fittest person, but I had definitely bitten off more than I could chew. I looked with envy as the joggers ran by me. Although it's a long time since I've jogged, that's for sure. Sick, or not I always look at joggers with envy.

    So that's why my post is on the short side today, and normal service will resume Friday.  Thanks for hanging around. Have a great week. 

How Do You Feel About Edgy YA?

    Sex, drugs, swearing and violence are things that many of us, class as edgy content within YA. I personally have no objections to any of this in a novel, or short story, as long as it's relevant to the plot.

    All of these things, are part of our everyday lives and growing up. We don't live in a bubble, that bursts when we come of age. To make our choices and decisions in life we need to be exposed to the reality of this crazy, crazy world.

    That's my opinion what's yours?

These High Heels Are Made For Talking

       'International Women's Day 2013,' will be celebrated throughout the world on the 8th March. There are many events that women of faith and non-faith can get involved in. Either by attending an event in their own country, or on line.

    'Confidence is Beautiful' is one such item that those wanting to enter into the fun on line can do. It asks for ladies, to post photos of their high heels, on Facebook and Twitter. Partners are also encouraged to take part.

    This event according to the website is, 'To inspire youth and adults to be confident and use confidence to achieve personal goals by accepting, seeing and loving each other as beautiful people.' Because, we all are beautiful.

    As various tales such as, Beauty and the Beast, The Frog Princess and The Princess and the Frog demonstrate, everyone of us can be someone's Prince, or Princess.

    So, whatever your interested in let's do it for the girls and support 'International Women's Day 2013.'

http://internationalwomensday.com
@womensday #ConfidenceIsBeautiful,NewYork
facebook.com/internationalwomensday

What a Difference a 100 Years Can Make

    I was looking through some old books the other day and the one that really stimulated my little grey cells was printed in the early 20th century. The section of the book that caught my attention, provided an author with handy hints in preparing their MS to be sent to the printers.

    The list of useful tips includes, how to fold the paper, the numbering of the pages, the use of ruled paper with the lines wide apart and also advises the author to write plainly.

   A hundred years on, some of the advice is still relevant in submitting our MS. But, with the correct software, many of the annoyances as they were referred to in the book have been eradicated. It makes me wonder, what will authors have at their fingertips in another hundred years?


Book referred to : The Woman's Book by Florence Jack Printed 1911. 734 Pages and by The History Press in  2006. 215 Pages.

The fantastic software I use is available from : Apache Open Office.

It Happens to Teenagers Too

    Every day when we switch on our TV, listen to news items on the radio and read the Internet, we are constantly reminded of the violence and abuse that exists in adult relationships.

    This abuse in what ever form it takes doesn't just exist in relationships between adults though, abuse is something that is a concern within teenage relationships too. That's why the UK government is running a campaign between the 14th February 2013 and the end of April 2013 to stop teenagers from becoming victims, or perpetrators of abuse.

    The website provides facts, guidance, help for all those concerned, or have concerns about someone they know who is in need of help. One thing that it does well, is it highlights all the forms in which abuse can take place. Whether an individual is pressurised into having sex, subject to physical violence, told what to wear, or not as the case may be, help is out there.

    One thing it also points out is that teenage abuse isn't limited to boyfriend/girlfriend situations, but those in same sex relationships may also find themselves in an abusive situation.

    So, if you live in the UK, and you need further information on teenage relationship abuse, check out www.homeoffice.gov.uk . 

   

Say It With Handwritten Words

    So, yesterday was Saint Valentine's Day, a day when lovers exchange gifts, cards and flowers.The occasion is a huge money spinner for stationers, florists and lingerie shops. But, do we actually need an overpriced gift, or card to tell someone how much we love them?

    What about just putting pen to paper and writing down how we feel about our lover. Forget the gaudy cards, text messages and the emails, heart felt handwritten words can express much more.

    Here are some words that were sent to my Aunt by her husband over 50 years ago. Following their deaths I was lucky enough to be entrusted with all of the hand-written notes they exchanged in their sixty years together. These letters I will treasure forever, just as they did. I hope you enjoy this little glimpse of a man's love for his wife.

    I saw her as an angel, fair with sparkling eyes of blue,

    With cheeks like blossomed roses, and lips of reddish hue,

    Her body formed like Venus, as graceful as a Queen,

    I never thought I'd find a girl, like the angel of my dream.

 

Can You Judge A Book By Its' Cover?

    When it's cold outside, there's nothing like sitting down to a warm meal. With the busy lives many of us lead, it isn't always convenient for us to stand over a hot stove all day preparing the evening meal for our families. Therefore many of us find ourselves reliant on the ready-made meals that fill the deep freezers in our supermarket.

   But, within the last two weeks in the UK we have been horrified to find out that many of our frozen beef products, definitely aren't what it states on the label. It all started when it was reported that several of our leading brands found horse DNA in the beefburgers they were selling.

    As they tried to get to the bottom of what was believed to be accidental beef contamination, the true extent of the unscrupulous practises within our food chain unravelled like the plot of a crime best seller.

    Firstly, it was found that meat pies supplied to our prisons and hospitals for consumption by Muslim prisoners and patients alike, contained pork. Then supermarket chains found that their ready made meals not only contained horse DNA, but the contents instead of being beef were actually horses meat.

    Whilst, some UK and many European residents have no objection to consuming horse meat, they do expect to eat the food of their choice and not be tricked into eating something that they don't want to.A full investigation is now underway and the source of the meat is said to be exported from Romania. One thing it does show is that you can't judge a book by its' cover, or believe what it states on the box, as it is in this case.