Flash Fiction: Strange Occurrences

Jason was walking down the street towards his favourite café when something on the ground got his attention.  He stopped and looked down at this mysterious object but could not work out what it was.  He looked around to see if there were TV cameras watching his moves, in case this was candid camera or something like that. But there was nothing near him, no cameras, and no buildings.

Hang on, no buildings. That is strange thought Jason since only two minutes ago he was walking down the busiest street in London which is normally full of shops and businesses with people coming in and out. But not now, now Jason was just standing on this empty street by himself and the weird object on the ground.

Jason really did not know what to think or what was happening. He just stood there scratching his head. He walked towards the object and bent down to pick it up, when out of nowhere appeared another man.

This man was wearing a suit, a bowler hat, carrying a briefcase and an umbrella. He reminded Jason of Mr Ben, an old TV character! He also thought it was weird because who in this day and age carries a briefcase when everything you ever need these days is on your tablet! Jason did not think a man appearing from nowhere was strange, just the fact that he carried a briefcase.

The man, who turned out to be called Fred, came over to Jason and asked for directions to the Foreign Office. Jason tried to point him in the right direction but found this increasingly difficult due to the lack of buildings around him.  Remember they had all disappeared with all the other people.

Jason was beginning to think he was on another planet, because in his mind something wasn't right. He was very confused. It was at that moment that he realised the object on the ground had started to grow and Fred had mysteriously disappeared.  There was now a dog sitting beside Jason, which made him think that Fred had turned into a dog.

Jason walked over to the object which he now saw was a lamp post. On the lamppost was a big red buzzer saying ‘Press Me’, which of course Jason did, why wouldn’t her?

Jason pressed the button not sure what to expect. Never did he imagine that money would fall from the sky. At first Jason thought it as raining but then realised what was hitting him was too hard and sore for rain, maybe it was hail, but it wasn't. It was raining money, and 1p’s, 2p’s 5p’s and 10p’s were coming down. Jason thought, what is going on?

Then Jason noticed the dog had gone, where had it disappeared to? Jason was so confused by everything that had been going on that it never crossed his mind to start collecting the money.

Jason just kept standing scratching his head not knowing what to do. He said aloud, “I feel strange” but no one heard him because there was no one else around. Jason then realised he was no longer standing on the street but somehow he had been transported and was now standing on the edge of the Millennium Bridge in the middle of London. How on earth I got here, Jason thought.

All of a sudden there was a rush of people coming to his aid to help him come off the edge and bring him to safety. They were all shouting ‘Don’t jump, don’t jump’. Jason was confused, “What do you mean jump, why would I jump, I am confused, I don’t know how I got here”.

Jason decided he did not feel safe on the bridge so he went to get down but as he was doing so, his balance faltered and he fell off the bridge, but it wasn't water he was falling into. Where was he going to land? Jason hit his head which was really sore then he realised he was dreaming and had hit his head on his bedroom floor after falling out of bed!!

Flash Fiction: 399 Word Story Dare

My 399 word story dare – had to get the following words into the story:

• ·         Template
• ·         Genuine
• ·         Policy
• ·         Pitied
• ·         Autophagy

‘Whatever you do, make sure you do not lose template, it’s the only one we have, and without it we’ll never be able to replicate that experiment again”

“No problem, you can trust me, will bring it back once I have finished with it”

“Make sure you do now”

“I will, don’t worry Mr Fusspot”!!

Readers, in case you think I am bring rude to my teacher here, he really is called Mr Fusspot. A great name for a science teacher, always fussing over the next big thing in the science world, wishing he had been behind the brains behind each invention, experiment etc.

Despite his idiosyncrasies Mr Fusspot was a genuine great teacher, he knew his science and his enthusiasm for the subject rubbed off on all his students, including me.

He made it a policy at the start of each year to engage his students in the crazy world of science. If someone actually did not like science or thought it was no a worthwhile subject he gave a forty minute lesson over to them, so they could state why it wasn’t important, interesting or relevant. These lessons were actually quite fun and usually ended up with a goo debate which Mr Fusspot always seemed to win.  I pitied the poor person up against him, as he was such a good debater, he could argue and black crow white!!

I loved finding out how the human body worked, not the outside of it, but the inside. It was amazing to learn about all he biology – how the organisms, cells, tissues, organs and organ symptoms all worked. I was so taken with all this that I recently entered and won a science essay competition with my piece on autophagy (a physiological process in the body that deals with the destruction of cells in the body).

Mr Fusspot was so proud that one of his students won first prize that he science part for everyone.

The fact that Mr Fusspot made science fun, made those Friday afternoons where we had double science last thing more bearable. In fact, some of us even stayed late to go to science club – not sure what made them think Friday was a good idea for clubs, but some schools are strange.  Usually only nerdy boys go to the school science club, but us girls also liked to go, because Mr Fusspot was fit!

TV Review: Eastenders - the killer has been revealed

So the live week of Eastenders has finished and we now know who killed Lucy. It was her half brother Bobby.

At the beginning of the whole saga I jokingly said I bet it was Bobby and I was right. Was it an accident that Bobby, an 11 year old killed his half sister? No, it looks like he did hit her maliciously because he told Jane "Whatever, she says, I didn't do it. And she deserved it. She was making everyone miserable". He was defending himself too strongly while standing there holding the murder weapon!! A jewellery box! And the look in his eyes when he said it was an evil look.

Lucy was killed a home but found dead on Walford Common. But how did her body get there? Well Jane, Bobby's mother (not his real mother - Jane adopted him when Ian and her married the first time) covered it up because she didn't want Bobby getting into trouble.  That's called motherly love but think its going a bit too far.

Peter (Lucy's Twin) said he would never forgive Jane or Bobby and that Bobby deserved to know the truth. Jane had told him that Lucy was OK after he hit her, but went out later that evening and got killed then.

However, Peter must have had a change of heart because in the latest episode when Bobby asked him whether he killed Lucy, Peter said no. However, he still really can't forgive and live in the same place as him an Jane and is moving to New Zealand with Lauren to live with his other half brother Stephen.

So Ian has now lost both twins. And can he forgive Bobby and Jane? He has now remarried Jane. He says he can forgive them, but can he really? Time will tell.

So, was it a let down, an anticlimax or not? For me, no, I enjoyed the live week and think that the way it all worked out was good. And how good was Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale) in the fully live episode. All the actors were good but he was very convincing. I never rated him as an actor but he was great that night.

Well done Eastenders. Now we have to see whether Mick killed Dean and moved his body  - can't have two murders and one murderer revealed in the one week. Yes, Nick Cotton is dead and Dot has confessed to killing him - but did she? I thought it was an overdose or bad drugs!!

TV Review: Broadchurch - the final episode

As I wrote about the penultimate episode of Broadchurch I thought I would write about the final episode of Season 2.

What I thought would happen actually happened, Joe Millar was found not guilty. So now the question is did he kill Danny or not? I know he confessed at the end of Season 1 but beginning of this Season he pleaded not guilty. The Jury believe he was innocent, but that is because his lawyers were very convincing and good at their job and got him off.

Will Season 3, which has now been confirmed, keep the Danny Latimer story going, or will there be a new one? In this episode Joe Millar was banished from Broadchurch by the residents including his wife and children - they believe he was guilty. And being banaished by all your friends and family - is that worse than serving jail time? For me it would be worse.

At least the murders of Pippa Gillespie and Lisa Newbery were solved. Lee and Clare Ashworth were charged with the murder of Pippa and Pippa's dad Ricky was charged with the murder of Lisa - cold blooded murder.  All confessed to it.

I was confused whether Pippa died due to what was in the flask or was she smothered by Lee? I think probably the latter. But why? Because she knew too much about what had happened - Lee having sex with Lisa and the way she died.

For me, it was very frustrating TV but still gripped me as well.  The cast largely annoyed me and I really did not warm to anyone of them except Alec (played by David Tennant) - there was a vulnerability about him.  I was glad that he got his unsolved murder eventually solved and put to bed so he can now rest.  Has he left Broadchurch or will he be back for Season 3?

Olivia Coleman is a great actress but her character in this, Ellie Millar annoyed me at times as she was a bit wet/mousy, but other times I liked her when she forthright  and bossy.

All in all I would give Broadchurch Season 2 a 7 out of 10. Cannot compare it to Season 1 as never watched it. Let's see what Season 3 brings.

Writing: So You Want To Be A Writer

I came across the following poem recently "So you want to be a writer" written by Charles Bukowski, an American writer. As someone  who has started writing again recently, I found it a very interesting and enjoyable poem, because it is true for writers:

So You Want To Be A Writer

if it doesn't come bursting out of you

in spite of everything,

don't do it.

unless it comes unasked out of your

heart and your mind and your mouth

and your gut,

don't do it.

if you have to sit for hours

staring at your computer screen

or hunched over your

typewriter

searching for words,

don't do it.

if you're doing it for money or

fame,

don't do it.

if you're doing it because you want

women in your bed,

don't do it.

if you have to sit there and

rewrite it again and again,

don't do it.

if it's hard work just thinking about doing it,

don't do it.

if you're trying to write like somebody

else,

forget about it.

if you have to wait for it to roar out of

you,

then wait patiently.

if it never does roar out of you,

do something else.

if you first have to read it to your wife

or your girlfriend or your boyfriend

or your parents or to anybody at all,

you're not ready.

don't be like so many writers,

don't be like so many thousands of

people who call themselves writers,

don't be dull and boring and

pretentious, don't be consumed with self-

love.

the libraries of the world have

yawned themselves to

sleep

over your kind.

don't add to that.

don't do it.

unless it comes out of

your soul like a rocket,

unless being still would

drive you to madness or

suicide or murder,

don't do it.

unless the sun inside you is

burning your gut,

don't do it.

when it is truly time,

and if you have been chosen,

it will do it by

itself and it will keep on doing it

until you die or it dies in you.

there is no other way.

and there never was.

Flash Fiction: 299 word story dare - Early Morning in a Seaside Town

The early morning hours along a seaside trail – 299 word story dare.

It was 5am April 5^th in the sleepy seaside village of Portballintrae when the sound of gunshots woke up most of the people who were sleeping soundly in their beds. 

Everyone, well mostly everyone jumped out of bed and rushed out their front doors to find out what was going on and were the gunshots were coming from. It wasn't just a couple of gunshots, it was about 20 rounds or maybe even more.

Gunshots were not unusual in Northern Ireland, but they had never been heard in Portballintrae before, a quiet village known for its gorgeous coastline and great walks.

Sadie was very shocked at what she had just heard. She was shaking and was quite afraid. Sadie was out the door about three minutes after the shots rang out, joining everyone else in the street, who were all as confused as she was.  Everyone was speculating about where the shots were fired, who fired them and who/what were they being fired at.

Some people said the sound came from the big beach, others said from the harbour while others though it was the caravan park. One thing they definitely knew, it was not on their street and no one from their street had committed the crime or been shot at, because they were all standing there together. Sadie had taken a headcount and a roll call just to make sure! She wasn’t the head of neighbourhood watch for nothing!

After much discussion, everyone went back to their homes as they couldn’t do anything or find anything out at this time.

Well, Sadie thought she’d try. She needed to know. She couldn’t go back to sleep now anyway. So she picks up the phone to the local police station, asks questions, but will she like what she hears?

(299 words) 

Flash Fiction: 199 word story dare

Here is my 199 word story dare, and it had to be written using the following words:

• Parcel
• Grouch
• Buttresses
• Joyously
• Think

Every morning was the same, Jill woke up in a grouch. There was no talking to her and if you did you would either get a grumble, complete silence or your head eaten.  I once told her cereal was nicer tasting than my head, I got a very sharp dig in the ribs for that. So now I think before I speak to her in the morning.

However for some strange reason this morning was different, Jill was in a good mood, a joyously good mood. I was a bit puzzled and asked her if she has a temperature, was she feeling OK, because I had never seen her happy in the morning, not even the day after we got married!

Apparently Jill was in such a good mood because she was expecting a parcel, and it wasn't any old parcel which would get you and I excited, not it was buttresses!! Well that won’t be coming royal mail, too big for letter box.

No, it would be delivered by two strapping young men. Hence the excitement. No, she was excited because it meant her stone sculpture could finally be erected in the local cathedral for all to see.

(199 words)

Flash Fiction: 99 Word Dare - The Baby was screaming again

It is hard sometimes to start a story, so I have been following prompts on twitter to help me. One of these prompts was “The Baby was screaming again” and it had to be a 99 word story. Writing to the word limit is actually quite difficult. Here is the story:

The Baby was screaming again and I just could not take it any longer. How much can a baby scream for without getting bored? Forever I reckon, that’s how long it feels this baby has been screaming for, and my ears are bleeding with the sound. 

If it was my baby would have got it settled by now, but its parents don’t seem to hear its cries. How could anyone fail to? I am sure they can her the screams in Australia, it is so freakin loud! 

Oh someone turn the baby off before I start screaming loudly myself.   

(99 Words)

Flash Fiction: May I buy you a drink?

At my writers group we were asked to write a piece of dialogue starting with the line “May I buy a Drink”, and here is mine:

May I buy you a drink?

No

Why not?

Because I don’t want to drink with you

But you don’t know me

I don’t want to know you

But when you get to know me, you’ll love me

You’re sure of yourself

It is because I have my lucky red shirt on tonight

Well it’s not helping you here with me, maybe the luck has been washed out

I disagree. I think it has helped. I know you like me

What makes you think that, I refused the drink?

If you didn’t like me, you wouldn’t be sitting here talking to me, you would have left long ago. There are plenty more seats in the bar, but you’re still sitting here with me

Hmmmmm

Hmmmm, is that all you can say?

Yes, because I actually don’t know how to reply

See, I am getting to you, you do like me, and you do want to get to know me

No I don’t, you are wrong

I am not wrong, I am right

What if I do like you, what would you do?

I’d say, may I buy you a drink

Yes you may

HA! I knew it, it’s the lucky red shirt

Music: Be Still

I wrote a post recently about song lyrics that speak to me and while making my diner last night, I was listening to my ipod and it happened to be going through all the songs beginning with B.

And on came the song 'Be Still' by the Killers - the lyrics in this song are lovely,in my opinion anyway! It's all about trying to Be Still and the chorus just spoke to me:

"Don't break character

You've got a lot of heart

Is this real or just a dream

Rise up like the sun

Labor till the work is done"

I am trying to change as a person, am trying to be the me I want to me, the me I am meant to be - but in those words I feel I am being told to Be Still and let things go naturally and not be too hard on myself

"Be Still

Close your eyes

Soon enough you;ll be on your own

Steady and straight

And if they drag you through the mud

It doesn't change what's in your blood

When they knock you down"

To me they are powerful words and every time I hear them, they make me think - need to be still and just be at times.

MS: Finding the Energy within

MS in not all about doom and gloom, it can lead to positive change  - maybe not from the disease itself but from your reaction to the diagnosis.

A year ago I was diagnosed with MS and it hit me hard, my life became MS but now in 2015 I have decided to try to have a more positive outlook. There may be a few days of drizzle and despair but everyone has days like this, MS or no MS.

I have decided to reflect on what's important to me and how I can uncover my MS energy and my desire to be positive in diagnosis.

So what's important?  Family and friends - yes that is true. And I need to work on those relationships and cultivate them.  But before that I need to be more content with me and my life - so my relationship with God is key - working on that and all things will fall into place.

But that's relationships, what about what I have to offer. Yes, in relationships I can offer friendship and company but what about other areas?

In work, I am struggling because in this economic climate it is hard to get a permanent job- not enough jobs and too many people looking for work. However, saying that, since   February 2014 God has kept me in work - three different jobs in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and for the last few weeks in Home-Start Ballymena. And even thought none of them are permanent, it is still money and  a place for me to go and work.

Yet, is there anything else I can offer or do which does not involve watching TV. Do a lot of that as there are loads of good box sets and I read a lot, but what about using my hands or my brain? I am not very good at crafts but I have always had a passion for writing. So now i have decided to try and unlock my potential as a great writer - so will see what happens - watch this space.

I have started following many people on twitter and getting tips on writing and prompts which will help me and encourage me to write. I have decided that I need to write for 15 minutes each day - whether it is interesting or not I do not know, but its practice and helps unleash the imagination and writing ability.

MS energy is not about having the energy to run around or do marathons, its about finding your own focus - whether its big or small. It can be a long process and a struggle to find with peaks and troughs along the way. Is the cup half full or is it half empty?

Its about taking back control on your life and not letting MS dictate how you live. Ok, yes some days MS will say you need to rest and take time, especially those days when the brain and body refuse to work.  Its about achieving, dreaming, confidence and pro activity,

The diagnosis of MS sucks, but its not the end of the world. It may take some things away from me, but it has shown me more of what's important. Though it has taken me on a rough ride at times - sow process but am getting there.

And the fun of writing has given me a buzz and a bit of energy. So maybe finding the MS energy inside does work.




NB: MS Energy was started by charity Shift.MS - to read more click here

TV Review: Eastenders Live

Its been a long time coming  - this week after waiting 10 months, we are finally going to find out who killed Lucy Beale in Eastenders. It has been a wait and there are 13 people in the frame - will we be let down by who the real killer is?

Last night (Tuesday 17th Feb) saw Eastenders start a week of live events - the half hour programme actually had about six minutes live in it, but a lot of looked slapped dash and made the appearance it was live when it wasn't actually live.

When the programme was being aired live we knew it was because it has #eelive on the right hand corner of the screen, but many people did not get this and it set twitter a flitter. And that was not the only thing, Jake Wood who plays Max Branning also set twitter alight when in the last 10 seconds of the programme during a live segment he outed Abi (his daughter) as the killer of Lucy.

But people were confused, did he say 'you' or 'who' referring to Lauren, her sister, knowing that Abi killed Lucy. Or did she? This is just a rouse by Eastenders to keep us guessing until the end of the week.

Even the killer does not know if they killed her? Who can it be? At the minute it seems its Abi, but then could be Jane, or could be Ben? That is the three I think it might be.  We know she was killed at home, but by who? And why did they mover her?

We will find out on Thursday who the killer really is - I just really hope its not a let down. But the way Twitter was acting last night, you would think it was a real life murder.

Oh and Happy 30th Birthday to Eastenders - nearly as old as me.

Cave Time

Recently I have been in a mood where I need to be around less people and have had days where I did not want to see or talk to anyone - this is very unlike me - or is it?

I have has plenty of these days when I was growing up and also when working in London and needed 'me time' or in Peru when needed space from the Spanish language all the time and needed a clear head. This is described by people as Cave Time and is where you go to recharge your batteries etc.

This cave time coupled with depression does not help matters at times either, but I am learning to be content and at peace - I take one day at a time and if need be, then I do an hour at a time. I have quite enjoyed my cave time as it is a re learning for me.

Since MS hit me, or even a few months before that, basically since coming home from Peru and trying to settle back in to Northern Ireland after 14 years away I have needed people around me, needed to connect with people, talk with people and just be with people. During this time I have been guilty of taking people's cave times away from them. I apologise now as I remember that these times are needed. They are not a sign of walking away but are a sign of trying to reconnect with yourself.

It has been a weird two years since coming back to Northern Ireland after being away, but I think the person who I was is coming back, but this person is also being made into the me I want to be and the me God wants me to be.  Don't get me wrong - I don't want to live in a cave, I want to be with people as well as we were made for relationships - but now I re understand the importance of cave time.

MS brings depression along with it and yes I will struggle daily with this like many people do - could be an hour to hour day or just a day at a time, but resting in the cave along with God does help bring restoration and reconnection.  The ability to be in company with yourself and be content is one hard thing to learn but important.

TV Review: Broadchurch

I never watched the first season of Broadchurch so don't know the ins and outs of the death of Danny Latimer - but i am sure no one else really does - not even the cast themselves.

Broadchurch is an interesting programme, but things are kind of shunted together and done in a fast pace - who has seen or known of anyone to have pace maker surgery one day and the next be up and running around town again!

Where do Lee and Claire fit in with the whole story? Why are both the main lawyers very annoying? What do the bluebells signify? There are so many questions and then last night we think we will find out if Joe Millar really did kill Danny or not? But then as soon as they were about to announce the verdict - the credits rolled.

That is what I call, very annoying television - having to wait until the next week to find out the final verdict. And what will that verdict be? It may be a let down - Joe might be found innocent of the murder of Danny, and then what will happen?  - will they continue to investigate to find the real killer or will they just stop? Everything in the programme looks dodgy to me and capable of the death - maybe he just fell? Will we ever know?

And will we find out what happened to the two Gillespie girls or will that carry on to Season 3 and does anyone ever do any work in Broadchurch? Are there more than two police officers in the village?

The show has given me more questions than answers. Yet I still watch it - it hooks you.

TV Review; Breaking Bad - my thoughts

I have just finished watching the first two seasons of Breaking Bad. I was not sure how I would like this series, it has had so much hype and even though I am late to the party, I did join it.

The first few episodes I thought were slow, which surprised me as I had come to believe it was a fast paced energy show. But it had something to keep me watching, it has good characters and I was liking the way the main two characters (Walt and Jesse) were starting to react to each other - two very different people brought together in the name of drugs!

Walt White is an over qualified High School Chemistry teacher - he has a wife (Skylar), a teenage son who has Cerebral Palsy (Walt Jr) and a daughter on the way. He is also a newly diagnosed Cancer Patient. Walt struggles with his diagnosis and does not tell his family about it at first. But he worries how he will afford all the treatment and what money will be left for the family when he dies.

Jesse is a high school dropout and one of Walt's old students. He is also a drug addict and is being disowned from his family due to the drug use and in case he would be a bad influence on his wee genius brother (who is doing drugs on his own anyway!!) I warmed to Jesse straight away - he has a vulnerability about him which is endearing - plus he is quite good looking!! Walt's character is growing on me - at the moment he is being selfish and caught up in a web of lies.

Walt starts cooking meth with Jesse as he realises he is good at it and it would be a quick easy way to make money to fund his treatment etc. He doesn't tell Skylar what he is doing and she ends up not being to trust him at times. He can't tell his wife for many reasons, but the main one being - his brother in law Hank is a DEA agent who is trying to track down all drug sellers including 'Heisenberg' (the name Walt goes by in the drug world).

Skylar is an annoying character, maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, but she is not making me like her. Walt Jr is an innocent guy, just trying to get by in life living with a disability - he has Cerebral Palsy. It is good to see disability being sown in main stream TV and that actors with disabilities are people themselves and can act well.

Hank, the brother in law and Marie (Skylar's sister) are also very annoying characters and some of the story lines they have seem to be a bit useful and not necessary so far.

But the real relationship between Jesse and Walt is a very interesting one.  At the beginning Walt treats Jesse as a stupid, annoying drug addict who knows nothing. However as they spend time 'cooking' together the relationship starts to develop.

By the end of Season 2, despite Jesse being a hopeless drug addict and a danger to himself and their business, Walt does care for him. And he is there for him after his latest dalliance with Heroin (a new drug for him, introduced to his ex junkie, now junkie again, girlfriend). went very wrong for him. It seems that Walt is now starting to see Jesse as a son. There is genuine care and love there. I am looking forward to seeing how the relationship develops in Season 3.

Season 2 saw relationships break down between Walt and Skylar due to the lies and distrust in the marriage. It was hardly a surprise, since the relationship has been built on lies since Walt discovered he has cancer. Will he tell Skylar what he has been up to?

And other questions I have are, Will Hank find out the drug lord he has been chasing is actually his brother in law? Who knows?   - its got me interested anyway and am liking that there are only 13 episodes per Season as some shows with 24 episodes just go on too long at times.

TV Review: House of Cards Season 2

So I have written about House of Cards Season 1, so now it’s Season 2.

Season 2 starts with Frank Underwood being the Vice President of the United States of America, and getting there not by public votes but my under handed politics.  The first season was quite dark, but this season is even darker and starts off with a bang for the journalist Zoe.

There is no need for her anymore, she is investigating Frank and is looking to take him out in the press, so he needs to stop this from happening.

But the drama shifts in this season and is really about a power play between Frank and Raymond Tusk who is President Walker’s main man, who seems to make all the decisions for the powerful man in the world.  The Chinese government gets involved in this very bitter personal/professional war between Frank and Tusk – and throughout it all the current incumbent of the Oval office sees his presidency start to unravel.

New characters are introduced to us, the most powerful one being Jackie Sharp who is the new House Whip, taking over from Frank and actually planted by him as he could use her to be one of his pawns – successful or not, am not sure. But she is one of those characters who gains no sympathy from me, she is just pure out to get what she wants.

The main storyline for Claire is that on national television she publicly reveals that was raped in college by a prominent general and she starts to pursue anti-rape legislation along with another of the general’s rape victims and the First Lady as well.

There are points during this season that you think that the lives of Frank and Claire are about to unravel and everything they worked for is going to go down in a hole - you feel sorry for them as they have worked so hard, but then not sorry for them as they have taken so many people down in their journey to political power.

I really do feel for President Walker in this season as he just gets everything dumped upon him and everyone is using him to get their own ends... but then it shows he is weak - if he can't make his own decisions then he should not be in his position. But I did want to give him a hug at the end when his whole world was collapsing around him. For a politician, he is too trusting of others at times! 

And are we surprised at the turn of events in Frank’s life at the end of Season 2…. No not really. It’s not surprising but it actually should be. Will not ruin it for those who have not seen it.

Book Review: Sweet Song

I have just finished reading 'Sweet Song' by Terry Persun so thought would give my review of the book.

This was one of these books which I got on Kindle for free and has been there to read for ages. I then one night decided to read it and am glad I did, it is a great book.

Its a story of black versus white - a boy finds himself a mix-up - half white/half black, not really knowing who he is - what his identity is. A struggle

Due to sleeping one of the white men's daughters and getting her pregnant, Leon has to leave town. he leaves everything behind him and begins a new life of finding himself and a place in the world - hitching with a group of blacks first but then being outcast by them, goes to work in Williamsport with the White people.

He finds a friend in Hugh and begins to live his life as a white man, but is also confused because he still doesn't know whether he is black, or whether he is white - he does not know where he fits in still. He's accepted by some people in the town but then now by others. Its a story of trying to fit in.

Leon even changes his name to Bob White and at the end is not sure what's true in his head relating to his life. Its a story of confusion and identity. 

Bob meets a lady, Jenny whom he wants to marry but knows he cannot lie to her so he tells her the truth about his life - which she finds hard, she tells him he has to decide how he wants to live - does he want to be white, or does he want to be black? Its a book of choices. 

This begins a night of revelations for Bob/Leon about his childhood  - startling realisations which makes him really think about who he is and who he wants to be. Its a book about finding who you are, turning from past to present - dealing with the memories  -moving on.

I give it a 4/5 star rating and look forward to seeing more of Terry Persun's work.

Writing Advice

I am trying to get back into my writing, and am reading articles on-line and in magazines to try and get some advice, help and inspiration.

The best people to get advice from are those who are writers already. Here is some advice by Mark Billingham (comedian turned crime writer) which I got from a writing magazine:

"Finish what your writing - never give up. Keep going and write the book you want to read. You have got to be persistent" 

That to me is great advice, especially the bit about writing the book you want to read. Yes you are writing in the hopes people might read your work if it ever gets published, but if you don't like the book itself, then who else will!

And here is more from Elmore Leonard: another very successful crime writer who has had many novels turned into movies e.g Get Shorty

• Never open a book with weather
• Avoid prologues
• Never use a verb other than 'said' to carry dialogue
• Keep exclamation points under control. No more than two or three per 100,000 words of prose
• Never use the words 'suddenly' or 'all hell broke loose'
• Avoid detailed descriptions of characters
• Don't go into great detail describing places of things

TV Review: House of Cards Season One

I seem to be a late bloomer when it comes to watching TV shows, and watch the shows about a year or so after everyone else has watched them and all the hype has been and gone.

House of Cards is one of these shows, and one of the reasons I did not watch it was because I did not have Netflix at the time they were being streamed, but then in the Christmas Sale at HMV I bought the first two seasons. So now I have caught up on the hype of House of Cards. And am eagerly awaiting Season 3 on 27^th February.

And was it worth the money? Yes, it was a great show – one of those shows which makes you want to watch the next episode to find out what happens. 

So for all of you who do not know what House of Cards is about, here is a quick run-down:

House of Cards is an American political drama series which covers the story of Frank Underwood, (Kevin Spacey) a democrat from South Carolina’s 5^th congressional district and House majority whip, who, after being passed over for the appointment as Secretary of State, initiates an elaborate plan to get himself into a position of greater power.  And as they always say, behind every powerful man is a great woman, and Frank is aided by his wife Claire (Robin Wright).

Basically the show is about one man who is out to get what he wants by any way that he can, and if that involves hurting people, being a backstabber, setting people up, then Frank Underwood will do it – it’s ruthless politics at its best.  I am not sure if you are meant to hate Frank for what he does, but sometimes I felt sorry for him when it seemed he was not going to get his way!!

Frank is sought out by an upstart journalist at the Washington Post, and a relationship between them begins, where he gives her inside information for new stories in exchange for sex. It is a weird relationship and the strange thing is his wife knows about it and just lets it be. They seem to have an understanding marriage and extra material affairs seem to be a normal occurrence, as we later see Claire go away for a week and hide out with an ex-boyfriend of hers Adam Galloway. Frank knows and does not bat an eyelid and it’s never talked about when she comes home. Understanding partners, or just two people who do what they want to get what they want.  And together they are a force not to be reckoned with.

Back to the journalist (Zoe). -  The relationship continues between her and Frank. He gives her stories to write and be published in the Washington Post, but her attitude gets the better of her and she rubs her colleagues and editor up the wrong way and leaves the Post and works for an online newspaper. This one character who I did not feel sorry for, she annoyed me so much.

Zoe is only one of pawns Frank uses to manipulate his power play. Most of the stories he passes onto Zoe are damaging stories about his political rivals which then make him look good. Zoe is able to be used because she is weak and wants more power as well.

Another weak person he manipulates is Peter Russo, a troubled congressman from Pennsylvania. He helps him undermine the Vice Presidents pick for Secretary of State, Michael Kern and has him replaced with his own choice, Catherine Durant. Another person he can use to help him rise. Peter Russo is a man with a history of drug and alcohol addiction which is why he is easily manipulated, and he used in many ways to help Frank get to the place he wants to be.

And as you might expect, when the pawns in his political game are not useful any more, Underwood discards of them in a not ruthless manner.  He crushes the lives are people and he continues to rise in his political career via manipulation and power play - don’t know anyone else who has risen to be Vice President this way.

This marks the end of Season 1. One of the things that makes this series is Kevin Spacey and the way he acts the part of Frank Underwood, he portrays him very well. He is an excellent actor. 

Time on my hands!

Due to having MS, my body gets tired and fatigued and I have to rest my body. This gives me time on my hands, which sometimes can be too much time as I sit and naval gaze and feel sorry for myself! But I try not to do this all the time, I try to use my time wisely like having coffee with friends, going for walks etc. However, there are the times your body just needs to be still and so if concentration is good, I read, or I listen to sermons, and if concentration is bad I watch TV shows and play Candy Crush Saga!!

It used to be that when you watched a programme, you had to wait to the next week to see the other part, but now with box sets, amazon prime and Netflix you can sit on your bum and watch back to back episodes.

So I decided that as well as watch these shows and read these books, I am also going to review them for my blog and pass my wonderful insight on to people, and also just as a pastime for me to help me with my writing.

So brace up my friends – you can read the blogs or not read them – you might learn something interesting, but then again you might not.  But this is my new lifeline to normality!! 

Words, Words, Words

Words are funny things, you take a word and you say it so much it doesn't even sound like a word any more, you ever done that? Try in with orange, say it over and over again and it doesn't even seem like the work orange. And then you have words like Jumper which don't even match what they are talking about.

I have always had an interest in words, reading them, writing them, talking them.... they are a wonderful invention. There are the simple words, but then there are the great words which are hardly ever said, and just thought I would share some of my new words with you - you can use them to impress your mates!!

• Habromania - delusions of happiness
• Scintilla - a tiny, brilliant flash or spark, a small thing, a barely visible trace
• Hoppipolla  - jumping into puddles 

Hoppipolla is one of my new favourite words as it sounds like its definition- hopping, Its like the word paraaguas in Spanish... para meaning for and aqua meaning water... so the word paraaguas means for water..... and translated into English is umbrella.

Paragauas - a word which does what it says on the tin!!

• Oriflamme - a symbol or standard that inspires confidence, devotion or courage 
• Sirimiri - a light rain or fire drizzle
• Eunoia  - beautiful thinking, a well mind
• Latibule - a hiding place, a place of safety and comfort.

Now try using those words in a sentence. Learning new words is always a good thing.

MS in the UK

Following on from my last post about MS in Canada, I now have figures for MS in the UK as a whole which are being put out by the MS Society as part of campaigning the parties in run up to Election 2015, in order to try and get MS a voice and  make the election candidates aware of the realities of living with MS, and encourage them to help change the way society talks about disability. 

MS in the UK: the facts

There are approximately 107.000 people with MS in the UK - so one in every 600 people has MS

5,000 people are newly diagnosed with MS each year- that's nearly 100 each week

75% of UL adults admit that they don't feel they know enough about MS and 49% of UK adults cannot name a symptom of MS

51% of UK adults believe that many peple falsely claim to be disabled only so they get disability beneift

In a survey of over 3000 disabled people from across the UK, 72% felt that society looked down on them because they need to claim disability benefits. 13% of respondents said they had been a victim of hate crime for the same reason 

A recent survey of chariy staff, volunteers, people affected by neurological conditions in England showed that 47% of people feel that local influencing has become more challenging since the changes to the health and social care system came into force, while 9% feel it has becme easier.

59% of campaigners in England have no engagement with Clinical Commissioning Groups, which decide how a large proportion of NHS money is allocated. 

Canada or Northern Ireland?

When I was diagnosed with MS, I was told the Northern Ireland had the highest rate of MS sufferers in the UK and maybe in the world as well.  Apparently there are around 4,000 people in Northern Ireland with MS and 1/3 of them live in County Antrim - I wonder why.

Anyway, it now transpires that Canda has the highest rate of MS in the world. And they have now created a campaign called Flee or Flight, and they are asking for people to donate money in the fight to end MS.

The say, as Canadians, we choose to fight. And they will

• Research collbaoratively
• Try and unconventional
• And do whatever it takes

They have made a video campaign which can be seen here

There are so many questions which need answered about MS, why does it hit some countries more than others - what causes it etc. 

MS Brain

I came across the following picture and thought it was very interesting and thought I would share it on my blog.

The left half shows the systems of MS af the right half represents the nerve fibres on our brain and the lesions which lesions which appear and damage the fibres which then causes the symptoms on the left hand side.