Don't tell anyone I told you but....

Take your pick.

I was doing my usual, can't help but overhearing (yes, eavesdropping but not intentionally) a weird conversation the other day. I was waiting to see the optician, not that that has really got anything to do with it. It just might set the scene a bit. Or not.

Anyway, to continue.

Two ladies were sitting by the door to the shop. They reminded me of that old double act with British comedians where everything was discussed in a very 'well, don't tell anyone I told you, but', manner. Crossing their arms under their bosoms, and pursing their lips.

The gist of the conversation was about one **** (perhaps I'd be best not to put a name there)who 'was no better than she should be, but really.'...

The then to be unnamed woman was pulled to bits, shenanigan by shenanigan. 

Sadly they got up and left, before I heard the end of thier conversation but the last thing I heard made me want to laugh out loud.

'...to cap it all, she looks like a lugubrious bloodhound'

(source:pinterest)

What a way to describe someone. I could picture the dog not the person.

But it did get me thinking. how oftenyou hear something, often just a couple of words that conjure up all sorts of images in your mind.

One of the funniest—apart from the above—was several years ago, when I heard someone describe someone else as a hard as a knob end of bread. And went on to add—and a right heel.

Followed by what sounded as 'as bad as nugget's knocker.' Then, 'all A grades as well'.

 

That one had me flummoxed until I realised the speaker was talking about the expression which related to the colour of Newgate prison's door knocker. I still can't see how that reflected on someone getting good grades. It means things are very bad. 

Unless the person who was up to whatever—sadly I still don't know exactly what it was—had just acheived good grades in some exams. Oh how I wish we could just say, 'excuse me,  I couldn't help but overhear you and wondered...what comes next?'

As I can't, I can let my imagination run wild, think up all sorts of scenarios, and put them in a book!

There is something in the other saying, don't annoy me or you might find yourself in my next novel.

Happy Reading,

love Raven xxx

 

It’s true what we all say…

About the heat.

Especially in the UK

Ok not all from the Uk but places  where I’ve enjoyed the warmth.

Those old chestnuts about, ohhh the washing will dry quickly,..you could fry an egg on the pavement…it’s too hot to do anything…

We trot them out, and roll our eyes. They are of course true, but, we need to think of  some new things to say.

And don’t look at me…

It’s too hot to think!

So sorry this is a very none blog sort of blog, I promise to do better next time,

Love Raven xx

Is it a spider...is it a fly?

(source: pinterest)

No...

It's a 'floater' in my eye.

Yes, that is what it's called.

A black blob, of various shapes and sizes. Described as something that looks like dots, cirvcles, lines, clouds or cobwebs. (The spider and fly are my additions)

(source: pinterest)

The blob floats, drifts or zig-zags all over the eye after a laser treatment. 

or to be posh—a YAG laser capsulotomy in my case.

It's great because I no longer have a fuzzy vision in one eye.

Bad because I can now see the cobwebs so I'm going to have to be a not so domestic goddess and dust!

But that apart, (I hate bothering the dust bunnies—they just go forth and multiply when I do—) I now realise how lucky I am to be able to have such things done.

There's so much we take for granted where I live.

And I'm determined to 'open my eyes' see how lucky I am and appreciate it.

(Random photo of Bath)

All that apart, I'm getting on with writing my Christmas stories. In 25deg sunshine, writing about snow and ice. It seems a bit surreal, but I guess after all these years I'm used to it. Weirdly when I write about warmth and summer in our winters, I don't not feel the same.

Maybe because I've been lucky enough to go somewhere warmer at times and so can envisage it easier.

 Whichever it is, I've got the door to the garden wide open, I can see some fish in the pond, hear various birds tweeting, (and two pigeons having a fight,) a cockerel crowing, and a plane going over head.

Plus some idiot on a motorbike going much too fast down a nearby lane, and a tractor rumbling across a field.

It's early morning, and I love this time of day.

I'm the only one up, I have a cup of coffee and I'm chatting to you via my blog.

And—I'm about to get the last few thousand words of my Regency Christmas story written.

Have a great day, and take care, wherever you are,

happy reading,

love Raven xxx

If we all liked the same things...

 Wouldn't it be boring?

Can you imagine it? 

and if we all disliked the same things...

Can you imagine that as well?

I'd rather not.

(source:pinterst)

When someone says oh I don't like hot stories/same sex/historical/contemporary/mystery or whatever I smile and say what I've written up above.

'Wouldn't it be boring if we all only liked the same things.'

I try never to judge a person by what they read or don't read (there are some exceptions of course but I'll not get into that here). I myself don't like sci-fi, horror or what my mum called 'nasties'.

I prefer happy ever afters, some hot and some not. Just like I try to write.

With coffee of course.

It's all personal preference.

And on that note,

I'm off to indulge in my preference,

Happy Reading,

love, Raven xxx

A book for all seasons?

 It's May.

We've had several days of wearing factor 50 and walking by the coast or sitting outside in the garden. 

Sometimes in the shade.

Reading a good book, and at the appropriate time, a G n T or an AF spritzer.

Then today? Brr It says it's warmer than yesterday, but it sure doesn't feel like it. 

Jeans and a jumper. That's indoors.

It's typical of course that when it was hot, I was writing a chapter in my WIP where the weather was cold.

Today? It it's a day of writing about picnicking by a stream and having to sit under a tree to get some shade.

I am so grateful for a good imagination!

Just a short post today. the weeding, the writing and feeding the fish beckons!

Have a great day, take care and...

happy reading,

love Raven xxx

What’s in a name?

 Morning all…or whatever time of the day in your neck of the woods, hope you are all well.

(That sounds as if lots of people read this 🤔— but however many do…thank you.)

Anyway, it’s a real old ramble from me today. Or the wondering, thinking kind, not the walking sort— though I do try a bit of that most days.

Why do some names put you off?

Specifically people's names.

Now, I know it's a very personal thing. That some people just love a name and others hate it. I also realise that names go in and out of fashion. When I was a child, many moons ago, I had five girls in my class with the same first name. I also has a two lots of a girl and a boy with the same name, but with a different spelling. 

Got to be a bit confusing at times. 

But what I'm really trying to say, is why does a name put you off a character in a book.

(source: pinterest)

Sometimes, I reckon it's because it reminds you of someone you don't like for whatever reason. That's understandable. I mean why read about a hero who reminds you off a nasty kid at school who used to pinch you every time he walked by? Or someone you fancied and ignored you. 

Maybe you see a name as sounding prissy? Too posh, too complicated to spell or say. Too many people with that name. 

Or you just plain don't fancy it. 

It's a weird thing, really. The book sounds great, you read the blurb and then...ARGH. You can not read a book with a hero/heroine called whatever!

Or you're introduced to someone and think, hmm, I bet you do...(insert something that grosses you out) 

Even worse when a friend or thier family tell you the latest edition is called something you hate. Smile sweetly and say, oh how nice... through gritted teeth.

It must be even worse if a member of your family chooses a name you hate. Thankfully I've never had that.

But I have chosen not to read a book, and vowed never to call a character a name I don't like, even if it was/is in fashion when and where the book is set.

But neither would I use a name that wasn't of the era.

Which is right off topic, but when all is said and done...

what's in a name? 

Happy reading,

love, Raven xxx

 

As we remember them

 I didn’t want to take anything away from the importance of VE Day, but thought some of my parents reminiscences might be of interest.

My mum…a cockney born in 1925. Went to work for Dolcis Shoes in their offices.

After a few years sleeping in the underground each night—a specific one because her dad worked for the railways—she found herself living in an old house in Orlingbury in Northamptonshire with her workmates.

Her mum was so worried about her youngest out in the wilds (her words) she took herself and her other two girls to live in Kettering.

Bad mistake.

Her husband installed his lady friend in their house in the east end of London, and my mum (why she chose the youngest I have no idea—nor did my mum) and my nan were called back to see as my nan called her, the harlot in her, nan’s bed with a baby.

Divorce followed.

(Nan subsequently married the man who they rented half a house from, but that’s another story.)

Mum enjoyed her time at the hall. She and her best friend Kay, saved up their wages to buy clogs to wear. The older ladies who worked with them saved up their wages to buy the two girls slippers as the noise of the clogs were driving them mad.

Mum and Kay got onto several scrapes, non less than getting stuck up the wall around the house, and also getting  caught as they tried to sneak into the house after an illicit night out at a local hop! I’ve put that into Bomber’s Moon one of my Raven books.

There’s a lot more to this story…how mum met a yank and got engaged…how it panned out…meeting my dad later…me…

Me meeting a guy( in Scotland who was a ‘friend’ of my aunt when they lived in London…

But I’ll leave that for later…

Along with my mum and the yank, and my dads thoughts on the RAF,

Happy reminiscences,

LETS REMEMBER THEM

 love R xxx