Lovely early walk this morning in the cold sunshine, amongst the gorse on Ashdown Forest.

"That used to be the carriage block. My grandmother told me once that she and her friends used to come and stand here, as children, when her mother was working in the fields in summer. They'd watch the horses being led here and harnessed to a carriage for the master or mistress, or to one of the carts for collecting hay. Different horses, or course." Tilda reflected that it would take a great deal of imagination to picture this scene; the building now was a large, empty shell, with a gaping hole where presumably the doors had once been.

Today's #WIPSnips word is "deal"
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The #WIPSnips word today is "signature", but I don't have that, so I've gone with "sign".
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity

Just back from an early morning walk on Ashdown Forest. One thing I love about this time of year is that some trees are in full leaf, while others are still slumbering. Another couple of weeks, and they'll be out, too!

It worked for a while! But it didn't end well ...

#WIPSnips word today is "wheel"
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#WIPSnips word today is "topic"

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Today's #WIPSnips word is "heat"
#WriteSky #AmWriting

The mother addressed envelopes for a local company (by hand, in those days). When her son had a friend round, she could work during the day, rather than having to stay up half the night. Just a widow, trying to provide for her son ...

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity
"Child", the #WIPSnips word today, comes up a lot in the novel I'm working on - not surprising, as it's about a mystery from 40 years earlier, when Didier was young. In this extract, he's been trying to remember the time before the tragedy ...

I haven't, though my son has talked to me about trying it. Do you recommend it?

Picture shows a section of the game board for the strategy game "Risk". A game is in progress.

"Post an image from a game you played as a teenager"

This may give away how old I am - no computers around then!

Morning, #BlueSky people! Tulips are now flowering alongside the cowslips in my front lawn; what a lovely view as I sit down at my desk to write!

The #WIPSnips word today is "milk"
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A doctor who has an entirely misplaced confidence in his ability to diagnose and treat the protagonist.

Interesting quote from James Clear: "I work harder, but you're busier."
That got me thinking! Am I too "busy"? I certainly don't work nearly as hard as I used to; I enjoy having time to look closely, to ponder, and to imagine. But I do have a tendency to commit to things ... maybe too many things!

Good morning, BlueSky! It's cloudy here this morning. But from the window seat where I write I can see a goldfinch on the tiny apple tree in my garden. And next door's mahonia is in full flower. And there are cowslips dotted all over my little lawn. A corner of peace in a world gone mad.

Today's #WIPSnips word is "process".
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky

Thank you for saying that - I'm glad you liked it. Yes, the negative effects of money are too often ignored, as if more is always better.

Good morning, #BlueSky! It's another bright morning here on Ashdown Forest. Somehow everything feels more cheerful when the weather's pleasant.
Hoping there's some sunshine in your lives, too.

Today's #WIPSnips word is "stuff"
#WriteSky #AmWriting #WritingCommunity

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity
Today's #WIPSnips word is "need"

Four images relating to the Mabinogi, and text which reads, "Middle Welsh Reading Group. We will soon be starting to read the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi. This will entail detailed discussions of the language, the orthography, the literary merits and the legendary aspects. Send message or email if interested (gutorhys2024@outlook.com)

For almost a year, I have attended a Middle Welsh reading group online, led by Dr Guto Rhys, who is so knowledgeable about the language and literature of Medieval Wales. We are about to start the 4th branch of the Mabinogi, and we have room for newcomers!
#Mabinogi #CelticStudies #MiddleWelsh

Today's #WIPSnips word is "mug"
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#WIPSnips word today is "beach"
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From a short story about a family of Huguenot refugees arriving in England.

That's a kind offer, and I do appreciate it. However, I have worked with the same editor on several books now, and I am very happy with his work.

That's a kind offer, and I appreciate it. But I do have a development editor, that I have worked with on several books before, and who I am very happy with.

#WIPSnips word today is "fool"
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Indeed! This story is intended for a collection, each about someone who ended up far from the land of their birth. The stories are set in many times and places, so most of them are not focussed on the Roman era. There is also one about a slave who accompanied Ovid into exile, though ...

Thank you - I really appreciate your comment!
I have a very slow process. I'm still working on this short story collection. Once finished, there may be edits based on feedback from my writing group. Next, it will go to a development editor. Then more edits, and off to my beta-readers.