TheTalespinner's Xanga

Oh dear ...

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 08:52:50 GMT

Right, I'm going to start this by saying; first of all "thank you" to everyone who's posted here, and secondly "sorry" to those who I should've been reading and haven't.
Fact is, really, I just don't have time to read/comment on everyone and the more I put it off, the harder it gets.

I'm going to drop out of the Xanga community as of (as soon as I've found/saved all my old entries!)

Thank you very, very much to everyone who's supported me over the years, I'm not going anywhere, but I don't want to clog up the allocated spaces in your subs lists when the chances of me utilising those subs are zero -to- highly unlikely.

I'm still on My Space, you can do so much more over there now than when I joined a couple of years ago, and I will keep a blog there on a very occasional basis.

So, all that remains is for me to go back and save all my entries, and I wish you all a wonderful weekend! Seeya around!

What? It's not quite two months, that's not long!

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 06:49:05 GMT

Well, I made it back, finally! Things have been a bit strained lately, but generally they're now on the up, so to speak. (this box is driving me nuts at the moment, it's hanging for a second so there's a delay and I keep doing double spaces!)

Okay, first off: financial stuff has been sorted. I'm now on something called an IVA (individual voluntary arrangement) so that means I have a basic bank account, no cheque book, debit card or credit cards. My debts have been taken over by a company to whom I pay a single monthly payment and they divvy it up amongst my creditors. At the end of 5 years the remainder of my debts are written off. Apparently I'm going to be very disciplined with my budget by that time! *lol* I am now, in fact, as I have no overdraft facility, and everything has to be paid for in cash or by direct debit. So no online purchases unless I can get my friend to do it, and pay her the money. This is going to work, I know it is

Mum and Eddie came down for a visit recently too, we had a couple of days out; one was to Cotehele House which is actually just up the road from where I used to live, and I've been in the grounds but never the house. I'm telling you, I got fricken CHILLS in there, it was just so atmospheric.
It's 16th Century for a start, and the Great Hall, when you first go in, is so sparsely furnished that right away you get a sense of the times. Stone floors of course, the table is laid with pewter plates and goblets and little else, and on the wall there are ancient weapons: pikes, flintlocks, swords, muskets, lances ... all genuine artefacts. The house has been preserved as was, with no electricity in it at all. Will post some pictures sometime if anyone's interested.
The visit with Mum and Eddie was wonderful, and we were all desperately sad when they left: it'll probably be another year before we see them again.

While they were here though, a somewhat scary thing happened: they had my room so I was sleeping on the sofa bed in the front room, and at about 1.40am on the Wednesday morning, someone came knocking on the glass door!! I sat bolt upright, and quite honestly had the first inkling of how it's possible to have a heart attack through sheer fright. The knocking went on for a while and I ran upstairs to look out through Robbie's bedroom window that looks out onto the back garden. I saw this guy walk out through my gate and head up the hill, then he came around to the front and started ringing on the bell!
I leaned out of the window in my room (front) and asked what he wanted. He said he was looking for his mother! We got rid of him, and I went back to bed, and when the front doorbell rang at 6.45 am I thought it was the postman and opened it. Duh! (well, I was half asleep, hadn't slept that well!)
Got rid of him again and all was fine the next night.
Then Friday morning he came again! Same kind of time. Both days were ones I was due to go into work as well; I was knackered! When I got home from work I called the police and told them, they said they'd send someone over. They didn't. So, around midnight when he came back again I dialled 999 and they sent someone out - eventually!
Apparently (I'd found out through work anyway) he used to live here with his mother - now deceased. He'd had a head injury and believed he still lived here, was determined to get in, and told the police so; I heard him say "I'm getting in there, I am!"
I feel so bad about making a fuss, knowing he wasn't some nutter, but had suffered a head injury - but at the same time I was utterly terrified and don't know what I'd have done if Mum and Eddie hadn't been here. Anyway, he's getting the help he needs now. I hope!

Okay, this is getting far too long-winded! Just briefly then: Had another panic some weeks ago when those bombs went off in Turkey - Keith was there at the time and I couldn't get hold of him. He was close by, apparently, but okay.
We went camping last weekend, me, the boys, Keith and Charlie, and Chris and his girlfriend! Could have been weird, was a little, I suppose, but we all got on fine.
Was my birthday on the Sunday and that was the day we came home. Was a fantastic weekend and have uploaded a few pics.

Surf's up!

Dom, Keith, Charlie, Robbie.

Right, that's enough!
Seeya around, folks!

ps - good to see Starbucks ticking over so nicely over at rmo.com :)

pps- "Terri, great to hear from you ..." who said that?!

*WHOO HOOOO*
Haha!

Titles - sent to try us ...

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 11:45:43 GMT

I'm feeling quite pleased with myself at the moment having just completed the first draft, and first and second edits of my second book. (The first one is still out there being perused by the damn publisher who asked to see it, and it's a daily struggle not to spend too much wondering if that's a good thing or a bad thing)

This book is the one that's been with me, I think, the longest ... I'm not sure. It's been through several incarnations - ironically the subject matter has no small connection with that as well - and even more titles. The first title was long-winded and annoying, but it popped into my head before I even started to write, and so I wrote the book around the title which was "The Haunting Of Jonathan Riley." Lots of problems with that: It's too much like something else, it was too long, and when I got into the story I realised that Jonathan Riley was not haunted at all, but playing host to something a bit unpleasant. Briefly, as a child messing about somewhere he shouldn't underground, he smashes a jar containing the treasured, and supposedly guarded, remains of an ancient Cornish king with unfinished business to attend to. Boy inhales dust in shock, boy becomes something you really don't want to fuck about with. (As I said, briefly ...) I understand this subject matter is either something you can run with or you can't, it's all a matter of taste. Not the point.

So anyway. It changed a few times, had the working title of "The Heath" for an awfully long time, set as it is on Bodmin Moor where I grew up. Then one day when I opened the document to get down to it, I just looked at the title and realised I was so incredibly sick of it that if I wasn't careful I'd bin the whole project.

So, the search for a new title began. Again. I'm notoriously shit at titles; either I come up with them and nothing to put under them (ie: a story) or else the story leaks out of my fingertips mega-fast and then I spend weeks searching for something catchy to hang on it handle-wise. The two rarely come together.

I played with several ideas and came up with a couple, then had to ask Ms Google to please check I hadn't nicked them. I had, of course. One was "Dust of Ages" which turned out to be a song. Then I started with the word "ancient" to see what slithered through my mind, and came up with "The Dust Of Ancients."
Ooh good, I thought, that sounds nifty! So I Googled it, and it came up with a whole page full.
Shit, says I. Then I realised they were all the same thing, and that one thing was a line from Geoffrey Of Monmouth's History Of The Kings Of Britain. First published 1138. Abso-bloody-lutely perfect.

Even better was, when I read the whole excerpt, the line is: "The dust of ancients shall be restored."
I have a notes document for each project, these usually run into several thousands of words for a longer piece, and I just hammer away at it when I've got a problem. It's always fun to read through and see how the thought processes work and how the original idea evolved.
Very often it's peppered with things like "fuck, this isn't working, I need coffee/a nap/a miracle" etc. The notes document for this book totalled 39,262 words - the book is just over 107,000.
Here's the bit where I worked through the title problem (the most recent one)

I hate the title!!!!

Gah! Go back to something like the original? The haunting of Thomas Riley? But that sounds like a ghost story and it’s not. Also sounds bit archaic and it’s set now. So no.

There follows a lot of other notes and then this:

How about something like King’s Dust for the title? Strange, but keep thinking along those lines. Dust of The King? King to Dust? Dust Of Ages? Sounds familiar though ... Google it.

It’s a song, but not a book title!! So don’t rule it out.

Dust Of The Ancient

Dust Of Ages?

The Dust Of Ancients – quote from Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History Of The Kings Of Britain.

Okay, so the new working title, is The Dust Of Ancients. It’ll probably stay that.

Now, if only the perfection of this little find could be taken as an omen. Dare I?

Okay

Fri, 04 Aug 2006 10:55:04 GMT

Right, I think I'm ready to surface again now! Ugh, why do I let it go so long every time?
I think the main reason at the moment is that my book is so near to completion that any length of time over about twenty minutes that I get to spend at the computer, is spent editing and making notes. And, of course, I need longer than twenty minutes to do a post and catch up on people's Xangas. Which I will do starting in about half an hour when I've done this, and sorted the kids' tea.

The boys go on holiday tomorrow, for the longest time ever, over a week! I'm looking forward to the first few days (see earlier comment re: book completion) but I know that by about Wednesday, when I go back to work, I'm going to be twitchy for a hug from the little one and fun conversation with the big one - who, by the way, is sixteen tomorrow!! (how the hell did that happen?!)

My finances are crappier than ever, but we get a bit of a bonus next month which should, at least, get me up to date with the rent, even if my credit cards are shot to hell. Still thinking about an "individual voluntary arrangement" but before I do that I'm going to take a little bit of that bonus and set up another account, or put some of it into Robbie's so I'm not too constrained. This is the trouble I was referring to, and when I put it into perspective, which I've been doing lately, although I sometimes feel sick with worry, most of the time I think "bloody hell, at least I live here in Plymouth, have my home, my job and my boys." Once I get that part straight the rest of it doesn't seem to matter.

Mum and Eddie are coming down next month, so will book a few days off then - can't wait! Saw them last on my birthday last year, so it'll be all but a year! Don't know what we'll do but it doesn't matter, it'll just be so good to see them.

First book is still with the publisher, they haven't told me yet whether they want to publish it, still don't know if that's a good sign or a bad one! Well ... pfft! The new book is more fun anyway!

I'm trying to inject a little fun over at rmo.com by revamping the chat area into a coffee lounge! *lol* Bit mad I know, but it'll be fun to see what others are eating/drinking, "sit down" with them and maybe have a little party now and again! The place just seems so flat lately, apart from the Aus tours there's just nothing to talk about. This won't change that, of course, but it may be a bit more fun to pretend to be in that kind of environment, it's good for the imagination; give it a little workout! I'm even 'decorating' the place out in honour of Mr Marx! (to be honest I think I'm a bit on the loopy side today ... *sigh*)

Again ...

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 10:00:56 GMT

I always seem to be saying this - sorry.
I'm in deep trouble and have just crapped on someone too, so I'm not feeling in the best of moods just now. I know she understands; she sent me a lovely e-mail which has put me in floods of tears.

But I'll get there. I'll visit you all soon, and comment on your blogs. Please be patient a little while longer.

Something to think about; how fast has this past year gone? Exactly one year ago I was leaving to go on holiday with someone very very special. Remember how excited I was? The memory of that holiday is holding me together at the moment, so thank every power that exists, for that.

Back soon.

Finally ...

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 12:38:51 GMT

Well first off I just want to say a huge *THANK YOU* to everyone who commented on my last entry. I honestly didn't say it so that I'd get lovely comments, hopefully those who know me best will know that. I just couldn't see a way of catching up with it all ... but I compromised and just went around and commented on everyone's most recent entries without going any further back. I hope you don't mind.

I don't know what to put now! Things are sitting quite well with me in most areas of my life. Finances are still shite but I'm getting through each month with the rent and the broadband paid for, and the kids are being fed and amused so it can't be all bad!

The book is still with the publisher, and I'm about 2/3 of the way though the first draft of the next one - it's going quite well, lots of things are falling into place, and my characters are still behaving unpredictably, which is always interesting! I have started a writing blog over at http://www.telnix.blogspot.com so will be confining general writing comments to there. Unless something of note happens, when I'll post it every-bloody-where and you'll wish you'd let me shut the damn journal down!

I'm not going to write loads here because for me, this entry is a bit like starting over, no point trying to go back over things that have happened since my last entry, only a couple of things are worth mentioning; that Rob has finished his GCSE exams and is now underfoot whenever I'm home (arrghh!) and on Saturday I'm going out for the day with the boys and a bunch of friends. It's Keith's son's birthday treat and we're all going to a theme park for the day.

So, here's to the new Talespinner blog, starting pretty much afresh!
Thanks again, everyone, made me feel quite emotional.

Love you all!
Terri

Not sure what to do ...

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 14:48:34 GMT

I really want to keep my Xanga going, but I don't feel I can post unless I've visited and commented on everyone else's ... the longer I leave it the harder it gets. I will try to get around to everyone soon, I promise, and only then do I feel I should update my own journal - what right do I have otherwise?
I've been toying with the idea of closing this blog down ... and I'm not saying that just so that some of you (might) ask me not to, I'm actually quite serious. I'm going to think on it for a short while and in the meantime try to catch up elsewhere.
Thank you all for your interest and the "nagging!" I accept it in the spirit it was intended!

Kick-off England V Sweden in about 10 minutes, just time to dish up tea and get settled ...

Got Five Minutes ...

Fri, 19 May 2006 09:02:25 GMT

... so thought I'd fire off a quick update. Finally caught up elsewhere ( I think, if I've missed you I'm sorry, I'll be there soon!)

First off, the big news: I'd sent my submission package to a publisher - synopsis and first three chapters, as standard, and they want the rest! The e-mail was full of cautionary notes not to be hugely optimistic, and that it's a "long way short of stating our inclination to publish" but that they'd be "pleased to read the balance." Now this is a really BIG step forward, out of the slush pile and into the mainstream. It may well be that nothing will come of it; they'll read it and say no thanks, after all; they're dealing with manuscripts sent by agents in direct competition with mine, and an agent will always win out. BUT - for them to want to read the entire manuscript must indicate that I've done something right at last! I'm still going to be seeking representation, for the reason stated above regarding agents, but now I'll be able to say that one publisher has already expressed an interest.

Next up - The operation went well, I spent the Monday night in hospital and remembered why hospital food has the reputation that it does! My MIL spent a few days, until Thursday, at my house so she could take Dom to school. It wasn't as awful as I thought it'd be, because I didn't get home til mid-day Tuesday anyway, and slept a lot of the time. The thing that still hurts, weirdly enough, is where they gave me an injection to stop me being sick when I woke up! GOD that hurt!! I felt queasy, and told them so, and I wish I hadn't bothered - it might have hurt less to throw up ... ooh, actually scratch that, it wouldn't have hurt less at all! But it wouldn't have been hurting now, that's for sure!

Lastly, Jonathan Guy Lewis (actor/writer I'm doing the webby for) has been in touch and told me the play he's directing in London is definitely going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. Kudos to Jonny Guy! That'll give me something to put on the website, and hopefully some great pictures to go with it.

**************

Well, better go, I've got a friend of Dom's coming over for tea: Screamin' Boy Jones I call him - proper cry-baby, drives me scatty! Won't sit and eat his tea, keeps getting up in the middle and wandering off, and ignores me when I tell him to sit down! Little bastard ... is it allowed, to hate a six year old boy with curly blond hair? ARRGHH!!

Rock Pools, Wankers and Refuse Collectors ...

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 10:01:43 GMT

I'm sorry I've not visited anyone's Xanga lately, I'm going to go and do that as soon as I've posted here.
First off; Rock Pooling - don't know what you call it then, but it's doubtless something you do too; just poking around the beach after the tide has gone out, looking in all the little rock pools for interesting stuff; shells, shrimps, crabs ... Nothing wildly exciting, but we like it.
Wankers, for Cherflip (!) Ahem, you may want to keep the volume down when you use it, Cheryl!! A wanker is one who, supposedly, uses self-gratification to excess. Wanking is masturbation, basically. But it's usually used as an insult against any male who's acting like a ...well, a tosser (same thing!) Not a nice curse-word but strangely, dare I say it, satisfying!
Speaking of wankers: Chris has dropped off the edge of the world again and not given me any money for the kids, nor asked to see them over the holidays. Ho hum, par for the course I suppose ... why change the habits of a lifetime? We're going out to his mother's for an Easter lunch tomorrow, he'd better be there, and he'd better have what he owes his kids. What're the odds he doesn't even get them an Easter egg?
It's refuse collecting day here today, and I put my rubbish bags out - the friggin' neighbourhood cats ripped the bag to shreds so the arsehole bin-men didn't take it away! So now I've had to phone them and they said to re-bag it and leave it out for them to pick up tomorrow. Which gives the cats another night to have a go at it - they'll think it's bloody Christmas!
Really looking forward to Sunday :) Keith has suggested we all go in his car, which will make it extra nice.

Right - better go and catch up with you all - been trying to get up to date with all the washing/ironing too, so I don't have to worry too much about it next weekend. Why the hell do I let it pile up so much?! *lol*

Time for an update ...

Sun, 02 Apr 2006 12:08:36 GMT

Well, it would be if I had anything of any earthly interest to say! Went out Friday night for Jill's birthday, and we got snapped for www.smileonthetiles.com - you can download your pic for free once you've registered. Unfortunately we were all a little the worse for Smirnoff Ice at this point and none of us is looking our best; Keith looks decidedly dodgy and not a bit like he does in real life! His words when he saw it? "OH MY GOD!!"

But check out that hand on my shoulder! No wonder I had my eyes closed, I must be dreaming! Can you blame me for being partial to hugs from a guy built like that?! *lol* Jilll's "puppies" were on the verge of escaping too, she told me it was my mission to make sure she didn't 'fall out' during the evening! We went to C103, and it turned out to be the official after show party for the Rocky Horror show that's in town, so the place was crawling with amazing outfits and Jill fitted right in, while I felt like a bag lady all night!

Anyway, the kids are great, we went out for the day yesterday, to do some rock pooling, and spent an enjoyable evening watching TV with Robbie. Dominic is enjoying Beaver Scouts and doing well at school - that bastard bloke who was causing trouble for me before has backed right down and now avoids me in the playground: I can only imagine it's because Dominic has proven himself to be the injured party there and is getting lovely comments in his contact book, while James (bastard's child) is always in trouble and on report for his behaviour all the time. HAH! Tables turned, I now glare at HIM across the playground and silently dare him to make anything of it!

Work on the new book is going well, did some research into Ancient battles on the Cornish moors and for once I actually turned up some stuff that helped rather than throwing my plans out of the window. Got exactly what I wanted for a change Am about halfway into my first draft and loving it. The first book is still out there looking for an agent/publisher. I've told it not to bother coming home without one!

Been asked to go to the zoo with Richard and Keith (no, not that Richard and Keith!) and their respective kids over Easter - that was a lovely surprise, Richard phoned me up and told me they go every year, and this year they wondered if I'd like to go too. So that'll probably be Easter Sunday, something to look forward to

Right, that's me caught up - will try not to let it go so long next time. I know, empty promises ...