tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237Wed, 04 Sep 2024 23:58:58 +0000OUThe Principessa filestenniswritingWordcountDoctor WhoWimbledonConversations with PrincipessaPrincipessaA215WallaceBloody booksTMA07musicDon JuanMedeaPoetryDreamsF1FilmsGuitar HeroNaNo updateNeil GaimanTMA08readingBrian LumleyDr Horrible's Sing-Along BlogElizabeth BearGladi-bloody-atorsOh woe is MurrayRousseauSportsbookswannabe writerAliens and angels and all the worlds inbetweenCharlie and LolaCuddly CthulhuDadEnd of A103Family historyFreewriteIce SkatingLRRHMoto GPPlot for mini NaNoWriMoReminiscingTMAsThe evil curs Writers Block and Low Selfconfidence attackUS OpenWriting advicebedtimeblogsnovel writingsick Principessastupid internetArgh tizzytfitsClustersDecisive? Moi?Destroyer of WorldsEarthquakeEbayEragonFlutter on the horsesGladiatorsGoing into CybernationHaruki MurakamiITunesIpodLoboLolcatNavigating the Sea of DespondencyNoctem AeternusPlottingPrincipessa and nurseryPrincipessa artSanctuarySchoolsSearchesSilenceStill feeling yuckyThe 60sThe End Of Mr YTorchwoodTriceratopsTrust in the story and trust your museWeatherWeblog awardsWii gamesbloody snotfoodhospitalkids programslistspotty trainingtoo raining1000 true fans10000 words reached100th post250th post30 Days Of Night300 posts6 years agoAbyss gazingAge bandingAirportAncestral photoAnd the winner is...Andy Murray wins MastersAnthony MinghellaArias and animationArt HistoryArthur C ClarkeAslanAstronomy type stuffAudibooksAudiobooksAutosports AwardsBatman meets Mr DarcyBendy beds and springy seats are supposed to be good for the healthBig Bang TheoryBirthday mealBoing time for bed said ZebedeeBonekickersBonfire nightBordersBorn of frustrationBritish Grand PrixBrochen spectreBruce CampbellBruce's philosophy songBtVSBuilding Car-slesCan someone just lamp Jeremy KyleCarmenCatsChanging TVChildren and foodChokingChristmas almost done and dustedCinemaCloverfieldComic book nerdComma-cationsComputer whizz PrincipessaCondolencesConspiracy - you decideCounter-cultureCrazy babyCyborg name generatorDamn the postDamn you evil inner critic I will soon show you my mettleDarwinDave McKeanDavid CrystalDefensive CrouchDegreesDolphins Lab SharkDon't believe the broDon't tell me it's bedtime alreadyEddie IzzardElric of MelniboneEssay writtenEvan ShanerFear Of FormsFeedburnerFidget with a widgetFinally all the stuff from EBay is hereFive won the bidding warFolioFood artFour Star MaryGeekworldGet well soon DavidGive me the gaslight era anytimeGoals for the yearGolfGood newsHaikuHappy ChristmasHappy learning PrincipessaHarry KeoghHarry PotterHawkwindHeather NovaHello KleddieHeroesHistoryI caught a little fishie in the coffeshop todayI hate it when my nose drips like a tapI have finally finished a writing projectI might be going to ParisI need a TARDIS for storageI really need a weeI wanna be re-inflated in the writing senseI want to get emails too dammitIf I could sit down and just write I might get somewhereImproved - I hope - miso soupInternalisedIs it safer to be a sheep?James Whale brainwashed my daughterJapaneseJapanese calligraphyJason Donovan is a TimelordKeep Hammy warmKultLennon animationLight picturesLiverpool CathedralLong timeMemeMemory of a goldfishMmmmmmarmite in JapanMmmmmmonstersMuppet MatrixMurray vs GasquetMy new obsessionMy poor brainMysterious books of gladiators that aren't so mysteriousMyths and conventionsNRUNaNoWriMoNetside scaryNew arrivalsNew year was only slightly more alive than a dead spiderNot good in exam conditionsNursery rhymesOccupational Therapist visits.Oh Christmas tree oh Christmas tree how plastic are your branchesOh no Im stuck againOh £$%* I've fallen againOlympicsOozing brainjuiceOpening of ParliamentPancakesPantsu-manPatry Francis.Please can we read some books and stop watching TVPlease don't let Principessa get sick again because I don't like the smell of curdled milkPlease go to sleep early PrincipessaPoliticsPressiesPrincipessa and DVDsPrincipessa and bonesPrincipessa in hospital againPrincipessa's letter to GrandandPrincipessa's nursery traumaPrincipessa's storyPrincipessa's tiny bumProcrastinatingProtection poemQIQueensRachel CarsonRe-writingReading with PrincipessaReviewRevisionRip-offRock MonstersRomansRoss NobleRoy ScheiderRuffSeabearSeasideSecondnatureSecret PrincipessaSilverstoneSimon's CatSki jumpingSky TVSod's law strikes againSophie LancasterSorry but who are you againSpace-aged carsSparesSpiders and bananasStarbucksSteampunkStuck on short storiesStupid Royal Mail strikeStupid chair riserSunburnSuperhero meSupermanSweeney ToddSymoblism in artTMATMA09Teller's MacBethThat'll tell themThe Golden CompassThe MatrixThe Princess BrideThe Wire CatThe Wyrd of the TreesThe birthday girl.The epic rock balladThe horrors of nursery and the raising of CthuluThe internet is comingThe many misunderstandings of PoohThe nasty man of darkness and sleepThe problem with writing is that I can get to the end before I finish writingThe reading habits of a comic book geek.The search for the DoctorThe story of immortality by Jumonsugi.The trials of Takezo KenseiThen and nowTim HenmanTime to recruit the word beaversTori AmosTransformersTry my tiger fist on for style you dirty writer's blockTurn onTutorsUltimate fighting as the death penaltyUnable to learn Japanese but I now know how to make shiny mub-ballsVampires and MonarchyViking kittensVisitorsWWdNWaspsWatchpeanutsWhat a waste of time my doctor isWhat goes on in her head?What's so great about technology anywayWhy doesn't my inner me just shut upWhy oh why wont the words appearWhy will Principessa not go to bed earlyWide Sargasso SeaWintersportsWordiness cloudsWriting goalsYou can't argue with three year old and winYou know when you've been rickrolledabedbinky-bonkbirdsblenderschessdictionaryevidentlyfacebookfree ricefrrrreeeeezzzziiinnnggggharbinger of tiny fearhelicopterhow to make crisps into jumping beanshuman rightskeyboardknowledgela-dahlaughing seagullslost wordsmoney buttonnotepadspooppotato olympicspublishingshoe gaugeshoessnakes and chickensstorystrange daysubstancesuper sized bugthe new Scottiethe strangeness of a toddler's mind.toilet lawvolcanoeswhy oh why did I say 'd have a go at the mini NaNoWriMo?wouldn't you just know I'd end up with a spideryou have ten seconds to complyLife, being a Mum, studying and writing.http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Ally)Blogger307125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-5947033117432101692Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:18:00 +00002008-09-25T15:45:57.476+01:00A215HaikuPoetryOver the last few days I have been experimenting with Haiku. I'm not sure if the experiment is working well or not. In other words, I'm not quite sure if I am grasping the straws correctly. Here are a couple of the Haiku I have scribbled:Day the first:Sleek, black, prowling cat;Graymalkin - do you come?Magical Moll-cat.Day the second:LCD screen.Giggles and shrieks of delight;computer literate.Dayhttp://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/experiments.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-1682760336102287699Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:04:00 +00002008-09-24T09:18:12.422+01:00writingKnackered! And for no apparent reason. I think I need to stop reading before I go to bed.Nothing much has been happening since the birthday celebrations on Sunday. I can't believe Principessa is four already. It feels like only yesterday I was in the horrible delivery room, with Melanie and H for support, hoping it wouldn't take too long for Princi to be born. 17 and a half hours later... Ouch! http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/oh-so-tired.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-765302073910033865Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:28:00 +00002008-09-20T15:45:27.003+01:00AslanLiverpool CathedralThe Principessa filesToday, I took Principessa (with Grandand's help) to the cathedral to see the Prince Caspian 'experience'. The first stop was face-painting. She was really looking forward to that part, and becoming a tiger! Then we had a wander round, and Princi did some little craft-type things. Upon further wandering, Princi wrote a prayer-balloon, and then we sat and watched a little puppet show after we http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/of-wardrobes-and-cathedrals.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-6815067529744181383Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:04:00 +00002008-09-19T15:25:19.458+01:00ChokingDecisive? Moi?Gladi-bloody-atorsTMA08TMA08 results day. I should say yay me, but instead I felt a bit bleurgh me. 84%. Now, I know. 84% is a good mark. But it's still not there for getting the 'top class' results. Yeah, yeah, I said I'd be happy just to pass, but as I have a good mark, what in the hell do I have to do just to push it that 1% further and get that elusive 85% to get a first class rating? Argh! I have only managed it http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/of-essays-and-choking.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-96551281937402824Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:04:00 +00002008-09-18T09:15:21.223+01:00AudiobooksOUsick PrincipessaOh noes! No access to the Open Uni forums! Noooooeeeeesssss! I can't cope with that! I'm all Grrrr Arggghhh right now.At least bedtime is good. Sean Bean is a great Principessa-put-to-sleeper! And I'm enjoying listening to the stories as well. I'm looking forward to getting a little bit of time to myself so that I can listen to The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer, read by Jack Davenport. *Flibble*http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/locked-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-208835738186537350Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:15:00 +00002008-09-16T17:36:22.074+01:00AudibooksbedtimeNot mine, although I do enjoy my sleep. Nope, looking forward to Principessa's bedtime. Not because it means she'll be quiet (that is a bonus!), but because of what will happen at bedtime.Recently, when I've taken Principessa to bed, we have listened to a story on the iPod. Over the last week it has been The Wolves In The Walls written and read by Neil Gaiman. Before that it was Dr. Seuss's The http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/looking-forward-to-bedtime.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-4214816449210237378Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:25:00 +00002008-09-16T10:44:50.405+01:00A215Elizabeth BearEnd of A103Rachel CarsonMy course materials finally appeared today. Argh! I am stressing out. The onset of A215 is a reality now, not just an electronic anomaly on the hard drive. Eeps! Currently in the process of copying the audio discs to iTunes.With the closing of A103, A215 begins. A103, however, has left its mark. Before studying the introductory humanities course I am ashamed to say I had never heard of Rachel http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/anxiety.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-7494394117575530844Mon, 15 Sep 2008 08:26:00 +00002008-09-15T09:41:47.136+01:00300 postsElizabeth Bearreading300 posts! Well, I never thought I'd manage that. I quit my first ever blog on 99 posts, then the second blog on four posts. Way hay, congratulations me!Anyway... I once again picked up Dust by Elizabeth Bear the other day and have been reading it when I have a spare second. When I first picked it up I couldn't get into it, my brain just wasn't in the right space to process it. With Principessa http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/oh-my.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-5735663982854737785Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:34:00 +00002008-09-14T10:51:20.882+01:00A215Freewritesick PrincipessaDidn't get anything done yesterday. My poor Principessa was very poorly.Yesterday morning she woke up screaming "I have red in my mouth!" I thought she had had a nightmare, so I gave her a cuddle and she went back to sleep again. She woke up again complaining of the same thing, and then throughout the morning she complained intermittently about the red in her mouth. I gave her a colds and coughs http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/bleurgh.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-1075190466919609636Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:33:00 +00002008-09-13T14:53:20.690+01:00A215Batman meets Mr DarcyClustersFilmswritingThis is fantastic! Batman meets Jane Austen, one of the funniest things I've read in a long time.And speaking of films, holy heck was I disappointed. I watched Be Kind, Rewind last night. Now, while the film was good, not excellent by any stretch of the imagination, I enjoyed it. I loved the use of pizza bloodsplats, and tinsel ghost tazers, but the ending was... not exactly an ending. One thing http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/if-i-had-but-talent-or-inkling.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-3545501661879191945Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:24:00 +00002008-09-12T10:48:03.628+01:00A215Brochen spectreFreewriteOUThe evil curs Writers Block and Low Selfconfidence attack(Pic from http://www.prog99.com/Hillwalking%20in%20Scotland/2006/Ben%20Lomond%20-%20September%202006/index.html)The self-doubt has made a fine log cabin in my head.With acres of untamed fields and woodland of niggling questions and mountainous arguments. Wood for the trees? That's me. And each tree feels like a whomping willow, forcibly thwacking me with branches of self-deprecation, cutting deephttp://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/and-so-it-starts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-6022022329870509932Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:52:00 +00002008-09-11T15:16:32.820+01:00A215ClustersWriting adviceMr McCullough has been at it again, netspeaking with that common sense type stuff when it comes to writing, or not writing for writing as the case may be. (And no, I'm not becoming an internet name-invoking stalker!)Well, that's all. Need to get back to exploring clusters. (And no, that's not star clusters or crunch nut clusters, but wordly type clusters. So far, not having much luck finding http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-he-said.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-5686624050744214394Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:58:00 +00002008-09-09T20:24:47.064+01:00A215FreewriteDespite buzzing televisions, tons of washing and a demanding Principessa, I actually managed to do one of the writing exercises. Yay me! I had a go at the freewrite exercise, though I don't know if what I scribbled could be counted as a freewrite. You see, I can't write without putting in some form of punctuation, like I think in commas and apostrophes. I can't help it. But writing a freewrite, http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/intent-to-write-weirdness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-7640827157501295649Tue, 09 Sep 2008 08:10:00 +00002008-09-09T09:33:41.769+01:00Elizabeth BearOh woe is MurraytennisUS Openwriting(Picture from www.bbc.co.uk/sports)Ah well. Andy Murray didn't win. He gave it a good shot, and played some fantastic tennis, but Roger came out and you could see the win in his eyes. Andy was just a pesky little fly that needed swatting, and swatting in the most complete sense of the word. But still, what an amazing game. Some of the rallies brought out the best tennis in the both of them, but Ihttp://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/keep-on-dreaming-boy-cos-when-you-stop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-3080100647258958063Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:28:00 +00002008-09-08T13:08:20.741+01:00Conversations with PrincipessaF1tennisThe Principessa filesPebble! Yes, I know, some explanation necessary. Nanny was trying to teach Principessa to say rock the other day.Nanny: Rrrrrrrrrock.Princi: Brrrrrrrrr-wock.Nanny: No, rrrrrrrrrock. Put your tongue behind your teeth.Princi: Brrrrrrrr-wock.A little later, Principessa went to see Nanny again to give her one of the her stones.Princi: There you go Nanny. Brrrrrrrrr-pebble.That still makes me laugh. http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/brrrrrr.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-3372971653652924553Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:40:00 +00002008-09-05T11:53:27.647+01:00A215End of A103ReminiscingTMA08Finished and sent off, good riddance to TMA08. I would say I hated every minute of it, but some of it I quite enjoyed writing. Saying that, I feel about 08 the same way I felt about 06, that it's a big pile of poo! As much as I want a funky high mark for it, I will be happy just to pass it.And with the finishing of TMA08, it is also the end of A103. So what do I think I have learned? Well, I http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/and-it-is-done.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-5390803448525694484Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:20:00 +00002008-09-04T18:22:16.681+01:00tennisUS OpenWoohoo! Andy Murray is in the semi-finals of the US Open. Well done that man!http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-knew-there-was-something-else.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-1793998239455619337Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:34:00 +00002008-09-04T17:56:34.472+01:00OUsnakes and chickensThe Principessa filesTMA08ARGH! This essay is beginning to grate now. Every word feels like it's being ripped from another dimension, biting and clawing to be left alone. I've now written just over 1800 words, but it feels like it'll never be finished. I keep combing what I have to make sure I have enough words to finish this last bit about the Early Music Revival (sorry, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, I shall have to keep http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/unreachable-2000.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-7460627986707902647Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:38:00 +00002008-09-03T17:53:22.799+01:00Neil GaimanHarper Collins are once again offering a Neil Gaiman book, this time Neverwhere, for free for the next 30 days. You can either read it online, or you can download it, though the downloaded file does expire after 30 days.Go here to enjoy the brilliance that is Neverwhere.(I loved this book. I think, in fact, I shall dig it out and read it again. Mr Croup and Mr Vandemar make the most delicious http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/again-with-free-downloadable-but-not.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-2202989613657522365Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:06:00 +00002008-09-03T15:15:02.199+01:00A215Okay, so I am blatantly pinching this from Kelly McCullough's post on Wyrdsmiths today, but I thought it very apt for those of us about to embark on A215.Once more unto the book, dear friends, once more;Now mark the page up with our English words.In lulls there's nothing becomes a writerAs modest stillness and humility:But when the novel call blows in our ears,Then imitate the action of the tigerhttp://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/with-aptness-to-new-writing-cause.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-2524329372624499447Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:20:00 +00002008-09-02T16:28:30.095+01:00James Whale brainwashed my daughterJust now, Principessa presented me with this scribble.Me: Oh, that's nice. But who is JW?Princi: (All shy and coy) James Whale.I want to know what Voodoo magic James Whale has performed on my little Principessa to deserve such admiration!(If you're wondering what I'm on about, the scribbles at the bottom look like capital cursive J and W.)http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/serious-fixation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-3604457020069077479Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:41:00 +00002008-09-02T08:59:50.468+01:00The Principessa filesEeps! It's Principessa's first day at Nursery today. I just don't understand how I managed to convert mini pink Sith Principessa into little blue schoolie Principessa!Okay, so maybe it isn't technically her first day. She did try nursery last September, but she hated it. I think she may still have been a little too young. But she seems quite excited about it now, although this morning she was http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-6376470221435342979Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:49:00 +00002008-09-01T18:05:47.120+01:00Conspiracy - you decidestupid internetMooching around... well, OK. Going to play games on Yahoo! this afternoon, I came across this article. And I have to say, how true it is. I've posted a couple of times about the frustration of losing the internet. It really does make me all jittery, cold turkey stylee!Then I got to thinking. It's almost sinister how the internet has slotted into everyday life more seamlessly than even mobile http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/09/discombobulated-by-discomgoogolation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-7044069593493911363Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:54:00 +00002008-08-29T12:56:24.777+01:00Lolcathttp://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/08/boocat-lolcat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3702237.post-9191872064966434464Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:06:00 +00002008-08-29T10:51:15.253+01:00OUTMA08I've got just about 1000 words now. Not sure if they are good words, but it seems to be coming together. Just got to write about the military-industrial-academic complex and music counter-culture, and then wind it up with the conclusion.Ooh, this is a good article. Makes for interesting reading, and good for getting story ideas tumbling around. It's just a pity there are no references. I'd be http://frustrated-writer.blogspot.com/2008/08/still-hard-at-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Ally)2