Mike Dale - writer

Booze – Never a Straightforward Solution

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:05:50 +0000

There are endless bits of advice, almost wherever you look, to help you decide what to drink, how much and how often. This piece from the BBC has some interesting ideas on reducing the ‘binge drinking’ culture. It also hints that not everything is as bad as it is reported to be – and other things [...]

How Near is a Near Miss?

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:48:46 +0000

Take a look at this. I don’t care what they say, I am going to duck anyway!

Politics and Other Irrelevance

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:08:12 +0000

It interests me, the plethora of things that politicians and journalists think are critical for me to know. The latest is this list of people who have turned down a gong from Her Maj. during the past fifty years or so. Unfortunately, only those who have already shuffled of this mortal coil are on the [...]

The Problem With New Year Resolutions

Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:08:33 +0000

The big problem with New Year resolutions is that, by definition, they require the presence of resolve. I have read widely on this topic and it would appear that this is a rare commodity in the much published writer, so what chance do the rest of us have? However, undiscouraged and foolhardy as only the [...]

First Non-fiction publication

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:50:32 +0000

Those with good memories will remember that I was working on a book on management last summer for Quicklook Books. I am very pleased to say that it has now been published as an e-book on the Quicklook Books site. It will be available in a print edition early in the New Year. Quicklook Books [...]

A Review of Scrivener – a great software tool for writers

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 14:40:32 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen, today I bring you just one word. Scrivener. No, not in this case a scribe or other writer, derived from 13th century English. I mean the software package for writers that is designed to help you organise thoughts, words, scenes, research and so much more. Oh, those, I hear you spit, derisive [...]

Let the writing begin…

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:04:48 +0000

As I mentioned a while back, I have been working on a non-fiction book for Quicklook Books. I have finally sent of the draft and have now some time to focus on my own writing. Don’t get me wrong, I have really enjoyed the project and will be expecting all readers of this blog to [...]

Climate Change – How Coal Kills Coral

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:30:12 +0000

The arguments about the effects of global warming have been raging for years and, if anything, are becoming more heated (no pun intended!) As the deniers bury their heads more deeply in the parched ground and the green evangelists yell more loudly to try to make them listen, the evidence and the sheer terror of [...]

Tote That Barge, Lift That Bale…

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:45:26 +0000

A bit of a gap since my last post. I have been working ( and I still am) on a book about management for Quicklook Books. An interesting series of ebook overviews of various aspects of work and commerce. Take a look. That, combined with one or two other things has kept me rather busier [...]

Rat Poison

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:56:03 +0000

I came across this rather bizarre story today while looking for something to help me avoid writing. You know how you do? It just shows that you can use the natural habitat in which you live to piss off most of your enemies. A lesson for us all, and one I am presently trying to [...]