About Me

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I am a 68-year-old gay disabled amateur part-time writer living in Slough, Berkshire UK. I have published around 60 articles in 20 leisure and lifestyle magazines. I live with a range of health issues including heart disease, chronic kidney disease, Type 2 diabetes, depression, atrial fibrillation and restless leg syndrome. (I'm working my way through the medical dictionary!). I'm a member of Slough Writer's Group which is interesting and informative. Latest News. 10th July 2023 Awarded 'The Sandy Lee-Guard Award for Endeavour' by the Slough Writers Group. 6th December 2023 Completed studying 'Writing for Magazines' with CityLit University. January 2nd 2024. Fell over in the lounge and fractured my left femur (whilst recovering from fracturing my right femur in July 2023). Recovery expected to take 6 - 8 months. May 2024. Completed studying ' National Centre for Writing' course 'Creative Non-Fiction - An Introduction'. You can see the articles that have been published in the 'LATEST WORK' section of my website. It's at http://richardhill.co.uk/latest.html

Sunday 13 October 2024

Kaira's Update

 SCROLL DOWN FOR OCTOBER 2024 COMPETITIONS

Kaira settled down really well for the night. We've got two beds for her; one in the lounge for daytime use and one in the bedroom for nighttime.

She barked once last night, otherwise, no barking which is a relief!

Simon took her out for a walk this morning and she met up with our neighbours' dog, 'Patch' whom she was fine with.

She's eating, drinking, and sleeping well and springs into action when something interesting happens such as when one of us goes into the kitchen.

Tomorrow, I've got to update her microchip details but need to find out who she's currently registered with. I'm unsure how to find out this information, so I will ask someone at 'Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary' in the morning. We've also got to fit her dog tag to her collar.

As I write this, she's fast asleep on her bed. In a while, I'm going to sit on the bench in our communal garden to have tea with my friend and neighbour Ann while Kaira will be free to roam on her 'long lead'.

Watch this space!

Saturday 12 October 2024

Kaira Arrives from Spain

SCROLL DOWN FOR OCTOBER 2024 COMPETITIONS
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 Kaira has Arrived from Spain!




We collected Karia from 'Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary' this morning. She'd travel overnight from Spain by road. She was very nervous initially but has now calmed down a bit. She's clearly been mistreated and is all skin and bone. We'll be able to rectify that.

SCROLL DOWN FOR OCTOBER 2024 COMPETITIONS

Thursday 10 October 2024

Competitions October 2024

 Competitions October 2024

 

Free Flash Fiction

https://freeflashfiction.com/current-competition/

 

Dark Poets Prize – Edition II

https://www.darkpoets.club/the-dark-poets-prize-edition-ii

 

QuietManDave Flash Fiction Prize

https://www.mmu.ac.uk/qmdprize/flash-fiction-prize

 

Anthology Poetry Competition

https://anthology-magazine.com/awards/poetry-competition/

 

The Bedford Competition – Short Story and Poetry Awards

https://bedfordwritingcompetition.co.uk/

 

Trio International Poetry Competition 2024

https://www.triouganda.org/poetry-competition

 

Broken Sleep Books Poetry Competition 2024

https://www.brokensleepbooks.com/broken-sleep-books-poetry-competition

'Search and Rescue' dogs - article

I'm currently researching material for an article about 'Search and Rescue' dogs for 'Dogs Today' magazine. I'm also sourcing high-resolution photographs to accompany my article. Here's one by photographer Jonathon Sterritt. It's especially brilliant in high-resolution.



Wednesday 9 October 2024

Questions for dog show organisers/volunteers.

 Organising a Dog Show 2025

Questions for Contributors.

(These questions are intended for guidance only – feel free to alter or amend your answers).

Personal Information (e.g. Joe Blogs (67) from Telford said “…)

1.      What is your name as you want it to appear in the article?

2.      What is your age? (optional)

3.      Where do you live? (town/city/county etc.)

Your Dog Show Information.

·         When is your 2025 dog show taking place?

·         Is your dog show part of another event? (e.g. Village Show)

·         Whereabouts is your dog show taking place?

·         Does your dog show have an organising team/committee?

·         How many people are involved in organising this dog show?

·         What is your role in organising this dog show?

·         How long have you been assisting in organising dog shows?

·         When does your team/committee begin organising your 2025 dog show?

·         Does your team or committee follow the Kennel Club information and/or guidelines?

·         Do you have to have the permission of the local authority?

·         Does your group have a bank account of its own?

·         How do you appeal to local businesses for funding or sponsorship?

·         Who pays for such items as rosettes and/or trophies?

·         How many dogs do you anticipate taking part?

·         Will you have a vet in attendance?

·         Will you have a medical professional in attendance? (e.g. St. Johns Ambulance)?

·         What classes will you have?

·         Will you have insurance?

·         How will you find a suitable judge?

·         If required, would you be happy for me to conduct a telephone interview with you? If so, what is your telephone number? (preferably a landline).

Please write any further information of how you will organise your dog show.

Insomnia?

It's 03:40 and I'm wide awake! I slept for around four hours from 22:00 until 02:00, when I woke up feeling wide awake.


I watched some television, but there's not much on, so now I'm here!
I'm aiming to do several stuff today. These include:-
  • Complete my personal budget.
  • Organise some of the emails that have come in, regarding 'Organising a Companion Dog Show',
  • Create a list of questions for contributors (re above).
  • Review the information on the 'Kennel Club' website regarding 'Organising a Companion Dog Show'.
  • Collect and collate the personal details of contributors.
Have a cup of tea before I start writing the first draft!

Tuesday 8 October 2024

 

Atrial Fibrillation

 Atrial Fibrillation
I suffer from this and it's playing up today. I can 'feel' and 'hear' my heartbeats. It usually lasts for less than an hour. More information here.

18:86 It's better now!

Monday 7 October 2024

Tubular Bells Concert - Last Night



Myself and my friend Mark and I went to this concert at the Hexagon Theatre in Reading last night. There isn't much to say about it other than to say that it was bloody brilliant!
 


Tubular Bells - 2024


Saturday 5 October 2024

Introducing Kaira


Kaira will be joining us next Saturday 12th Oct. She is a 'Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz' (Andalusian Terrier.)

The Andalusian Terrier (or Sherry Terrier) is a Spanish breed of dog of the terrier type. Its Spanish name reflects its main occupation: hunting rats and mice hidden between barrels in the wineries of Andalusia in Spain.

They tend to get along with most people, both familiar and unfamiliar, as well as most other canines, but their extremely high prey drive and speed make them unsafe companions for smaller animals such as rabbits, ferrets, and even some cats.

Their life span is 8-18 years.

The Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz is sometimes referred to as the Spanish Jack Russell due to their similarity to the popular Jack Russell Terrier in looks and temperament, and both breeds have Fox Terrier in their ancestry, but the Ratonero developed in the south of Spain, a mix of Fox Terriers and local ratting dogs.

The result was an extremely quick and agile hunter of vermin that worked well in between the wine barrels stored at the vineyards that flourished in the area.

They are known for having an exuberant and joyful personality and are quite affectionate and even comical at home but focused and driven when on the hunt.

  • The name Kaira has multiple meanings in English, including: right, opportune moment, beloved, and dear.
  • Kaira is related to the Ancient Greek term Kairos, which also means "right" and "opportune moment". It may also come from the Latin word carus, which means "beloved" and "dear".
  • Kaira is also a Hindu girl's name that means "peaceful" and "unique".
  •  

  • We can't wait until next Saturday!
  •  16:45 I've been researching material for Kaira's Little Website at kaira.fun I found this photograph which I think is brilliant to describe one of the breeds' activities:-


    Kaira comes to us from Pine Ridge Dog Sanctuary to whom we are extremely grateful. 

    Friday 4 October 2024

    BP problems

    I'm not too good this morning. Earlier, after I'd used my GTN spray due to chest pains, my blood pressure dropped considerably. Everything went dark. I stayed in bed and drank about a litre of water and it gradually came up again. It's still a little low, but I feel much better. I hope that my BP comes up a bit more.
    15:50 Feeling better now but BP is still lower than ideal.

    Wednesday 2 October 2024

    Muggy Morning

     

    I'm not feeling very well today, so I'm going back to bed and read a book.

    Tuesday 1 October 2024

    Organising a 'Companion Dog Show' for 2025.

     Organising a Companion Dog Show for 2025



    The Kennel Club



    I'm still working on my article 'Organising a Dog Show' for 'Dogs Today' magazine. I've found much useful information on 'The Kennel Club' website. I've contacted their press office to ask if I may quote from their website. I've also asked them for a couple of high-resolution photographs.

    Received my engraved 'dog tag' today (before we've got a dog!). I got it from amazon.co.uk . It came from the company 'Engrave It Online' and it's excellent quality. I highly recommend them.