Tuesday 10th October

 Here is a list of my new commissions.

All for Dogs Today magazine:-

• Volunteering with Dogs Today. (National Volunteers Week June 2024)
• People owning resued large breed crosses and how the forthcoming ban on XL Bully's will affect them.
• Following someone who has had a terrible incident of their dog being attacked by a Bully XL
• Following a genuine pet detective and his extraordinary stories.

Writing for Magazines - generating ideas

I'm sometimes asked how I come up with ideas and where to publish them. It varies.

When I started writing for magazines in 1996, I tried out the suggestions made to me by writer Gordon Wells. An established writer, Gordon suggested that I made a list of everyone in my life, starting with family members. He recommended that I would come across stories relating to these people. I did this, and remembered that my grandfather George Wiseman, had a horse drawn narrowboat collecting milk for Cadbury in the 1920’s. To cut a long story short, this led to my article ‘Chocolate on the Shroppie’ being published in Canal & Riverboat magazine.

Other stories came in different ways. I approached a number of different magazines offering to write reviews of websites relating to their speciality. I had around eight commissions including ‘Skin Deep’ magazine and ‘Mad about Dogs’ magazine. Another success were three website reviews for ‘The Art of Bonsai and Japanese Gardens’ magazines.

Another way of finding potential outlets for feature articles is by studying the current editions of the ‘Writers & Artists Yearbook’ and ‘The Writers Handbook’. The most recent ‘leads’ gained from the former was ‘Dogs Today’ magazine. See the ‘LATEST WORK’ section of my website.

I sometimes put an ‘appeal’ to hear from people in Facebook groups and pages. This was the case when I asked for suggestions from people using ‘Assistance dogs’. This led to the feature in ‘Dogs Today’ and ‘Able’ magazines about 18-year-old non-binary and autistic Eliot Best.

Another possibility is that people simply suggest ideas to me and this is where you come in. Do you have an idea that might interest me? Alternatively, do you know of a publication looking for freelance contributions? If so, please send me details at sloughwriter@gmail.com . I would of course acknowledge your assistance.

But of course, the most rewarding way is for you to write the article yourself. If you need some basic guidance, please see me online article ‘Writing for Magazines’ which you can find at: http://www.richardhill.co.uk/talks/

Best of luck!

Friday 06 October

 Sorry for the lateness in posting this. I'm still having difficulties getting around. I can only take short slow steps with a walking frame.

I've been researching possible outlets for feature articles. I'm using the 2024 editions of the 'Writers & Artists Yearbook' and the 'Writers Handbook'. I'm also going online to search for magazine publishers.

I've written an article entitled 'Ghosts on the Waterways'. I had intended to submit it to a 'Waterways' magazine, but I've missed the deadline for an edition that coincides with Halloween, so I'll submit it next year. My writer's group, Slough Writers, is holding a 'manuscript evening' next Monday evening where members read out each other's manuscripts. I'm having mine read out by Lorraine. It may cause a couple of problems reading out two Welsh placenames: 'Llangollen' and 'Pontcysyllte'.

I've been in touch with my local 'Smoking Cessation' team in Slough. I only smoke one or two cigarettes a day, but really want to give up. And I 'vape' which I also want to give up.

I'm really well cared for and supported by my partner, Simon. He does everything.

Tomorrow, I'm going to try and get into the passenger seat of the car. I've had some advice from a friend who had a hip replacement a year or two ago. She told me that the best way was to 'reverse' into the seat and then swing my bad leg around and then my good leg. Keep your fingers crossed.

Watch this space!

Saturday 30th September

 I've been under the weather over the last few weeks, so have been working on my laptop either in bed or in my reclining chair in the lounge.

I've had three new articles published in the last two months, one in 'Able' magazine and two in 'Dogs Today' magazine. You can view them in the 'Latest Work' section of my website which is at www.richardhill.co.uk

I've purchased the 2024 editions of the 'Writers & Artists Yearbook' and the 'Writers Handbook' and my next move is to study the 'magazines' section to find magazines that I think I could possibly write for..

I'm not feeling too good having editing my website this morning.

Watch this space!

Monday

Out Now! My story in 'Able' magazine about Eliot, Curly, and Rex is out now and online at: https://ablemagazine.co.uk/my-story-my-best-friends/

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This is the model of a 'bath seat' that SBC has delivered. (SBC =  Slough Borough Council). It was delivered first at the end of last week and I used it for the first time this morning.

I then went to tidy this blog up and if I find time later, I'll work on the website. 

This is the next planned purchase:-

I've wanted an electric bed like this ever since we moved into this flat in January 1996. It's going to be of so much help.

An 'over bed' table, (similar to the one below) arrived today:

So that completes the list of equipment I've been supplied with. They make our flat look a bit like a hospital environment, but it doesn't really matter. They make life easier.

Latest News - 17/09/2023

Hi.

I'm still struggling with my fractured femur which was operated on to insert a titanium rod and 'nails' on Monday 17 July 2023.

I spent a few weeks of rehabilitation in Jubilee Ward in Upton Hospital, Slough. Prior to my discharge, the OT's provided me with some assistive equipment at home: A walking frame, a toilet frame, a commode, a bathroom stool, and a bath 'swivel' seat. (We later sent the commode back as I had no need for it.).

The first few days at home were a bit difficult, getting used to a new 'disabled' routine and lifestyle. I had quite a lot of difficulty getting up and down between the sofa and the walking frame. I decided to invest privately in a 'rise and recline' armchair:

It has proved to be invaluable and only cost £319. It took quite a lot of searching to find a chair that was reasonably priced and did what I wanted it to. It also had to fit in the available area. I finally settled on this one from amazon.co.uk (Amazon 'title': HOMCOM Power Lift Chair, Fabric Electric Recliner Sofa Chair for Elderly with Heavy Duty Motor, Remote Control, Side Pocket, Grey).

Since arriving at home, I've been exercising through walking - starting with short walks and increasing the distance each day. Simon follows me with my wheelchair in case I suddenly to sit down. I alternate the route each day between walking outside the front of the flats and walking around the communal garden. Some days I do an additional walk from the patio to the bench where I meet my friend and neighbour Ann for coffee.

The pain relief I had previously been prescribed is Paracetamol and Codeine Phosphate. This week I was also prescribed 'Oramorph', which I had been using in the hospital. This certainly helps relieve the pain but has 'weird' side effects including hallucinations amongst others.

Last Friday, I was assessed (at home) by a physio who looked at what I can currently achieve and who gave me a set of exercises to complete four times a day. At first, they were excruciatingly painful, but since I started are becoming a little better each time. My leg also hurts a lot between exercises.

That more or less brings me up to date with my 'medical' details.

While in hospital, my article on Eliot Best and his assistance dogs was published in 'Dogs Today' magazine and soon a similar article will be published in 'Able' magazine. Also coming out in 'Dogs Today' is my article 'Newfs in Action'.

This week, I'll be researching possible outlets for articles in magazines by using the 2024 editions of  'Writers & Artists Yearbook' and 'Writers Handbook'. I'll also be writing an article 'Ghosts on the Waterways'.

Thank you for reading thus far. Watch this space!

I'm back!

Sorry for the silence. I was discharged from Upton hospital around 10 days and have been getting used to my 'disabled' life at home. I'll tell more when I'm a little better.