Wednesday's Ramblings

 Hi,

It's Wednesday evening. 21:59 

I haven't written anything for a couple of days. Although I shouldn't really, I've been taking a sneak look at the material for Week 3 of my OU course (Fiction: Creating Characters). I've become increasingly aware that I've not read anywhere enough fiction in my life. I read Enid Blyton as a young lad and then in my mid-teens I can remember reading a couple of books (fiction) about LSD. I'd like to read them again, but can't remember for the life of me what they were called!

I've written a 750 word piece for the 'Innerverse' writing group that I've started going to. It's about a 76 year old man living with dementia and his relationship with his daughter. I'll develop this into a longer 'short' story. You can see the 'spidergram' I created for it here: http://richardhill.co.uk/tomspidergram.pdf and the story is here: http://richardhill.co.uk/tom.pdf

Rob (Kibble) read out my short story 'Me and Leonard' on Monday evening. I suspect that many in the group may have thought that it was autobiographical, but it wasn't. See what you think: http://richardhill.co.uk/meandleonard.pdf

I've been listening to 'The Writing Game' and 'The Wench is Dead' on audiobooks. I prefer them to reading 'real' books. Is that lazy?

Anyway, that's all for tonight. Bedtime 22:19 Goodnight!

'Deintydd'

My 'final' poem at the end of Week 2 of my Open University Course

'Deintydd'

Richard Hill

From home to the dentists. Scared, anxious. Knew what was coming.

Been here before. Panicky, petrified.

Cold clinical waiting room. Feel the dark green canvas chairs.

Smells like a hospital. Sit and wait and wait and hope and hope I won’t be last.

But I am.

“Croeso bachgen”. The dentist man, creepy and chilling, faceless in facemask.

Stale smell of his breath. Bright blinding lamp.

Injection, gum and face go numb. Drill grinds into teeth like the waves crashing onto a pebble beach Taste of the drilling, the numbness. “Gorfenedig”. Foul tasting mouthwash. Spit out. Dribble and drool. “Diolch Syr.” Glad to be leaving.

© Richard Hill MMXXII

Michael Pearcy 'A Person of Interest'

 One of the writers, Michael Pearcy, from 'Slough Writers' group has had a play shortlisted from 190 scripts in 23 countries. He is in the top three with his play 'A Person of Interest' which is being performed at the Old Court Theatre in Windsor over the next three nights. On Saturday night, the winner will be announced.

Being in the top three is an amazing achievement in itself, but I wish him luck and wish him well.

 Hi,

Some changes to my website this morning. New section 'OTHER STUFF' and link to this 'BLOG'.

Two new true 'stories'. 'Show Bell a Little Respect' (a review of Erasure's 'A Little Respect') and 'Happy Slough!' (about the BBC 2 series in 2005 'Making Slough Happy')

Check these out at www.richardhill.co.uk 

Richard

Writing for Magazines

 Hi,

Want to write for magazines? Check out my mini-website at www.sloughwriter.co.uk

Richard

Tom

 

TOM

Hi, welcome.

This is my current project. At 'Innerverse', we have been set the task of writing a 750 word story by the next group meet.

I'm planning to write a story about Tom, a 76 year old man, living with dementia.

I've done some research and drawn a 'spidergram' to help and inspire me.

These are parts of the story I've worked out so far:-

Widower Tom Cuttings, age 76, born 1945:

Husband of his late wife, Brenda 'Bren'.

Father of Mandy Hawthorn (nee Cuttings). born 1975, age 47. Mother of Helen Hawthorn (Tom's grand daughter) born 2005, age 17.

'Home' Greenfield Residential Home.

This is as far as I've got so far. Will continue tomorrow

Richard

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Tom'

Opening para:-

Mandy knocked on the door, gently, and opened it. Tom was sitting in his wheelchair, near the window, looking out onto the garden. “Dad?” said Mandy, in a quiet voice. The first thing she noticed was a faint smell of stale urine mixed with the strong smell of disinfectant, the sort that used to be used in hospitals. “Dad.” she said, a little louder, “It’s me, Mandy. I’ve come to see you.”

Remainder will be online tomorrow 08/10/22 at www.richardhill.co.uk/tom.pdf

Richard

Morning Moans!

 Hi,

It's 4.33 am. I've been awake for 2 hours. My legs are playing up. I suffer from RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) and this night it's particular bad. But doing something takes my mind off it.

If you, or someone you know, suffer from RLS, check out this site (RLS-UK).