As I look back over the past year -- as one is wont to do on December 31 -- it seems that yet again it has been a year of change, challenge, new endeavours and accomplishment. In fact, it seems each one of the past few years has marked a major turning point for me. … Continue reading 2013: A year of challenge and accomplishment
What I read in 2013
It's becoming a habit of mine at the end of each year to reflect back on the books I've read in the past 12 months -- and invariably I decide the list is not long enough, or diverse enough, or recent enough and I resolve to do better. (Here's what I read in 2012.) This … Continue reading What I read in 2013
Thoughts on The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug
As a huge fan of the Peter Jackson et al movies set in Middle Earth, I once again rocked up to the latest installment of The Hobbit hoping it would be wonderful. Once again I enjoyed the movie -- the lavish and dedicated depiction of Tolkien's fantastical world, the rousing adventure, the eye candy in … Continue reading Thoughts on The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug
D&D chronicles: A trail of corpses
ASH Oh, the past few days have been glorious! Our swords drip with blood, a trail of corpses in our wake. Turns out the monastery was teeming with undead -- skeletons, zombies, ghouls. We defeated them all in two stupendous battles. And then a wraith attacked us and somehow we defeated that too. There is … Continue reading D&D chronicles: A trail of corpses
Quick tip for writing in cafes
Here's a quick tip for writing in cafes: make sure the table is at a good height. This was just reinforced for me when I couldn't get one of my usual tables at my regular haunt. I was forced to start off at another table, which was far too high for easy computer use. I … Continue reading Quick tip for writing in cafes
Fishing community
I've been going through my holiday photos and found a couple that speak to this week's WordPress weekly photo challenge theme of COMMUNITY. These pictures are of the tiny and very picturesque fishing village of Clovelly on the northern coast of Devon. Fishing is a very community-oriented activity -- the villagers go out in the … Continue reading Fishing community
No longer dreaming of a white Christmas
Christmas is coming. *cue music* Hark the herald angels sing! To commemorate the season, we're harking back to a particularly memorable past Christmas or winter holiday. Since Christmas falls in the summer for us Australians, it's fortunate that I do, as it happens, have a memorable winter Christmas to share... Three years ago I spent … Continue reading No longer dreaming of a white Christmas
A-Z of fantasy: H is for Horse
Seems I dropped the ball on my A-Z of Fantasy series... I made it to G and then got distracted. But I think I'll continue with it at a leisurely pace, because it seems such a shame to leave it there. So. We're up to H. Today... H is for HORSE. HORSE: A solid-hoofed plant-eating domesticated … Continue reading A-Z of fantasy: H is for Horse
From Corfe Castle to Brighton
Let us journey back to the UK for a short while . . . Soaring high on a hill above a village in Dorset is a ruined castle. It's a strong, defensible position and the crumbling edifice dominates the lush green landscape all around. This is the 1000-year old Corfe Castle, built by William the Conqueror … Continue reading From Corfe Castle to Brighton
My thoughts on Catching Fire
I loved Catching Fire, the movie. A lot more than I did the book. Which is unusual. My major complaint with the book was that it seemed to repeat the same story and themes as the Hunger Games (the first book in the trilogy). It suffered from a lack in progression of the overall story … Continue reading My thoughts on Catching Fire
E V Gregory 