It was snowing and the streets of London were covered in a thin film of slush. But the household needed some vitals, so off I trudged into the late grey afternoon towards my first stop, Starbucks. While we're not giant fans of the chain, The Man and I both love the Columbian blend, which we buy in bags to make at home. Mission accomplished, I headed back out and onto my next stop, Tesco.
I set down my Starbucks bag for a second to take a closer look at the red wine (our supplies are low after the Christmas period). And when I turned back... the bag was gone. Now, I confess that I am often very absent-minded. I set things down and sometimes spend hours looking for them again. But I was quite sure I'd put the bag right beside my feet. And now that little parcel of coffee bean joy was nowhere to be found.
I ran through the aisles, my heart beating fast, scanning all the shoppers for any sign of my Starbucks bag. But after a futile search, I had to admit that it was over. I was coffee-less once more.
Feeling bereft, I paid for my remaining groceries that hadn't yet been stolen and walked back out into the cold. There are times, like when people steal your coffee, that I really missed my homeland. I could be wearing my rose-coloured glasses, but I was pretty sure that no-one in Nova Scotia would steal my Starbucks coffee. In fact, if memory served me correctly, a few years ago people in the Maritimes were proven to be the most likely to return a lost wallet to its rightful owner -- with nothing missing. Oh to be home again.
I couldn't go home without coffee (the thought of working all day without my shot of caffeine was, quite frankly, terrifying), so I retraced my steps back to Starbucks.
'You must like coffee!' the server said as I handed him my second bag.
I explained my plight as he ground my second batch of beans. He gave it back to me in a bag identical to the one I'd just lost.
'It's on the house,' he said, when I waved my Barclays card in the air.
I smiled as I walked away. Yes, there were days I missed home, but London wasn't so bad after all.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
5 Minutes of Procrastination
Thanks to everyone who dropped by from Nicola's blog party! It was great to read all the comments.
I'm in the throes of editing right now, and after a particularly trying night spent blocking out The Man's increasingly weird-sounding snores, my attention was not what it should have been. I was up, I was down, I was eating... you get the picture.
A typical five minutes in my mind this afternoon went something like this:
OK. Right. (Sitting down in the chair). Oh, this is uncomfortable. Gosh, maybe I should fix the chair. (Fiddles with knobs on chair, thus making it even more uncomfortable). It's been a minute. I should check my Twitter account. Nothing. Maybe my email? Oooh, someone commented on a Facebook photo; let me check.
I must get back to the editing. (Fixes one sentence.) Hm, I feel a bit hungry. Maybe some bread. (Heads to the kitchen to get a slice and goes back to computer.) Well, I can't write while I'm eating, so I'll just check my GoogleReader. (One minute later.) That bread has made me thirsty. Maybe some orange juice. (Heads to kitchen to get juice.)
...and so on. Oh, the torture!
I'm in the throes of editing right now, and after a particularly trying night spent blocking out The Man's increasingly weird-sounding snores, my attention was not what it should have been. I was up, I was down, I was eating... you get the picture.
A typical five minutes in my mind this afternoon went something like this:
OK. Right. (Sitting down in the chair). Oh, this is uncomfortable. Gosh, maybe I should fix the chair. (Fiddles with knobs on chair, thus making it even more uncomfortable). It's been a minute. I should check my Twitter account. Nothing. Maybe my email? Oooh, someone commented on a Facebook photo; let me check.
I must get back to the editing. (Fixes one sentence.) Hm, I feel a bit hungry. Maybe some bread. (Heads to the kitchen to get a slice and goes back to computer.) Well, I can't write while I'm eating, so I'll just check my GoogleReader. (One minute later.) That bread has made me thirsty. Maybe some orange juice. (Heads to kitchen to get juice.)
...and so on. Oh, the torture!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, Monday
Happy Monday! It's been dusk-dark all day here, the perfect day for settling down to my edits.
Today, fellow Canadian Luanne has posted a review of 24 Hours London and a few quick questions and answers with me on her blog. Hop on over to read what she has to say!
Today, fellow Canadian Luanne has posted a review of 24 Hours London and a few quick questions and answers with me on her blog. Hop on over to read what she has to say!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Editing Errors
Not much time to write today as I have a load of editing to do this morning before trekking off to the wilds of Wimbledon for a spot of meat-eating (i.e, burgers with a fellow Canadian expat).
But I wanted to do a quick post in honour of Nicola Morgan's first blog birthday. As you may recall, back in November when my book launched Nicola was kind enough to host me on her blog, talking about my journey to publication on which she had been a tremendous help. I've also used her Pen2Publication service, and I have to say her critique was head and shoulders above other reading services I'd used -- highly recommended!
As I'm engaged in a lot of editing these days (very persnickety details, such as opening hours and admission prices - blergh), I've been thinking about editing errors. You know, those pesky mistakes that just don't get noticed and creep by into publication, mortifying and sometimes highly embarrassing.
One of the worst examples I've seen of this is a PR person describing herself on paper as being 'highly experienced in pubic relations.' Ouch.
What are some editing errors that you've seen (or made, if you dare admit it!)?
But I wanted to do a quick post in honour of Nicola Morgan's first blog birthday. As you may recall, back in November when my book launched Nicola was kind enough to host me on her blog, talking about my journey to publication on which she had been a tremendous help. I've also used her Pen2Publication service, and I have to say her critique was head and shoulders above other reading services I'd used -- highly recommended!
As I'm engaged in a lot of editing these days (very persnickety details, such as opening hours and admission prices - blergh), I've been thinking about editing errors. You know, those pesky mistakes that just don't get noticed and creep by into publication, mortifying and sometimes highly embarrassing.
One of the worst examples I've seen of this is a PR person describing herself on paper as being 'highly experienced in pubic relations.' Ouch.
What are some editing errors that you've seen (or made, if you dare admit it!)?
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Writing in the Big Freeze
I've got nothing but a mind full of blankness today, so I thought I'd share this hilarious post with you, by writer Alison Wells. It addresses the challenges of writing at this frozen time -- you know, blankets, frozen fingers and such.
Click to read!
Click to read!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Revisionist History
Finally, a post about writing! Truth be told, I've been taking it easy on the writing front. My office morphed into the guest room over Christmas, and while I'd love to be one of those writers who can write anywhere... I'm not. After the 24 Hours London launch and finishing Novel Number 5, it was good to have some much needed downtime.
But now the new year is here, and I'm raring to go. Nipping at the heels of my consciousness over the past few weeks were all the changes I wanted to make to Novel Number 4, which I finished last May/June. I'd sent it off to the Romantic Novelists' Association to be read by one of their members, as part of the New Writers' Scheme. (If you're in the UK and you write romance - or anything that has some kind of romance in it - I strongly suggest you join. Membership fees for the scheme are only £90 and you get a free reading in the mix).
A month or so later, I received my manuscript back in post along with a detailed five-page critique full of extremely useful and valuable feedback, presented in a forthright and encouraging way. You never learn the name of the reader, but whoever took the time to digest my MS and write the response -- thank you! (I must add that the reader you get may be down to the luck of the draw, since another writer I know did not have the feedback presented in a very constructive manner).
I had other things on my mind at the time (like getting married that week), so I put the feedback aside with plans to come back to it at a later date. Letting the novel rest for awhile is something I always like to do; I find that when I do return to it I can see its faults much better. Having read through the novel several times last week, I had loads of new ideas for improvement. And on Monday, I started putting them into action!
This time, I'm putting the emphasis on having fun. In the past, I've been much too time conscious, trying to finish the novel so I could move on to the next project. With Novel Number 4, I really feel the 'big idea' is there; now, it's a matter of getting everything else right.
Who knows, this one may end up dusty and yellowed, too. But hey, I'm enjoying the process for once!
But now the new year is here, and I'm raring to go. Nipping at the heels of my consciousness over the past few weeks were all the changes I wanted to make to Novel Number 4, which I finished last May/June. I'd sent it off to the Romantic Novelists' Association to be read by one of their members, as part of the New Writers' Scheme. (If you're in the UK and you write romance - or anything that has some kind of romance in it - I strongly suggest you join. Membership fees for the scheme are only £90 and you get a free reading in the mix).
A month or so later, I received my manuscript back in post along with a detailed five-page critique full of extremely useful and valuable feedback, presented in a forthright and encouraging way. You never learn the name of the reader, but whoever took the time to digest my MS and write the response -- thank you! (I must add that the reader you get may be down to the luck of the draw, since another writer I know did not have the feedback presented in a very constructive manner).
I had other things on my mind at the time (like getting married that week), so I put the feedback aside with plans to come back to it at a later date. Letting the novel rest for awhile is something I always like to do; I find that when I do return to it I can see its faults much better. Having read through the novel several times last week, I had loads of new ideas for improvement. And on Monday, I started putting them into action!
This time, I'm putting the emphasis on having fun. In the past, I've been much too time conscious, trying to finish the novel so I could move on to the next project. With Novel Number 4, I really feel the 'big idea' is there; now, it's a matter of getting everything else right.
Who knows, this one may end up dusty and yellowed, too. But hey, I'm enjoying the process for once!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Snow's A-Comin'!
I know this blog has veered slightly off writing and more towards the random, and I did have a post lined up today all about writing. But there are just too many good stories out there full of gloom and doom about the impending apocryphal snowstorm.
Bet you didn't know snow could cause such distress and titivation! Well, you wouldn't be in the UK then. Since around the week before Christmas, the whole country has been caught in the grip of an icy weather system straight from Siberia. Some parts of the country have even got down to - gasp - minus 15 Celsius. OK, yes, so there have been respectable amounts of snow (i.e., over 15 cm) in Scotland and Northern regions. But in great swathes of the country, whole transit systems have been brought to a standstill by as little as 10 cm of the white stuff.
And tomorrow comes the mother of all: up to 40 cm are predicted in the South, including London. Even by my cynical Canadian standards, that's quite a bit. Southeastern Rail has already reduced their London timetable - and that's before the flakes have even started falling!
So why can't the UK cope? There's not enough grit (salt), people don't know how to drive on slippery roads, and they don't have winter tires. Snow is a rarity these days in London, as are the freezing temperatures, and we've all forgot (myself included) how to deal with it.
Newspapers are awash with the headlines, so I've rounded up a few for your enjoyment! A little bit of schadenfreude never hurts, does it?
Woman and Turkey Still Stranded 17 Days On
Long Night in Store: Snow Strands Shoppers
Leeds University Students Snowed in for Two Days at Pub
UK Snow Map
No Escape as Snow Heads South-East Dum-Dum-DUMMM!
And finally, my personal favourite... Naked Sledging!
Bet you didn't know snow could cause such distress and titivation! Well, you wouldn't be in the UK then. Since around the week before Christmas, the whole country has been caught in the grip of an icy weather system straight from Siberia. Some parts of the country have even got down to - gasp - minus 15 Celsius. OK, yes, so there have been respectable amounts of snow (i.e., over 15 cm) in Scotland and Northern regions. But in great swathes of the country, whole transit systems have been brought to a standstill by as little as 10 cm of the white stuff.
And tomorrow comes the mother of all: up to 40 cm are predicted in the South, including London. Even by my cynical Canadian standards, that's quite a bit. Southeastern Rail has already reduced their London timetable - and that's before the flakes have even started falling!
So why can't the UK cope? There's not enough grit (salt), people don't know how to drive on slippery roads, and they don't have winter tires. Snow is a rarity these days in London, as are the freezing temperatures, and we've all forgot (myself included) how to deal with it.
Newspapers are awash with the headlines, so I've rounded up a few for your enjoyment! A little bit of schadenfreude never hurts, does it?
Woman and Turkey Still Stranded 17 Days On
Long Night in Store: Snow Strands Shoppers
Leeds University Students Snowed in for Two Days at Pub
UK Snow Map
No Escape as Snow Heads South-East Dum-Dum-DUMMM!
And finally, my personal favourite... Naked Sledging!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Writing on the Wall
In a city as old as London, it's no surprise that buildings are constantly reincarnated as new businesses take over the premises. One of the most fascinating things is the signs they leave behind -- quite literally.
Now an antique shop and a money exchange, this building used to be - you guessed it - a timber merchants. Hard to imagine that nowadays in posh Kensington.
Hankering after more signs of the times? Derelict London has some great ones on their website.
Strolling up to Notting Hill Gate for our Sunday morning coffee, The Man and I came across two such signs within about 200 metre.
Now an antique shop and a money exchange, this building used to be - you guessed it - a timber merchants. Hard to imagine that nowadays in posh Kensington.
Not sure if this was for an business or if it was an advert, but if you liked the 'finest ever' marmalade then you'd come to the right place.
Hankering after more signs of the times? Derelict London has some great ones on their website.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year!
Photo of last night's London celebrations from the Guardian.
Happy New Year to all! We spent the night in the company of friends at a warm and cozy house party in Clapham/ Brixton, with plenty of good food and lots of great conversation. It was the perfect way to say good-bye to a great 2009 and welcome in 2010. Hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Thank You!
Just want to say a big end-of-year thank you to everyone who has read my blog; helped with my wedding; come from overseas to visit; bought the book; helped review it; or mentioned it to friends! I really appreciate all the help and support over the past year.
All the best to everyone for the year ahead.
All the best to everyone for the year ahead.
The Lives of Others
Since I'm all reflected out, I thought I'd share others' reflections on the past year and decade.
From an American in Dublin: The Decade in Review
From a writer in deepest England (i.e., I can't remember where exactly she lives!): The Noughties in Numbers
From a Canadian writer now in London: That Time of Year
From a Canadian back home in Montreal: 30 Things
Care to share? Post your link in the comments section below and I'll update this post with your link.
Happy New Year!
From an American in Dublin: The Decade in Review
From a writer in deepest England (i.e., I can't remember where exactly she lives!): The Noughties in Numbers
From a Canadian writer now in London: That Time of Year
From a Canadian back home in Montreal: 30 Things
Care to share? Post your link in the comments section below and I'll update this post with your link.
Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The Noughties
For lack of anything else to post about (my brain has gone into hibernation for the past week or so), here's my past decade year by year. Details are slightly sketchy but it's been fun trying to dredge them up!
2000:
At this point in my life I was quite career focused, so my highlight of the year was landing a job as PR Manager at a high-tech company in Ottawa, Canada. I was excited to leave my former job at a hectic PR agency behind and work in-house at a firm with lots of perks (soft drinks in the fridge; free bagels every Friday and a fooz ball table? Heaven -- not to mention the increased salary). I was well on my way to corporate happiness.
In retrospect, I probably should have stayed at the agency as the variety of working with different clients was actually something I enjoyed, and I quickly found myself feeling a bit bored in my little beige cubicle. I had great colleagues and the company was brilliant, but... surely this couldn't be it for the rest of my life?
2001:
I quit my job and moved to Poland to teach English. I'd always wanted to live in Europe and my growing boredom (along with a new and crazed CEO) at the company meant the timing was perfect. What did I have to lose?
It was one of the best decisions I ever made. I loved Poland and the people I met there, and moving on my own to a country I'd never been to gave me a massive boost of confidence.
2002:
A year of travel, from Gdansk to Budapest to Wales and back again.
2003:
Finally tiring of gallivanting around Europe, I decided the time had come to think about my future. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Education programme at the University of Ottawa and moved back to Canada to renew my life at home.
2004:
I tried to get excited about staying in Canada, but I wasn't ready to 'settle down' (and it was too bloody cold, anyway!). So I packed yet again and moved to London to teach.
2005:
This year is a bit of a blur, filled mainly with adjusting to the harsh reality of UK classrooms and drinking half a bottle of wine every night in an effort to cope. The best bits were the holidays -- trips to Paris and Spain helped me make it through!
2006:
Another muddled year as I tried to come to terms with what the heck I wanted to be doing over here in the UK (because teaching certainly wasn't it). I tried my hand at teacher recruitment, which I enjoyed but still couldn't see myself doing long-term.
2007:
The highlight of this year was quitting my job and deciding to try to make it as a writer. There were many factors that lead me to this point and although at the time they weren't exactly welcome, I can only be thankful now for the part they played in helping me come to this decision.
2008:
Revelling in the freedom of being my own boss; seeing daylight; and being able to go outside whenever I wanted! It was a great feeling to create; to use my mind for something other than benefiting the bottom line.
2009:
My previous post says it all (and now I'm getting lazy; this has been much harder than I thought it would be!).
Bring on the next decade!
2000:
At this point in my life I was quite career focused, so my highlight of the year was landing a job as PR Manager at a high-tech company in Ottawa, Canada. I was excited to leave my former job at a hectic PR agency behind and work in-house at a firm with lots of perks (soft drinks in the fridge; free bagels every Friday and a fooz ball table? Heaven -- not to mention the increased salary). I was well on my way to corporate happiness.
In retrospect, I probably should have stayed at the agency as the variety of working with different clients was actually something I enjoyed, and I quickly found myself feeling a bit bored in my little beige cubicle. I had great colleagues and the company was brilliant, but... surely this couldn't be it for the rest of my life?
2001:
I quit my job and moved to Poland to teach English. I'd always wanted to live in Europe and my growing boredom (along with a new and crazed CEO) at the company meant the timing was perfect. What did I have to lose?
It was one of the best decisions I ever made. I loved Poland and the people I met there, and moving on my own to a country I'd never been to gave me a massive boost of confidence.
2002:
A year of travel, from Gdansk to Budapest to Wales and back again.
2003:
Finally tiring of gallivanting around Europe, I decided the time had come to think about my future. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Education programme at the University of Ottawa and moved back to Canada to renew my life at home.
2004:
I tried to get excited about staying in Canada, but I wasn't ready to 'settle down' (and it was too bloody cold, anyway!). So I packed yet again and moved to London to teach.
2005:
This year is a bit of a blur, filled mainly with adjusting to the harsh reality of UK classrooms and drinking half a bottle of wine every night in an effort to cope. The best bits were the holidays -- trips to Paris and Spain helped me make it through!
2006:
Another muddled year as I tried to come to terms with what the heck I wanted to be doing over here in the UK (because teaching certainly wasn't it). I tried my hand at teacher recruitment, which I enjoyed but still couldn't see myself doing long-term.
2007:
The highlight of this year was quitting my job and deciding to try to make it as a writer. There were many factors that lead me to this point and although at the time they weren't exactly welcome, I can only be thankful now for the part they played in helping me come to this decision.
2008:
Revelling in the freedom of being my own boss; seeing daylight; and being able to go outside whenever I wanted! It was a great feeling to create; to use my mind for something other than benefiting the bottom line.
2009:
My previous post says it all (and now I'm getting lazy; this has been much harder than I thought it would be!).
Bring on the next decade!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
2009: Month by Month
I can't believe the year's almost over! It's been a great year, with so much happening -- mostly unexpected, which in my mind makes it that much better. I thought it'd be interesting to pick my top monthly highlights as this year fades away into 2010. I may even attempt yearly highlights for the decade if I'm feeling ambitious. In the meantime, though, I'll stick to the past year.
So here we go!
January:
- Finished Novel Number 3 (still languishing away, waiting to be revised).
- Joined the Marylebone Writers' Group, where I met some lovely writers with whom to share my writerly woes.
February:
- Dyed my hair (it was a slow month and really, that's all I can think of).
- Oh yes: I pitched Novel Number 2 to agents and received a ton of rejections. Obviously I'd blocked this out.
March:
- Turned 35. Failed to meet my goal of getting an agent before my 35th birthday.
- On the upside, The Man and I had a great birthday weekend away in Oxford.
I couldn't have asked for a better year. Let's see what 2010 brings!
So here we go!
January:
- Finished Novel Number 3 (still languishing away, waiting to be revised).
- Joined the Marylebone Writers' Group, where I met some lovely writers with whom to share my writerly woes.
February:
- Dyed my hair (it was a slow month and really, that's all I can think of).
- Oh yes: I pitched Novel Number 2 to agents and received a ton of rejections. Obviously I'd blocked this out.
March:
- Turned 35. Failed to meet my goal of getting an agent before my 35th birthday.
- On the upside, The Man and I had a great birthday weekend away in Oxford.
White Horse Hill, just outside of Oxford.
April:
- Signed contract to write 24 Hours London. Woohoo!
May:
- The Man and I celebrated our fifth year together... and he proposed, completely unexpectedly.
June:
- Parents came to visit from Canada and we took a trip to Blenheim Palace.
- Signed contract to write 24 Hours London. Woohoo!
May:
- The Man and I celebrated our fifth year together... and he proposed, completely unexpectedly.
June:
- Parents came to visit from Canada and we took a trip to Blenheim Palace.
Blenheim Palace.
July:
- Friends and family started to arrive for my wedding!
August:
- Got married and had a wonderful honeymoon in Croatia.
On the boat as we head back to shore at the end of the day.
- Friends and family started to arrive for my wedding!
August:
- Got married and had a wonderful honeymoon in Croatia.
On the boat as we head back to shore at the end of the day.
September:
- Finished Novel Number 4 and started work on 24 Hours Paris.
October:
- Went to Cairo to visit The Man's family.
- The Man's film had its world premiere at the Sao Paulo International Film Festival.
- Finished Novel Number 4 and started work on 24 Hours Paris.
October:
- Went to Cairo to visit The Man's family.
- The Man's film had its world premiere at the Sao Paulo International Film Festival.
Trying not to fall off my horse at the pyramids in Giza.
November:
- 24 Hours London launches!
December:
November:
- 24 Hours London launches!
December:
- Great Christmas in London with friends and family.
I couldn't have asked for a better year. Let's see what 2010 brings!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas Day
Hope everyone had a great Christmas! Here are a few photos from our day:
Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square on our way to the South Bank.
On the South Bank on a sunny Christmas afternoon.
St Paul's and Christmas tree.
The sun sets on a quiet London.
Turkey!
Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square on our way to the South Bank.
On the South Bank on a sunny Christmas afternoon.
St Paul's and Christmas tree.
The sun sets on a quiet London.
Turkey!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas in London: What to Do?
It's almost Christmas! Whee! As I've expressed several thousand times before, I love London at Christmas. The city shuts down and if you venture out, you almost feel like the city's yours. We plan on doing our annual Christmas walk along the South Bank, across Millennium Bridge and around St Paul's, then on to the Founder's Arms for mulled wine before heading home to cook the turkey.
If you feel the urge to hit the streets before stuffing yourself, Londonist has a great run-down of what's on in the city. Here are their top tips:
Join the Serpentine swim: there's nowt as refreshing as a mid-winter dip. The Peter Pan Christmas Race has been held at the Serpentine Lido since 1864. You won't be allowed to swim unless you're a member but we can vouch for spectating being excellent fun and will mean a brisk walk through wonderful Hyde Park early in the morning. The race starts prompt at 9am so if you're planning to go, get up early - there isn't any public transport all day!
Cycle Southwark: Keeping in the outdoor sport vibe, Southwark Cyclists are running a slow and sociable ride round deserted Christmas London. Meet 10am at Cutty Sark Gardens or 11am at Southwark Needle. It's brilliantly laid back: it's free, no need to book, just show up. Linger for a late lunch up Edgware Road after and hang about for the evening's Critical Mass ride from 6.30pm.
Test your credulity: Ripley's Believe It Or Not is open on Christmas Day between 10am-8pm. For the skinny, read our interview with the Odditorium founder.
Walk in Pepys & Dickens' footsteps: London Walks are running 2 tours. "Christmas Morning, 1660 - Samuel Pepys's London" goes at 11 am followed by "The Christmas Day Charles Dickens's London" Walk at 2 pm. Meet at the big Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square. £7/under 15s free, no need to book.
And if you just want to curl up with a book, here's one to download for free! Publishing's a tough business, as author Lee Jackson can attest. After writing and publishing several novels, his publisher decided not to renew his contract (he 'only' sold thousands, not tens of thousands...). So he made his new novel, The Diary of a Murder, available to read for free online.
Read it for free by clicking here.
Merry Christmas everyone!
If you feel the urge to hit the streets before stuffing yourself, Londonist has a great run-down of what's on in the city. Here are their top tips:
Join the Serpentine swim: there's nowt as refreshing as a mid-winter dip. The Peter Pan Christmas Race has been held at the Serpentine Lido since 1864. You won't be allowed to swim unless you're a member but we can vouch for spectating being excellent fun and will mean a brisk walk through wonderful Hyde Park early in the morning. The race starts prompt at 9am so if you're planning to go, get up early - there isn't any public transport all day!
Cycle Southwark: Keeping in the outdoor sport vibe, Southwark Cyclists are running a slow and sociable ride round deserted Christmas London. Meet 10am at Cutty Sark Gardens or 11am at Southwark Needle. It's brilliantly laid back: it's free, no need to book, just show up. Linger for a late lunch up Edgware Road after and hang about for the evening's Critical Mass ride from 6.30pm.
Test your credulity: Ripley's Believe It Or Not is open on Christmas Day between 10am-8pm. For the skinny, read our interview with the Odditorium founder.
Walk in Pepys & Dickens' footsteps: London Walks are running 2 tours. "Christmas Morning, 1660 - Samuel Pepys's London" goes at 11 am followed by "The Christmas Day Charles Dickens's London" Walk at 2 pm. Meet at the big Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square. £7/under 15s free, no need to book.
And if you just want to curl up with a book, here's one to download for free! Publishing's a tough business, as author Lee Jackson can attest. After writing and publishing several novels, his publisher decided not to renew his contract (he 'only' sold thousands, not tens of thousands...). So he made his new novel, The Diary of a Murder, available to read for free online.
Read it for free by clicking here.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Most Loathed Britishisms
I should be full of fluff and light this close to Christmas, but I figure there's a lot of that around elsewhere so I thought I'd serve up a dose of negativity! Of course there are plenty of North Americanisms that I detest, too, but there are my top hated phrases/words on this side of the pond. Feel free to chime in with yours for either side of the Atlantic!
So in no particular order, here they are:
1. innit - I first encountered this lovely contraction of 'isn't it' when I was teaching at a comprehensive. It puzzled me at first, since it's usually not used in the meaning of 'isn't it.' For example: 'I didn't do my homework last night because the X-Factor was on, innit?'
Hunh?
2. 'I was stood there/ I was sat there' - Words cannot explain how much I hate hate HATE this commonly used construction. You hear it everywhere, from the telly to the radio to the teens in the street. For example: 'I was stood there waiting for the bus for half an hour.'
I don't care how frequently it's said; it's just not grammatically correct and it sounds terrible.
3. lurgy/ lurgi - This is a particularly horrible words used to describe a cold or flu-like illness. Apparently it originated from the BBC Radio Comedy The Goon Show. For some reason it puts me in mind of a zombie with a runny nose.
4. cossie/ pressie/ bessie friend - Why must everything be made diminutive? Swimming costume becomes 'cossie'; present 'pressie'. I cannot bring myself to utter these words.
5. anythink/ nothink - There's no 'k' on the end of 'anything' or 'nothing', so why do some people pronounce these words as if there is?
That's all for now, but I know there are others lurking on the fringes of my subconscious so I'll add to the list as they come forward.
Oh yes, and Merry Christmas everyone!
So in no particular order, here they are:
1. innit - I first encountered this lovely contraction of 'isn't it' when I was teaching at a comprehensive. It puzzled me at first, since it's usually not used in the meaning of 'isn't it.' For example: 'I didn't do my homework last night because the X-Factor was on, innit?'
Hunh?
2. 'I was stood there/ I was sat there' - Words cannot explain how much I hate hate HATE this commonly used construction. You hear it everywhere, from the telly to the radio to the teens in the street. For example: 'I was stood there waiting for the bus for half an hour.'
I don't care how frequently it's said; it's just not grammatically correct and it sounds terrible.
3. lurgy/ lurgi - This is a particularly horrible words used to describe a cold or flu-like illness. Apparently it originated from the BBC Radio Comedy The Goon Show. For some reason it puts me in mind of a zombie with a runny nose.
4. cossie/ pressie/ bessie friend - Why must everything be made diminutive? Swimming costume becomes 'cossie'; present 'pressie'. I cannot bring myself to utter these words.
5. anythink/ nothink - There's no 'k' on the end of 'anything' or 'nothing', so why do some people pronounce these words as if there is?
That's all for now, but I know there are others lurking on the fringes of my subconscious so I'll add to the list as they come forward.
Oh yes, and Merry Christmas everyone!
Monday, December 21, 2009
One Day in London
12 p.m. - Kensington Palace in the winter sun.
1 p.m. - The new Isis sculpture by Serpentine Lake, Hyde Park.
2 p.m. - The Christmas Fair, Hyde Park.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Oh the Irony
I have a confession: yesterday, on the way to The Times Online's Live London Q&A, I got lost. The Man was kind enough to point out the irony of the London expert getting turned around on her way to answer questions about, er, London. Not that it needed any pointing out, really.
The journey didn't exactly get off to a great start. A few minutes before leaving the flat, I went to get my trusty A - Z. But do you think I could find one of our many copies? No. Several minutes and multiple dust bunnies later, I was still scouring under the bed in hopes of finding one buried amongst the rubble of paper. I tried to calm my rising nerves, telling myself that I'd be alright. After all, I did have step-by-step instructions from GoogleMaps. How complicated could it be?
Well. I should have known better. When you go to East London, nothing is easy. You might start out on the right street but somehow miss veering off to the left and end up far from where you're supposed to be. Why not just look at the signs? I hear people asking. If only, if only. Locating a sign anywhere can be a task; they're so rare you'd think they're made from gold. My GoogleMap was soon rendered useless as I'd strayed far from the square inch mini-map of where I was supposed to be.
Luckily I'd left plenty of time to make it for the 1 p.m. start. So I quelled my growing sense of panic and stopped to ask a builder for directions. As nice as he was, said builder also happened to be Australian and although he tried to help by looking up my destination on -- argh -- GoogleMaps, he had as much of a clue as me (none).
Scurrying down the frigid streets back towards my starting point to start all over, I decided to ask another dapperly dressed gentleman. No joy -- he was a recent transplant from India and was lost himself. He shrugged as he wished me luck and we plodded off in opposite directions.
It was now 12:30 p.m. Standing in the maze of streets, my hands were blue-white and numb from clutching my GoogleMap. My vision was blurred by the wind whipping my fringe into my face. How on earth was I ever going to make it when no-one had ever heard of The Times, let alone how to get there?
There was nothing more I could do. The time had come to abandon myself to the street god of East London.
A ray of light blinked out from behind a cloud, temporarily blinding me. And as my vision cleared, I saw it: Wilton's Music Hall. Wait, I thought. I know this place! I'd researched it for my book way back in the summer, when the whole area looked completely different than its current bleak wintry landscape. I grabbed my crumpled GoogleMap. There it was! A landmark I was standing right beside. Now I only needed to go down the street, turn left -- and lo and behold, I'd make it!
I broke into a run, my heels clomping in the empty street. Almost there, almost there, my heart pounded out. The Times' sign came into view and I slowed my pace, trying to breathe normally and pull myself together. I was here. I'd made it.
I am a 'London expert', after all.
The journey didn't exactly get off to a great start. A few minutes before leaving the flat, I went to get my trusty A - Z. But do you think I could find one of our many copies? No. Several minutes and multiple dust bunnies later, I was still scouring under the bed in hopes of finding one buried amongst the rubble of paper. I tried to calm my rising nerves, telling myself that I'd be alright. After all, I did have step-by-step instructions from GoogleMaps. How complicated could it be?
Well. I should have known better. When you go to East London, nothing is easy. You might start out on the right street but somehow miss veering off to the left and end up far from where you're supposed to be. Why not just look at the signs? I hear people asking. If only, if only. Locating a sign anywhere can be a task; they're so rare you'd think they're made from gold. My GoogleMap was soon rendered useless as I'd strayed far from the square inch mini-map of where I was supposed to be.
Luckily I'd left plenty of time to make it for the 1 p.m. start. So I quelled my growing sense of panic and stopped to ask a builder for directions. As nice as he was, said builder also happened to be Australian and although he tried to help by looking up my destination on -- argh -- GoogleMaps, he had as much of a clue as me (none).
Scurrying down the frigid streets back towards my starting point to start all over, I decided to ask another dapperly dressed gentleman. No joy -- he was a recent transplant from India and was lost himself. He shrugged as he wished me luck and we plodded off in opposite directions.
It was now 12:30 p.m. Standing in the maze of streets, my hands were blue-white and numb from clutching my GoogleMap. My vision was blurred by the wind whipping my fringe into my face. How on earth was I ever going to make it when no-one had ever heard of The Times, let alone how to get there?
There was nothing more I could do. The time had come to abandon myself to the street god of East London.
A ray of light blinked out from behind a cloud, temporarily blinding me. And as my vision cleared, I saw it: Wilton's Music Hall. Wait, I thought. I know this place! I'd researched it for my book way back in the summer, when the whole area looked completely different than its current bleak wintry landscape. I grabbed my crumpled GoogleMap. There it was! A landmark I was standing right beside. Now I only needed to go down the street, turn left -- and lo and behold, I'd make it!
I broke into a run, my heels clomping in the empty street. Almost there, almost there, my heart pounded out. The Times' sign came into view and I slowed my pace, trying to breathe normally and pull myself together. I was here. I'd made it.
I am a 'London expert', after all.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
In Other News...
Now that the snow has melted, I'm over at Musings of Ondo Lady answering questions about my favourite authors, my typical day and what's up next!
Let It Snow
Look closely... those white streaks are what's known as snow, a rare occurrence in these parts.
While it's nothing like last February's snowstorm, today's flakes were enough to send Londoners (and me) into our own flurry of excitement. Twitter was awash was tales of 'it's snowing in Westminster!' and 'it's coming down in Barnes.'
The view from my window.
I've obviously been away from Canada for awhile, because I was excited too. I'm not snow's biggest fan, but when it's almost Christmas it does have a magical effect.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Coming Down the Mountain
Now that I've calmed down a bit, I can tell you that I'm over at Karen Gowen's blog Coming Down the Mountain, talking about my new favourite subject: promotion. Karen and I crossed paths when she won a copy of my book through Nicola Morgan's awesome blog, and Karen graciously offered to interview me for her site.
Thanks, Karen!
Thanks, Karen!
Guidebook Writers' London
When I worked part-time in a spa and was nearly dying of boredom at 7 a.m. in the morning, online news websites were my saviours. The Guardian, The Independent and The Times were my main staples and I'd read everything I could, all the while dreaming of having my own book featured there.
And today, my spa-induced vision became a reality! My book is featured in The Times travel section as part of their Guidebook Writers' London article. Not only that, but I'll actually get to invade their offices in Wapping and take part in a live Question and Answer on Thursday for an Insiders' London feature.
Yay!
Monday, December 14, 2009
2009 Reading List: Progress (or Lack Thereof) Report
Back in January, I put together a reading list for the year ahead. I stuck to it for awhile (OK, a month or two) before I got sidetracked by other books I wanted to read. So I still have a lot of reading to do in a very short time!
The red books are the ones I did get around to reading. A Year in Provence is by far one of the best books I read this year. Peter Mayle is a brilliant writer.
If you had to choose, what would be your favourite book read this year?
Beloved - Toni Morrison
The Kitchen God's Wife - Amy Tan
Music and Silence - Rose Tremain
I Know why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou
Small Island - Andrea Levy
Pillow Talk - Freya North
Riders - Jilly Cooper
Herb n Lorna - Erik Kraft
The Best a Man Can Get - John O'Farrell
The Consolations of Philosophy - Alain de Botton
Little Black Book of Stories - AS Byatt
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M Pirsig
A Year in Provence - Robert Mayle
Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell
His Dark Materials - Phillip Pullman
A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
Complete Poems - Elizabeth Bishop
Summer Lightening - PG Wodehouse
The Outcast - Sadie Jones
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
A Mercy - Toni Morrison
The Believers - Zoe Heller
The Secret Scripture - Sebastian Barry
The red books are the ones I did get around to reading. A Year in Provence is by far one of the best books I read this year. Peter Mayle is a brilliant writer.
If you had to choose, what would be your favourite book read this year?
Beloved - Toni Morrison
The Kitchen God's Wife - Amy Tan
Music and Silence - Rose Tremain
I Know why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou
Small Island - Andrea Levy
Pillow Talk - Freya North
Riders - Jilly Cooper
Herb n Lorna - Erik Kraft
The Best a Man Can Get - John O'Farrell
The Consolations of Philosophy - Alain de Botton
Little Black Book of Stories - AS Byatt
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert M Pirsig
A Year in Provence - Robert Mayle
Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell
His Dark Materials - Phillip Pullman
A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
Complete Poems - Elizabeth Bishop
Summer Lightening - PG Wodehouse
The Outcast - Sadie Jones
A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga
The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
A Mercy - Toni Morrison
The Believers - Zoe Heller
The Secret Scripture - Sebastian Barry
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Christmas at the Homestead
It's been awhile since I've been home for Christmas, so The Man and I have slowly been developing our own traditions.
Our tree, squished into a corner in our flat.
I miss going home in December, but it's often too expensive and risky travelling to Canada in winter. One year we almost didn't make it home after a massive winter storm stranded us in Ottawa. So we've stayed put the past three years and I have to say, I love London at Christmas.
The city slows down, people stay in, and a sort of calm descends. Not even the Tube nor buses run on Christmas Day, and most everything is locked up tight (except some pubs, usually open from around noon to three). We get up late, make a special breakfast, then open gifts. If the weather's nice, we'll head to the South Bank to drift down the walk alongside the river and wander across the bridge to St Paul's. After some fresh (usually frigid) air, it's back to the flat and time to feast on turkey and pie.
The Man's stack of mince pies. He's definitely embraced British tradition. I've a long way to go.
It's quite interesting sharing my life with a man for whom Christmas has little-to-no significance, growing up in a completely different culture. Of course, he's familiar with all the rituals from watching American TV, but something often gets lost in translation. I'll never forget when he asked me when the 'actual' Christmas Day was -- sometime in late-December?
It's quite interesting sharing my life with a man for whom Christmas has little-to-no significance, growing up in a completely different culture. Of course, he's familiar with all the rituals from watching American TV, but something often gets lost in translation. I'll never forget when he asked me when the 'actual' Christmas Day was -- sometime in late-December?
Our tree, squished into a corner in our flat.
I miss going home in December, but it's often too expensive and risky travelling to Canada in winter. One year we almost didn't make it home after a massive winter storm stranded us in Ottawa. So we've stayed put the past three years and I have to say, I love London at Christmas.
Holly from Portobello Market in our 'fireplace'.
The city slows down, people stay in, and a sort of calm descends. Not even the Tube nor buses run on Christmas Day, and most everything is locked up tight (except some pubs, usually open from around noon to three). We get up late, make a special breakfast, then open gifts. If the weather's nice, we'll head to the South Bank to drift down the walk alongside the river and wander across the bridge to St Paul's. After some fresh (usually frigid) air, it's back to the flat and time to feast on turkey and pie.
Friday, December 11, 2009
If Your Desk Could Talk
If your desk had the power of words, what would it say about you?
Mine would say that I stare out the window a lot, write three or four words, jiggle my leg, check the Internet, then leave... and repeat, ad nauseum. It would certainly comment that I dress for the Arctic, clad in three or four layers, wrapped in a blanket and huddled next to a heater (it's cold in the office in the morning!). It would note that I seem inordinately annoyed by a barking dog every day at 11 a.m., and it would beg me note to eat chocolate whilst typing because it doesn't like to be covered in melting chocolate goo.
My desk.
But luckily, desks can't talk (newsflash, I know). So is a picture really worth a thousand words? Looking at this photo, it would seem I am a fairly neat person. And while I do like order, I have no idea what is in that pile of papers to left -- in fact, that pile has been there for the past year or so (in varying heights). Luckily, the corner desk is quite large so I have a lot of room to spread out. To the extreme right, I have a glass full of pens and pencils because even though I use my laptop, I like to feel there are writing utensils nearby!
What would your desk say?
Mine would say that I stare out the window a lot, write three or four words, jiggle my leg, check the Internet, then leave... and repeat, ad nauseum. It would certainly comment that I dress for the Arctic, clad in three or four layers, wrapped in a blanket and huddled next to a heater (it's cold in the office in the morning!). It would note that I seem inordinately annoyed by a barking dog every day at 11 a.m., and it would beg me note to eat chocolate whilst typing because it doesn't like to be covered in melting chocolate goo.
My desk.
But luckily, desks can't talk (newsflash, I know). So is a picture really worth a thousand words? Looking at this photo, it would seem I am a fairly neat person. And while I do like order, I have no idea what is in that pile of papers to left -- in fact, that pile has been there for the past year or so (in varying heights). Luckily, the corner desk is quite large so I have a lot of room to spread out. To the extreme right, I have a glass full of pens and pencils because even though I use my laptop, I like to feel there are writing utensils nearby!
What would your desk say?
24 Hours Paris
I know, I know: it never ends. I've barely finished harassing people about 24 Hours London before starting up with Paris. But I just had to share our new cover design!
And the 24 Hours Paris book blog is coming along, too. The book's scheduled for release in Spring 2010. It was tons of fun to research and write!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Web Wonderland
No proper post today as I've spent the last six hours redesigning (if you can call my basic manoeuvres 'design') my web page. There's still a lot of filler needed, but you can take a look at www.marsha-moore.com.
And if you think it's rubbish... please, don't tell me!
Coming up tomorrow: if your desk could talk, what would it say?
And if you think it's rubbish... please, don't tell me!
Coming up tomorrow: if your desk could talk, what would it say?
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The Lights of London at Christmas
With the dark seeping in around 4 p.m. these days, it's a good thing Oxford Street has gone totally bonkers with its annual Christmas lights. Even the rain and blustery wind can't detract from that smidgen of festive spirit the lights kindle within you.
The rain had just stopped as I headed over to Marylebone on Monday night for my weekly writers' group, so I decided to take a few pictures on my way. Enjoy!
Oxford Street, just outside of Bond Street Tube station.
A very appropriate Christmas decoration... in London.
Column of lights heading towards St Christopher's Place.
Lovely shop window.
The rain had just stopped as I headed over to Marylebone on Monday night for my weekly writers' group, so I decided to take a few pictures on my way. Enjoy!
Oxford Street, just outside of Bond Street Tube station.
A very appropriate Christmas decoration... in London.
Column of lights heading towards St Christopher's Place.
Lovely shop window.
Last Contest of the Year: Win a Copy of 24 Hours London!
Head over to Anglotopia where you can win a copy of 24 Hours London simply by writing in the comment box what you would do if you only had one hour in London. Open to anyone, wherever in the world you are!
And you can still win a copy of Victoria Westcott's amazingly informative book Guide to Teaching in London by answering this question: True of False: Kids in the UK wear uniforms to school. Email your answers to me by Friday and you're in the draw!
And you can still win a copy of Victoria Westcott's amazingly informative book Guide to Teaching in London by answering this question: True of False: Kids in the UK wear uniforms to school. Email your answers to me by Friday and you're in the draw!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Teaching in the UK: Q&A with Victoria Westcott
Today I'm excited to have Victoria Westcott, a former teacher in the UK (and now a recruiter for teachers) talking about her experiences in England. Victoria's written an ebook called Guide to Teaching in London that I really wish I'd had when I first came over! She answers my questions about her three years here, what it's like to go back home and how the book came to be.
Victoria.
Contest ends Friday, December 11th at 5 pm GMT. I'll draw from the entries.
Victoria.
Would you like more insight into the UK educational system? Do you know someone interested in teaching in the UK? Victoria has three copies of her ebook to giveaway! See below for details on how to win.
Current Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Years in England: 3
Cities lived in: Essex; Bedfordshire; London, England (Islington and Notting Hill)
Why did you decide to come to England?
I graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Education in 2004 and knew that teaching jobs were scarce in Ontario, so I applied for teaching jobs in England. I had never been, but I heard that they were hiring teachers so I thought I should at least apply. I also applied for jobs in Northern Canada, but quickly realized that I’d rather be in a big city than in a remote location with all that snow. It all happened very quickly. I applied at the end of July and was on a plane by August 24th.
Did you have a job before heading over?
Yes, I did, although I wouldn’t recommend that other teachers do that now. I had an interview with a school on the phone, and accepted right away. It was quite remote (in Essex) and really, I wanted inner city London, but I was nervous about not having a job before I arrived, so I just took it. After two terms, my cousin who is a Deputy Head Teacher (aka Vice-Principal) came to visit and convinced me that I had more than that one option. I quit and moved in with her. After a couple of months I found a job teaching in London and recruiting teachers for the agency that brought me over in the first place. I loved London!
What did you find hardest about adjusting to life in the UK? Any tips for expats to adjust relatively easily?
I’m not a particularly quiet person, and I was “shushed” a few times by strangers. It was random – once in a pub, by a woman that joined our table for lack of seats elsewhere – she told me that she couldn’t hear her friend. I was horrified. Then, another time by someone on the tube. It’s not like I was shouting! I assure you, I don’t yell. I don’t think anyone in Canada would call me loud, it’s just that for British folk, I think I must be really loud. Eventually, I learned to speak more quietly, but not without a few nightmares and a bit of neurosis.
What did you enjoy the most about living here?
My social life. I live on Vancouver Island now, in a pretty small city (only 300 000 people! Is that even a city? I call it a town...) and I run Classroom Canada out of my apartment. So, I don’t get out much. Plus, I’m 33 and single in a city that locals say is for the “nearly dead or newly wed.” Needless to say, when I go to London every year I go out big time. I adore my friends there and am lucky enough to return for work every year, so I get my social fix there. You just can’t be bored in London! Not that I’m complaining about living here – it’s just the exact opposite of London. Here, I walk along the beach and stare at the Rocky mountains. I kayak, canoe, dragon boat and sail. There, I go dancing, out to dinner, to museums and art galleries, travel around Europe...you get the idea I’m sure. You were a teacher here, like me.
What do you think is the biggest difference between the English and North American school systems?
The million dollar question, Marsha! There are so many differences, it’s hard to pinpoint just one, but I’ll go with behaviour management. I think most teachers would say the same thing. Canadian students listen when a teacher tells them what to do (yes, a generalization, but if you teach in London, you’ll know what I mean), and in England it’s just not that easy. Teachers have to earn the students’ respect, and keep them constantly “in line.” It’s a lot more work on a day to day, minute-by-minute basis. At the same time, the lessons are better planned in England so you spend much less time planning than you would “back home.”
Why did you decide to write a book about teaching in England?
There wasn’t one out there. No one had written anything like it, and I knew that I would have wanted a book like this when I went to teach in London. Since I write on a regular basis and enjoy it, why not?
What did you find most challenging about the process of writing a book?
Well, first let me tell you the story of how this ebook came to be. It started with a crazy idea over drinks and dinner with my cousin and sister. We decided to take all of our talents and work together to complete the project in 3 weeks time. I had 7 days to write the ebook (Mantra: “JUST WRITE!”) and my sister, a professional screen writer, had 7 days to edit it and make it something people would actually want to read. Then my cousin, a professional designer, had 7 days to make it look all fancy-schmancy as an ebook. Most ebooks are a designers worst nightmare. As my cousin says “Just because your uncle Bob says he can design, doesn’t mean he should,” and it was important to all of us that it look and feel professional. And, you know what? We did it! 3 weeks later it was up online at http://www.guidetoteachinginlondon.com/. I’m ridiculously proud of it.
So, the hardest part?
Honestly, I don’t focus nearly enough on marketing the ebook. The actual writing part was very easy – I have a niche market, and I wrote about what I know, so really, I don’t think it could have been any easier. But marketing – getting out there and promoting it - that’s where I think I’m not doing enough. Other ebook writers send out thousands of emails and give freebies and the like, but... well, I’m busy with work and so I don’t really do that kind of thing. Maybe one of your readers will have some suggestions for how I can market it better. That would be great!
Any more books in the works?
Yes. I have been writing the American edition of the Guide to Teaching in London for over a year now. Okay, that’s a lie. I’ve spent a few hours over the last year on the American edition. I need to just sit down and get it done – I dream of completing it over the Christmas holidays. Then, the Australian edition and the Kiwi edition and...well, we’ll see how far we get.
You’ve returned back to Canada. What do you miss most about the UK? And what’s the best thing about being home again?
I love my life here in Canada. I work from home, live in the warmest part of Canada (no snow!), choose when I take my holidays and how many I take, and help Canadian and American teachers relocate to London, England. I am fortunate in every way. I get to travel to London as often as I like, and travel across North America with work. Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. I miss shopping in London and my social life and every once in a while I’ll have the thought that I should just pick up and move back, but my life here is really great as well. I have the best of both worlds.
Anything else to add?
Thanks so much Marsha! This was fun to write. If anyone wants to contact me directly, please see these websites: http://www.classroomcanada.com/; http://www.classroomcanada.blogspot.com/; http://www.guidetoteachinginlondon.com/; http://canadiansintheuk.wordpress.com/.
To win one of three copies of Victoria's ebook, email me at marshawrites@gmail.com with the answer to this question: True or False: Kids in the UK wear uniforms to school (Hint... they always looks nice!).
Contest ends Friday, December 11th at 5 pm GMT. I'll draw from the entries.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Tube Mystery
One of my favourite blogs for all things Tube-related is Annie Mole's Going Underground. Last week, she featured a fine gentleman spotted on the way to Canary Wharf station by Cdl Creative.
It boggles the mind. But then again, it is the Tube where a parallel universe of propriety exists.
What am I talking about? Click here to find out.
Update: And this creature (of the animal variety, this time) just spotted on the Tube, too!
It boggles the mind. But then again, it is the Tube where a parallel universe of propriety exists.
What am I talking about? Click here to find out.
Update: And this creature (of the animal variety, this time) just spotted on the Tube, too!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Observer of Life
Sitting at my desk, I often feel like my life is filtered by the confines of my window. Sometimes I grab a camera to capture some of the random (and strange) sights. Here's a collection from the past year.
A rare sunny summer's day. I love the intense blue of the sky.
One of the strangest sights spotted this year. Is it a car? Is it a motorised wheelchair?
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The Gaza protest last January.
Sun sets in a winter sky.
One of the many horses that make their way down our street on a regular basis. Sometimes I manage to catch them, sometimes not.
A lone cab cruises down the road during the Great London Snowstorm (i.e., more than a centimetre of snow) last February.
Horses of the, er, white variety.
A rare sunny summer's day. I love the intense blue of the sky.
One of the strangest sights spotted this year. Is it a car? Is it a motorised wheelchair?
.jpg)
The Gaza protest last January.
Sun sets in a winter sky.
One of the many horses that make their way down our street on a regular basis. Sometimes I manage to catch them, sometimes not.
A lone cab cruises down the road during the Great London Snowstorm (i.e., more than a centimetre of snow) last February.
Horses of the, er, white variety.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Hidden London: Kensington Square
Photo from Open Squares.
Wandering around High Street Kensington today, I ducked behind Whole Foods and into the leafy quiet of Kensington Square. As a student of philosophy, The Man had been keen to show me this square where John Stuart Mill had lived and since then I've always loved its timeless ambiance.
It's one the oldest squares in London, created in 1685 by Thomas Young who 'did sett out and appoint a considerable part thereof to be built into a large Square of large and substantial Houses fit for ye Habitacion of persons of good Worth and Quality, with Courts and Yards before and Gardens lying backwards’.*
Building a square so far from the centre of London was fairly radical and Young apparently had problems finding tenants (today, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn't want to live there!), but his venture was saved by the establishment of a Court at Kensington Palace.
The Court left Kensington in the 1750s and the square languished, with no renovation schemes or remodernisation. Because of this, the square still retains a lot of its original characteristics.
Although the gated garden is for the use of residents only, it's enough to wander the square, examine the houses' facades and imagine the former residents.
And if you get hungry, pop by Kensington Square Kitchen for some delectable cupcakes and muffins to bring you back to reality.
*From: 'Kensington Square and environs: Introduction', Survey of London: volume 42: Kensington Square to Earl's Court (1986), pp. 5-11. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50303 Date accessed: 04 December 2009.
It's been awhile since I've done a Hidden London post, mainly because I needed a wee break from writing about London. But I can't stay away from the topic for too long -- I just love this city.
Wandering around High Street Kensington today, I ducked behind Whole Foods and into the leafy quiet of Kensington Square. As a student of philosophy, The Man had been keen to show me this square where John Stuart Mill had lived and since then I've always loved its timeless ambiance.
It's one the oldest squares in London, created in 1685 by Thomas Young who 'did sett out and appoint a considerable part thereof to be built into a large Square of large and substantial Houses fit for ye Habitacion of persons of good Worth and Quality, with Courts and Yards before and Gardens lying backwards’.*
Building a square so far from the centre of London was fairly radical and Young apparently had problems finding tenants (today, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn't want to live there!), but his venture was saved by the establishment of a Court at Kensington Palace.
The Court left Kensington in the 1750s and the square languished, with no renovation schemes or remodernisation. Because of this, the square still retains a lot of its original characteristics.
Although the gated garden is for the use of residents only, it's enough to wander the square, examine the houses' facades and imagine the former residents.
And if you get hungry, pop by Kensington Square Kitchen for some delectable cupcakes and muffins to bring you back to reality.
*From: 'Kensington Square and environs: Introduction', Survey of London: volume 42: Kensington Square to Earl's Court (1986), pp. 5-11. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50303 Date accessed: 04 December 2009.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Horror!
I'm at India Drummond's blog today, talking about the joys of self promotion. India's a Twitter friend whose witty commentary quickly became an important part of my writing life. Thanks, India!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Back to Canada
No, I'm not going back to Canada. But I'm there virtually, anyway. Today I'm answering questions on Classroom Canada and Canadians in the UK. What is there to do in London at 2 a.m.? How on earth did I go from teaching to recruitment to writing? Have a read to find out!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Brought to You by the Letters A and Z
I came across this photo today on London Daily Photo and it looked so much like my own collection that I had to laugh.
I'm going to float the theory that the number of copies you have of this handy book is directly related to the number of years spent in London -- I've been here for five years, and I own five! The book's called the A - Z, and it's kind of like having GoogleMaps in your pocket. Each page shows a different cross-section of London streets, (almost) down to the smallest passageways. Simply put, if you live in London you need to have one of these.
I first realised the importance of having one when I was called out to supply teach in a neighbourhood off Edgware Road, central London. Just off the plane from Canada, I'd taken down the fastidious directions from the recruitment consultant, naively thinking: how hard can it be?
Well. After getting lost in the maze of streets and finally getting to the job -- horror upon horrors -- late, the consultant (fielding my increasingly frantic phone calls) suggested I get an A - Z. When I wasn't chasing after errant children, I wondered what on earth this A - Z was. Vowing never to get lost again (OK, I didn't really know how to get home), I popped into a corner store and asked if they had one. The man handed me a coil-bound Inner London edition, and my A - Z collection was born.
I'd like to say I never got lost again. But little did I realise that my super-sized Inner City London edition didn't cover far-flung environs like Harolds Wood and Ponders End, where I was shunted off to supply teach. My wanderings prompted another A - Z purchase, this time covering the whole of London.
A - Z number three was purchased in a fit of panic when I mistakenly thought I'd lost one. I just couldn't bear to hit the London streets without my faithful companion in hand. Number four was a mini-version bequeathed to me by a friend returned to Canada -- great to store in your hand-bag but not so great when half the streets seem to fall in the centre crack and you need microscopic vision to see anything. And the fifth? Well, you wouldn't want your car journeys to be neglected, would you? It's nesting comfortably in the glove compartment.
This posting (not paid, honestly!) has been lovingly brought to you by the letters A and Z. I'm telling you, never leave home without it!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Mutton or Lamb?
It's a rainy, dull day in London. Streets and shops are practically empty as people huddle inside their cozy flats. But for some, staying in just plain boring.
So... why not make your own fun? That's exactly what these teens did.
So... why not make your own fun? That's exactly what these teens did.
Friday, November 27, 2009
What's Next?
Now that my book is out and most of the launch hoopla's behind me, I've begun to focus on what's next. '24 Hours Paris' is, for the most part, completed (yay!) and as always, my goal of getting published on the fiction side comes to the fore. Of course I'm ecstatic to be published, period -- and even more so that it's something to do travel, which I've always loved writing about -- but I really really want to get my fiction out there, too.
It's ever-so-slightly embarrassing to admit that I've written five novels, none of which has been published. I've pitched two, put away two more to be edited, and I've just completed my fifth. It might sound depressing, but I can see I'm getting better. I feel more confident, too, about what I'm doing. So, it might take another five -- or ten -- novels, but I think I'll get there in the end. And if not, well... at least I'm enjoying the journey.
Cross your fingers for me!
It's ever-so-slightly embarrassing to admit that I've written five novels, none of which has been published. I've pitched two, put away two more to be edited, and I've just completed my fifth. It might sound depressing, but I can see I'm getting better. I feel more confident, too, about what I'm doing. So, it might take another five -- or ten -- novels, but I think I'll get there in the end. And if not, well... at least I'm enjoying the journey.
Cross your fingers for me!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy (American) Thanksgiving!
The blogs are alive today with the sound of clucking as Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. So to all the Americans who come across this post today... Happy Thanksgiving!
Here's what the confused Brits have to say about it.
Here's what the confused Brits have to say about it.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
All Marketing, All the Time
It's my new obsession: marketing! Time-consuming and humiliating -- sometimes. But mostly fun and exciting. I have to thank everyone who's helped me with promotion, from friends and family to complete strangers (and it's not over yet -- if I haven't hit you up for something, just wait!).
Today I'm over at Hell or High Water, talking about what I've learned in marketing my book.
Today I'm over at Hell or High Water, talking about what I've learned in marketing my book.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Canberra Calling
It's been awhile since I've seen my name in newspaper print. I trained as a journalist and spent a few scintillating years working as an editor of a medical journal before bailing out and going into the wonderful world of public relations.
So I was eager to see a copy of an article I wrote for the Canberra Times (if, like me, your geography is questionable, Canberra is the capital of Australia). The article came out last Sunday and I finally got a PDF last night. Thanks to Mary and Peter Nelson, friends of my parents living in Canberra, I'll have a hard copy as soon as the post obliges.
In the meantime, here's the link!
So I was eager to see a copy of an article I wrote for the Canberra Times (if, like me, your geography is questionable, Canberra is the capital of Australia). The article came out last Sunday and I finally got a PDF last night. Thanks to Mary and Peter Nelson, friends of my parents living in Canberra, I'll have a hard copy as soon as the post obliges.
In the meantime, here's the link!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Urban Travel Blog... Check it Out!
I'm posting on the fly today as I'm just on my way out the door to the pub (aka my writers' group in Marylebone), but I wanted to share this link with you. It's a new travel website, started by former Polish resident and now Barcelona-dweller Duncan Rhodes. The site aims to provide all the information you need about destinations world-wide, in just one page per destination.
I'm a recent contributor to the London portion of the site. If you get a chance, swing by and tell Duncan (and me!) what you think!
I'm a recent contributor to the London portion of the site. If you get a chance, swing by and tell Duncan (and me!) what you think!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Just One Hour
Smitten by Britain recently held a competition to win a few copies of my book (thanks, Melissa!). Her question for entrants was: 'What would you do in London if you had just one hour?'
The answers were so great I decided to steal them for my own blog! Here are a few:
I would rent a helicopter and have them fly me over London for an hour so that I could take in the entire city from a pigeon's point of view !
I would make sure I was there on a Sunday so I could go to Speaker's Corner, after which I would go to the National Museum (I've never been and I've always wanted to), followed by a play at the Globe Theatre (the season starts after Shakespeare's birthday in May), and finish with a look at Big Ben and a pub dinner.
Kensington Roof Gardens! Its owned by Richard Branson and is THE most amazing place. We spent an hour there on a whistle stop tour last month and we loved it. If we didn't have a guide we would never have known it was there...as the name suggests, it's on top of an 6 or 8 storey building!
What would I do in an hour? Only an hour? Oh my gosh, I don't know how this little Canadian Country Mouse could possibly take in all that history, culture, and beauty in just an hour! I would either find the largest memory card for my camera and run around taking pictures of everything and everybody and then look and drool over the pictures in the comfort of my own home, or, more than likely I would spend the time in the Natural History Museum. Sigh.... heaven.... even if it was just an hour. Thank you for making me day dream!
Oooh I adore london! If I only had an hour I would go to the Borough markets and eat myself silly, then sit by the river and people watch while I digest all my amazing food. I have family in London and have visited there several times, but never, ever get sick of it. After Sydney, it's probably my favourite city in the world!
I would stand in the middle of Waterloo Bridge and take it all in. I can't believe I used to complain about that walk every morning before I moved to the US. It's breath-taking!
Living there anyway, I know that a free hour in London usually means sitting on the tube trying to get somewhere! I always like a walk through Petticoat Lane market in the Middlesex Street area. Best done on a weekend when it takes over multiple streets.
I would go to Rigby and Peller in Knightbridge and be fitted for a perfectly fitting, beautiful new bra or two, then stroll into Harrods food hall and smell all the wonderful aromas and buy a sinfully decadent pastry or some truffles.
I'm probably boring, but I absolutely love Charing Cross and its old bookshops, so I'd spend some time in the second hand book shops before bowing between the throne that is Foyle's!
Only 1 hr? I'd probably spend it the way I spent my first hour there - take the tube to Baker Street and wander around Regent's Park to enjoy the roses in bloom. ...Or maybe I'd grab a milk chocolate chunk shortbread and canned pimm's & lemonade from M&S, wander around St. Pauls and cross the Millenium bridge over to bankside for a quick stroll past the Tate, Globe, etc.
I have never been outside of South Africa, so the first thing I would do when I get to London, will be to go to Madam Tussauds and kiss Lady Di's cheek! I watched her wedding, cried when she died and would love to see what she looked like in real life! I would then walk the streets of London to look at all the old buildings in wonderment! Our country's oldest building, the Castle in Cape Town, was built only in 1666, so I really would like to see the architecture of the older buildings. Then, if I still have time, I would run to see the Rosetta Stone and Leonardo's paintings!
And Melissa recently gave me the Superior Scribbler Award (thanks - again!), which I shall now pass on to five other bloggers:
India Drummond
Sarah Eve Kelly
Tim Atkinson of Bringing Up Charlie
Deniz Bevan of The Girdle of Melian
Karen Jones Gowen of Coming Down the Mountain
The Rules:
Each Superior Scribbler I name today must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving bloggy friends. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.
The answers were so great I decided to steal them for my own blog! Here are a few:
I would rent a helicopter and have them fly me over London for an hour so that I could take in the entire city from a pigeon's point of view !
I would make sure I was there on a Sunday so I could go to Speaker's Corner, after which I would go to the National Museum (I've never been and I've always wanted to), followed by a play at the Globe Theatre (the season starts after Shakespeare's birthday in May), and finish with a look at Big Ben and a pub dinner.
Kensington Roof Gardens! Its owned by Richard Branson and is THE most amazing place. We spent an hour there on a whistle stop tour last month and we loved it. If we didn't have a guide we would never have known it was there...as the name suggests, it's on top of an 6 or 8 storey building!
What would I do in an hour? Only an hour? Oh my gosh, I don't know how this little Canadian Country Mouse could possibly take in all that history, culture, and beauty in just an hour! I would either find the largest memory card for my camera and run around taking pictures of everything and everybody and then look and drool over the pictures in the comfort of my own home, or, more than likely I would spend the time in the Natural History Museum. Sigh.... heaven.... even if it was just an hour. Thank you for making me day dream!
Oooh I adore london! If I only had an hour I would go to the Borough markets and eat myself silly, then sit by the river and people watch while I digest all my amazing food. I have family in London and have visited there several times, but never, ever get sick of it. After Sydney, it's probably my favourite city in the world!
I would stand in the middle of Waterloo Bridge and take it all in. I can't believe I used to complain about that walk every morning before I moved to the US. It's breath-taking!
Living there anyway, I know that a free hour in London usually means sitting on the tube trying to get somewhere! I always like a walk through Petticoat Lane market in the Middlesex Street area. Best done on a weekend when it takes over multiple streets.
I would go to Rigby and Peller in Knightbridge and be fitted for a perfectly fitting, beautiful new bra or two, then stroll into Harrods food hall and smell all the wonderful aromas and buy a sinfully decadent pastry or some truffles.
I'm probably boring, but I absolutely love Charing Cross and its old bookshops, so I'd spend some time in the second hand book shops before bowing between the throne that is Foyle's!
Only 1 hr? I'd probably spend it the way I spent my first hour there - take the tube to Baker Street and wander around Regent's Park to enjoy the roses in bloom. ...Or maybe I'd grab a milk chocolate chunk shortbread and canned pimm's & lemonade from M&S, wander around St. Pauls and cross the Millenium bridge over to bankside for a quick stroll past the Tate, Globe, etc.
I have never been outside of South Africa, so the first thing I would do when I get to London, will be to go to Madam Tussauds and kiss Lady Di's cheek! I watched her wedding, cried when she died and would love to see what she looked like in real life! I would then walk the streets of London to look at all the old buildings in wonderment! Our country's oldest building, the Castle in Cape Town, was built only in 1666, so I really would like to see the architecture of the older buildings. Then, if I still have time, I would run to see the Rosetta Stone and Leonardo's paintings!
And Melissa recently gave me the Superior Scribbler Award (thanks - again!), which I shall now pass on to five other bloggers:
India Drummond
Sarah Eve Kelly
Tim Atkinson of Bringing Up Charlie
Deniz Bevan of The Girdle of Melian
Karen Jones Gowen of Coming Down the Mountain
The Rules:
Each Superior Scribbler I name today must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving bloggy friends. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Harsh Reality
It's Friday and almost the weekend, so hey -- here' s a little reality check to get the weekend started.
According to this article, writing one New York Times Best-Selling book per year will keep you just above the poverty line. Well, no-one ever becomes a writer for money! Do they?
According to this article, writing one New York Times Best-Selling book per year will keep you just above the poverty line. Well, no-one ever becomes a writer for money! Do they?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Weird British Things - Part Two
Thanks to all who commented on the last post! Karen had a good point -- sometimes it's better not to tell cabbies where you're going until you get in. That way, they have to take you.
And maybe mince pies are better with Devonshire clotted cream. I'm just not sure I'll ever find out.
Here are some more weird British things. Feel free to comment and let me know if it's just me, or if these things are indeed strange for most non-natives. (Last post on the weirdness, I promise!)
Toilets with a button on top - What is with that? I want a lever to flush, dammit. Not some button on the top.
Washing machines that open from the front - I find washing machines here, in general, so confusing. And don't get me started on the washer/dryer all-in-one combo!
Power outlets with on-off switches - I think this is a great idea. Plug it in, turn it on.
TV licenses - What, I have to pay to have a telly? And the funniest fact of all (discovered when I had to write the 'Life in the UK' test): if you're blind, you get 50 per cent off your license. What a deal!
Small, small fridges - I can't believe how big fridges are when I go back home.
Standing up in pubs - Please can we sit down? Why do I have to stand here awkwardly with my drink, even if there are chairs available?
And maybe mince pies are better with Devonshire clotted cream. I'm just not sure I'll ever find out.
Here are some more weird British things. Feel free to comment and let me know if it's just me, or if these things are indeed strange for most non-natives. (Last post on the weirdness, I promise!)
Toilets with a button on top - What is with that? I want a lever to flush, dammit. Not some button on the top.
Washing machines that open from the front - I find washing machines here, in general, so confusing. And don't get me started on the washer/dryer all-in-one combo!
Power outlets with on-off switches - I think this is a great idea. Plug it in, turn it on.
TV licenses - What, I have to pay to have a telly? And the funniest fact of all (discovered when I had to write the 'Life in the UK' test): if you're blind, you get 50 per cent off your license. What a deal!
Small, small fridges - I can't believe how big fridges are when I go back home.
Standing up in pubs - Please can we sit down? Why do I have to stand here awkwardly with my drink, even if there are chairs available?
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Weird British Things
(Before I start my list, let me clarify that these are the things I found weird when I first moved to Britain -- and still do, in some cases. I'm not saying Brits are weird for doing these things.)
Mince pies at Christmas - Can anything be more disgusting than horrible stodgy pastry stuffed with squished raisins and dates. Blek.
First-class and second-class post - Seriously, what is with that? Even the post must be sorted according to class?
Windows without screens - Leaves can blow in! Bugs can circulate! Windows need screens!
The Queen owns it all - Even if you buy a flat (in London, anyway), after 999 years it reverts back to the Queen.
No tax! - Now this I love. OK, there is tax, but at least it's rolled in to the price.
Tell the cabbie where you're going before you get in - Once you're in, they can't refuse your fare so you need to flag them down, then lean through the window and then tell them where you want to go.
More to come in future posts!
Mince pies at Christmas - Can anything be more disgusting than horrible stodgy pastry stuffed with squished raisins and dates. Blek.
First-class and second-class post - Seriously, what is with that? Even the post must be sorted according to class?
Windows without screens - Leaves can blow in! Bugs can circulate! Windows need screens!
The Queen owns it all - Even if you buy a flat (in London, anyway), after 999 years it reverts back to the Queen.
No tax! - Now this I love. OK, there is tax, but at least it's rolled in to the price.
Tell the cabbie where you're going before you get in - Once you're in, they can't refuse your fare so you need to flag them down, then lean through the window and then tell them where you want to go.
More to come in future posts!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Publishing Terms
I love Twitter. Not only is it a brilliant distraction when you're facing 200 pages of editing, but it also provides interesting little tidbits from sources around the world. Today I found this, courtesy of agent Janet Reid.
These are my favourite bits.
ADVANCE: A secret code signalling to the marketing department whether or not to promote a title.
AGENT: An intellectual property and contract law specialist who is unable to pass the bar.
AUTHOR: A large class of individuals (approximately three times as numerous as readers) serving a promotional function in book marketing or providing make-work for editorial interns.
AUTHOR BIO: A piece of creative writing whose length varies inversely with the attractiveness of the person depicted in the AUTHOR PHOTO.
AUTHOR PHOTO: Pictorial fiction. Authors always choose photos that emphasize that quality in which they feel most deficient.
AUTHOR’S DISCOUNT: A penalty charged authors who are unable to wheedle sufficient masses of free copies, purportedly for the purpose of promotion, from their editors.
B
BOOK DISTRIBUTION: An elaborate system testing the commitment of readers by making sure they cannot obtain specific books too easily.
BOOK REVIEW: A recycled press release offered to publishers by newspaper and magazine sales departments as an inducement to advertising.
C
COMMERCIAL FICTION: The notion of publishing as a way of making money.
COMP COPIES: A publisher’s entire inventory, according to the urgings of his friends and colleagues.
COPY EDITING: A phase of publishing that requires little or no budget, is considered of slight importance, and may be omitted at the option of the publisher.
COPYRIGHT: A concept invented by lawyers as a hedge against unemployment.
D
DEADLINE: An item that exists to be renegotiated and revised. In his famous paradox, the Greek philosopher Zeno proved that deadlines can never be met.
E
EDITOR: A writer with a day job.
F
FANTASY: An author's sales aspirations.
FOREIGN MARKET: The part of the country outside New York City.
FOREWORD: A blurb that is placed between the covers of the book to compensate for an unmarketable author.
FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR: An annual international exhibition of artwork on paper.
M
MAINSTREAM FICTION: The pretense that there is a group of readers who can be reached through writing that is sufficiently unspecific as to exclude no one.
N
NOVELLA: A short story that has not been edited.
P
PLAGIARISM: Research.
PRINTER'S ERROR (PE): An error made before a book goes to print.
PUBLICATION DATE (PUB DATE): A sliding holiday based on the phases of the moon.
QR
REJECTION LETTER (FORM): A condensed restraining order serving to justify requests for SASEs.
REJECTION LETTER (PERSONAL): A formulaic literary genre, premised on justifying not reading or misreading a manuscript, in which the narrator grossly exposes both deep character flaws and an absolute blindness to them.
ROYALTY: The glamorous heads of large publishing houses, also known as GLITERATI.
S
SALES REP: A roaming bookstore employee retained as a buffer against publishers and authors.
SELF-PUBLISHING: Tattoo art.
SHELF LIFE: Bookworms.
SHORT STORY: A story that is seldom short enough.
SPINE: Once an essential aspect of any book, spines are no longer found in the publishing industry.
U
UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY: A biography in which there is no trace of original writing by an author.
UNIVERSITY PRESS: A business predicated on obtaining materials from scholars without compensating them in order to sell the same materials at high prices to scholars.
UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPT: A manuscript that can’t sell because it includes too few salacious solicitations.
VWXYZ
WORK-FOR-HIRE: Migrant labor.
WRONG FONT: Comic Sans.
These are my favourite bits.
ADVANCE: A secret code signalling to the marketing department whether or not to promote a title.
AGENT: An intellectual property and contract law specialist who is unable to pass the bar.
AUTHOR: A large class of individuals (approximately three times as numerous as readers) serving a promotional function in book marketing or providing make-work for editorial interns.
AUTHOR BIO: A piece of creative writing whose length varies inversely with the attractiveness of the person depicted in the AUTHOR PHOTO.
AUTHOR PHOTO: Pictorial fiction. Authors always choose photos that emphasize that quality in which they feel most deficient.
AUTHOR’S DISCOUNT: A penalty charged authors who are unable to wheedle sufficient masses of free copies, purportedly for the purpose of promotion, from their editors.
B
BOOK DISTRIBUTION: An elaborate system testing the commitment of readers by making sure they cannot obtain specific books too easily.
BOOK REVIEW: A recycled press release offered to publishers by newspaper and magazine sales departments as an inducement to advertising.
C
COMMERCIAL FICTION: The notion of publishing as a way of making money.
COMP COPIES: A publisher’s entire inventory, according to the urgings of his friends and colleagues.
COPY EDITING: A phase of publishing that requires little or no budget, is considered of slight importance, and may be omitted at the option of the publisher.
COPYRIGHT: A concept invented by lawyers as a hedge against unemployment.
D
DEADLINE: An item that exists to be renegotiated and revised. In his famous paradox, the Greek philosopher Zeno proved that deadlines can never be met.
E
EDITOR: A writer with a day job.
F
FANTASY: An author's sales aspirations.
FOREIGN MARKET: The part of the country outside New York City.
FOREWORD: A blurb that is placed between the covers of the book to compensate for an unmarketable author.
FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR: An annual international exhibition of artwork on paper.
M
MAINSTREAM FICTION: The pretense that there is a group of readers who can be reached through writing that is sufficiently unspecific as to exclude no one.
N
NOVELLA: A short story that has not been edited.
P
PLAGIARISM: Research.
PRINTER'S ERROR (PE): An error made before a book goes to print.
PUBLICATION DATE (PUB DATE): A sliding holiday based on the phases of the moon.
QR
REJECTION LETTER (FORM): A condensed restraining order serving to justify requests for SASEs.
REJECTION LETTER (PERSONAL): A formulaic literary genre, premised on justifying not reading or misreading a manuscript, in which the narrator grossly exposes both deep character flaws and an absolute blindness to them.
ROYALTY: The glamorous heads of large publishing houses, also known as GLITERATI.
S
SALES REP: A roaming bookstore employee retained as a buffer against publishers and authors.
SELF-PUBLISHING: Tattoo art.
SHELF LIFE: Bookworms.
SHORT STORY: A story that is seldom short enough.
SPINE: Once an essential aspect of any book, spines are no longer found in the publishing industry.
U
UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY: A biography in which there is no trace of original writing by an author.
UNIVERSITY PRESS: A business predicated on obtaining materials from scholars without compensating them in order to sell the same materials at high prices to scholars.
UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPT: A manuscript that can’t sell because it includes too few salacious solicitations.
VWXYZ
WORK-FOR-HIRE: Migrant labor.
WRONG FONT: Comic Sans.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Jump n' Jazz
It was a wet, windy and generally miserable weekend in London. But there's a certain pathos to the wind-strewn streets, and weather aside, we managed to get in a lot of London love.
The Man's Egyptian cousin was visiting London for the first time and we wanted to show off our city. After pointing out the typical touristy sights, we dragged her off to the theatre - we'd scored a great deal on tickets to Jump from lastminute.com (£10 each!). It had been ages since we'd been to theatre - way back in August - and I was really looking forward to seeing a production that had received rave reviews.
If you like martial arts and slapstick comedy, you'll like Jump. I like neither and while I was pleasantly entertained for the first five minutes, I quickly found myself feeling bored. But The Man and his cousin enjoyed it, so I suffered in (sort of) silence. For me, it was like dim sum: you can eat and eat and just never feel full (fine for dim sum, but not so good for theatre).
But the jazz concert the next night more than made up for any theatrical disappointment. It's the London Jazz Festival this week, and we got some of the last available tickets. We didn't know what to expect from the two bands who'd be performing, but from the description of 'demonic' and 'wailing' instruments it certainly looked interesting.
Trio VD.
Trio VD took to the stage first, ripping into their instruments. If the Devil listens to jazz, I'm sure this is his preferred band. It was painful, it was beautiful, and it was astonishing that three musicians could produce such a glorious cacophony.
The trio was followed by the even more disturbing World Sanguine Report, fronted by gravelly voiced Andrew Plummer. Slightly extreme for my tastes -- especially his on-stage vignette featuring a seagull whose guts spilled all over a Leeds suspension bridge -- but you had to admire the talent.
And all too quickly, the weekend was over, our guest returned to Liverpool, and London readied itself for a whole new week ahead.
The Man's Egyptian cousin was visiting London for the first time and we wanted to show off our city. After pointing out the typical touristy sights, we dragged her off to the theatre - we'd scored a great deal on tickets to Jump from lastminute.com (£10 each!). It had been ages since we'd been to theatre - way back in August - and I was really looking forward to seeing a production that had received rave reviews.
If you like martial arts and slapstick comedy, you'll like Jump. I like neither and while I was pleasantly entertained for the first five minutes, I quickly found myself feeling bored. But The Man and his cousin enjoyed it, so I suffered in (sort of) silence. For me, it was like dim sum: you can eat and eat and just never feel full (fine for dim sum, but not so good for theatre).
But the jazz concert the next night more than made up for any theatrical disappointment. It's the London Jazz Festival this week, and we got some of the last available tickets. We didn't know what to expect from the two bands who'd be performing, but from the description of 'demonic' and 'wailing' instruments it certainly looked interesting.
Trio VD.
Trio VD took to the stage first, ripping into their instruments. If the Devil listens to jazz, I'm sure this is his preferred band. It was painful, it was beautiful, and it was astonishing that three musicians could produce such a glorious cacophony.
The trio was followed by the even more disturbing World Sanguine Report, fronted by gravelly voiced Andrew Plummer. Slightly extreme for my tastes -- especially his on-stage vignette featuring a seagull whose guts spilled all over a Leeds suspension bridge -- but you had to admire the talent.
And all too quickly, the weekend was over, our guest returned to Liverpool, and London readied itself for a whole new week ahead.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Sloppy Signs
You know it's a slow news day when the ever-exciting Evening Standard comes out with a story about apostrophes gone awry.
Apparently errant signmakes are confused and signs are paying the price. Is it Bott's Mews or Botts Mews? Bishops Bridge Road or Bishop's Bridge Road?
However will the world keep turning? Click here to read more.
Apparently errant signmakes are confused and signs are paying the price. Is it Bott's Mews or Botts Mews? Bishops Bridge Road or Bishop's Bridge Road?
However will the world keep turning? Click here to read more.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
First Timers
The Man and I are waiting to go pick up his cousin from Euston. She's in Liverpool doing her PhD for the next few years, and this will be her first trip to London.
I love introducing first-timers to London. When I first moved here, I had a steady stream of visitors to show around. Now, it's slowed considerably but The Man and I have the patter pretty well down. He introduced me to many aspects of the city when I first came, and he does it very well.
It's kind of hard to remember back, five years ago, when I arrived. I'd been in London before, but I still didn't know much about the city. I landed early one morning in May, and after settling into my flat in Highgate I headed straight to Camden Town to drink in the atmosphere - the buzz, the noise, the sirens and even the rubbish seemed so... London. I wandered down the street, past the market stalls, and I couldn't keep the smile off my face. Later that day I walked through Highgate Woods and across Hampstead Heath, still unable to believe I was actually going to be living here.
I still feel that way even now. I fell in love with this part of the world, met and married my husband here, and all things being well, I'll hopefully soon be a citizen.
And that's why I love showing people what I now consider to be my city.
I love introducing first-timers to London. When I first moved here, I had a steady stream of visitors to show around. Now, it's slowed considerably but The Man and I have the patter pretty well down. He introduced me to many aspects of the city when I first came, and he does it very well.
It's kind of hard to remember back, five years ago, when I arrived. I'd been in London before, but I still didn't know much about the city. I landed early one morning in May, and after settling into my flat in Highgate I headed straight to Camden Town to drink in the atmosphere - the buzz, the noise, the sirens and even the rubbish seemed so... London. I wandered down the street, past the market stalls, and I couldn't keep the smile off my face. Later that day I walked through Highgate Woods and across Hampstead Heath, still unable to believe I was actually going to be living here.
I still feel that way even now. I fell in love with this part of the world, met and married my husband here, and all things being well, I'll hopefully soon be a citizen.
And that's why I love showing people what I now consider to be my city.
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