New Car

I decided to scrap my car. It needed more repairs than it is worth. I am now the proud owner of a Silver Vauxhall Corsa. Its compact, easy to drive and cheap to run. Lucky me. After the fiasco with the AA and being stuck at home it's a relief to be mobile again.

Show Don't Tell in Fiction

Many of us grew up listening to stories which began, for example: 'Once upon a time there was a king and queen had no children, until, after they thought they would never have a child, they were delighted when the queen became pregnant.." This is an extreme example of telling, which is boring. It includes the followingwords which should be avoided whenever possible:- 'had', 'was' and 'were'.

An alternative could be:

Queen Anne looked out of the window at children playing with a ball in the courtyard of the castle. She sighed. "If only we could have a child."

King James put his arm around her. "Perhaps we will."

Queen Anne doubted it until, several months later, she disturbed her husband in a council meeting to speak to him privately.

"What is it," the king asked, "you know you shouldn't interrupt me when-"

"Shush, your majesty. I couldn't wait to tell you I am expecting a child."

When I finish a novel, I highlight 'had', 'was' and 'were'. I then see if I can rephrase text containing these words.

Of course, the culprits are part of the English Language that we cannot avoid using, but we should make sure we are showing the reader what happens not telling them what happened.
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N is for Names

I like to read novels - particularly historical ones, including historical romance, by authors whose fiction I have not read before. When choosing what to read, the character's names are very important to me. If, for example, the hero, who is a mediaeval knight', is called Wayne and the heroine is a mediaeval lady, for example, called Flossie, I don't choose that book. If the names are inappropriate it indicates the author's research might leave much to be desired.

Wayne or Waine is not listed in The Oxford Book of English Christian names, but "Wainwright. Old English waegnwyrhta 'wainwright, wagon-builder" is mentioned in The Reader's Digest Great Encylopaedic Dictionary as a surname.

 Florence, which is shortened Florrie, Flo, Floy or Flossie, became common in the 19th century.

The name, Florence, derives from Florentia, female and Florentius, male. Florence was used in the Middle Ages about equally as a man's or a woman's name but died out as a man's name.

That's enough about the origin of the name, Florence, but as I have already mentioned a heroine in the middle ages called Flossie would put me off the novel.

When choosing names for my characters I refer to The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, The Reader's Digest Great Encyclopaedic Dictionary useful for both Christian and Surnames,  and Burke's Peerage as well as a book of first names for Babies which includes names from many parts of the world. As for Burkes, it's fascinating, and provides a treasure trove of unusual first names and surnames some of which have been handed down from generation to generation.

Until I have named my main characters they do not spring to life in my imagination. I spend many happy hours browsing names in my search for appropriate ones.

Gymnastics & Proud Grandmother

A very busy day yesterday which included Year Six's production of Aladdin at two of my grandsons' school.
The elder boy has bee practising gymnastics for 6 years. He is a member of a country team and has performed more than once in a theatre. Yesterday his performance looked effortless but he trains for 3 hours 3 times a week and sometimes on 5 days a week when a competition is imminent. ( He has already won a gold, silver and bronze medal. Not bad going for an 11-year old.)
Yesterday he came down the aisle between the audience and executed forward flips, cartwheels, handstands etc.,. Later he performed again in the from of the stage and once more at the final curtain call.
He received ample praise and, as you can imagine, I am very proud of him and admire his dedication and determination.

Book Covers

This afternoon, I attended an interesting talk by Jane-Dixon Smith at the London Chapter meeting of the Romantic Novelists Association.

Her websites are well-worth visiting.

www.jsmith.design.co
www.facebook.com jdsmith.design

Decluttered

I set to work this morning and finished sorting out a huge quantity of writing related and personal paperwork that dated back to 1984 when I moved into the house I now live in. I have emptied a filing cabinet with double doors and wide shelves, and arranged for a charity to collect it.

The neatly sorted paperwork etc fitted into a built in cupboard. Next, I need to sort out my office that was once the smallest bedroom in the house. I am determined to declutter the entire house bit by bit.

I've caught up with all sorts of things, and am now free to concentrate on the galley for my new novel Far Beyond Rubies which will be published this month. I also received the mockup for the book cover. Life is good in spite of a cold and a slight sore throat.

Revision, 'Writerly' Activities and Snow

My New Year Resolution was to blog daily. I've broken it.. This weekend was taken up by family. I treasure my time with them so, as the saying goes, I went with the flow, and enjoyed myself.

Today, apart from beginning to revise a novel set in the reign of Queen Anne Stuart, 1702-1714, I began to tackle a backlog of writerly activities. After that I planned to sow seeds in containers which fit into a heated propagator but when I looked out of the window I saw a winter wonderland of snow and ice. Instead of sowing seeds I continued decluttering my house. I'm still going through files full of my short stories, cuttings, letters and other material, keeping some and discarding a lot.

Decluttering

I have completed a course of antibiotics, and am beginning to recuperate from the after effects of a vicious virus.

While ill I could not concentrate on my novel set in Edward II’s reign which I had hoped to finish and submit by the 1st January, However, although they were late I wrote and posted the rest of my blogs about the Twelve Days of Christmas, and I embarked on some decluttering.

Last year, I forced myself to declutter all of my bookcases, and to organise my books for research either according to date or subject. I highly recommend this because it makes it so much easier to find information on diverse subjects. So, while I’ve been ill in bed I went through all my copies of the Historical Novel Society’s magazines, Solander and Historical Review that dated back to the first editions.

It’s always painful decluttering but I enjoyed sifting through the magazines, reading articles and reviews. As a result I ordered some books which I had intended to read for a long time and reserved others from the library, and then it was time to let go.

Interspersed with the magazines were copies of Postscript and various articles and colour supplements, amongst them one on the late Queen Mother and another about the Lord of the Rings. Out they went after I admired photos of Elizabeth II as a child, a bride, a young mother etc., and intricate details of the costumes worn by actors in Lord of the Rings.

This morning I woke knowing I made the right decision to have a clear out, and decided to tackle all my gardening magazines in the near future. However, I shall keep my inspirational National Geographic magazines some of which date back to the 1950’s.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 6

Twelve Days of Christmas – Day Six


The Feast of the Holy Family

The Veneration of the Holy Family - the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph – through the mercy of the Christ Child, consecrates the example of ideal family life, and the fellowship of men, women and children.

12 ~Days of Christmas - Days 1 & 2

12 Days of Christmas - Days 1 & 2


Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve are not included in the twelve days of Christmas, so they differ from the advent calendar.

In times past these days were an excuse for prolonged feasting, Nowadays, Christmas decorations are taken down on twelfth night, perhaps in deference to the belief that not to do so would bring bad luck.

The first day of Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ. The second day, December 26th, is the Feast of Saint Stephen, a Jew who was one of the first deacons to administer the Church in Jerusalem. Stephen was judged guilty of blasphemy and, became the first Christian martyr who, according to the New Testament, was stoned to death outside the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem thus becoming the first Christian martyr c. AD 35

Saint Stephen is often represented with either a stone on his head or stones in his hands. Maybe this is why he is the patron saint of builders and bricklayers.

In times past the day was celebrated with mumming plays and sword dances as well as the unpleasant custom of wren hunting, due to the belief that while the saint attempted to escape from prison the little bird began to sing thus betraying him to the prison guards.

There is a “Carol for St Stephen’s Day,” which refers to Stephen, Herod’s servant working in the kitchen the first verse of which is:

“Stephen out of the kitchen came, with boar’s head in hand,
He saw a star was fair and bright over Bethlehem stand,
He cast down the boar’s head, and went into the hall;
I forsake thee King Herod, and thy workes all;
There is a child born in Bethlehem better than we all.’

The other carol, which is well known, and believed to be historical fact, describe Good King Wenceslas looking out of the window and seeing a poor man collecting winter fuel.

Father Christmas - pre-Victorian

Father Christmas - pre-Victorian


Those who have children in their families have probably experienced them bouncing about like excited puppy dogs on Christmas Eve. And more than likely they have yawned while despairing of the children going to sleep because they want to see Father Christmas.

In the early 17th century when the Puritan Government frowned on or banned merrymaking at Christmastime, Christmas was depicted as a merry old man who brought good cheer. The name, Father Christmas is now used in English-speaking countries, but elsewhere his is known by other names such as Pere Noel in France, Babbo Natale in Armenia and Noel Baba in Turkey.

In a masque devised by Ben Johnson, which dates from December 1616, Christmas says: "Why Gentlemen, doe you know what you doe? ha! would you ha'kept me out? Christmas, old Christmas?" Twenty-two years later in a masque by Thomas Nabbes Christmas made his entrance as an old gentleman wearing a furred gown and cap. Between then and 1686, when Josiah King wrote a pamphlet introducing Father Christmas, a representation of pre-Commonwealth traditions, other works were published for and against Christmas. King’s Father Christmas encouraged feasting, making merry and abundant hospitality.

For two hundred and fifty years Sir Christmas, Lord Christmas or Father Christmas continued to be a part of the seasonal festivities. In Yorkshire on Christmas Eve children marched in the streets playing music.

In Queen Victoria’s reign the image of Father Christmas merged with St Nicholas, known as Sinterklaas (Santa Claus) in Holland.

Tonight, (Christmas Eve) I shall stay at my daughter’s house. The children have sent their requests for presents to Father Christmas, who they believe lives at the North Pole, their stockings will be hung up at the ends of their beds and the presents piled under the Christmas tree. I am privileged to share their joy, the same joy I once experienced when my parents created a magical Christmas for me.

P.S. The Coca Cola company was not the first to depict Father Christmas as a large, jolly old man, dressed in red.

Ivy at Christmas Past and Present

Ivy at Christmas Past and Present.


I have picked holly and ivy, arranged them in a vase, and decorated them with tiny parcels wrapped in gold paper tied with red ribbon and ornamented with stars.

Early Christians would not have brought ivy indoors because the Church associated it with the god of wine, Bacchus, who wore a wreath of ivy on his head, and whose female associates drank wine made from ivy. I did not feel guilty for picking ivy which, according to one belief, symbolises females because it clings, and according to another represents human need to cling to divine strength.

There are many legends about ivy, one was that a stem placed in a glass of wine would filter poison, and another was that ivy growing on the wall of a house deterred witches

Once upon a time, there were contradictory beliefs about ivy. She was either condemned to stand outside in winter’s cold or described as blessed and cherished. Also, because ivy grows profusely in graveyards, it was sometimes regarded as a symbol of death, so it was not surprising she was banned from the celebration of Christ’s birth, although, like other evergreens, she was believed to represent eternal life.

Eventually, the Church allowed ivy to be carved in stone and wood, but she was still condemned to remain outside in the cold, dark days of winter, but ivy cut from my garden, both plain green and variegated green and sunshine-yellow are welcome in my house.

Holly or Christ's Thorn and Legend

Festive Holly or Christ’s Thorn and Legend


This year the holly bush in my garden has abundant scarlet berries which will glow against the green, prickly leaves in my house and connect it with the past because holly was used to decorate mediaeval houses in the dark days of midwinter. However, holly and other greenery were disapproved of by the church because of their connection to pagan customs. Druids decorated their huts with holly, ivy and mistletoe; Romans exchanged boughs and gifts during Satturnalia, which took place a week before Christmas.

Another name for holly is Christ’s Thorn. According to legend, when Christ walked on earth holly grew in his footsteps. Perhaps it was called holy tree not holly tree and the scarlet berries, which resemble drops of blood, are symbolic of Christ’s suffering.

Eventually, the Church accepted holly, the wood of which was thought to have been used for the cross on which Christ was crucified; and the leaves were believed to have been used in His crown of thorns. It was also claimed its white flowers symbolised the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception and that its evergreen leaves represented life eternal.

There are many superstitions about holly, which was regarded as a man’s plant. Mediaeval people believed holly brings good luck, and that when it was planted outside their doors it protected them from thunderstorms.

So, when I bring holly into my house tomorrow I will be conscious of these and many more old beliefs, legends and superstitions.

School Plays, Pantomimes and Mystery Plays

It's that time of the year again when innumerable excited children rehearse for the Christmas Play and look forward to attending a pantomime or some other performance. In times past equally excited children must have looked forward to mystery plays originally performed throughout the year in churchyards. However, in the dark cold winter the story of the Christ Child's advent must have been a colourful highlight of the year. Later, awestruck children must have watched among other things the shepherds and three wise men visiting the new born babe on a pageant, a wagon with two stages and special scenery. Whether the mummers performed at mansions, inns or in the streets the audience needed their strength for some plays began at 4.30 a.m. and did not finish until dusk.