by Dee | Aug 28, 2018 | Featured, General
The first piece of advice I was given as a writer was ‘capture the audience in the first three minutes’. I have never forgotten those words of wisdom.
We see a burning house and hear screams of the people inside, we see firefighters and people being dragged from the ruins. But do we care, we feel the tension but we don’t know who these people are.
Cut back a few scenes, and we see a man drive up to the house, he gets out of the car and is greeted by his wife and two young children who are standing at the open door. We see him enter and sit down at the table with his family, and talk about their day. They are chatting about their kids’ school and the family holiday, we get to know them.
We cut to outside and see a man planting an explosive, and see the house go up in flames. Now we are engaged and we really want them to be saved.
Not all of us are aspiring writers or film makers, but more and more people are wanting to make writing part of their lives. Some don’t even know if they have the talent to write a page let alone a novel, but if you have a spark of interest or passion about writing then why don’t you explore the possibilities.
You could begin by forming your own writers group – many have started simply by inviting a few friends over with a couple bottles of wine, some basic ideas and a discussion, and before you know it you have short stories, books or screenplays in the making. Better than crying over ex boyfriends or berating the agony of a recent divorce, and definitely a way of reinventing yourself.
If you are serious about a career change and want to be a writer, then look at one of the writing courses that are around at the moment.
To refresh my own capability as a writer I recently attended a fantastic Writer’s Retreat in the Dordogne in France, The Rocaberti. It was full of enthusiastic writers at all stages of their career, from their very first shot at writing to the more experienced published writer.
The Mentors were all highly motivated, published and well known novelists, screen-writers and film writers and producers. In spite of their success, they were equally as supportive to every mentee and made sure each one had the input they needed to take the next step on their writing path.
You could also explore writers’ groups nearer to home, and there are many good ones – check out the reviews and feedback from attendees on the websites attached to the courses, and that should tell you everything you need to know.
Hope I have got you interested – and within the first three minutes. After all it only takes one minute to make a life changing decision, which could affect everything you do for the next twenty years or more. So what are you waiting for?
Checkout the writers retreat rocabertiwriters.com
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by Rachel | Jun 27, 2018 | Featured, General
From extreme grooming to dressing our pets in clothes, what takes it from ‘normal’ to possibly ‘dangerous’? Are following these trends without prior knowledge really worth the risk?
Despite its growing popularity, the grooming industry remains unregulated, putting uninformed pet owners at risk of exposing their animals to harm. There are concerns that pets can be ‘frightened and distressed by the various extra treatments on offer, such as facials and pawdicures offered at a growing number of dog spas’, the RSPCA has said. Some who are on the side of extreme grooming, say the treatments are harmless fun as long as the pet is happy and freely compliant. They also argue that it is more concerning that most animals are not groomed enough, stating infections, overgrown nails and severe matting, as some of the alignments these pets face.
There is also a belief that pets are increasingly treated as an alternative to children and their owners are choosing to spend more money and attention on them. However, can this excuse the use of potential dangerous dyes on their fur, especially around their face? Would we allow parents to do these same things to children? You wouldn’t imagine giving them body modifications, at least we hope not. While it is important to groom pets, by brushing them daily (or more for specific breeds) and brushing their teeth daily (important for cats and dogs), changing their appearance to such extremes turns them from intelligent, sentient animals to being viewed as novelty accessories. RSPCA said that, even if a dye is marketed as ‘pet friendly’, they would strongly advise against it.
Like people, pets can have negative reactions to dyes and even if no reaction is seen can be a silent killer when dye is eaten when they groom or absorbed through their skin. Unlike people that can give consent, animals cannot do that and instead we should keep what we offer them, from food to their enrichment as natural as possible. It is important to keep grooming to their needs. They are shouldn’t be seen as fashion accessories to try out the latest trend on them.
From extreme grooming to clothes, surely dressing them up is a better option, as it is only temporary – but even that comes with its caution? The risks aren’t worth that cute photo. Even though you can “aw” at those photos, you would probably find the photo just as cute if it was the same without the clothes. It shouldn’t be the enhanced image that make the animals appealing to look at, it is the animals themselves.
Animals without these man-made clothes are better. There are only a few exceptions to this, for small dogs and short-haired varieties when it is too cold for them, such as walks in winter and when it is raining., or specifically made medical aids. People love their pets and the retail trade have latched onto that, bringing fashion for pets a widespread money-making scheme. Clothing on pets can cause animals to be stressed, overheat and possible skin damage. Surely we should let them be their natural selves we fell in love with? Any animal is a commitment and their needs should always be put first.
Have a pet? Share a photo of them with us. Find us in the following places and continue the discussion.
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by Dee | Jun 15, 2018 | Featured, General
As we kick off for another World Cup in Russia, the media are still interviewing thousands of men, chomping at the bit, as they defiantly wave their flag or display their T-shirts, as if going into battle.
But it is 2018 and not 1966, so where are all the women supporters because there are many, and it is not just because of the Players toned abs or fine physiques. But because they love the sport as much as their male counterparts.
As we recently celebrated one hundred years with the women’s right to vote, it is less publicized that it is almost 50 years since the FA lifted its ban on women’s football. One would have thought that this would be a major step toward a female recognition of the sport, but at that time many females were still unaware of the sheer bliss of supporting their favourite team, or having any team at all – it was regarded so much as a man’s sport to be played and supported. So that victory was hardly celebrated, and women hardly dared step over the threshold of the seriously macho pastime.
I was fortunate in that I used to watch football with my young neighbour Derek Collins, whose parents owned the corner shop near to my grandparents house in Maidenhead.
I was introduced to the sport from a very early age, getting to learn the rules and the various teams and colours, and quickly got involved in the sheer excitement of seeing my favourite team win. I didn’t really have one in particular, and it would change with the day and the teams playing. but it was a great introduction to the sport and a fabulous way to learn.
My own mother Sylvia Anderson, adopted Manchester United as her special team quite late in life when she was around 55, and enjoyed each game so much she would literally sit watching the TV, especially in her more senior years, wearing their distinctive colours in a scarf draped over her shoulders.
My grandparents when they were alive, stared in disbelief as their normally elegant and refined daughter stood up shouting at the television, oblivious to all around her, to cheer her players on.
She had visited the famous Old Trafford several times, and had met and chatted to Alex Ferguson. It was not often my Mum used her celebrity status to her advantage, but did so with the sport she was so passionate about.
So it is also hard fathom that we are still struggling to recognize that Footie is a sport loved and supported by a wide female following.
I could name several groups of women even within my own circles who are football fanatics, and throw open house parties to share their love of the game with other like-minded women.
Perhaps we should work towards being more open about our passion for the game, and who we support, and plan some female afternoons with our mates, even if to introduce them to the sport, and relish the sheer drama and heaven of seeing our chosen teams win or lose.
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