When I visit a friend or relative’s home for the first time, I usually ask “Does it matter where I sit?”. Everyone has their favourite chair, or seat in the house, and I am wary of plonking myself down on my host’s favourite chair. And one of the most common questions asked of writers...
Day 19 – UBC – Oops! Will the Delete Key Fix That?
What is the best invention in the world? It has to be the Delete Key! How many times has that little button saved us from a potentially catastrophic consequence? It’s a wonder mine still works; I’m sure it is the most used key on my keyboard. But what about those other mistakes? You know,...
Day 18 – UBC – Hey! Wait a Minute Mr Postman!
On this day, 26 July 1775, the US Postal Service was established, and Americans have been waiting for the Postman, ever since. Or, have they? Does the term Mr Postman still exist? And how many people actually find mail in their mailbox these days?, – I’m speaking of the ‘snail-mail’ variety, of course. I once...
Day 17 – UBC – Follow That Blog!
I don’t care that today is the twenty-third day of the Ultimate Blog Challenge (July) and I’m officially six days behind – I’m persevering, right to the end. The challenge for Day 17 is to make a list of blogs that I follow. So, rather than giving you a list of my favourites, I’m...
Day 16 – UBC – Is There a Cure for Earworms?
Earworms! Yuk!! What is it about a song that can make it go in one ear, and not come out the other? Where does it get stuck, and why? And who thought up the name – Earworms!? Those songs that get trapped inside your head and keep on playing, long after you’ve turned off the...
Day 15 – UBC – Distraction, and the Janitor’s Hammer
Could the ‘Gentle Art of Distraction’ save the janitor’s hammer from crashing down on the frail fence, or worse still, on me? There was only one way to find out. Justin’s teacher called me during class-time to report that Justin (not his real name), had left the classroom. After checking the usual hiding spots,...
Day 14 – Putting the Social – in Social Media
Social Media – you either love it or you hate it. I’m not sure if there is a middle road, but if there is, I am travelling right along the centre line. My first encounter with Facebook was in 2006, in San Francisco. Back then, Facebook was relatively new, having only been launched by...
Day 12 – UBC – What Question?
In today’s blog post I’m supposed to answer a question that comes up often in my comments. I don’t have the answer. In fact, I don’t even have the question. But what I do have is a question of my own. It’s a question that I ask myself constantly. How the heck do you...
Day 11 – UBC – Story of the Yellow School Bus
It was the night before Christmas Eve, the best part of the shopping was done, and all that was left was to make it home before the cold night air chilled us to the bone. But wait! Is that a yellow school bus? I have to take a photo! And the rest, as they...
Day 10 – UBC – 10 Shades of Winter
Bears hibernate in winter, and so do I. At the end of Autumn I snuggle under a thick blanket, and I don’t peep out from under the covers until the first signs of Spring. While the 10 shades of winter are making their presence felt outside, I stay inside, where it is snug and...