The Blank Page Syndome

Jelly beans — oh dear, only three left!

The Blank Page Syndrome

I’ve got work to do. Another 100 pages of a new version of a novel to rewrite. But I’m tired, not sleeping too well and have things on my mind. I divert to getting blogs up to date just to feel a sense of having finished a task, however small.
I have ideas for stories put aside, having decided a few weeks ago to do this rewrite. But I know, in a way, the rewrite was started because those ideas were not flowing freely. Couldn’t have been could they? Otherwise it would have finished at least one story before starting the next and the next and the…. Oh yes, procrastination and all that. But as long as I am writing something the ‘thief of time’ will not win. Or will it?
I often sit down ready to begin. Decide I need a coffee or a cup of tea. Then back to the computer. Maybe a Kit Kat will give my brain energy? Break it up into small pieces to make it last. One minute later I wonder where it has all gone! Should have stuck to pinching my son’s tiny jelly beans. One bean can last ages because each has a wonderful flavour — 36 flavours in all. Nothing like change for stimulating the taste buds if nothing else.
Well, I’ve eaten a jelly bean. Post this and back to the serious stuff. We go for a walk into town in less than an hour. Nothing like a coffee in a café for …


Gladys Hobson — author
Diary Of An English Lady
Wrinkly Writers — my life's an open book
My Space, Gladys Writes
Magpies Nest Publishing.

Weddings — Then and Now (1953, 1982, 2010)

Weddings — Then and Now (1953, 1982, 2010)






57 years ago, in 1953, a celebration of marriage took place in Beeston, Nottingham. It was a simple affair — it had to be as these were lean years not long after the war when rationing was still in place. The bride wore a dress designed and made by herself.
Having bought the fabric (primrose satin and white lace) through the firm where she worked, the total cost of the dress, including twenty pearl buttons (one for each year of her age) and two lace butterflies to decorate the neck of the dress, plus stiffening for the skirt, cost a total of £2.10s (£2.50). The bride also made little Dutch style hat made of lace and artificial lilac flowers. The veil was bought for about 5s. I had two bridesmaids in yellow (material cost £2 for both) with anemone posies.
The bouquet was a mixture of white flowers available at the time — Spring Day, the 21st of March, 1953
Two ladies helped her mother serve up home prepared food in a room hired for the purpose. A lovely wedding cake, made by Burtons of Nottingham, plus a tray of iced fancies were luxury items!
A weekend in Buxton, Derbyshire, and Mr and Mrs Hobson were ready to face their new life together as man and wife (three years in a bedsit at her mother’s house until a deposit was saved for a home of their own).
Yes, I was that bride in a DIY dress. (Perhaps I should mention that my dad had become seriously disabled and money in our house was in short supply.)
1982, I made the wedding dress for my son Stephen’s wife — our lovely Linda. A great deal of hand stitching — embroidery and pearl beads — went into that dress. Plus dresses for the bridesmaids and my mother. That was quite a wedding celebration — afternoon and evening — with lots of guests.
Fifty-seven years after my own wedding, my handsome, grandson Matthew, married his lovely Lisa. Fantastic dress and all the trimmings expected these days. A fortnight honeymoon abroad and a home of their own to return to. Everything wonderful, from the wedding in Church followed by the wedding breakfast, to the dancing in the evening. (See my Wrinkly Writers site).
Three Mr and Mrs Hobsons. Each enjoying their very own special day. On a personal level, have things really changed?

Swan-d-ful — photographs of local swans.

There is something incredibly graceful about swans. They have a perfect simplicity of colour, shape and movement. They inspire peace and tranquility when problems disturb the soul. When I was a child I was forever drawing them — chalk on a blackboard or with pencil. Then I tried using my simple paint box and painted a swan drifting in moonlight. I guess, later on, going to the theatre Royal in Nottingham to see the Swan Lake ballet (sitting up in the gods) a number of times climaxed that fascination. At that time I wanted to be a ballet dancer! But that was long ago. Now I just like to photograph them, not be one of them!

See also
Gladys Hobson — author
Diary Of a Country Lady
Wrinkly Writers - my life is an open book
Yesteryear — any questions?
Gladys Hobson - My Space
Magpies Nest Publishing

USA editions of my books can be found at AGPress bookstore

Ulverston Carnival in Pictures

It is difficult to choose from over 100 photos, all of which show an aspect of the 2010 Ulverston Carnival held last Saturday July 3rd. As usual, we were late arriving at the top end of Sautergate where the Carnival passes, but we then went down the bottom of the road and elsewhere to catch parts we missed. A lovely sunny day and masses of people taking part, especially children. Lots of music from various bands and many dance groups looking gorgeous in their brilliant costumes. Tiny tots, weary from it all. slept in their push chairs as the afternoon progressed. It is amazing the trouble people go to to make it such a success. We did not catch any of the dancers performing. Indeed, by the time some of them reached where we stood they must have been worn out! How stirring were the bands, and jolly the less formal ones. Our photos tend to pick up the 'natural', For, at the corner where we stood, there was much waiting while those before and after did their 'thing' to an appreciative audience. (More crowds there) But I love the 'natural' look on many faces as they were caught off guard.
The whole thing was a wonderful feast of colour, music and movement, which left all of our senses alive and reeling! WELL DONE every single person taking part AND those behind the scenes.

Click on pictures to enlarge.
To see MORE PHOTOS OF THE CARNIVAL, click on Diary Of A Country Lady

Ratty — the friendly squirrel with a peculiar tail

Can anyone tell me what might have happened to this visiting squirrel?
It looks a little like a rat until it skips off. It does not seem as agile as the other squirrels. Is this because a bushy tail gives better balance? But it seems to be surviving okay. If this is a defect I wonder if more squirrels will be born with it. Red Squirrels, grey squirrels and ratty-tailed squirrels!
We call the little fellow Ratty!