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Wednesday 30 November 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Backer


Backer: noun - a supporter, especially someone who places a bet; someone who provides financial backing.

'Who's your backer for the play, Frances?' 'Oh, it's that marvellous tycoon with more money than sense; you know who I mean.'

'Zak is the most consistent backer of dud horses I've ever come across; hasn't won a bet for fifteen years.'

Pic: Wandering way; a rural scene from East Yorkshire.

Tuesday 29 November 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Babel/quiet

Tower of BabelImage via Wikipedia
Babel/quiet:


Babel: noun - confused mixture of sounds; meaningless noise; scene of confusion; a noisy gathering.


'Will you cease this Babel and give me peace to think?'


Quiet: noun - absence of excess noise or activity in the environment; silence; stillness or tranquillity;

'Ah, the blessed quiet of the barely-populated rural idyll; a place to refresh the spirit.'

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Monday 28 November 2011

Review of Descending by Catherine Chisnall

Catherine Chisnall
Image by stuartaken via Flickr
Rightly or wrongly, what matters to me most in fiction, apart from the necessary quality of the writing, is whether I care about the characters or not. In Descending, Catherine Chisnall has created a narrator who is so believable that the novel reads like a memoir. The other characters are drawn with equal skill and their variety brings wide interest to the book. 
At times, I felt that the writing was a little too much like that experienced in a report. And that quality did slightly detract from my enjoyment. 
But the characters saved the day in what is a contemporary story of self-discovery. I wasn't at all sure what the book was about when I started to read, but it soon became clear from the first person narrative that this was a tale about a young woman learning a hard lesson in life and growing to understand that we don't always recognise our actions as selfish until we later examine them. 
A good story, well told.


I interviewed Catherine here on the blog - the link to that interview is here: Catherine Chisnall
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Photos of East Riding

A short while ago, I took part in a contest aimed at finding photographs of the East Riding of Yorkshire that the local authority could use in publicising the area. The contest attracted a lot of interest and the 700+ pictures that are up for judging can be viewed here: http://www2.eastriding.gov.uk/leisure/events/capturing-the-east-riding/gallery/competition-entries/?album=4573
Judging takes place on Friday and I pity the judges having to select a winner from this collection; so many good shots.
It's good to know there are so many people with an eye for a picture who are living in the county.

I've included one of my own entries, just as a teaser, but if you visit the gallery, you'll see many different views of the area and its people.
Enjoy.
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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Abellio

Location of Gallia AquitaniaImage via Wikipedia
Abellio: One more in my occasional series illustrating that the world has and has had any number of gods for people to worship.

Abellio was worshipped in the Garonne Valley in Gallia Aquitania, which is now southwest France, and is primarily known by inscriptions discovered at Comminges. Little is known about this god, but it seems he may have been a god of apple trees. How very specific some of these ancient deities seem to have been.
Some scholars suggest that Abellio is a rendering of Apollo, who was called Abelios in Crete and Apello by the Italians. They believe that the deity is the same as the Gallic Apollo mentioned by Caesar.  In common with so many early deities, the actual origin of this god seems obscure. Such is the fate of gods who fail to come up with the goods for those who worship in the hope of reward, I guess.

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Sunday 27 November 2011

#NaNoWriMo Winner's Certificate.


Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Abandon/retain


I thought I might try a few antonyms for a bit of variety, as synonyms are well catered for in the many thesauruses available, but antonyms are often difficult to track down.

Abandon/retain:

Abandon: verb - Give up control to, surrender to; cease to hold, use, or practise; give up, renounce; desert, leave behind; banish or expel

'In the sweltering heat, Anna felt compelled to abandon her clothes.'

'Seeing her as if for the first time, Ronald felt he could do nothing better than abandon Polly and leave her to the vagaries of the job market.'

Retain: verb - keep attached to yourself or engaged in your service; keep hold or possession of; continue to have, keep, or possess; continue to use, practise, or recognize; allow to remain or prevail; preserve.

'Despite the overbearing heat, Anna felt it was sensible to retain her clothes, as public nudity might expose her to more than mere ridicule.'

'Really seeing Polly for the first time, Ronald felt compelled to retain her as his personal assistant.'

Pic: Venetian Fort in Crete. 

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Saturday 26 November 2011

#NaNoWriMo Completed at 112,242 Words!

The NaNoWriMo challenge is to write a 50,000 word novel in the 30 days of November. I decided right at the start that 50,000 words was insufficient for a novel. Usual word length is from 80,000 to 130,000, so I set myself a target of 120,000 words, knowing I would end up with enough for me to edit my first draft down to a reasonable length. Of course, you can't realistically set a specific number of words for a finished novel, so my target was always intended as an aim and dependent on the way the story actually took me.
Well, I've finished the story and it's ended at 112,242 words, which seems a pretty good working total. I knew, when I started writing this morning, that I was close to the end of the story, but couldn't tell how close. But the 6,220 words I've penned today have done the job and I'm happy with the result. It means I've finished with a couple of days to spare, which is great, since I've other things to do.
Wordle has provided me with visual guides to my repeated words, and I'll be able to use those graphics when I start the editing process in a few weeks from now. I always leave created work for a while, to mature, before I return to start the extensive and comprehensive process of editing it into something that will eventually be publishable.
This writing challenge has been a great way to regenerate my creative muscles after a period during which I've spent a lot of time and effort building a network of interested people, some of whom will hopefully read and review the finished work once I've readied it.
To those who've followed and encouraged me along this route, please accept my heartfelt thanks. Writing is a lonely and isolated experience and the help and interest of others is a great boost.
To those continuing with their own challenge I say, carry on. It's worth it for the feeling of complete satisfaction, knowing you took on the challenge and fulfilled it. Keep going.
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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Zeitgeist

French logo of the zeitgeist movementImage via Wikipedia

Zeitgeist:  noun - the spirit of the age; the trend of thought or feeling in a period, in particular as reflected in art, literature, etc.




'Writers such as William T. Vollmann , Amy Tan, John Ashbery, Mary Oliver, and Jonathan Safran Foer are considered by many to embody the zeitgeist of our age; I have my doubts, but if they actually do, then I fear for the future of literature.'


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Friday 25 November 2011

#NaNoWriMo progress on day 25 = 106022 words

Today's work on the NaNoWriMo challenge has increased the total by 5,948 words to 106,022 words, which is 88% of my 120,000 word target. And, again, the Wordle graphic illustrates the most frequently used words. This one is of the last complete chapter, no 30. I reckon I have 4 chapters to go, but the story might only require another 3; not sure at present. But as long as I complete the actual story by the end of the month, I'll be happy.
The London move turned out to be only a stage in the journey, which ended up in Essex. The hero's now completed his task in that location and is on his way back home, via, no doubt, a number of barriers and hurdles to be crossed and jumped before he can rest on his laurels. Unless, of course, he should die before he reaches his final destination. Perhaps that is his final destination: death? Could be. But I'm not telling; you'll have to read the book to find out what happens to him and his lover; whether they can ride off into the sunset or whether life is about to deal them the cruellest blow.
Another couple of new characters crept into the last two chapters, but they're so minor I haven't done character sketches for them. There are also one or two facts about geographical locations I'll have to check during the editing process, but the important thing at this stage is to keep the story moving. The details can always be tweaked later on, you see?
So, what will tomorrow bring? I've done for today. Actually, tomorrow may not move us as far forward as I wish since my daughter is home from Uni and wants me to take her out into the local countryside to do some landscape photography for her current assignment, so I might not get much writing done. Fingers crossed, I can manage everything I need to.
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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Yahweh

The Tetragrammaton Yahweh intended to be prono...Image via Wikipedia
Yahweh: another in my occasional series on the different gods worshipped around this complex and fascinating world of ours.
Also known as Jehovah and Elohim, Yahweh is the personal name of God in the Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures. The word is a modern convention for the original Hebrew, transcribed into Roman letters as YHWH and known as the Tetragrammaton, for which the original pronunciation is lost. The added vowels are thought by scholars to represent the most likely vocalization of this Tetragrammaton. There are many theories about meaning of the name and none is regarded as conclusive but the most likely may be “He Brings Into Existence Whatever Exists". In the Bible, Yahweh is the god responsible for delivering Israel from Egypt and giving the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel. Known as a jealous god, Yahweh is supposed to have revealed himself to Israel as a god who wouldn't allow idols or the worship of other gods; "I am Yahweh, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, or My praise to idols."
Prior to the change to worship of a single deity, the followers of Yahweh, in common with most ancient groups, worshipped many different gods that supplied many varied roles and functions. Pantheism was much more popular amongst the early seekers of answers to the inexplicable than monotheism, which gradually replaced this tolerant form of worship with a power base that could be used to control the gullible and ill-informed.

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Thursday 24 November 2011

#NaNoWriMo Progress day 24 = 100,074 Words

So, how goes the NaNoWriMo challenge today for those who are taking it?
Well, for me, I've now exceeded the set challenge by a factor of 2, but that's only because I set myself a target of 120,000. At 100,074 words, I'm 83% of the way. Just over 5,000 words today, in 2 sessions. Had to have a brief halt in the second session because the story took the hero down to London and I had to check an A to Z and an Underground map to make sure I was sending him in a logical direction. Most of the action, so far, has taken place in my native East Yorkshire, au unspecified location somewhere in the northern half of England, and a south western seaside town that I based on Weymouth, but never actually named. Motorway travel features rather more than I would care to use it in person, but it fits in with the story.
More new characters coming up, and I'll need to do a couple of character studies tomorrow, quite early in the day, to keep track of the action involving them.
Wordle has, again, provided a useful graphic to show which words are used most frequently. And I've decided to do a Wordle image for each of the chapters. Currently I'm on chap 29, but I've used the last complete chapter, 28, to illustrate this post.
A welcome interruption to the day when I popped down to the local railway station to pick up daughter, Kate, who is home from Uni for the weekend. Nice to see her after her absence. She seems happy and is getting on well with her studies.
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Watching Clocks for Vanity or Status?

alarm clock, bought from IKEAImage via Wikipedia
What, no watch? How d’you tell the time, then?
I haven’t worn a wrist watch since I took voluntary redundancy from the Civil Service in April 1994. And, whilst many people ask me how I manage, I wonder why they continue to rely on a personal timepiece.
Every room in the house, except the smallest, has at least one clock ticking away the seconds. The sitting room mantel carries a carriage clock. The kitchen has a fruity round affair clinging to the wall, and digital displays on cooker, microwave and central heating controls. The bedroom has a self-correcting electric clock radio courtesy of my late step-mother; it wakes me with enough noise to rouse the citizens of Edinburgh. My daughter sleeps through her battery operated alarm, so I’ve installed an insistent radio alarm to ensure she escapes her bed before lunch. And my study contains a small ticking souvenir from a forgotten holiday, as well as the digital display at the bottom right of the computer screen. Every High Street I tread, with heavy, reluctant footfall, measures the passing of the hours with clocks in abundance, in the windows of the many jewellers or on the faces and towers of ugly municipal buildings. At the office (I had to return to employment to earn a living, unfortunately) there are clocks on all four walls, each recording a different time. One of these has forgotten it’s summer and continues to dwell in the winter of GMT. Every bus terminus, train station, and airport lounge sports clocks a plenty. My car, an inexpensive and not quite antique model, holds a clock amongst the various dials, switches and gauges that aid the driver. And, should I find myself stranded in the middle of nowhere, cruelly deprived of public timepieces; what’s in my pocket? Right; a mobile phone with, guess what? A time display.
In all the hours, days, weeks, months and years since I abandoned my personal reminder of time passing, I’ve never missed a bus, train or appointment. And I travel by public transport more frequently than I’d prefer: it’s cheap and helps save the planet, apparently.
So I ask; if I can live a modern life without one, why do so many people wear watches? Why are they so keen on constantly monitoring the ebbing of their lives? I find only two credible answers to this conundrum, and I suspect they’re closely linked. One is simple vanity, of course; a love of something special attached to the person to adorn and beautify, like any item of jewellery. The other is status, where the brand, style or material of the device declares its owner either rich or special. Thus; the designer watch, which tells the world how stylish and comfortably off is its wearer, or the timepiece with so many features it requires a heavy duty strap and over-developed biceps to be carried and remain in place, and reveals its user as a man of action, who thinks nothing of diving 30 metres into water, regardless of the need. And, we mustn’t neglect the hideously expensive watch, which describes its wearer not simply as inordinately wealthy but as boastful and lacking in basic common sense.
Now I’ve upset, angered, irritated and alienated almost everybody, I’ll take a minute to consider my stance on this.
Nope; still feel the same way.
Damn! Just missed the last post.

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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Xenophobia

The First Thanksgiving, painted by Jean Leon G...Image via Wikipedia
Xenophobia: noun - a deep aversion to foreigners and foreign things.

'Your xenophobia informs everything you do, Robert. You see threats everywhere you look.'



'There are some political parties that, with their leaders, actively promote xenophobia in the hope of spreading their message of hatred of everything that isn't native to their own country.'

'Xenophobia, in common will all irrational fears, makes the sufferer more of a fool than the subject of the fear and hatred.'

24 Nov 2011 - Thanksgiving Day.

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Wednesday 23 November 2011

#NaNoWriMo Progress day 23 = 95037 words

The NaNoWriMo challenge continues apace with 3,748 words added today, taking the total to 95,037. I was determined to reach 95,000 today in spite of the fact that I spent a half day at the office. So, still on target and still enjoying. Much has happened in the last few thousands of words and a new, though expected, element has now entered the story, putting the hero in danger again.
The Wordle image of the word usage in Chapter 26 will again be a useful device when I start the editing process.
Some folks have asked me questions about my technique for producing the number of words I do on a daily basis, so here's something that might help answer that.
I always make the writing a priority, doing a targeted number of words (usually 2,000) before I do anything else. It's very easy to get carried away into the world of social networking, emails, or other distractions and end up leaving yourself with little time to do the writing. So, I do the writing first, and the rest is done in whatever time is left to me. Generally, on my full days of writing, I have at least 2 sessions, sometimes 3. Once I've managed 4,000, which is my daily target on full days, I'm happy if I turn out a bit more, but I don't sweat it at that point. I can sometimes write 2,000 in an hour, especially first thing in the morning when I'm fresh. But I can also take 3 hours to do the same number. I find it all depends on the type of event I'm describing. Dialogue seems to flow quite well and the action scenes usually develop fairly rapidly. Once in a while, I need to do some research  on the hoof, but I stick to looking for only the precise answer I need at that time, regardless how interesting the subject might be. So, I avoid distractions and prioritise the writing. I also do absolutely no editing, beyond correcting any spelling errors/typos as I write.
Editing uses a different part of the brain from creating and that 'policeman' that is your editing self can seriously interfere with your creative process if you allow it. In fact, I will wait until I've completed the story and then won't even look at it at all for at least two weeks, maybe four. Then I'll go back to it with a fresh mind and start on the exacting process of editing, reducing unnecessary words, checking for inconsistencies, ensuring actions all make sense and all the other details that are necessary for a successful story.
Hope that's helpful.

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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Wafer

Strawberry ice cream in a cone.Image via Wikipedia
Wafer: noun - a light, very thin, crisp biscuit, often eaten with ice cream; a slice of ice cream sandwiched between wafers; in Christian Church - a thin disc of unleavened bread used in Communion; in Law - a disc of red paper stuck on a document as a seal; a round thin spot, mark, or object; in Electronics - a very thin slice of a semiconductor crystal used in solid-state circuitry; a tiny gold ingot, weighing only a few ounces.





'Licking the ice cream from between the wafers that sandwiched it, Marilyn dripped the white confection over her chin so it trickled down her neck and pooled in the cleavage exposed by her bikini.'



'Taking the wafer, offered by the priest, she drew it into her mouth and allowed it to dissolve on her tongue, awaiting that drop of red wine that would finally melt it and flush it down her throat.'

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Tuesday 22 November 2011

#NaNoWriMo progress on day 22 = 91,289 words

Still going strong. The NaNoWriMo challenge has proved a great motivator and continues to drive me on toward my target. Over 3/4 of the way there now and 9 days to go, so I should make it, given a fair wind and no disasters.
Tuesday is a full day at the office for me, so I rose early and did 1,900 words before I left for work. Back home, and Valerie fed and watered me, so I could get on with the next session. Another 1,100 or so words took me to the current total of 91,289.
The Wordle graphic displays the word priorities that exist in chapter 25.
The story has now moved into a more intense portion, with the humour often replaced by the aspects of the novel that will enable it to bear the title of 'thriller'. I'm still pleased with the progress, but the writing is a little less fun than it is during the humour phases. Still, the contrast between action and humour is an essential element in the story and I'm happy that the framework remains on track, even if a little distorted from the original pattern envisaged. The general direction remains the same, though the conclusion has altered a little from that I set out with. The characters are interacting well, with the villains making capital off the heroes. And our poor victim, who is actually a strong woman overcome by circumstances beyond her control, is facing the dangers stoically and lives in hope that her hero will rescue her before anything too terrible happens to her.

And just a note about this post. It's my 800th on the blog.

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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Vacuous

The Tiburtine Sybil, woodcut from the Nurember...Image via Wikipedia
Vacuous: adjective - devoid of matter; containing nothing tangible or visible; without ideas; unintelligent; expressionless; empty of content or substance; meaningless; idle, indolent; not profitably occupied.

'Sybil gazed into the distance, pretending to divine the future by reading the cloud formations, but she was undone by the vacuous expression on her bland face.'

'You, sir, are an unmitigated, sly, devious, under-educated and vacuous moron; no wonder the best you could do was become an MP.'

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Monday 21 November 2011

#NaNoWriMo progress; day 21 = 88247 words

A day at the office, and, as soon as I've done this post, a spell of ballroom dancing with my wife. Hence a short post this time.
But I've managed another 2,182 words in a couple of short sessions either side of the evening meal, taking my NaNoWriMo total to 88,247 and keeping my average word count at 4,202 each day.
Wordle has provided me with another useful graphic, which will be invaluable come the edit. This one shows Chapter 24 and the keen-eyed will no doubt notice some words now making a prominent appearance. What they all mean, however, will have to wait until the end. Once edited and published, all will be revealed for those wishing to read 'An Accidental Avenger'.

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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Ugly


Ugly: adjective - of an appearance causing dread or horror; frightful, horrible; of an event, time, sound - dreadful, terrible; morally repulsive; base, vile; offensive or repulsive to the eye, refined taste or good feelings; disagreeable, unpleasant; causing disquiet or discomfort; problematic, awkward; of markedly disagreeable or unpleasant appearance; offensive to smell or taste; noisome, nasty; suggesting trouble or danger; of the weather or sea - threatening, dangerously rough; cross, angry or bad-tempered.

'David stared hard into the mirror on the wall of his bedsit and wondered whether any woman would ever fancy and ugly bugger like him.'

'An ugly mob gathered around the steps of the courthouse, threatening to lynch the sex offender when he emerged from the trial.'

Pic: A dry stone wall above Catrigg Force, North Yorkshire. (Included as an antidote the ugly features.)

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Sunday 20 November 2011

#NaNoWriMo Progress on Day 20 = 86065 words

Yesterday, I developed a new character, more or less out of the blue. She came as a surprise to me but she has already had an amazing impact on the plot and caused major issues for Mel. Of course, Isla is not yet aware of her, for reasons which will only become clear when you read the finished novel. And you will be able to read it, since I intend to get this published, as soon as I've finished the challenge here on NaNoWriMo and then completed the necessary editing, after a spell of reflection. This is turning into a damn good story, my characters are developing and influencing the story as we move forward together towards a conclusion that I had thought was fixed when I started. Not so, the characters had different ideas and it looks now as if this will be the first book in a series of, probably, three.
I've actually introduced a couple of well known names into the story, more by association than as actual appearances. The new character, for example, is described by Mel as being the spitting image of Kelly Brook.
I've managed five and a half thousand words today, in two sessions, bringing the total to 86,065, which takes me to 72% of my target on day 20. Tomorrow, Monday, is a time for a short writing spell, since I'll be at the office for much of the day and then dancing ballroom with my wife in the evening.
We had our usual Sunday walk today, but the fog made the landscapes more mysterious than open and the chill air had us walking rather faster than usual.
Wordle has, once again provided me with a diagram pointing out the most frequently used words. This will be a real help when I get down to the editing process. Today's image is from Chapter 23.
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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Tablet

Venus de Milo. Louvre Museum.Image via Wikipedia
Tablet: noun - a flat slab of stone, metal, or wood carrying an inscription, carving, or picture; a slab used as a roofing or flooring tile; a rigid card used in tablet-weaving; in Computing - a flat rectangular surface on which a stylus or finger may be moved to position a cursor on a screen; a flat ornament of precious metal or jewellery; a small flat or compressed piece of a solid substance; a portion of medicine or drug compressed into a solid flattish shape, intended to be swallowed whole; a cake of soap.

'Keep taking the tablets!'

'Porky Smellworthy spent the whole afternoon carving a tablet of soap into a miniature model of the Venus de Milo.'

'Moses descended the mountain, carrying stone tablets bearing the dozens of laws he'd been instructed to chisel into the rock, and, falling flat on his face, smashed most of them to smithereens.'

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Saturday 19 November 2011

#NaNoWriMo Progress on Day 19 = 80,518 Words

The ITIN application is now in the post to the US Embassy in London. Be interesting to see how quickly they deal with this. Though I'm glad they provide the service, as it's very costly to do it direct to Texas.
The antibiotics have finally stopped the toothache, so my sinuses are clearing: it's good to breathe freely again.
Short walk today, under grey skies. Have another once I've done this, before settling down for the last of the evening.
The challenge through NaNoWriMo is still going well, with an extra 4,800 odd words added to bring the grand total to 80,518, which is about two thirds of my target. I had one of those eureka moments today, whilst I was sharing breakfast in bed with my wife. So, I've had to do a new character profile, which involved finding a suitable picture from the web (I always base my characters on a picture, as I'm a pretty visual guy). Found a suitable lass and got the profile completed and added to the spreadsheet timeline. This new character, although entering the story relatively late in the day, has given me a real boost. I think she'll not only make the book a better tale, but will also make it possible to turn what was going to be a stand-alone into a short series; probably three.
So, looking forward to the next session, tomorrow. Hope all the other challengers out there are doing well and not getting disheartened. It's a tough task to complete this challenge, but it's worth the effort to end up with a new novel at the end.
And then begins the editing, of course.

The Wordle picture is from Chapter 22. Isla's name is very prominent, so I'll have to check that when I do the editing. Of course, the chapter is very much about her and Mel's relationship to her, so not surprising her name comes up a lot.
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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Stock Character

Antisemitic caricature shortly after the big b...Image via Wikipedia
Stock Character: A fictional character based on a common literary or social stereotype. Such characters rely heavily on cultural types or names for their personality, manner of speech, and other characteristics and are a key element in genre fiction, supplying relationships and interactions that people familiar with the genre will recognize at once. Stock characters are ready targets for parody, exaggerating the stereotypes associated with them.
So, the 'stock' criminal may be dim and easily apprehended, the 'stock' nurse may be attractive and sexy, the 'stock' policeman not very bright and prone to uttering meaningless jargon, the 'stock' detective able and perceptive but not successful with women. You get the picture.
More honest and perceptive writers tend to avoid the stock character and portray people who appear real instead.

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Friday 18 November 2011

#NaNoWriMo Progress, Day 18 = 75960 Words

Some days go well, some go better.
So, what have I done today? Well, I'm looking just a tad more like a human being, having visited the local barber, where I had my locks shorn and, as is the way in such places, we fixed the problems in football, sorted out the local authority and generally set the world to rights.
Finally put to gether my application for an ITIN with the IRS in USA, so I won't have to pay US tax as well as UK tax on my earnings. Must post that tomorrow. Lunch, and then a pleasant short walk for air and exercise with my lovely wife.
Before breakfast, I'd done a session on the NaNoWriMo challenge and I had a second session this afternoon, turning out a total of 4,546 new words to bring the grand total to 75,960 at the end of today. Sinister threats lurk beneath the superficial idyll that our two lovers occupy. All is not as it appears on the surface and unpleasant events are afoot.
Tonight, I intend to spend the evening in front of the idiot's lantern to watch what, for me, is 'must'watch' TV. Here in UK, we have a charity night in November, aimed at raising money for disadvantaged children. Children In Need has raised more than £500,000,000 over the years, with the British public donating around £35,000,000 for each show. I shall watch, as usual, and donate what I can, as usual. It's a  great cause and a great way to bring serious issues to the attention of the public, whilst offering real entertainment from a gang of stars and personalities who offer their services free for the night. If you're able, I urge you to join me for the night and dig into your pockets to help those deserving kids out there, eh?

The pic is another Wordle diagram, this time of Chapter 21.
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Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Rabid

Cases of animal rabies in the United States in...Image via Wikipedia
Rabid: adjective – raging, furious, madly violent in nature or behaviour; unreasoning, fanatical; affected with rabies; concerning the nature of rabies.

'When in affected countries, tourists are advised against stroking or touching stray animals in case they are rabid.'

'I was at a meeting the other night and that moronic preacher, you know the one with the loud voice and staring eyes, was spouting his doctrine of intolerance in such rabid terms that everyone left before he'd finished.'

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