Green Greens

Taking a stroll at lunchtime past another company a familiar dialogue plays out.

"How's it going?" A man asks as another walks by

"Living the dream" he replies without missing a step.

It could have been any company -- it could have been my company...

~Fraser

Old Adversary

I was half way through writing an article on the middle east when I had to stop.

It's old news, I was bored writing about it. Things have been in a constant state of change there for 2000 years.

I suppose it's like a river, you can never step into the same one twice. That said it's still the same river.

Without getting too philosophical I thought I'd instead write about a story which is new. Or rather a hidden piece of history only recently uncovered.

It's easy to imagine war with the most unlikely of allies, thrown together to battle a common foe. What about unlikely enemies?

Recent documents from the Library of Congress have revealed America's WW2 plans for war with a number of countries. Russia, South America, China, (the usual suspects) and Britain.

No that's not a predictive text mistake - war with Great Britain and her colonies.

I'd always found it weird that the USA distanced itself from events in Europe when fighting was at its ugliest. Why they only intervened at the last.

It makes sense that it was a wait and watch. If Britain had steam rolled over Hitler's plans they may have resorted to taking measures to stop us trying to invade.

Before Pearl harbour shocked the USA into facing facts and taking action they had even began to mobilise troops along the Canadian border, building secret air bases ready for an invasion.

Following WW2, we continue to enjoy a lasting military alliance with the USA but it's amazing to think how different things may have been.

In fact we've only just taken down flags together in Afghanistan - where our joint militaries have been for the last 13 odd years.

Here's to a lasting friendship -- and please, no more surprises!

~Fraser

Too much TV -- You talk TV?

I think I've been watching too much of the TV series 24 on netflix lately, as when I was coming off the motorway I saw a black van with tinted windows run a red light at the roundabout doing 60mph.

All I could think after cursing the potential accident I almost had was that maybe it was a government agent. Or maybe even a criminal.

Or just maybe, it was yet another moron who owns the road...

~Fraser

 

Rotheram - The Pandora's Box of Britain

A systematic series of child abuse has been revealed in Britain. In the town of Rotheram gangs of mostly Pakistani origin were found to have groomed and raped girls as young as 11 years old. This is not a localised incident -- other instances have been found around the UK. How can we have failed so badly?

How can a police officer dismiss and turn away a child who says they were raped?

Once would be a mistake in judgement. 1400 times is an outright disgrace.

Putting aside that there are scum in this country who think that behaviour is acceptable. There have always been degenerates and their always will. It is the measures we take to prevent and remedy that define us.

Britain has always been a country of balanced and tempered resolve, but without a full and swift retaliation on these offenders and those who have not done their duty to protect these children, it will only continue.

It's difficult to watch the news as interviews bring in those directly involved as blame is passed from person to person, department to department until the story dies down. No-one is willing to do the honest thing and admit their failings. Not only do we have people who are failing in their jobs to protect the children of this country they are dishonest and cowardly as well.

What hope do we have to stop this from happening if the people involved do not take responsibility for their actions.

And what of the criminals themselves? Some of whom already are free from their sentences to walk the streets. It's a mockery of justice.

Mugshots of Perps involved in the grooming and rape of children - Jailed in 2010

I will wait to see how the government responds to this issue I hope they take this opportunity to redeem themselves and take action against the lack of prosecutions and lack of activity from the authorities involved.

Only a campaign of action will set a president for this criminal activity. Stop them now before more children suffer as a result of complacency.

~Fraser

Getting cold

I've just uploaded a new header on my Blog - and while it may be a bit premature as Autumn is still getting under way, I think I'll be the first to welcome in the cold weather.

Another year is hurtling by and soon we'll all be huddling under our blankets at night.

I wrote this message in the snow for my (then, girlfriend, now) fiancée so fond memories attached, but I also like to think of it as message from Winter

We'll be seeing you soon

~Fraser

Two Hunters and a Witch

I've just uploaded another three stories, again some of my earliest work.

Perhaps they're showing some signs of age now and through this whole batch of flash fiction that I've uploaded I've set myself the task of making the next set I write better.

You could say I've drawn a line in the sand now and have promised myself to step up my writing to make the next ones of a different calibre.

We'll see if that happens, but my latest story I'm very happy with so maybe if nothing more than psychologically it's working.

Well, hope you enjoy these, not many more to upload now

~Fraser

Plight of Iraq

There's no denying that Iraq has had a long and bloody time in the recent decades. How much longer it'll last is anyone's guess.

Once the shining jewel of the middle east and probably richest place on earth. It's worth reading the 1001 nights to get a glimpse into this golden time for the country or at least what became it.

Surviving one brutal dictator only to find themselves being eroded from their own borders by ISIS scum. I feel sorry for the Iraqi people.

Yet when I see the Iraqi military and the Kurdish forces deployed against this threat it fills me with respect. I hope they are proud of fighting the good fight and it gives them energy as this conflict drags on as I cannot begin to imagine how draining this must be.

How can it feel to know fools from around the world have come to your country to join a movement bent on carving a bloody part of your land and people for their own ends.

It fills me with shame to know there are British people involved with ISIS. 

To see those dogs riding round in cars flaunting their weaponry I wonder what "North Korean" complex these people have? What could drive a young man to throw away his ties to his family and friends; the people that nurtured him and go butcher a people which are nothing to do with him.

Joining a cause which isn't your own is one thing. Travelling across the world to ruin peoples lives is another.

Unlike the mess in Syria, the Iraqi people are simply trying to rebuild their lives. It's shocking to know that we're not capable of stopping our own people from going to Iraq to join ISIS.

Britain owes these people an apology.

~Fraser

Shuffle - sculpt - shuffle

I've had a bit of a reshuffle on the blog and finally got round to uploading some of my recent foray into sculpting. Craft knives and surgical scalpels? My thumbs will never forgive me...

I'll be uploading some models as I go and some painting as I get round to it.

I've over 2000 points of Bretonnians and a wonderful array of other bits and bobs I'll be painting over the coming years so keep an eye out.

~Fraser

More Stories

I've added three more flash fiction stories to the site including my second ever piece of flash fiction (aside from all the weird ones I used to write when I was a kid) so check them out and as always I hope you enjoy!

Staircase, is a bit of avant-garde fiction about climbing a staircase and metaphorical implications that might have. The building excitement of reaching what lies at the top represented audibly.

Summoner, is a small piece of fiction about Eriah the summoner, the arrogant wizard who attempts to bind a demon to his service, but with dire consequences.

The Cage, follows a man who has been imprisoned within a gibbet cage. An arduous and torturous demise in the iron cage that swings, creaking in the tree.

Hope I've wet your appetite, what are you waiting for, go check them out!

~Fraser

The Price of Information

If you live in the UK you will shortly be receiving a letter like this saying the way you vote is changing.

What isn't clear from that statement is that the way you vote actually isn't changing. The government is making us aware they are preparing to sell our information.

Thye call it an open register that has our details that can be bought by anyone who wants it.

I'm glad that's cleared up as I assumed when I read that the way I register to vote is changing I thought that would change the way I register to vote.

So putting aside that blatant distraction method, what they've announced is not only will they profit from selling our information to any number of potentially unscrupulous companies bent on a new wave of targeted spam/scams we're implicit by default.

"I'm writing to let you know that you have been automatically re - registered under the new system. You don't need to do anything else."

That's what I find most the most difficult to swallow. In other words,

"You weren't consulted, we didn't need to, if you care you'll have to go out of your way to stop us."

The leading form of statement is like a low form of persuasion. Think about it.

You don't need to do anything else.

If the government had announced that they wish to generate revenue by exploiting the growing need for customer information within the business sector by selling my information. Providing they had assured there would be standards involved. I wouldn't have minded.

This devious attempt to trick us is insulting and I'm personally going to do what I can to avoid a fresh quota of spam in my life.

Unless it's part of a flying circus sketch...

~Fraser

First Appearance

This isn't just a bowl of beans...

...This is a writer's workshop

~Fraser

Ssstories

It's a triple bill of additional stories added to the blog again - all following a rather downbeat theme this time.

Samaritan is an account of the trials of a young man in a modern context. Dealing with stubbornness, pride and how the "Samaritan" fits into the present day.

Shackle is a futuristic take of our first encounter with an alien race - will we break free from the shackle?

Solitary is a micro prison drama - how far men go when committed to a cause.

~Fraser

3 More Stories

I've just uploaded another 3 pieces of flash fiction which you'll find under the Stories tab to the right.

King of the Rats is an anthropomorphic "rats eye view" of a home invasion by hungry vermin. It's got a bit of "Tom and Jerry" so it's a bit tongue in cheek.

Revelation is actually one of the first stories I ever wrote so I do enjoy looking back - if not to see how far I've come. It does have a nice poem in though ;)

Roundhead contains only a short monologue I would imagine Oliver Cromwell to have shouted to his followers to rouse their passion against King Charles I. Off with his head!

~Fraser

New Discounted Price for The Frozen Codex

 Thanks to Everyone who's bought my book so far but now is the time to reach a wider audience.

I've just lowered the price of The Frozen Codex so a great chance to pick up a copy of my first book and see what my work is like for yourself.

The eBook is now only £0.99p so no excuse not to try it out!

http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=frozen+codex&categoryId=200002

~Fraser

3 More Stories

I've added 3 more of my flash fiction stories to the blog - link on the right of the page

Hope you enjoy them, they're all pretty distinct from each other.

Experiments, is a broody fantasy set in a Victorian night amidst the smokey clouds of a steam train rest stop at a station Harris will never be able to forget.

Future, is a mock up of how those in the past might view our own society today.

Home, is a look into the mind of a Care Home patient whom despite the bitterness in his heart can't help but find some joy in life.

More to come soon!

~Fraser

Diversity

...Is the spice of life. It provides a great insight into human nature.

I'm not talking about the same old tired opinions of positive discrimination in the workplace but on a much more real basis.

At the O2 arena in Greenwich today there are two main attractions. The Monty Python Reunion, which has attracted an odd mix of old eccentric folks with handkerchiefs on their heads. And a boyband reunion which has swarms of girls flocking to see whichever fops are still vying for their attention.

It does make me wonder what the teenagers of today make of the jokers of the past. They seem so very puzzled by the big fibreglass model of a dead parrot.

When I was coming to London on the train, a four year old French boy comes and sits next to me so I take out my headphones and we watch Battlestar Galactica together.

It's somehow reassuring when you come across these little nuances in the day to day. Life is interesting. Whatever else you call it, that much is true.

~Fraser

2000

In celebration of reaching 2000 views on my blog I'm going to start adding my collection of Flash Fiction stories that I have written to showcase my work.

Thank you for reading my blog up until this point - I hope you've enjoyed my posts and will enjoy the stories that I will be uploading over the coming weeks.

As usual, any feedback is greatly appreciated!

~Fraser

The Unexpected

I always try to allow a margin for error; room for the unexpected in whatever plans I make. You never know when life is going to throw a surprise at you.

Or in the case of last night, throwing a wild hare in front of my car and smashing my headlight. It was catapulted away, spinning through the air in a shower of plastic shards. A surprise to say the least.

The hare ran off and my headlight casing was totally destroyed but you've got to laugh. It could quite easily have been a muntjac deer and my entire car could have been wrecked.

It's nice to able to laugh at the surprises life brings us. For better or worse it's always exciting and good to mix things up. So long as the bill isn't too high!

~Fraser

Mr Sunshine

Half way through my 7 mile run this evening and I come to a fork in the road. Despite the wind and the stormy clouds the sun is shining on both paths.

That has to be a good omen.

Here's to a bright future

Cheers

~Fraser

Making a difference

It's amazing how much a story can influence you.

I was watching a dramatisation of Stephen Hawking's life played by Benedict Cumberbatch and seeing the story behind the brilliant mind of one of the greatest scientists of our time.

It left me with a profound feeling which grips me from time to time. I have to emulate that greatness. To get into physics I'd probably have to do some more A levels but I can do night classes so that'd be okay. I couldn't believe I was seriously thinking about it.

I had to take a step back. I'm never going to be the next Stephen Hawking even if I did go down that path. The desire still burned however -- I want to make a difference to the world.

My only talent is writing and I'm still a fledgling in that. The book is a powerful tool to help others but that'd have to be non-fiction. Fiction sits on a shelf in budget shops and newsagents that might as well be labelled "time pass" -- or "something to give your eyes a break from rotting away, staring at screens".

I try and think if fiction could do anything for us as a species and I think of great authors like Joseph Heller teaching me about the madness of war and that no matter how bleak the outlook is we can laugh and move on.

This is bed time philosophy though. Not the origins of the universe. The time has passed when a man could sit and rationalise about universal maxims with nothing more than his own mind and some pork pies.

I know there are science fiction writers that have paved the way for inventors through their broad imagination, but still the praise is empty and thought alone, again, only gets you so far.

Short of finding an interest to write non-fiction about it's hard to imagine what an average man can achieve in this world. Still, the world is a fascinating and interesting place for those who look and while my fiction may not explain the stars maybe if I keep writing well enough I may earn my place among them.

Then again, not with clichés like that I won't.

~Fraser

Gambling with Vultures

I've been buying way too much stuff on ebay recently. It's a method of shopping that puts an element of gambling into the process. I wonder then could it be considered addictive?

A combination of shopping and gambling -- no wonder it's doing so well.

I just can't get the feeling out my mind that all the bidders are waiting till the last 10 seconds like vultures to jump in and take the kill. Bid-sniping as it's come to be called. Anyway can't write for long I've got auctions ending and I can feel the saliva dripping from my beak.

~Fraser

One man's rubbish is another man's treasure

I was scouting the charity shops in Salisbury when I went to Stonehenge recently. Fantastic sight, definitely worth a look if you haven't already by the way.

In the British Red Cross shop I stumbled on this little gem;

Not only is this a double sided piece of excellent sci-fi / fantasy artwork it also contains an LP I can fortunately play because my little lady bought me a Lenco Record player a little while back.

I only hope the birds outside my window are enjoying it as much as I am as I'm now on the second full play through.

If you've never had the experience of listening to Hawkwind before I recommend you pick up one of their cd's. It's psychedelic rock at its best.

~Fraser

And the Heavens opened

There's nothing nicer than getting creative when it's stormy. Finally got down to some writing and painting today, quite happy with the results too.

Some touching up is needed and I still need to base

them but liking the way they came out. For the Troll slayer I was contemplating white trousers but it looked too plain so I went for the ancient British look. I'm planning to change the pattern for the other four using a mix of plaid and chequered designs.

The Thief/Assassin is an old wayfarer converted so his shield hand is empty and his javelin is a stiletto knife.

Lastly the bell is the old Skaven Screaming bell taken off of the wagon so I can use it as the town bell in Mordheim.

~Fraser

Impressive stupidity

Getting changed today and flicking through channels I see an American chef pour coffee into molten chocolate. What she said next left me a little stunned.

"You can't taste it, but it will make a huge difference to how it tastes"

...right...

~Fraser

Schism

Martin Luther (not King Junior) the Monk responsible for the Protestant reformation within the Christian church was a figure that changed the face of European religion forever.

In the 1500s he nailed a set of theses to the door of his church on practices within Christianity that he felt went away from what the religion was supposed to be about.

Just to give you some idea, at this point monks were selling peoples bones under the premise that they were fragments of saints or even Jesus himself at high premiums. They were even seducing young women that they visited and all manner of immoral acts by abusing their position in society.

Martin Luther essentially caused a divide within the Church which would forever be known as the Schism.

I remember one quote from the Pope Leo X (no relation to Malcom X) at the time that this would be a slippery slope should the reform be accepted. That was probably the single most true statement of any Pope there's ever been as you can see walking down any town centre and witnessing the Pentecostal Evangelical Church of Latter day Science or any other of a thousand different cults that have sprang up over the last few decades.

That doesn't detract from the good work it did for the church however. It was a radical shake up of a religion that had started to slip into immorality.

Then I saw this whole storm that Radical Muslim group ISIS were kicking up.

It amazes me the extent of the Muslim religion - it's so vast and broad in it's belief. I know Muslims which are more British than I am despite having lived here my whole life and then you see others taking their religion to the streets with AK47s and Machetes.

I got thinking of how one set of beliefs could still be followed by such polar opposites of people. There are radical thinkers in every aspect of society, but most of us do a good job of putting a clear distinction in place to separate "us" from "them".

In fact none more so than the Christians - hence where the Schism came from.

The Muslim community takes a lot of fire for holding a brotherhood which while somewhat commendable for it's unity contains the kind of scum that they would do very well to distinguish themselves from. Exemplified by statements like "We don't police our own community" which was spoken by an Imam after the identities of members of his congregation were found part of a terrorist plot.

The bonds that tie the community together can only last so long as certain members test it with their radical thinking. When you hear the tales of "forced marriage" aka rape and occupation of towns in Iraq you've got to wonder when a normal Muslim is going to think, enough is enough, I can't consider myself brothers with these people.

I really hope the day comes when a liberal Muslim will walk up to his/her mosque and nail to the door a thesis on the wrongs that he/she can no longer be part of.

It's long overdue and we can then look forward to giving respect to what should be another peaceful, ancient and respectful religion.

~Fraser

Temptation

I haven't had to abstain in a while. I haven't even had to refrain either although the difference escapes me somewhat.

Going in for surgery tonight and told I can't eat all day. For someone who snacks for the whole of my usual routine it's proving interesting.

My will power seems fairly low and I'm getting some serious hunger. I work in an office where everyone is snacking so I decided to take a walk at lunch time.

Everything seems to smell tasty out here. The fumes from the canteen, Catering vans, freshly sawn wood. I'd eat anything right now and I think that was clear on my face, watching a rather plump pigeon hide when it saw me coming.

Like our other human faculties I imagine will power is the result of the same equation.

Natural disposition + training/experience - negative external stimuli = faculty/ability

I haven't needed to hold back in a long time. I find it hard to maintain my weight and harder still to put weight on. And don't think I don't get sick of people grabbing their belly and saying "I wish I had that problem."

Most thin people can look at those overweight and comfortably ask why they just don't cut down on what they eat. I imagine their mind and how badly it wants to give in and find relief.

We're at an exponential stage of human development.  We've got so much that we're becoming unstable. We've not had to be moderate so we lose the ability.

Perhaps it's good to flex a long out of use muscle and abstain a while. It's strange to think that I rarely eat because I am genuinely hungry. Sometimes it's just because food is there.

Makes me wonder what other faculties I have that desperately need some training?

~Fraser

Rivers

"Ever-newer waters flow on those who step into the same rivers."

            ~ Heraclitus

It is truly amazing the way a positive experience can change your whole outlook or give you the nudge out of a difficult time and back to optimism.

Whether meeting old friends or making new ones, even if you are wrestling squeaky toys from their mouth.

Life is change, something even the presocratics understood.

An unrelated note is that it is also truly amazing what you find you've bid on the night before after a night out.

Although, that said, I am quite looking forward to my 1800's painting of Empedocles.

~Fraser

An Unexpected Journey

My mother hosted a Women's Institute meeting last night and was out in the garden so I was stuck playing doorman.

Each time I got comfy in my chair there would be a rapping at the door and I'd go and open it as a small lady would step in and make her way round to the back garden.

I couldn't help but wonder if a certain Grey Wizard had marked a magic rune on my door.

~Fraser

Ancestry

When I think of my family history through the ages, it truly amazes me to know that one of my ancestors was around at every major event in my cultural history.

The world wars, The rise of Cromwell and the English Civil wars, Scottish independence, the crusades. With such deep historic ties to culture and nation I wonder why I find myself so inexorably drawn to parts of history in particular?

Two things stand out in my mind as being fascinating subjects - the Celts and the Crusades and I've taken great pleasure in reading about them both over my life but is there more to than random curiosity?

Looking at yourself in the mirror and you can pick out certain features that can tell us about our past. Why could it not be the same for our minds? I'm not for one minute saying that we have memories of our relatives but what about the way we think? Similar interests, personality traits passed down through the ages for instance.

I find it curious when I spoke to my colleague at work who said he was interested in Norman history and when I looked at his long hooked nose and ginger hair, I could well believe it.

Perhaps these irrational interests are just the result of historical fiction we've encountered but maybe there's more to it than that. Just think that the history you find so fascinating might just have been written by your ancestors.

Painted by Renu Desai

~ Fraser

Interesting paths

I entered into a raffle at the weekend and had my eye only on one prize - a beautiful set of crystal whiskey glasses.

When they drew my ticket I immediately went over and took them back to the table - my mum asked if I knew what they were - and if I was sure I wanted them.

I didn't understand what she meant at the time but it turns out they belonged to my grandfather. My Gran had entered them into the raffle to get rid of them.

Strange how things have a way of working out.

~Fraser

Room with a view

It's easy to overlook the things around us and take them for granted. As far as views go, I'd say the one from my room was right up there with the best of them.

~Fraser

Deception

Sometimes politicians throw a curve ball -- just to mix things up.

I can see Obama has some real left wing tendencies and he seems to have a good heart, but in one fell swoop he has undermined years of an American political standpoint on terrorism.

1st rule - "We don't deal with terrorists"

There's something to admire in his desire to see an American soldier return home after five years of being imprisoned by the Taliban. On taking interviews with his own servicemen it later comes out that he was a deserter that worse still, ended up getting other soldiers killed in rescue missions.

So with all that aside and just thinking with the goodness in our hearts about saving a soldier serving his country, Obama broke the commandment that Bush seemed to hammer into us back when he held the reins.

Does the Taliban now realise it can leverage it's political message like never before in that people are actually paying attention to their outrageous demands. Four of their leaders now sent back to them with bitter memories of Guantanamo fresh in their minds.

I hope the USA is ready for any repercussions that trade off may bring. It seems like the least thought through decision Obama could make, one based on human emotion and no logical or sound reasoning at all.

At the very least I would have liked to have seen some military/espionage tactics at play here. Release four Terrorist leaders on inconspicuous grounds stuffed so full of tracking devices that they would think night time is longer due to the amount of satellites hovering above them in the atmosphere. Perhaps in a couple of months we'll even hear about a massacre in a Taliban training camp at the hands of the Navy Seals.

I truly hope for Obama's sake these "leaders" are too washed up and old to be of any use to anyone over there because this latest f@@@ up decision is about as mind boggling as the Super Mario Bro's Chess Set having Luigi as the Queen.

Good Intentions vs Good Policy?

~Fraser

EU Crisis

I'm not talking about the Eiffel Tower falling down or some such crisis, but there seems to be a certain sense that Europe is facing an identity crisis. A sort of EU Midlife Crisis.

With the recent momentum that the UK Independence Party has gained in the European Elections it's surprising to see that this wave of nationalism is not just local to the UK.

Considering that the more time that passes, the more integrated we all become due to cross country migration it's interesting to see us clinging to a sense of national identity in the face of this. I can understand that the more personalities and cultures we encounter in our country the more our own culture comes at risk of becoming lost in a sea of voices. This being said it seems we've made the mistake of falling into Right Wing thinking as a way to preserve it.

Stopping immigration in this day an age for a country such as the UK would be as economically viable as stopping manufacture of the wheel in an attempt to reduce pollution.

I only recently -- over the last 5 or so years have come to understand and appreciate what it means to be British. Part of that rich cultural heritage is the result of influences from outside.

Our ancestors were all the result of foreign influence, all the way back through a series of invasions similar to your yearly kitchen home invasion by ants. Except these ants planted flags and built houses.

Ever since I can remember and I dare say anyone else under the age of 70 we've been driving Japanese cars, wearing clothes with American and German Flags on, designed by French and Italians and made by the Chinese using Egyptian cotton. Drinking tea, burning incense and wearing shirts all of which were made in India while on my Korean phone. Is it that bizarre to imagine that people should want to make the journeys that their produce has been making for many years already?

A lot of the problems are caused by a minority of people who abuse the system and take advantage of our naive healthcare and benefits system and great standard of living.

The real problem is there are bastards all around the world in every country, including our own. Don't let those people ruin it for everyone else.

I can only imagine how UKIP would destroy the country through their utter lack of experience and intelligence in actual policy towards the economy but even if they only stopped immigration we would simply find ourself with more illegal immigrants and less legal ones.

People that would still come, with less money, less possessions, more desperate, less potential or hope. You may not agree with the numbers of immigrants coming into your country, but at least it's regulated. Closing the door would simply make all the gaps in the windows much more apparent.

~Fraser

Small Victories

I received my first writers pay check yesterday -- the proceeds from my Novel, The Frozen Codex. Definitely a step in the right direction.

The next step is to become active within the writing community.

In my job I'm used to managing a pipeline. Now I'm spending my evenings and weekends trying to manage a pipe dream.

~Fraser

Care

Objectively speaking, the more frequently we are exposed to something the more desensitised we become. Ergo, the less we care.

The UK's NHS has shown that a country can run a socialist healthcare system within a democracy to a great deal of success, but as the years roll on I feel the care is becoming much worse.

It is a similar environment to any office where you can often tell a lot from how hard someone works. It's often down to their bonus scheme and those people drifting tend to be the ones paid the same regardless.

NHS staff remind me of these drifters you meet in jobs you wouldn't want. People who don't care and will avoid any work they don't have to do.

I'm not expecting a bunch of motherly nurses in our hospitals but the sheer ineptitude and lack of interest is saddening.

We've all taken a job we don't like because we need the money or couldn't find anything else at the time. These people however are at times in charge of our lives.

I can't help but compare the NHS to the hospital care I received in South Korea. I was shocked at how efficient,  modern and caring they were.

The Dr I saw there was not just dealing with the next patient, he made sure I understood everything that was happening. Explained all the avenues of treatment.

The difference? Money. It cost me to get treated so who knows how you cope without medical insurance/money over there.

I'm not selfish enough to want to change our NHS in favour of a paid model but surely it is a matter of attitudes as much as finances.

I remember the awkward smile which the Dr in SK gave me as I shook his hand on giving me the all clear of pneumonia. The last Dr in the UK didn't even look at me as he told me his assistant would see me out.

~Fraser

Inspiration

Inspiration can come from anywhere,  but for me nowhere else will inspire me more than the Scottish Highlands. The older I get the more I appreciate why my dad used to spend so much time there.

~Fraser

Richard III

Both Leicester and York are disputing where the late monarch, found under a car park in Leicester should be buried.

I think they should all be thankful he didn't get clamped for having been parked there all these years. Maybe they should just put him back, as a grisly reminder to the current monarchy.

Justice is always metered out in the end...

What...too soon?

~Fraser

Exocrine

Almost finished painting my new 1500 point 40k list. Hitting the town on Saturday to play test the new 7th edition rules. Bring on the weekend!

Diplomacy

Prince Charles is famous for being a blundering racist and has landed himself and more than likely the British image in some trouble over the last few decades.

Yet when he likened Putin to Hitler I thought he finally might have hit the nail on the head.

We'll see if he has the guts to hold to his nerve in the face of political pressure.

~Fraser

Warhammer 40k 7th Edition

Fancy new cover art, the old 3 book style, a hefty price tag.

I must admit I'm pretty excited by the new edition of 40k. If you haven't already,  I recommend watching the teasers on youtube as to what's in the new rules (once you've changed your password of course //cough// heartbleed //cough //).

The new missions sound great - kind of like risk where you have a unique objective you get extra points for completing. It looks like the days of randomly selecting a bunch of missions that sound different but work almost exactly the same are gone.

One small change caught my attention. No forge organisation.

Sorry, what?!

So you're telling me my unnecessarily balanced army could find itself fighting a whole army of fliers or armour, rendering 50% of units useless.

Warhammer is one of those games were little exploits of rules lead to severe beardiness. Now you're telling me I could fight the Lemun Russ Corps of Lemun Russ, whose background fluff states that they like Lemun Russ so they built a lot of them.

Great.

I've already planned my tournament list. 300 spore mines. You don't get points for killing them so the best you can hope for is a draw.

I'll create a back story of a hive fleet entirely of spore mines wherby to become the king you must blow him up. If the king blows himself up or gets shot, the mine to his left becomes king.

See you on the battlefield

~Fraser

The Blues

There's something ironic about feeling so good while listening to the blues.

I wonder if it's part of the human condition or just damn good music

~Fraser

2 new pages

The Frozen Codex now has it's own page on the blog so make sure you check it out. It also has a link to where you can buy it in case you need to pick up a copy.

Also there's a new Battle Report for Warhammer 40k. Chaos vs Tyranids - definitely worth a look.

~Fraser

Business

It makes you wonder, standing there at Euston station watching as two Sandwich shops selling identical products could be doing so differently.

On the left you have Delice de France, where one man stands dusting shelves and shuffling stock as next door the three women working at Upper Crust are working non-stop to put baguettes in hands and take their money.

I came up for a closer look and the actual produce was almost identical. So I got thinking how could one business have no customers where the other actually had a queue. It seems absurd to think that there was a perpetual queue where people could simply get served at the other instantly.

So - here's what I figured -- the small differences between them must have had something to do with it.

First, Delice de France has flat panels for displays whereas Upper Crust has slanted displays. It gives the illusion that there is far more choice and nothing is hidden from view. Maximum goods on show.

Second, Women. Three women beat one man - hands down. Men would rather buy from women. Women would rather buy from women. At least in catering I suppose. In the whole time I stood watching them only three people went to Delice de France. A woman who was dating an Asian man -- so would have felt subconsciously drawn to the Asian guy at Delice. Next was a man who saw the woman there and went to buy from the same shop. He frequently checked out her and her purchases. The final person to go there was an Asian mother. She obviously thought that it was better to buy from the smart young man than have the temptation on her husband/son of three pretty young women.

Subsequently her husband pulled her to Upper Crust where he insisted they buy from. Go figure.

There has to be an element of conformity in it, seeing others buying from a shop instantly has a snowball effect. Seeing no-one buying from there might as well be buzzing with flies.

Come to think of it. I've only ever bought from Upper Crust.

There's obviously more to Business than products alone...

~Fraser

Hanafuda

I found a strange ray of hope in a small Japanese card game yesterday.

After western playing cards became banned Japan moved to make its own equivalent,  to keep the people happy and the money flowing. One company made a name from these beautiful little cards. Nintendo.

Such a simple and creative idea that sparked such a huge enterprise.

Perhaps there's hope for us creatives yet!

I dare say Hanafuda isn't the only game that is a household name in Japan. All around the world you'll find a pack of cards or maybe a chess board tucked away in a cupboard in most homes.

Board games - identified with stuffy nights in please no-one mention the game of life or pass the bomb at christmas or I will shut myself off from humanity.

That said I love them -- board games that is. Risk, Talisman, Carcassonne, Forbidden Island. Can't get enough. It's funny that most people only scratch the surface and stay comfortable with chess.

Why not try one next time you feel like your eyes are melting from "screen overdose"

So here's to the board games -- now I just need to find some people to play with!

~Fraser

Stories

I've never believed more that everyone has a story to tell more than when my Gran told me that she was excommunicated from The Church of Scotland for poaching their members

~Fraser

The Frozen Codex eBook

Hello once again -- Finally finished off the eBook version of The Frozen Codex, which can be bought by following the below link;

It's a nice affordable way to check out my work as I'm keen to get as wide an audience as possible.

Thanks for all the support shown so far

http://www.lulu.com/shop/fraser-mccrorie/the-frozen-codex/ebook/product-21594085.html

~Fraser

Magnetism

Do you ever feel that things are one sided?

From experience,  since a young age there seem to be people you chase and people that chase you. It seems like effort among people is entirely relative and the easier we gain someone's attention often the less we seek it.

It reminds me of the child picking up rocks to put in her basket. She doesn't care about the rocks she already has until they tumble out of the basket as she leans forward to pick up the next one.

Perhaps it's human nature to take things for granted as we grow accustomed to them, but let us not forget to appreciate loyalty as our attention flits from place to place.

~Fraser

Work underway

I'm currently working on an ebook version of The Frozen Codex to coincide with the paperback release. Hopefully it won't take much longer before it's ready to buy.

There's also another project on the way, around my short stories and poetry so I'll keep you updated as to the progress but this may be some months from completion. I plan to create a full set of artwork to compliment the writing so watch this space!

~Fraser

A sign

We're set for frost tonight. A good sign perhaps

~Fraser

The Frozen Codex

The Frozen Codex -- A book which I have been working on for the past five years has finally come to fruition. It's been a long time in the making and has changed a lot since the first idea for a semi-mythological short story of about 20 pages!

370 pages later and more edits and revisions than I would ever care to remember and it's done. This story has traveled around the world with me - to South Korea and back to Britain. I have lost track of all the USB backups which pop up from time to time in disused photo film cases (yes I still have those) and other nooks and crannies, caked in dust and full of Duane Eddy tracks.

I appreciate you getting this far, it's about 5 years less than it took me!

 If you are curious about my book and want to know more, below is the Blurb from the back so you can get a feel for it;

A desperate kingdom, on the brink of destruction...

...must trust it's salvation in a warrior from the north. 

A great force is stirring in the Kingdom of Aer and Hraki intends to find the source of the whispered words, said to come from the Gods themselves!

His coming marks the end of a delicate balance of power amidst the onset of a civil war which threatens to consume them all.

The Frozen Codex is a gripping Fantasy Epic set to the backdrop of a cold and unforgiving landscape

I have included a link here to where you may purchase it Lulu.com so please pick up a copy, leave some feedback and most importantly enjoy it!

http://www.lulu.com/shop/fraser-mccrorie/the-frozen-codex/paperback/product-21568768.html

I'd love to know what you all think so I'd be grateful for any comments on my blog/facebook but especially on Lulu.com as that's where my punters will be!

Thanks

Professions

Rightly or wrongly, much like the cover of a book, a person is most often judged on first impressions.

I find when I come across someone at work I can often tell within the first few seconds of meeting them whether I will get on with them.

It's strange that you can work somewhere for a year and still feel like the new guy, but I suppose it's all down to the environment.

But can you ever feel "at home" or is there always going to be that out of place feeling due to the very nature of work. It's mercenary,  let's face it. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't paid, and neither would any of the people around me.

With that in mind it does make you wonder how office politics develop and why people wouldn't just try and make the time pass as pleasantly as possible.

Stick enough people and enough personalities in one place and you're bound to come into conflicts. Especially when you catch yourself thinking "outside of work I'd have nothing to do with a person like you.

It does beg the question that there has to be a better way - but short of living the "good life" or quitting to follow your non financially viable dreams what choice do we have.

Such stress for such young people is surely a sign that things need to change.

~Fraser

New life

There's something wonderful about new things, that captivates our imagination and drives us wild with excitement.

It's the same magic that we find in change - the great unknown - that no matter how much we rationalise we will never know what the future holds.

Those delicate things that lie out of reach even if for a moment - even the smallest of which can bring us great happiness.

~Fraser

1 week remaining

I'm now in the final stages of publishing my book, The Frozen Codex. If all goes smoothly and the final proofing copy is how I want it I'll be posting a link here to purchase a copy. Watch this space!

~Fraser

"One swallow does not make a summer"

...but changing the clocks forwards helps.

That's not what Aristotle was talking about of course,  on his discourse into happiness--but like most I'm hoping the extra sunshine will mean a little extra happiness.

The ironically named SAD syndrome is a bit of a highlight into modern thinking that I need to stop the problem not address the cause.

Let's go on holiday to get rid of the blues or take some painkillers to get rid of that headache.

It always makes me curious when I see people knocking back paracetamol with their coffee when they admit to having drank no water the whole day. My words fall on deaf ears when I remind them that dehydration is the most common cause of headache.

Sometimes my eyes are so fed up from a week staring at computer/phone/tv screens that I just have to give them a break. Having been so busy this last year doing work on weekends that when all the screens are off it's difficult to know what to do.

Some kind of desensitisation comes over me that after watching a movie so gratuitous that it's the audio/visual equivalent of drowning in chocolate cake-- how then can you go read a book?

It's difficult to pull away from modernity but so very worth it. The result of which is partly below--and partly going towards my "summer"

My Fiancé Rama's 2nd ever painted model

My own latest Blood Angel

~Fraser

Food for Thought

Is painting your car in "impact blue" tempting fate?

Missing Aircraft

Malaysian authorities are being criticised by the Chinese people for being slow to act and provide information on the missing Jet that is now believed to have gone down over the Indian Ocean.

I understand the frustration at losing a loved one but the anger is totally misplaced.

The original suspicions were of foul play, that it may have been a terrorist hijacking. Would the Malaysian government have benefited from releasing the information from their investigation? Of course not.

The last thing the relatives wanted to hear was "we're investigating where we think the terrorists are." Only later to hear , "the terrorists have now escaped with the hostages. Somehow they knew we were coming. Maybe they watched the news."

When will people realise that if they really care about their loved ones they would rather not know and them have a chance to be saved than knowing what has happened and risk ruining the rescue efforts.

Maybe I'm too rational and not sensitive enough, but wanting "closure" over the safety of their families is a poor sense of judgement. Even if it is a crash, why take the chance?

~Fraser

Food for Thought

There's something innately satisfying about cutting down trees and chopping it into firewood with an axe. Almost primeval -- the adult equivalent of swinging on trees as a child. I think Mr Darwin might have been onto something you know.

~Fraser

Scottish Referendum

So Scotland is poised to make a monumental decision about whether to part ways from England, Wales and Northern Ireland and leave the UK.

It seems ironic after years of fighting for independence and romantic memories of a Jacobite rebellion albeit a distant one that when given the choice Scotland hesitates.

I'm waiting with baited breath considering it really could go either way. I wont labour on the political or economic ramifications but rather that many people will be forced with facing a question of nationality.

I'm British - half Scottish and half English. British is a neat way of tying me together with a single nationality. It seems odd that I might lose that, not get a say in whether it happens, or what it might cause.

While I find myself longing to go back to Scotland for my next holiday I don't ever want to see a border. A lot of water has passed under the bridge regarding our collective British history and I feel those wishing to split are either holding onto ancient grudges or see Britain as having too much sway on making Scotland what it is.

I can't help but feel the opposite. Scotland makes Britain what it is, the same as England.

Let's ditch the out of date expression United Kingdom, it's an obsolete phrase considering we are not a monarchy, despite the royal family we manage to maintain.

It's a phrase which sends out all sorts of bad messages as to who's in charge.

Instead let's stay united behind Britannia. A goddess, whom stayed long after the Romans to represent us as a people.

I can’t wait to be back in the Highlands and know I'll be going there as a Brit and hope I can say that for many years to come.

~Fraser

Food for Thought

Don't assume life is saving you the best bits for last

~Fraser

Blood Angels

Started painting my new 40k army this weekend. Practised the colour scheme on a scout. Always liked the old metal ones and picked up 14 on ebay some time ago.

Fluff wise I thought they made a good ships crew and in game expect them to switch roles between objective seizing and human shields to give my dreads some cover.

First models painted below. Codex inbound from ebay so looking forward to getting some games in when they're done!

~Fraser

Food for Thought

The horse in the field behind my house gave chase to a rook that had landed on it's scratching pole. The horse looked at me confused as I shouted over to it.

"Checkmate!"

~Fraser

Food for Thought

Spare a thought for Michael Collins, the astronaut who escaped fame by a couple of feet

~Fraser

Nostalgia

I wonder if it's just me or does anyone else find they're living in the past.

Watching old movies, listening to old songs, playing old games. I'm so Retro when I see something new I'm dazzled by how different it is.

I wonder if that's healthy? I mean can we really develop if we're always living in the past?

Well one more rerun of Futurama couldn't hurt

Even if it's been played more times than the Dokken cd that I never remember to take out my car before driving to/from work

~Fraser

Remember

What will our generation be remembered for?

Our short attention span? How you can become famous overnight and be forgotten by lunchtime?

Our fascination with social media?  How at any time of the day or night you can read about mundane Jane, who's classic posts include, "I'm bored...what's everyone doing?"

The huge success of online dating? Why talk to people around you when you can crawl back into your room, draw the blinds and spy on people online. //wink//

I read Google's message yesterday - "maybe your idea will be the next great success" it inspired me. I thought, yeah you know what it might be! Wait...what idea?

My Gran used to tell me about all the whizz-kids she read about in the paper becoming millionaires when they were 16. "You're good with computers why don't you do something like them?"

A great idea until I realised the best I could come up with was a game idea about a glove-man and creating my own laptop from a cardboard box with bottle caps stuck to it.

Well she also called me a "skinny-malink" and I'm still thin so I guess I'm doing ok. Whatever a "Malink" is.

Seem to find people barely have any time for themselves these days, let alone anyone else. Don't know how it came to be that most of us are too busy to live our own lives.

"People are so rude" my barber told me, "nobody cares they just let door slam on me and my daughter. Even at 9 months old old she already says please and thank you!"

"Well" I said "there's hope for us yet."

~Fraser

Fidchel

Hi Guys,

Anyone who loves a good game or has a leaning towards Celtic Folklore/Mythology/History will hopefully enjoy this post!

I have been thinking of a way to make a fast and fun (hopefully : P) board/pen and paper game that can be played easily by anyone with a few minutes. I was reading about the ancient Celtic game of Fidchel and decided I'd have a go at making a modern interpretation of the old game.

It's a cross between Rock/Paper/Scissors and Chess; so very easy to play and quite strategic.

All you need to play is one Rule Sheet, Two Play sheets (one for you and one for your opponent), a pencil and an eraser.

Me and my Fiance played our first game yesterday and had a laugh so I think it's ready for the public.

Links are below for the downloads so give it a shot and let me know what you think. Unless you hate it, because I might just go into a Warp Spasm!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1lf469tRjKmLV9JMmVrR29qaW8/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1lf469tRjKmMm4way1aa3lseXc/edit?usp=sharing

~Fraser

Food for Thought

There's a mosquito lying dead next to me on the bed.

"What's the matter? Starve to death?"

~Fraser

Balance

For a long time, since the age of 16 to be precise I have considered that Balance was the key principle to living a good life.

It shows my education in Philosophy and gives insight into my untimely maturation.

I was a big follower of Aristotle and believed his Ethics to be spot on. For every virtue there is a vice on either side. To be brave one must not be a coward and equally not be foolhardy.

Try and think of some balanced people and in your head you probably conjure up some vague image of boredom personified.

I'm actually growing to believe that it is in our extremes that we are characterised.

Extremes impress us; make us envious or competitive. Think of a man flying between mountain peaks in a wingsuit. That makes us stop and think. Forget the balancing act that man does to juggle work/life/family. It's what lies outside of the balance that defines him.

His passion.

I came across a great illustration by Zac Gorman - I suggest you google it - it says "Quit your day job and do what makes you happy". Picture of mario plumbing a toilet and next to it a pic of him busting mushrooms with a great smile.

So, we get stuck in a career path and stifle the embers of dreams we once had; but how we envy those who make the leap of faith and start their own business/pursue a hobby/go freelance.

Each day I work I know I'm working towards my personal goals as well as my business ones but I see others whose fires are growing dim. You can tell by looking in their eyes that the dream is dying day by day.

One glorious day will rise when I can take that leap but it is not today.

It wouldn't hurt to lean more towards an extreme once in a while (not all the time like my uni days) in the end, isn't that makes us truly balanced. Only being balanced some of the time.

There's one for Xeno I believe...

~Fraser

Passing thoughts

How will we be remembered?

I wondered recently, spurred on by the recent passing of my father on the 27th January.

For a long time we didn't see eye to eye. Well that's to put it lightly. I grew up thinking we were polar opposites. Now as I grow older and more mature I find more of his character in mine.

How I laughed when I found a picture of him with long hair. The same long hair he was constantly making fun of me for.

Now I work in IT software sales, love mountains and fitness, and find his words coming out of my mouth.

Yet we only came to share a mutual respect around three or four years ago. What if his cancer had been more aggressive? It would have been a true shame and left many things unsaid that had saved what was a fragile relationship.

It seems a shame that people die so young but I can at least say we made our peace. I will try to remember the good days and take consolation knowing they were his last

~Fraser

Hazy

My memories back to my school days are hazy at best and for good reason. I hated my time there and if I am remembered at all it would be as the quiet kid that kept to himself and was passed between frustrated teachers and eager bullies.

Uni changed all that for me and it was a place where I could reinvent myself without any prejudice. Reinventing myself so that if I'm remembered at Uni it would probably be as the quiet guy who kept to himself and was passed between frustrated teachers and eager bar staff.

I find it odd when I hear stories of hazing within Universities that goes all the way from freshers to the professors. I expect that kind of nonsense in children and teenagers, but adults? It's this kind of mentality that breeds a perpetual cycle of child abuse cases.

How can you justify causing someone misery by the fact that it was inflicted on you. Equality does not equate to Fairness nor Justice for that matter.

When I hear stories of hazing, or professors justifying exploiting students and hurting their feelings on a whim I wonder what petty minds they must have. I know academics by it's very nature is unprofessional but this is the future of our nation and it's a shame to hear the saying, "If you can't do; teach."

I learned enough to make me the man I am today from great teachers in my lifetime and it makes me sad to see others with teachers who discourage and insult because they don't know how to manage their students.

If you resort to insulting a student you are weak minded.

If you can't match wits with someone half your age you are not fit to teach.

If you are not fit to lead, get off the pulpit.

~Fraser

Dear Mr Gove...

The best teachers in my mind are the experienced ones. Having tried it myself on a stint in Korea for a year, it's tough going. Thoroughly enjoyable and at the same time thoroughly infuriating. One of the worst things I came across, other than the hair-pulling levels of stress, was meddling.

People that don't know what's happening inside the classroom getting involved, changing things round and standing back to watch what happens.

What happens? You teach worse. Why? You've just had your experience taken away.

Getting comfortable with a job role can be a curse in that some things become stagnant, potentially boring. Surely the risk is higher that the teacher isn't familiar with what they are supposed to be doing. Give the teachers cause to doubt and the children will soon realise/capitalise.

They can smell fear...

So what makes me think of this now, two years after my adventure in the classrooms of South Korea. A certain Education Minister the UK has that goes by the name of the Right Honourable Michael Gove. His name reminds me of the Right Honourable Sheriff of Nottingham.

I saw my mum and her coworkers driven from their primary school as the result of government strategies to downright embarrass the experienced teachers into leaving their school. Take them out of their comfort zones, change teaching procedures and styles. Wait until they inevitably get worse at teaching and then shove it in their faces and watch them leave. Replace with younger teachers. Rinse. Repeat.

I'm sure somewhere out there they realise how important our teachers are and will show them the respect they deserve after years of service. Some of those classrooms are worse than warzones.

Be careful if you mention his name within the corridors of your local school. The D+T Teacher may just show you the voodoo doll they've been sculpting.

~Fraser

Creativity vs Beauty

I recently had a conversation with my Fiancé about art. We both come from very different backgrounds and our art is as different as possible.

We noticed her style was just raw creativity, no thought about the end product just ideas given life. It's a nice notion but often ends with confused result. It's difficult to appreciate as I find myself wondering what emotion/effect she is trying to achieve. That type of art is more of a personal experience and because it lacks clarity for others who don't share her mindset, I wonder, does the art lose some of it's worth?

I always appreciated art that looks aesthetically pleasing, perhaps old fashioned but I love the classics. Real medieval and Renaissance masterpieces and have no real love for "Modern Art" or surrealism.

I'm not trying to make a futile debate that ends in the inevitable line down the middle as every other debate will naturally end up with but it did get me thinking. How does it affect my art, the style that I have adopted and nurtured over time to make my own.

Recently I discovered the BBC are holding a short story contest with a deadline for submissions at the end of this month. I doubt I'll be able to finish one in time considering I haven't prepared but thought I'd give it a shot, even if nothing else to get some more ideas to do some more writing.

I took a different stance this time. Rather than saying "I want a story like this" I wondered, "what would the public/BBC want?" I can almost hear some artists muttering "sell out", but bare with.

It's a different method to get the result but does it remove some of the artistic quality from the work?

I was really surprised with the ideas I came out with. Some pretty exciting stuff (even if I say so myself!) and all the result of changing my viewpoint.

I'd been so stuck in the same frame of mind when thinking of stories that it was becoming a little difficult to think of stories of any worth for the competition. Now, in a short space of time last night I made three.

Perhaps what most interested me is that it doesn't matter what is the best method of creating art, but that you try different methods, try different things, experiment - because in the end, isn't that what being creative is all about?

~Fraser

Influence

Some of my earliest memories are sat next to my Dad as he read me stories before bed.

The Hobbit was definitely my favourite and I loved the riddles and the appropriately squeaky voice used for Gollum.

I also remember him reading Beowulf and the Knights of the Round table and it left me thinking, that despite intention to put me to sleep, I can't help feeling that those stories crept into my dreams.

Since an early age I was fascinated by warriors and knights, grand deeds by great heroes. The first real book I actually read was a collection of short stories about dragons, or more importantly for me the men who fought them.

Stan Bolovan and the Dragon whom he tricks, the Prince of the Thieves, Lancelot, Beowulf, and Jason and the Argonauts. Wonderful stories every one.

I got into writing when I was 16 and my first ever story (well -- film script) was a parody of Jason and the Argonauts. The less said about it the better, but ever since I have been an avid writer. Poetry, Short Stories, Flash Fiction, A Novel. What are the majority of these stories? Fantasy fiction.

When I have children of my own, I think I'm going to make some very careful choices about which books end up on the bedside cabinet.

~Fraser

Injecting Minutia

Minutia. What makes a story truly come alive are the little things, the small details that make characters stand out and places memorable.

Creating an overarching plot or a complex background for your characters in a story, and for that matter the characters themselves tends to come fairly easy. I'm sure most writers whether pro or hobbyists would agree. Most of us able to jot down a handful of ideas that we'd like to come back to at some point or other to turn into a story.

What often lets our stories get left in the deepest darkest corners of our laptops or scribbles on a pad is that they fail to capture our interest. Often even the most interesting plots get sidelined in favour of ideas we end up writing about.

I believe that ideas we tend to carry forward are the ones we spent more time thinking of little quirks that capture our attention like they do that of a reader.

Here's the problem, thinking of minor details often comes easiest in a process I call Injecting minutia. Once you have written the basic shell of a story it's time to go back on the hugely entertaining job of editing. A truly long and tiring journey it is, but that is the time to develop and sneak in some gems or nuggets of information to keep people reading. Little rewards that for having read another chapter you now found out about X which links to Y which you read about earlier.

It was only the other day while thinking of a story and basically joining the dots. So one character's ex wife lives in a town visited by another character. Has a lover. Wait a minute. What if he was her new lover?

It seems only elementary but seriously I find this the easiest way for getting some juicy bits in the story. Maybe there's an easier way. I'd love to know because it would help to get a better grasp of what stories were worth bothering with at all. Or perhaps all stories could be good, given the time and energy to put in the little details.

Food for thought

Two brothers have an argument about politics. They leave realising that neither really cares about the opinions of the other.

The Death of Subtlety

Having put Iron man 2 on for my dad the other day I couldn't help but catch the start. There's Robert Downey Jr on stage surrounded by beautiful women wearing very little and mimicking his moves in a sexy way.

Ok...so he's successful. Did they intend to shove it down our throats?

Or what about Game of Thrones and Spartacus. Two of the most watched series of our generation and most likely due to being so over the top in violence, gore and sex.

For someone who's favourite horror movie is The Shining I cant understand the appeal of movies like Saw. The subtle and brilliant way madness is shown creeping into a man's life is amazing to behold. Then you could just watch a movie about someone getting their head cut off.

Are writers just trying to top the latest trends and becoming desperate to shock? Or are we becoming desensitized to moderate stimuli?

There truly is some beauty in the subtle art of using language to allude to a point, rather than ripping it open and saying, "here it is! You didn't miss it did you? This is the point you know!"

I understand that artists try to pander to all levels, hell, even Shakespeare through in the odd pun at the hands of several dim witted jesters to appease the baser members of the audience.

I suppose I just wish there was something I could watch and come away feeling enriched rather than I just wasted 50 mins of my life and have to clean up the melting brain from my ears. I know, subtle right.

Well I suppose I could just do something more enriching and write. In fact what more is a screen than an assault on the senses?

~Fraser

New Tyranid Codex

Games Workshop finally release the much anticipated 6th ed Tyranids. I know they've been getting ripped apart by the critics already but I don't think it's all bad. In fact, I have some sneaky ideas already.

~Fraser

1000+

A very big thank you for all the people who have viewed my blog so far. Appreciate the support and look forward to showing you what I'm capable of with my writing!

~Fraser

"Failure is not an option"

For a lot of people and in a lot of instances this is a motto to stand by. I must admit that I find myself uttering those words from time to time. What do we turn to when we realise that not only is failure an option but an inevitability. Nobody succeeds all the time.

This isn't some fatalist speech I'm just shocked on a  daily basis when people don't make the most out of every chance they get. Especially when it's as easy as asking a question.

I had my first experience of hiring artists to work on my upcoming book and it was actually quite a challenging process to choose who to commission to work on the piece.

In fact it came down to some very minor reasons which eventually tipped the balance. Whatever the reasons do you know how many artists out of all of the ones I approached asked why I didn't pick them?

Zero.

None of them. It's crazy in my mind. It's like going for a job interview; getting turned down and not asking why you weren't picked. What's going to stop you from making that same mistake the next time?

I know art is a subjective decision at the end of the day as to which you like more. Some of the artists however I dismissed as their portfolio's didn't show the kind of art I was looking for. I dare say that most of these artists have a much larger portfolio that wasn't on their blogs or websites and could quite easily have turned round and said, "Hold fire on that decision, I might just have a piece that shows what you're looking for"

Now I might be fairly new to the whole working with freelancers and artists for that matter, but from my experience of life and job hunting, it's the proactive people that get ahead.

~Fraser

Food for thought

"Every day you wait your ideas are being used by better known authors than yourself" ~ The words of my good friend and author George Solomou days before he realised his breakthrough idea for Dr What was used 30 years ago

The Frozen Codex - update

Cracking ahead trying to arrange the artwork for the book and the final round of proof reading.

Once artwork is established and the finishing touches are completed the book will be available for purchase on Amazon.co.uk

Release estimated in the next couple of months!

~Fraser

New year - New look

With the coming of 2014 I thought I'd give blogging a serious go.

My books a couple of months from finalising and my hobbies are full swing. Going to create some new pages and have got rid of some of the old to clean it up a bit.

My novel The Frozen Codex is on the horizon. Getting the art sorted now then steam rolling  ahead. You'll be seeing it //cough// and buying it //cough// before the end of the year!

~Fraser