After much pruning and with a new cover, my collection of Christmas and New Testament-themed short stories, Comfort & Joy, is available in print.
Click image for link to Amazon:
Monthly Archives: October 2019
blown
Isn’t it always the same, as soon as you make a decision to do a lot more busking, it rains for a month. Either way though, I’m playing in Durham tomorrow, from 6-8pm. Found an ungated door on Silver Street.
Also, when is it appropriate to begin playing carols? I’m thinking early/mid November.
(for busking/rain, substitute your activity/inhibitor of choice)
short
I had a flurry of activity this year with the print publication of three short story collections – Text Transformations, the shakers and Beginner’s Luck – and as soon as the cover of Comfort & Joy is completed, that’ll be available in print too.
Then I’m done with short stories.
Ahoy there!
The girl got out of the big Audi and apologised for bumping into my car. She told me she’d just written off her previous car a fortnight ago. It was a very low-speed bump and there were no marks on either car but I took some pics anyway and we swapped details .
‘What’s your insurance company?’ I asked.
‘Admire Al,’ she said.
‘Admire Al?’ I wondered who Al was and why he should be admired.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Admire Al.’
Ah, right, I thought.
weapon of choice
Still on the topic of busking. For me, one of the greatest things about sax is its portability. It’s loud and it sounds great and you can carry it on your back. But I’m thinking of moving from alto, which is small, to soprano, which is smaller. It also sounds gorgeous.
Thing is, I’ve had this discussion with myself a few times over the last three or four years. But I’m definitely moving.
From this:
To this:
pusherman
On the topic of busking in Durham, the people are really nice, but there’s a thin slice of smackheads that hang around too. A while back I was playing and a smackhead couple walked past. The girl gave me a smile and I made the mistake of smiling back. Cue the return of smackhead couple less than two minutes later, with the lad asking me for money for his train fare ‘back to Darlington.’
Then lots of swearing and angry expressions as I turned him down.
Last night was a little easier. I only had one interaction with a denizen of the underclass – I got shoved by a smackhead with face tatts and no legs. He could barely steer his wheelchair and he reached for the bell of my sax, but missed and shoved me leg; he was obviously out of his tree on his drug of choice.
Taken from my ‘spot’ on Diagon Alley/Saddler Street, Durham.
.50 Cal cover
.50 Cal is available in print, with the final cover. Initial cover design by Lucas, edited by Francois.
Click on the image for link or search Amazon for .50 Cal by James Ross:
more Diagon
Of the two cities, Newcastle and Durham, I prefer busking in Durham. It’s cosier, the streets are narrower and the people are generally friendlier. Newcastle is a great place to busk but Durham is just better.
Did a couple of hours in DC tonight. Took a couple of pictures too. Saddler Street, the narrow, cobbled lane that winds up toward the Cathedral, is at least a thousand years old, and very Diagon Alley.
Ollivanders is just up the road and on the left. As you can see, it’s still open.
hidey hog
After advice from a nice lady at a hedgehog rescue centre I wrapped up the wee spiky man in a blanket and placed him in a shoebox in the garage next to a little bowl of water and some dogfood.
She texted me to say I should put a lid on the box to stop him escaping. I went back to the garage to put a lid on the box. He had escaped. I texted her and said I’d look for him.
‘Good luck with that,’ she said.
I still haven’t found him. Which is a testament to the ‘hogs ability to hide, or a comment on the state of my garage. Both probably.
Hope he’s alright.
hog wild
I have a gorgeous little border terrier called Angus, whom I love dearly. I also have a big garden with trees and shrubs and fences to other big gardens with bigger trees and shrubs. This time of year we get hedgehogs.
Angus hates hedgehogs.
Who could believe this cute little pooch is a psycho killing mayhem machine? Well, me actually. When it comes to attack-mode, he’s got form.
It’s in his nature, he’s bred to fight and kill vermin, and I can’t get angry with him for being true to his nature. Every night I have to go out and shine a torch around the garden to make sure there are no ‘hogs wandering about, then I can safely let him out for a wanfer. But tonight he found one at the back of the shed.
So now I have an injured hedgehog in my garage, lying on a blanket in a shoebox with a bowl of water beside him.I’ve contacted three hedgehog/animal charities and am hoping one will get back to me, though I suspect the little ‘hog will manage, one way or the other.
Angus is very sheepish, he knows he’s not in the good books, so hes gone to bed.