Results - INTJ Introverted 56%; Intuitive 50%; Thinking 62%; Judging 56%.

Most traces of the recent snow have been washed away by rain, but the pond in Ashton Park remains partially frozen.  Ducks and geese don't make great ice-skaters, yet they do their best to reach bread thrown by valiant visitors. More about Ashton Park, with photos:  http://hubpages.com/hub/Ashton-Park

"The last time a lunar eclipse happened on a solstice was 372 years ago, in 1638...  A lunar eclipse happens when the Earth lines up between the sun and the moon, blocking the sun’s rays and casting its shadow on the moon, NASA says...  As the moon moves into Earth’s shadow, it appears to change colour, turning from gray to orange to deep red. The new colour stems from indirect sunlight that passes through Earth’s atmosphere and casts a glow on the moon...  The Ursid meteor shower might also be in view Tuesday morning." Source:  http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/20/strangers-in-the-night-lunar-eclipse-solstice-meet-again/?hpt=C2 "Full Moons highlight the completion and maturity of projects, and in this case... will highlight the Gemini/Sagittarius polarity and themes of intelligence, thought, and communication.  It is time to realise the power of our inner thoughts and desires, and to perhaps re-evaluate where we have been and on what path we are going.  Both the Su

Philip Carr-Gomm, Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) has just told me that my description of Lily's meeting with Ross Nichols has been published in his book, Journeys of the Soul. This book's description reads:  " Ross Nichols was one of the key figures in the revival of interest in Druidry and Celtic Spirituality in modern times. The Order of Bards Ovates and Druids, which he founded, is now the largest Druid group in the world. Journeys of the Soul vividly describes Nichols’ journey through life in the first complete biography of this enigmatic and influential Druid Chief, allowing us an intimate and controversial glimpse into the life and mind of one of the founding figures of the modern Pagan movement." My contribution is an extract from my novel Tamsin , which offers a  description of Lily's meeting with Ross Nichols.  This describes a factual event, and Lily's character is loosely based on a friend of mine whose true ident

Torrential rain gives me the perfect excuse to stay close to the computer and write more of Fabian , which is coming along smoothly.  With this novel, I'm aiming for a little less dialogue and more direct action.  The feel of the novel is more tense than with the others, but just as dark - but there's little point in my blogging too much about this yet. Meanwhile, in Maison Cosgrove-Bray, we've had some antique furniture delivered.  This meant our downstairs rooms looked akin to a stage set for Steptoe & Son .  Our cats had a marvelous time mountaineering, and seemed convinced that the temporary chaos had been created for their benefit.  Now order has been imposed, some of my pottery collection, which has been in storage for years, is on display where it can be viewed and enjoyed.  Beauty serves no purpose when buried in the back of a cupboard under spare computer cables, incompatible (or more-trouble-than-they're-worth) PC programs, clay modelling tools and an

Fourteen people attended last night's Riverside Writers meeting, including three new people and return visits from two people who joined us only last month.  And that's with three regulars absent! One of second-time-around visitors was Lisa Hinsley, whose Fantasy book Coombe's Wood is available on Kindle.   The product description reads:  "Izzy Santana and her 13-year-old son Connor move into a flat in the sleepy village of Cedham. Locals darkly warn her to stay away from nearby Coombe’s Wood, hinting first at elves, then at multiple murders… " This month's group project was to create a poem or short story starting with "The door was locked."  Most people had written something; in fact we ran out of time before everyone could read aloud their work.  As Chair, I try to fix things so that anyone who doesn't get chance to read at a meeting has first go next time.  This latest batch of stories were rather sombre in tone.  Clive said that between

" Two thousand years ago, a Greek mechanic (built a) clockwork mechanism that displayed the motions of the Sun, Moon and planets on precisely marked dials. By turning a handle, the creator could watch his tiny celestial bodies trace their undulating paths through the sky...  The Antikythera mechanism is by far the most technologically sophisticated artefact that survives from antiquity...  Scientists delving into the astronomical theories encoded in this quintessentially Greek device have concluded that they are not Greek at all, but Babylonian — an empire predating this era by centuries. " Source: http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101124/full/468496a.html

Chester, yesterday; arrived at via a 'short cut' which actually took us almost an hour longer.  The shops have already plastered themselves in Xmas tat but, despite this thankfully temporary aberration, Chester remains one of my favourite places.  Not that I actually bought much:  one bottle of artist's varnish, and a copy of Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Angel's Game. Today the house smells of varnish.  Both Portrait of an Anunnaki and  Vlad were long overdue a protective layer of artist's varnish.  I've already warned Richard to wear a gas mask when he comes home.  He should be used to it by now though!  Our home always smells of something - linseed oil, turps, spicy cooking or heady incense.  Or various combinations of these.  Portrait of an Anunnaki: http://hubpages.com/hub/Portrait-of-John Vlad:  http://hubpages.com/hub/Portrait-of-Vlad-Dracula The park is in full autumnal colour now, as I found when the dogs took me for a walk.  I needed a break fr

Two unusual films, both ending with unexpected twists and with more than a hint of film noir... Donald Sutherland, as Inspector Carella, has to find the killer of a young girl whose cousin survived the attack.  Their family's wholesome public image hides a very different reality, and Carella slowly untangles a complex web of incest and ugly fantasy in Blood Relatives . More about Blood Relatives :  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076313/ Kevin Costner, in Mr Brooks , plays restectable and highly successful businessman.  He has an invisible friend with whom he shares the hobby of murder.  They were about to call a halt to their activities when they acquire an unwanted side-kick (played by Dane Cook.)  Demi Moore excels in her role as a detective faced with a string of artistically-arranged corpses.  More about Mr Brooks :  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780571/

We enjoyed Henrik Ibsen's play, An Enemy of the People , starring Steve McQueen.  McQueen was hardly recognisable behind a thick thatch of shoulder-length hair and shrubby beard, round glasses and extra weight, and this role gave him the opportunity to venture beyond the typical roles he had previously played.  This is probably McQueen's most obscure film.  It attracted controversy when released, partly because of its environmental stance and partly because it wasn't a commercial success.  The plot takes an uncompromising look at human nature - political corruption, the lies of the press, the dangerous foolishness of mobs, and the struggles of the town doctor (McQueen) to stay true to his principles when the water supply was poisoned by the industry which largely created the town's income. More about the film:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075993/  

Even an innocuous boiled egg can contain surprises...

Flying Witch T Shirts Zazzle.co.uk Not just for Hallowe'en...!

Anne "is working on another novel, about 'immortals who've been on the planet since before the fall of Atlantis'. " Source:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/oct/24/anne-rice-catholic-church-rejection-vampire

Learn more:  http://www.leruedelashay.com/

According to The Guardian, anyway... Article:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/oct/21/science-fiction-fantasy-25 2001: A Space Odyssey bores me utterly; and The Wizard of Oz is akin to torture, as is Back to the Future - each to their own, of course. On the other hand, The Lord of the Rings trilogy of films, in my opinion, deserves a higher rank in the list.  I also agree with the inclusion of Pan's Labyrinth and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.  I would have expected to see Dune in the list, or maybe Gormenghast.  Still, this is the nature of such lists; almost everyone disagrees with their contents! 

 Adele Cosgrove-Bray  Adrienne Odasso  Carol Falaki  Tim Hulme  Peter Caton  Colin P Davies  Chris the Shaman  Parallel Dimensions took place on Saturday, October 16th at West Kirby Library.  Participating authors were:  Carol Falaki, Tim Hulme, Peter Caton, Adrienne Odasso, Colin P Davies and myself (Adele Cosgrove-Bray.)  Music was provided by Chris the Shaman. The event was filmed by Creative Initiatives. The audience heard a wide variety of themes and literary styles.  Adrienne brought along a hefty selection of publications which featured her poetry.   Colin read from his new collection of short stories, Tall Tales On the Iron Horse .  I read Project from Barren Worlds  and also Liar, as both short pieces share a linked theme. Unfortunately the planned Q&A session had to be cancelled as the library was due to close, as we'd ran well over the allotted time. However, the good news is that I've already been asked to organise

Hallowe'en Quiz Fifty fun and educational quiz questions - great for parties!

"For decades the official Stonehenge guidebooks have been full of fascinating facts and figures and theories surrounding the world's greatest prehistoric monument. What the glossy brochures do not mention, however, is the systematic rebuilding of the 4,000 year old stone circle throughout the 20th Century...  From 1901 to 1964, the majority of the stone circle was restored in a series of makeovers which have left it, in the words of one archaeologist, as 'a product of the 20th century heritage industry' ." Source (includes photos of rebuilding):  http://www.ufos-aliens.co.uk/cosmicstonehenge.htm

My feet first led me to St John the Baptist's some two decades ago.  I had seen enough of Chester's shops for one afternoon and, as if drawn by some subtle instinct, I found myself wandering around the sandstone ruins of what must have once been an impressive Norman church built close to the shores of the River Dee. Early churches were often built on top of pre-existing sacred sites, earlier even than the Roman shrine which once stood where the Norman ruins now lie.   With the Roman ampitheatre just yards away, this may have been a shrine to Mithras. A person can only speculate about what may have been here prior to the Roman structure.  During the Reformation, St John's received far worse treatment than the nearby, and much bigger, St Werburgh's Cathedral which legend places directly over an ancient Druidic Grove.   It seems unlikely that those same Druids would have overlooked this energy-rich focal point.  Norman ruins of an earlier St John the Baptist'

My efforts to store online photos on disc continues.  Here are a few more of my favourite shots.  Royden Woods  West Kirby Marina  West Kirby Marina under repair, March 2009.  Grange Hill War Memorial  Solitary figure on Red Rocks, Hoylake 

Emily, Killer of Garden Gnomes  Mutley and Poppy  Jazzy and toy mouse  Rolly-polly Saffron  Ygraine in the Grove I've been tidying up photos on my hard-drive and transfering them onto disc.  Here are a few of my favourites. 

Stanislav Belyaevsky's exquisite photography, which captures the passion, strength and beauty of ballet. http://www.belyaevsky.com/

Final line-up for Parallel Dimensions (16th Oct, 2pm, West Kirby Library): Carol Falaki; Adrienne Odasso; Colin P Davies; Tim Hulme; Peter Hurd; Peter Caton; Adele Cosgrove-Bray.

  Parallel Dimensions returns for its second year to bring together some of the UK's strongest emerging writers of the Fantasy, Horror and Science-Fiction genres. Colin P Davies , Adele Cosgrove-Bray , Carol Falaki and Adrienne Odasso will share new fiction with their audience. Last year's lively Q&A session, which followed the readings, proved very popular. Colin has seen over forty of his short stories published in anthologies and magazines. He is the author of The Bookmole , a novel whose sequel is due out soon. His illustrations have also appeared in international genre magazines. Adele Cosgrove-Bray's short stories appear in various anthologies published by Hadley Rille Books and Dark Moon Press. Her non-fiction writings have been featured in Prediction Magazine and Your Future . She is currently writing her forth in a series of Dark Fantasy novels set in Wirral and Liverpool. Carol Falaki's first novel, Birth in Suburbia draws on her profession

The colours on Caldy Hill are changing to an autumnal palette now.   Mushrooms and toadstools blossom from beneath a growing carpet of fallen leaves, and the feisty rustlings of foraging squirrels send showers of pine cones to the damp, peaty ground.  The quality of light changes everything, from the soft green-golds filtering through arching branches of oak and rowan, to the hard glitter of silver-greys bouncing off the River Dee.  Bees hummed over the last of the purple heather on the summit, and the faerie pond lower down - dry during the summer months - begins to look more marshy as it slowly refills.  And on the narrow path, threaded with roots and sandstone rocks, overhung with ripe blackberries and peeling silver birch, lay one tiny lizard, another victim of bicycle wheels, still struggling to crawl away to die beneath the trees.

How To Make a DNA Archive!

"...The (V&A's) new doll archive: rows of stark grey metal shelves, from which dozens of bisque, wax, wooden and vinyl faces stare out...   (One) has articulated legs and arms, so its owner could walk it about the room (move a leg and the arms move robotically in time); it has luxuriant and adult-looking blond curls that I am loath to touch.  Most curiously of all, inside its rosebud mouth is a row of tiny white teeth, pointy and sharp." by Rachel Cooke. Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2010/aug/29/doll-face-museum-childhood-review "What, another doll?" The Drawing Room, with a Whole Lotta Sewin' Goin' On. Now everyone recycles, Wombles had to get another job. My three-storey Georgian dolls house in its entirety. I've always liked dolls.  Walk around my house, and this would be self-evident.  I have three dolls' houses.  Well, two houses and one shop, to be precise, in various stages of completion.  Several

Make Kiwi and Apple Jam

Interesting footage, including contributions from Zecharia Sitchin.

"The giant storm levelled virtually everything standing along 100 miles of coastline. In all, it killed 1,800 people in seven states, and caused $90bn (£58bn) of damage. It wreaked colossal damage on the region's oil, forestry and tourism industries. More than one million people were left homeless... At its height, four-fifths of New Orleans was under water, to a depth of 20 feet. Today, more than a quarter of the pre-Katrina population of 450,000 have not returned." Source: Hurricane Katrina:  The storm that shamed America , by Rupert Cornwell - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/hurricane-katrina-the-storm-that-shamed-america-2057164.html

"It is with great sadness we announce that Laurence Gardner passed away on the 12 August 2010, after a prolonged illness. "Laurence Gardner is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Distinguished as the Chevalier de St. Germain, he is a constitutional historian, a Knight Templar of St Anthony, and is Presidential Attaché to the European Council of Princes. Based in England, he is author of The Times and Sunday Times bestseller, Bloodline of the Holy Grail .  "Laurence Gardner's (other) books include Realm of the Ring Lords ,  Genesis of the Grail Kings ,  Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark ,  The Magdalene Legacy , and  The Shadow of Solomon ." Source:  http://graal.co.uk/ It was probably around six years ago that I first encountered Laurence Gardner's writings, after my friend Jon had been enthusing about Gardner's very different version of both Biblical and European history.  So I read one of his books, Genesis of the Grail Kings , and

"...We're living in era where a writer can't just write. They have to be out there. Some would argue that readings are part of a writer's job... Do readers expect their writers to be performers too?" - Ben Myers. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/aug/11/public-role-private-writer Over the years I have attended many book events, and obviously some were delivered more smoothly than others.  But they've rarely failed to be interesting.  Audiences welcome the chance to meet a favourite writer, or to hear a first chapter or short story by a name who is new to them.  If they weren't interested, they wouldn't have made the journey to the event. I've also taken part in readings.  I've even organised a few.  Walking towards the mic can be a nerve-wracking experience  as every writer wants their work to be liked, but when total strangers keep on listening to the next bit, and the next bit and the next, and then smile and give a heart

Such lavish colours and reflections in these paintings:  http://www.gongchi.org/popup/081125/picture3.html The Lake Como Villa, Rendezvous in Venice, Varenna Relfections, Villa in Capri and Springtime in New York are especially lovely.

“The first truth about awareness… is that the world out there is not really as we think it is. We think it is a world of objects and it is not… It’s not as solid and real as our perception has led us to believe, but it isn’t a mirage either. The world is not an illusion, as it has been said to be; it’s real on the one hand, and unreal on the other… We perceive. But what we perceive is not a fact…, because we learn what to perceive.” - Don Juan, from The Fire From Within by Carlos Castaneda. “T” ( Thomas Joseph Walton AKA West Cheshire Lad) used to talk about this subject at great length. He would describe the biological function of the human eye, and how it receives light through the iris which then hits the retina, and from there light is translated by the human brain into what we perceive as being exterior to that brain (and ourselves.) “T” would go on to say how quantum physics has long-since demonstrated that our perception of objects around us is flawed, in that every thing

1) What if it doesn’t work? If re-animation following cryonic suspension fails, then I’ll be dead and therefore oblivious to the inevitable process of decomposition - just as is any other corpse. 2) What if your body is re-animated but meanwhile you’ve reincarnated into another body? I always was good at multi-tasking. Seriously, why assume that Mind (or Higher Consciousness if you prefer that term) is restricted to one location? Or that Mind cannot flit instantly from one location to another - time and space being relative to Mind. Observe your own behaviour for proof of how little time you spend being truly conscious of your own body and your immediate surroundings. Most people run on auto-pilot most of the time. Maybe one body could run on auto-pilot while the Mind was in the other body doing something more interesting. Besides, I don't have a fixed belief in reincarnation.  It's an interesting possibility and an engaging philosophy, but there is no evidence to pro

My latest batch of homemade jam - apple and cherry, in this instance - straight from the pan and waiting for wax-paper seals.  The apples were from our garden; the first time we've had a decent crop from this young tree.  There is still some fruit on the branches, as yet unripened. I make my own jams so they're totally free of synthetic colours and other additives.  Made properly, unopened preserves can be safely stored for years.  It's a pleasant feeling to know the household cupboards are well-stocked. I also enjoy maintaining old traditions.  Preserving foods for the coming winter months is a task which has been observed for millennia.  These-days we're so used to simply popping out to the shops 24/7 that on the rare occasions that there's been some kind of hold-up in the supply chain, people started panicking within only a few days.  Maybe we should think about becoming a little more self-reliant?  We've become so dependent on others, on a complex co