Stopping by Words on a Snowy Evening

I read the wonderful Blake Charlton’s blog yesterday and it reminded me of something I wrote back in 2003. Mr. Charlton wrote a poem entitled ‘The Second Book’ as homage (in his words "mash up") to W.B. Yeats’ poem ‘The Second Coming’.

Below is something similar that I wrote when I was sixteen-ish. A friend and I were emailing each other at some ungodly hour of the morning and rather than revising as we should have been we exchanged homage/parodies of well-known poems. My friend began with Poe’s ‘The Raven’ and I countered with my version of ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening’ by Robert Frost.

Amazingly this piece has managed to survive each computer change since 2003 and the parody method has been a staple of my writing/playing-with-words ever since.

Whose words these are, I think I know. His ideas sourced from others though; He does not sense my writing here To follow phrases he did show.

My little laptop thinks it's queer To stop mid sentence, oops, oh dear Between the comma and full stop A truly awful pause, I fear.

She gives her Windows' bells a shake To ask if I am still awake. The only other sound's the noise That nearby aeroplanes must make.

My bed looks lovely, I need sleep. But I have homework to complete, And much to do before it's light, And much to do before it's light.

And the other one I wrote that night was a very odd version of ‘Weathers’ by Thomas Hardy!

Vick. vclinde@gmail.com www.vclinde.co.uk @vclinde

weekend wanders

After traipsing around the country during the week I managed to stay close to home during the weekend but there was still much fun to be had. Saturday was the Alt.fiction/Writing East Midlands/Tor UK event - Other Worlds at the Derby Quad. There were fewer people than I was expecting and yet because everyone was so friendly there I still managed to meet lovely new friends as well as catching up with people. It was really well organised and there were many interesting discussions as well as good-humoured squabbles over whether science fiction or fantasy is better (the latter, obviously). The Tor authors were great and it was fab listening to them via workshop, panels and discussions. At the end of the day I won a fantastic raffle prize from Tor after it had been (uber-generously) returned to the pot once before. I have a year of Tor books to read which I am super excited about so a very very big thank-you to Tor! Sunday has been about Autumn. I've been working on some new pieces to pop onto Etsy (including the Venetian blue necklace in the picture) which always seems to be a big deal in the run up to the holidays. Jewellery sales have a boost twice a year, once is near Valentines Day and the other is around Christmas. Commercial - yes. Hallmark rather than real holidays - yes. Good for business - yes! I had a good potter about in the garden as well trying to see how the plants are faring and what the remaining veg is getting up to. Mostly this afternoon I have been driving around the South Derbyshire countryside, which is my favourite place to be when the leaves are turning. Vick. vclinde@gmail.com www.vclinde.co.uk @vclinde

bonfire night

I've been lucky enough to spend most of my life living with a great view from at least one window. Sadly I moved to London about six years ago where I lived for most of it in a basement flat looking out at the not-quite-darkness of London smoggy nights and no stars. I'm a country girl, can you tell? I've more or less moved back to Derbyshire with a very large portion of my possessions being brought up in the last couple of days. After two days of packing and unpacking I was treated to a clear night and beautiful fireworks. Pictures below.

after an extended absence

I've been rather absent from the internet as a whole for the past week or so. There has been a lot going on. Most of it personal and not for airing on here but I have been doing some fun things to counter-act all of the stress and I thought I would share the more pleasant parts of the past ten days. There have been a lot of great reads on the food blogs recently. I blame the fact that the nights are getting darker, the shops are filling up with wintery foods and for the Americans it is nearly Thanksgiving. So here are my favourites: 1. Every time I turn my computer on the very first thing I read is Paris Breakfasts. Whenever Carol writes about something I want to go there/see it/eat it etc. and this one is her report from Salon du Chocolat. Bliss. 2. This is not a new post from the Pioneer Woman, Ree but the thought of making this amazing baked French toast has kept the warmth in my toes these cold autumnal days! 3. One of my favourite cake shops Bea's of Bloomsbury has opened a second location at One New Change and to add to the excitement she has been keeping people up to date on the new shop via Twitter. Much fun, and cakes. 4. Not one post, but many. Cannelle et Vanille is a beautiful site which is always a joy to read. 5. I've been reading The Bitten Word for a long, long time now and I love their idea of putting all of the food magazines they buy to good use. This post is not solely about food though. Zach and Clay got married and proved that foodies do everything in style! I've also been reading a lot. There has been a lot of sitting around and waiting which is something I completely suck at! I knit, sew and cross-stitch as well as having a great knack for talking to strangers for hours. But mostly I read and at the moment this is what I've had my nose stuck into: 1. Mark Chadbourn's series 'The Age of Misrule'. These are clever and entertaining as well as being well written but the thing that always gets me are the characters, I completely love them. 2. 'The Magicians' by Lev Grossman. I had read hugely mixed reviews of this book and I can tell why after finishing it. I really loved the first two thirds but the last part just didn't grab me in the same way. Still, very glad I read it and I will certainly be reading it again. 3. The 'Gone' series by Michael Grant. These are brilliant books about a world where everyone over the age of 15 suddenly vanishes. As soon as I finished the first I grabbed the second. Intense, gripping and wonderful. 4. Not a book but an online biography. John Fugelsang being hugely entertaining as he lists fifteen facts about himself. 5. Dark Fiction Magazine. It's new. It's fab. No more reasons needed. Other things that have been in my line of sight have included the following... 1. These peacock fairy wings by Gobbolino are AMAZING. 2. My wonderful friend Anna Popovich has just released her new A/W collection and it is gorgeous. With a capital Gorgeous. 3. I really want this watch by Christiaan van der Klaauw. I will need about four lifetimes to save up for it though! 4. I've been working on my jewellery as well. (Some of it shown in the photo!) Looking at all of the fun things I've seen/read/done makes it all seem better. Hope everyone else out there is having a smashing time also. Vick. vclinde@gmail.com www.vclinde.co.uk @vclinde