I’ve started writing some memoirs too. I decided to write mine as a series of little self-contained blog posts because I wouldn’t have the stamina to write the whole thing in one shot. I figured I’ll write all these chapters and then figure out how to combine them at the end. I created a separate Substack for them…
1984 was a very eventful year for me. It was the year I had my first proper girlfriend and its the year I went to the Falklands. Christmas on a ship in San Carlos Water was fun!
Do you know what, I was thinking of releasing chapters on here from January of my memoir too as I think the weekly publishing ritual may help with it. I look forward to taking a read of yours - especially as 1984 features so heavily!
My mum was a right old Delia acolyte back in the day, but I'm sure I remember PiBs on my Christmas dinner before 1990. Did Delia rip off my old dear? Also, steady on with throwing shade at chilli fairy lights, I've got some in my kitchen.
Congratulations on getting longlisted, lovely bit of encouragement!
I really couldn't believe that they were that recent either! Apparently they were around before but she popularised them: "the first written record of the dish was in 1957 in the Cooking for Kids cookbook by Betty Crocker".
Ha ha I know my views on chilli fairy lights may be contentious - sorry!!!
Well done for the flash fiction, I love the tips for crying in public, a good hotel toilet , you just can’t beat ! Not sure about Delia though 😄 I did used to watch her shows growing up, so there is something nostalgic there, but Nigella !!! There is just something magical about her ! I’ve never entered a writing competition, I’ve just started to hear about them from substack, I don’t think I’d have the confidence, as I’m not a ‘proper’ writer and my spelling and grammar is appalling 😆
Thanks so much Francis! You ARE a proper writer - just look at the success you've had! Spelling and grammar are just details - that's why we have apps 😆
Congrats on your Flash Fiction longlist Faith, and I too loved Box of Delights. I hope a new generation will enjoy watching. Also, I can only assume that Noddy's wife is either hard of hearing, or a good sport!
Thank you Sharon! Ha ha you would think so - she looks incredibly young so perhaps it's akin to wild swimming or something - a shock to the system! Glad to find a fellow BoD fan!
Congrats on the flash fiction longlist and I think your wee story is just grand! I'm no expert on flash fiction (haha) and my pathetic attempt at it was one of my most poorly-received posts, but I do think yours is great. Keep at it.
I think the weekly memoirs release thing is a terrific idea. I'm going to try my hand at serialised fiction first, something outside my comfort zone, a nice healthy challenge.
Thanks Daniel. Wow serialised fiction sounds great! I'm terrified of writing fiction so I see this as a great challenge - always so good to be trying something new! That's it then, I'm definitely going to start posting my chapters and perhaps by the end of the year I'll have a memoir sort of by accident!
"Much more authentic than Nigella and her chilli fairy lights and metropolitan friends cluttering up the cold empty warehouse made to look like her kitchen."
Oof, that's a kick in the proverbial preserved lemons. Delia is the GOAT, and anyone who dismisses her is wrong. She was the original Nigella, more authentic than Jamie and understood the difference between baking and cooking.
Though, I do like Mary Berry - I think she is actually Mrs Christmas. I have a chart with pins and bits of string - it's all there, you just have to put the pieces together.
Also, those Christmas Idents are awesome - thank you for that.
Finally - well done on getting shortlisted for the flash writing. I was once shortlisted to get published (Hodder!)...and just didn't make the cut. Gutting, but affirmation and all that...
Thank you so much! Glad you agree with me on Delia, although I do love Nigella's style - it's truly unique and impossible not to watch. I used to like Berry but I find her rather sinister lately, I'm not sure why that is.
I love the idea of flash fiction, I might give it a try. And I love your tips for crying in public. I might need those over the couple of weeks, Christmas or no Christmas.
Congratulations!!! I consider myself a bit of a hotel toilet connoisseur but have yet to try crying in one, something I will bear in mind for the future (historically most of my public crying has been done on planes, trains or just openly while walking down the street)
I’ve started writing some memoirs too. I decided to write mine as a series of little self-contained blog posts because I wouldn’t have the stamina to write the whole thing in one shot. I figured I’ll write all these chapters and then figure out how to combine them at the end. I created a separate Substack for them…
https://scatteredmemories.substack.com/
1984 was a very eventful year for me. It was the year I had my first proper girlfriend and its the year I went to the Falklands. Christmas on a ship in San Carlos Water was fun!
Do you know what, I was thinking of releasing chapters on here from January of my memoir too as I think the weekly publishing ritual may help with it. I look forward to taking a read of yours - especially as 1984 features so heavily!
My mum was a right old Delia acolyte back in the day, but I'm sure I remember PiBs on my Christmas dinner before 1990. Did Delia rip off my old dear? Also, steady on with throwing shade at chilli fairy lights, I've got some in my kitchen.
Congratulations on getting longlisted, lovely bit of encouragement!
I really couldn't believe that they were that recent either! Apparently they were around before but she popularised them: "the first written record of the dish was in 1957 in the Cooking for Kids cookbook by Betty Crocker".
Ha ha I know my views on chilli fairy lights may be contentious - sorry!!!
You just wait till I get a green set to go with the red ones...!
congratulations faith!!!!!
Thank you so much Livvie!
Well done for the flash fiction, I love the tips for crying in public, a good hotel toilet , you just can’t beat ! Not sure about Delia though 😄 I did used to watch her shows growing up, so there is something nostalgic there, but Nigella !!! There is just something magical about her ! I’ve never entered a writing competition, I’ve just started to hear about them from substack, I don’t think I’d have the confidence, as I’m not a ‘proper’ writer and my spelling and grammar is appalling 😆
Thanks so much Francis! You ARE a proper writer - just look at the success you've had! Spelling and grammar are just details - that's why we have apps 😆
😁🤩
Merry Christmas Faith. Congratulations on the writing award. I loved that post and have noted tips down for the future.
Thank you so much Margaret. And glad it was also of practical use!!
Congrats on your Flash Fiction longlist Faith, and I too loved Box of Delights. I hope a new generation will enjoy watching. Also, I can only assume that Noddy's wife is either hard of hearing, or a good sport!
Thank you Sharon! Ha ha you would think so - she looks incredibly young so perhaps it's akin to wild swimming or something - a shock to the system! Glad to find a fellow BoD fan!
Congrats on the flash fiction longlist and I think your wee story is just grand! I'm no expert on flash fiction (haha) and my pathetic attempt at it was one of my most poorly-received posts, but I do think yours is great. Keep at it.
I think the weekly memoirs release thing is a terrific idea. I'm going to try my hand at serialised fiction first, something outside my comfort zone, a nice healthy challenge.
Thanks Daniel. Wow serialised fiction sounds great! I'm terrified of writing fiction so I see this as a great challenge - always so good to be trying something new! That's it then, I'm definitely going to start posting my chapters and perhaps by the end of the year I'll have a memoir sort of by accident!
"Much more authentic than Nigella and her chilli fairy lights and metropolitan friends cluttering up the cold empty warehouse made to look like her kitchen."
Oof, that's a kick in the proverbial preserved lemons. Delia is the GOAT, and anyone who dismisses her is wrong. She was the original Nigella, more authentic than Jamie and understood the difference between baking and cooking.
Though, I do like Mary Berry - I think she is actually Mrs Christmas. I have a chart with pins and bits of string - it's all there, you just have to put the pieces together.
Also, those Christmas Idents are awesome - thank you for that.
Finally - well done on getting shortlisted for the flash writing. I was once shortlisted to get published (Hodder!)...and just didn't make the cut. Gutting, but affirmation and all that...
Thank you so much! Glad you agree with me on Delia, although I do love Nigella's style - it's truly unique and impossible not to watch. I used to like Berry but I find her rather sinister lately, I'm not sure why that is.
Its the hand, isn't it?
I couldn’t possibly comment. To be honest I was thinking of the hair
I still like her though - she just seems like a sweet old lady to me.
Do not trust her
I love the idea of flash fiction, I might give it a try. And I love your tips for crying in public. I might need those over the couple of weeks, Christmas or no Christmas.
Thank you Ragged. I hope that's not because of bad news. Thinking of you.
I quit my job and its probably my last job. Too much time to about the what-could-have-beens. I’ll feel better once I start writing it all down!
Yey!!
Congratulations!!! I consider myself a bit of a hotel toilet connoisseur but have yet to try crying in one, something I will bear in mind for the future (historically most of my public crying has been done on planes, trains or just openly while walking down the street)