Welcome to 2015... The New Year has begun

Welcome to a new year to everyone and I hope that you have all had a wonderful Christmas and a safe but merry New Year celebration. The year ended pretty well for me with a new phone just before Christmas, something that I am still trying to get my head around... I also whipped up an entry for the Reader's Digest 100 word short story competition so now Ben and I have an entry in an overseas writing comp and I have an entry in an aussie one too. My fingers and toes and eyes are crossed for getting a great result with both...

Christmas was a family focused affair seeing most of my family and my wife's family over Christmas day and a few days after. It was great to see the smiles on the faces of my own kids, nieces and nephews and friends kids as they opened gifts. I know that it is an obvious observation but in my mind kids make Christmas... Their innocence and wonderment makes the holiday even more special no matter what the reason you celebrate the day.

New Year was a repeat of our last couple of years, a relaxed affair at our house with a few close mates. The party was a lot of fun and the clean up the next morning was easy as... We also had great mates from interstate drop in for a big BBQ lunch (great catch up BB as always... We love you guys!!)

January 2nd was a day of cool air conditioning, a fabulous family movie and an epic tantrum from our smallest one... It was Miss Four and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad afternoon!!!

Now it is the 3rd day of the new year and so many of our friends and family are fleeing the cruel fate of an unpredictable bushfire... My love and thoughts go out to all who are facing such a stressful, fearful beginning to the year... Stay safe and remember the greatest treasure is your life and your loved ones. Keep them close, in your life and in your heart. May the sky open up and pour down on that fire and may the brave souls who are out there fighting it and fleeing from it have some relief...

The Silly Season Has Arrived

To all,

Life has been crazy lately... more at work than at home... Which has seen me neglecting my blog.

To those who have been wonderfully following my humble slice of cyberspace and posting comments I cannot state enough apologies for such a crime!

For everyone else I guess this is me popping back up again and saying 'Hi!'

Seeing as Christmas is so close I thought it as good a theme as any (and yes I am horrified when I look back and see that Halloween was the last time I posted).

So what is Christmas now for you? Is it still the holiday filled with childhood wonder? Does it have reverent religious relevance?

I have three beautiful children and some wonderful young nieces and nephews who still enjoy the wonderment of Christmas time. For them there is nothing better than seeing the tree go up with the pretty lights flashing. Every present large or small is a surprise waiting to happen, a glorious gift needing to be unwrapped vigorously, the toy inside played with immediately.

For me this is a time to reflect on those that have passed on, to remember them fondly and miss them deeply. It is also a time to celebrate those who are still with us, friends and family, all loved ones. And for those precious moments it is a time to celebrate the pure joy of belief in love and magic and all things holy.

Merry Christmas to everyone and a happy, hopeful and prosperous New Year...

Thanks to all who have checked out my blog and a BIGGER thanks to those who posted a reply or two!!

Lets see if I can blog more in 2015...

Happy Halloween Everyone

Who knew that an American holiday could be so much fun? I read somewhere that Halloween is the second biggest holiday in the world for spending... Christmas is first of course, but it surprised me to discover that Easter and Mother's Day are surpassed by this crazy night where kids dress up like monsters but are the best behaved ever and random strangers open their doors to you and give you candy. It was so wonderful to see two neighbours joining together to create one of the scariest, fun and heart racing experiences of my life... A great job Murray Bridge... Happy Halloween to everyone!! Embrace it... Enjoy it... I know we did.

Dream a little dream...

 The last couple of days I have been thinking about a holiday... The greatest holiday ever. Partly I have been thinking along these lines due to a mate's message "Where would you go to write if you could go anywhere?"
I would love some sort of Nim's Island set up where I could live off the land but still had a laptop for writing and wi-fi so that I could still submit my stuff (to editor or competitions, etc.)

I have also passed a few books at work that have been along the theme of travel and great places to visit.

All of this has got me wondering where would I go on a dream holiday..?

It would need to be kids friendly and somewhere my gorgeous wife would also enjoy...

One of the greatest educational experiences I have had in my life was when I went traveling overseas. This same (or similar) experience I would most definitely want to share with my kids.

On your greatest dream holiday where would you go..?

The Revenge of the Amateur Animator...

A little while ago I put a short film up on Youtube, a message to my kids that they can dream big and grow up to be anything they want to be (find it here).

I have now put my hat back in the ring and created another short film... a blatant advertisement for South Australian Libraries.

Check it out here and feel free to write comments and pass it on to your friends to have a watch (and a laugh at my terrible, kooky amateur animation).

Let us see if we can get it to go viral!!!

Dynamic Duo

I have stumbled across this great writing competition called the Atlantis short story contest 

It looks like a great opportunity for new writers and also a great challenge.

Over the Father's Day weekend I got together with my brother-in-law and together we produced what I believe is a good chance for winning a prize.

What I love most about this comp though is the promised feedback each entry will receive. It will be so refreshing to submit something and then have it critiqued professionally.

Fingers crossed!! Wish us luck!

Tim the Return... A very short return...

After a few busy weeks I thought I would touch base again with you all...
The month of August has been very busy with me getting ready for the school holiday period (busiest time at work for me) and also lots of reading (still slugging away at Game of Thrones) and night time TV.
I am hoping soon to send off my novel The Eleventh Tome to a publisher that helps new talent and young writers. Wish me luck, I will keep you posted.