I went the other day to look at something on my story website and nearly had a heart attack: it cannot possibly be more than SIX MONTHS since I last posted to A Secret Gate
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Thank you, Kathie. I really need to sit down and address this photo business. Meanwhile, though, I also need to get writing! And it helps immeasurably to know that somebody out there cares whether or not I do, so thanks for the encouragement, too. :) BTW, I heavily promoted your wee-Pippin stories to Rachel while I was in Cambridge. I think you will have a new fan soon!
I'm sure you'll get the photo thing figured out. I'm not very good with putting photos in posts here on lj but photobucket and shutterfly are easy to upload photos to.
From the looks of the response you got to this post, lots of folks are glad to hear you'll be writing again soon. : ) It's such a wonderful story!
That you for telling your friend, Rachel, about my little stories. I appreciate that and it is great to hear that you like them enough to recommend them to someone else. Thank you. I am such a fan of Rachel's artwork for your story. Her artwork is one of the reasons that I always enjoyed reading the story on your beautiful webpage.
Hello, hello--I too have been away from LJ for a few months now--eek! How time does fly. But I was thinking about A Secret Gate recently and wondering how much I had missed--how good to know that I haven't missed anything new.
I totally understand how sometimes one just is bereft of even the small amount of energy needed for a continuing LJ presence. It became too much for me amid a serious work crisis, 12-hr days, and seeing alternate employment. Alas nothing is resolved but I am feeling a bit more energetic lately and less downtrodden--and will probably return to LJ soon. I suppose with this post, one could say I have returned, LOL. But I guess I should post my reasons for the hiatus in my own journal--which are not that dramatic but valid nonetheless--as were yours
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Hi! I have missed your India travelogues--I always learned a great deal from those! I hope that alternate employment turns up for you, and that it's in New Mexico so you can start enjoying that lovely bit of land.
It is indeed an experience to 'walk in the footsteps'--the British really know how to keep their history both sanctified and center-stage. And unlike us, I don't think they ever forget who they are.
I laughed when you said here you wondered how much of A Secret Gate you'd missed and it turned out you hadn't missed a thing! Jeez, I need to get to work!
Well, thank you for that--I wouldn't de-flist you, either! Your kitty pictures are so sweet. I always enjoy them, and if I ever figure out how to get photos in here, I'll put in a few of my Pippin and Sam. They are very good cats--even if their names are the exact opposite of their personalities!
It sounds like you've had a truly dramatic year - I hope the next will be a little more peaceful.
I'm looking forward to hearing more about how you got on here in the UK - I live in Cheltenham, just over the hill from Winchcombe, so you were right on my doorstep.
Wow, I sure was on your doorstep! We were traveling with my husband's brother and sister-in-law, and we stayed three days with her cousins in Charlton Kings (in a 'listed' [?] Georgian house) while we explored all the little lanes of the surrounding area. We visited Stratford-on-Avon, of course, and Warwick Castle, but also places like Lower Slaughter (beautiful old church) and Bourton-on-the-Water (lovely 'little river' and bridges). Had lunch one day at The Fox in Lower Oddington, and dinner one night at The Plough Inn at Ford. Strange to say, we never saw Cheltenham proper; my sister-in-law was pretty much focused on those little lanes and hedgerows! You live in beautiful country; I deeply lament the fact that my country apparently has no stone with which to build anything! The Cotswolds are an absolute marvel of architectural design integrity. I'm still dreaming about those beautiful places.
"listed" is right - buildings of architectural or historic interest are listed to ensure that they can't be knocked down or significantly altered without special permission.
I'm glad to hear you had a good time - it is one of the most beautiful places in the world (at least to me, but then I was born here so I'm biased :-D). Bourton-on-the-Water was a favourite place to visit when we were younger - the river's ideal for children to paddle.
Cheltenham has its gems as well - a lot of building in the late 18th/early 19th century when it became a very popular resort for people to drink the spa water. But it's a modern town and the centre is pretty much the same as every other High St in the country.
It's so good to see you here again. I've been scarce at flist myself lately, but thank goodness I decided to have a look-see now before I go to bed (it's lateish here now). You've most certainly been busy! I can see that. And now I miss your story even if I didn't read the last few chapters, because sometimes I do miss those hobbits, lol. Congratulations on baby Fletcher. That is amazing news. Congrats to the daughter and her wedding as well. :D Isn't England great? I love that country. I visited Oxford briefly once and saw where Tolkien lived and the Eagle and Child where he used to sit with C.S Lewis and his other companions. I'm looking forward to your travelouge.
Thank you, Anso! I've missed you quite a bit, though I do follow your journal whenever it pops up. How lucky you were to see Tollkien's haunts in Oxford! I was limited to Wolvercote Cemetery because of time constraints, but I did have a nice conversation with Rachel's Tim, who had lunched at the Eagle and Child and told me about the plaque on the wall. A good excuse to go back, if you ask me!
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From the looks of the response you got to this post, lots of folks are glad to hear you'll be writing again soon. : ) It's such a wonderful story!
That you for telling your friend, Rachel, about my little stories. I appreciate that and it is great to hear that you like them enough to recommend them to someone else. Thank you. I am such a fan of Rachel's artwork for your story. Her artwork is one of the reasons that I always enjoyed reading the story on your beautiful webpage.
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I totally understand how sometimes one just is bereft of even the small amount of energy needed for a continuing LJ presence. It became too much for me amid a serious work crisis, 12-hr days, and seeing alternate employment. Alas nothing is resolved but I am feeling a bit more energetic lately and less downtrodden--and will probably return to LJ soon. I suppose with this post, one could say I have returned, LOL. But I guess I should post my reasons for the hiatus in my own journal--which are not that dramatic but valid nonetheless--as were yours ( ... )
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It is indeed an experience to 'walk in the footsteps'--the British really know how to keep their history both sanctified and center-stage. And unlike us, I don't think they ever forget who they are.
I laughed when you said here you wondered how much of A Secret Gate you'd missed and it turned out you hadn't missed a thing! Jeez, I need to get to work!
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I'm looking forward to hearing more about how you got on here in the UK - I live in Cheltenham, just over the hill from Winchcombe, so you were right on my doorstep.
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I'm glad to hear you had a good time - it is one of the most beautiful places in the world (at least to me, but then I was born here so I'm biased :-D). Bourton-on-the-Water was a favourite place to visit when we were younger - the river's ideal for children to paddle.
Cheltenham has its gems as well - a lot of building in the late 18th/early 19th century when it became a very popular resort for people to drink the spa water. But it's a modern town and the centre is pretty much the same as every other High St in the country.
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It's so good to see you here again. I've been scarce at flist myself lately, but thank goodness I decided to have a look-see now before I go to bed (it's lateish here now). You've most certainly been busy! I can see that. And now I miss your story even if I didn't read the last few chapters, because sometimes I do miss those hobbits, lol.
Congratulations on baby Fletcher. That is amazing news. Congrats to the daughter and her wedding as well. :D
Isn't England great? I love that country. I visited Oxford briefly once and saw where Tolkien lived and the Eagle and Child where he used to sit with C.S Lewis and his other companions. I'm looking forward to your travelouge.
*many hugs and welcome back*
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I'll get going on the travelogue soon!
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