Monthly Archives: December 2014

The Short Fiction Writers Guild

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I am pleased to announce that I am now a member of The Short Fiction Writers Guild (http://shortfictionwritersguild.wordpress.com/). The role of The Short Fiction Writers Guild, as set out in it’s Mission Statement is,

“The Short Fiction Writers Guild (SFWG) celebrates and promotes all genres of short fiction in an effort to share the entertainment of the form with new readers, provides a robust marketing platform to expand market viability and profit potential for the works of its members, and offers a range of services to help members improve as writers, while embracing the virtues of honesty, professionalism, and integrity. (http://shortfictionwritersguild.wordpress.com/about/). For information on how to join The Short Fiction Writers Guild please visit (http://shortfictionwritersguild.wordpress.com/about/how-to-join/). For my latest book, “Dalliance; A Collection Of Poetry And Prose” please visit (http://www.amazon.com/Dalliance-collection-poetry-prose-Morris-ebook/dp/B00QQVJC7E, for the US) or (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dalliance-collection-poetry-prose-Morris-ebook/dp/B00QQVJC7E, for the UK). For my Amazon Author Page please visit (http://www.amazon.co.uk/K.-Morris/e/B00CEECWHY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0, for the UK) or (http://www.amazon.com/K.-Morris/e/B00CEECWHY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0, for the US).  

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Vaguely Life Leaks Away

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As I battled my way through the crowds thronging London’s Victoria station, following another day working in central London, those lines of W. H. Auden came to me,

“‘In headaches and in worry

Vaguely life leaks away,

And Time will have his fancy

To-morrow or to-day. (http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/i-walked-out-one-evening).

“As I Walked Out” is, in many respects a pessimistic poem. The young lovers under the bridge will, despite the high sounding words of the man be brought low by time. Either their love will wither or, if love persists romance will end in the grave. For Auden an (albeit imperfect)salvation lies in doing the best we can in what, for him is a bleak world. As he puts it,

“‘O stand, stand at the window

As the tears scald and start;

You shall love your crooked neighbour

With your crooked heart.’

I first came across Auden’s poetry while studying for my A-levels and have returned to him from time to time ever since. “As I Walked Out” is, along with “The Shield Of Achilles” my favourite Auden poem.

 

Kevin

 

Book Review: My Wings By Patty Van Delft

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My Wings by Patty Van Delft is a moving collection of poetry. In part 1,Patty leaves no holes barred in expressing raw emotions of loss, depression and hopelessness. However all is not dark. There glimmers the light of hope and optimism. Love and a zest for life is evident in the second part of Patty’s book.

Patty has accomplished the difficult task of being searingly honest about highly personal and emotional issues. This book is well worth reading.

 

For My Wings By Patty Van Delft please visit (http://www.amazon.com/My-Wings-Just-Patty-ebook/dp/B00MH7FGJE) or (http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Wings-Just-Patty-ebook/dp/B00MH7FGJE).

 

Kevin

Thoughts On A Winter’s Evening

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Winter. Not long gone 4 pm yet, all is dark. Wind cuts like a knife. People hurry, collars turned up against the icey blast.

Home beccons. Central heating warms, hot drinks revive, but what can unfreeze the shrivelled soul inside?

Sir Smasham UP By E. V. Rieu

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At school I had a wonderful teacher, Mr Delacruz who, along with my grandfather kindled in me a love of literature. I remember Mr Delacruz’s classroom as being piled high with books, volumes tottered on storeroom shelves. For me, as a small boy entering his classroom was akin to visiting Aladdin’s cave.

I recollect him reading aloud to we children. He even made a recording of several stories and poems for me including Conan Doyle’s The Speckled Band and Alfred Noye’s poem The Highwayman. One poem from which I derived particular pleasure was Sir Smasham UP by E V RIEU, (http://monologues.co.uk/Childrens_Favourites/Smasham_Uppe.htm). For a reason which shall forever remain clouded in mystery, the first few lines of Rieu’s humorous poem popped into my head this morning,

“Good afternoon, Sir Smasham Uppe!
We’re having tea: do take a cup!”

and I determined to look up this childhood favourite. If you have children, grandchildren or are acquainted with children in any way I recommend introducing Rie

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North Korea is Murdering People With Disabilities North Korean Defector Says

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On 30 November I published a post entitled “Lets Talk About Eugenics”, (http://newauthoronline.com/2014/11/30/lets-talk-about-eugenics/). In that piece I wrote about how eugenics has been embraced by people with divergent political views, including leading socialists, conservatives, liberals and, in the most extreme manifestation of eugenic measures Nazi Germany.

Eugenics lead, in it’s most virulent form to the Action T-4 Programme (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/t4.html) under which the Third Reich sterilised and murdered thousands of disabled people. One would hope that the attitudes which lead to Action T-4 perished with the defeat of Hitler’s Germany. However according to defectors from North Korea the killing of people with disabilities continues apace, (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2869792/Dwarfs-castrated-babies-left-suffer-horrific-deaths-Defector-claims-North-Korea-purging-disabled-population-humiliate-regime.html), with the disabled being used as guinea pigs in medical experiments and being forceably removed from their parents. Words such as horrific can not do justice to the barbarity of what the North Korean regime is inflicting on people with disabilities and the populace in general.

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Dalliance; A Collection Of Poetry And Prose Is Available To Purchase In The Kindle Store

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My collection of poetry and prose, Dalliance is available to download in the Kindle Store. To purchase Dalliance please visit (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QQVJC7E) or (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dalliance-collection-poetry-prose-Morris-ebook/dp/B00QQVJC7E/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418159758&sr=1-1&keywords=Dalliance%3B+a+collection+of+poetry+and+prose).

Dalliance is a compilation of my poems many of which deal with nature and man’s relationship with the natural world. The collection also includes several of my short stories together with a number of essays on a variety of topics.

I hope you enjoy reading Dalliance.

 

Kevin

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Successful Blogging – Guest Post By Kev Cooper

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Many thanks to Kev (http://kevs-domain.net/about-my-blog/) for the below excellent post on successful blogging. I agree with Kev, its vital to build up relationships with fellow bloggers and remain courteous in one’s dealings with others. Thank you Kev, (Kevin, the other one)!

 

Successful Blogging

Successful blogging is not only about having good posts, although that does help, be they uplifting, informative, eventful, un-eventful or even if you’re sharing some unfortunate news; Rather, successful blogging is all about community. It’s about how you interact with your blogging community. It’s about showing appreciation and support to your followers and visitors. It’s not rocket science, folks. It’s simple, common courtesy.

For example, not everyone is comfortable with commenting, but they may like your posts and what you have to say… bear this in mind when someone likes your posts. Pay a visit to their blog, see what they’re about. If you like something; let them know in what way is comfortable for you.

Be mindful of those who take the extra effort to leave a comment, however short. It may be that they have a lot to do, somewhere to go and are in a hurry and therefore just leave a word, like “nice,” “beautiful,” or a smiley face. It could be they want to say something, but don’t know what to say. Either way, they have still made an extra effort to show appreciation. Jeez, I should know, I’ve done it often enough myself just before setting off to work or continuing with a project on hand! A return “Thanks/Thank you” or even a smiley face shows your acknowledgement of their effort and will in no way go unnoticed.

Some folks find they have quite a bit to say, use this as a great opportunity to establish a good rapport and even develop a solid blogging friendship. It’s these interactions that really bring your blog to life. Some of the great rapport I have between blogs started with just a simple like, a smiley face, and/or a “nice.”

Finally, be open-minded. Not everyone is going to think like you do. Learn to appreciate your differences and allow yourself to grow from your experience with the wonderful world of successful blogging.

(Now if I can just find a way off this soapbox without slipping…)

Happy successful blogging folks! J

Discrimination By Taxi Driver Who Refused To Convey Me With My Guide Dog Trigger

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In the United Kingdom it is an offence under the Equalities Act 2010 for a taxi driver and/or a company to refuse to convey an assistance dog owner accompanied by their working animal (http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/legal-and-policy/legislation/equality-act-2010). As those of you who follow this blog will know, I am a registered blind guide dog owner. This post is about the discrimination I encountered on 27 October when a taxi driver from Station Cars refused to convey me and my guide dog Trigger.

Responsibility for ensuring taxi companies comply with their legal obligations to convey assistance dog owners, accompanied by their working animals rests with the Public Carriage Office, (https://www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/). I reported the issue on 27 October however I have, to date received no feedback from PCO regarding my complaint other than an automated acknowledgement that it had been received by them. I have chased, several times (including via recorded delivery). However I have yet to receive a response from the PCO.

I have thus far refrained from blogging about the incident in the hope that it could be resolved via the PCO. However given the inordinate amount of time things are taking I have determined to blog about the incident in order to highlight it and the difficulties faced by myself and other assistance dog owners.

I have reproduced below my e-mail to PCO (withholding my address and that of the witnesses to the incident for reasons of privacy).

 

Text Of E-Mail From Kevin Morris To PCO Sent On 27 October 2014

 

“Dear Sir/Madam,

Further to my conversation with (name redacted) of today’s date, I am
writing to complain regarding the failure of Station Cars (vehicle
registration LC63UBM – a Vauxhall Zafira) to convey me and my guide
dog Trigger from my home (address redacted). to (address redacted)

At the time of the incident my guide dog was wearing his distinctive
harness clearly marking him as a working guide dog.
At approximately 7:40 am on Monday 27 October I telephoned Crystal
Cars and requested a car to convey me and my guide dog to (address redacted). The firm advised that the taxi would be with me
for around 8:15 AM.
At about 8:20 am a driver arrived from Station Cars and refused to
convey me and my guide dog. I explained that under the Equalities Act
he was obliged to take guide dogs when accompanied by their owners. He
said that he had not been informed about the presence of the dog and
contacted his office (Station Cars). Station cars backed up the driver
and on me requesting to speak to them (the driver handed over his
mobile) Station Cars repeated that they where not obliged to convey
guide dogs. The firm further confirmed that the booking had been
passed to them by Crystal Cars owing to Crystal Cars not having a
driver available.
My neighbour, (name and address redacted) and her daughter, (name redacted) spoke with the driver and tried to
reason with him. However he remained adamant that he wouldn’t convey
me and my guide dog. (Name redacted) then took the driver’s details as set
out above.
I subsequently contacted Crystal Cars who apologised for the incident
and sent another car which arrived quickly.
To recap. The initial booking was made with Crystal Cars who due to
not having any drivers available passed on the booking to Station
Cars. It was a driver from Station Cars and Station Cars themselves
who refused to convey me and my guide dog. The dog was wearing his
distinctive harness so it was crystal clear that he was a working
guide dog. I would be grateful if you could please investigate the
actions of Station Cars and the driver in question.
Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to
contact me.

tours Faithfully

Kevin Morris