Aurora: Blog

I realised I had forgotten to post the up to date version of this. I hate explanations in the text of the story so you get them here along with who's who.
Martin

My readers frequently surprise me with detailed knowledge which I don't have, or have failed to research, or didn't think mattered. When Jake first used the trans atlantic telegraph someone pointed out that it failed very quickly, and it was several years before a new one was laid. So in the next episode I had to account for that. Now, I casually mention the wedding march and Polyoldfart asks which one it might be because... and gives me a run down of composers and dates. My editor, Old Rotorhead, picks me up quite often, in 28 I said 'Gung ho' which he explained was 20thC and that 'enthusiastic' had a rather different take in the 19thC than it does today and was more appropriate. And do I take notice? Oh yes, every day is a learning experience. So if anyone feels that I didn't get something right please tell me. Politely, of course!

The other question was time line. Well Jake arrived in Bristol in 1854 aged 16. We haven't reached the opening of the Suez canal yet (1869) so I think Jake is about 28 which would mean it's 1866.

Oh yes, and for those who replied to my request for information about cargoes to be loaded in San Francisco I thought we'd get there sooner, but we will.

Martin

Gosh, another one! 28 is in the queue, 29 has been started. Hopefully all readers are keeping well.
Martin

I wrote this piece some time back as if it were a historical acount of what happened to the UK after Brexit. Lots of comment, upset lots of people so lots of fun. Scrolling through my ststs I saw there was a new comment. Could I resist? Of course not. But I read the comment, and the preceding one and I thought well they must have been reading something else.

Perhaps I'll do an update in the new year, of course that might depend on whether we are still able to import electricity to run my computer!

Sometimes you just run out of ideas, or you don't know which way to go. Waiting around for insiration to strike doesn't work as I have just confirmed. I started this chapter and it kind of wasn't going very well, although I knew how it was going to end, had it all worked out ready. In the finish it didn't end that way at all,(you'll have to wait for that, I promise it's good!) because the muse woke up and we were off to the races.

So to speak.

And since it didn't end as I thought, I had to alter the beginning. Bugger. Add to this that I know about as much as Hermione about cattle, and rather less about horses, and you can see how I cause myself problems. So there you have it.

Oh yes, I know nothing about racing either, so that'll be a future problem. Why can I not keep things simple?

Enjoy!