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Hi all!
This week has been flying past and there was a lot to do. Not only on the writing part, but in real life as well. Lucky, I got around to everything with no outstanding tasks.
Here is chapter 2 of “Let the River Run.” Enjoy. Just remember the big story will start soon. On the moment we are just easing into the environment, meeting people and doing some flying.
In the real world: Later in the story there will be some scenes where the flooding at Sirheni Bush Camp will be inspected as well as the dam wall at the camp. Well, in real life that dam wall was demolished by the park rangers and SANDF Sappers by blowing it with explosives. This was done between the 9th and 12th of March this year. (A few days ago.)
Also in the real world: Today the Pafuri Gate to the Kruger National Park was closed due to continued rain and flooding. The border gate to Mozambique was also closed due to flooding and continued rain.
A reader from Kansas City in the USA emailed me to say that there was a big hailstorm in Kansas that send canon ball sized hail stones through some house roofs. I can relate to that as during December golf-ball sized hail obliterated my sister-in-law’s patio roof. And still there are some world leaders that deny the fact that global warming is just an old women’s tale...
Listen carefully to the song by Carly Simon: “Let the river run. Let all the dreamers wake the nation. Come, the New Jerusalem. Silver cities rise. The morning lights the streets that lead them. And sirens call them on with a song...We're coming to the edge. Running on the water. Coming through the fog. Your sons and daughters...”
All the best and God bless!
Bye 4 now!
Hi all!
And here we go again...
I do hope you are all doing well.
So far, the summer has been wet and windy and even hail the size of golf balls has caused devastation to our gardens and a few roofs are still floating in the stratosphere. Only a few days of sunshine came along.
When the Indian Ocean spawn cyclones that try their best to blow Madagascar to smithereens, Mozambique tries to shield the continuant, but more than once the spill over hits the northeastern parts of South Africa. Rivers becomes angry and try to wash everything back to the ocean...
The weather prophets blame El Nino and La Nina. Others blame global warming. Global warming? And here I sit in high summer with long pants and a jacket. Really?
Well, swirling the ice in my whisky, I had an idea. (A brain fart – if you like to call it that.) An idea to make this lousy weather spawn a story...
That’s how “Let the River Run” was born...
Here is chapter 1 of “Let the River Run.” I do hope this one will resonate with you. Enjoy!
I also, by accident, stumbled across the voting for the 2025 Clitorides Awards. Big was my surprise to find that “Jody Daniel” was nominated for “Author of the year,” as well as “Estrella De Asis” was nominated for “Epic Erotic Story of the Year,” (I still don’t know where the ‘Erotic’ comes in, but that’s beside the point.) Also, “Rosa Rio” was nominated for “Best Romantic Story of the Year.”
I do appreciate those nominations as it reflects that someone, somewhere thought of “Jody Daniel” and his stories. Thank you to the readers for those nominations. (Now if only all of the 1162 followers can go and vote...)
All the best and God bless!
Bye 4 now!
Hi all!
I do hope you are all doing well.
My old saying: There’s a time to come, and a time to go... And the time for “Whispers in the Forest” to go... has now come.
I should have ended it at chapter 14. But my editors insisted there was room for another chapter, and that “another chapter" morphed into three more chapters.
So, here is chapter 17 of “Whispers in the Forest.” Enjoy!
But fear not! “Let the River Run” is into chapter seven and chapter one will grace your screens shortly.
I wish to thank you all for the good reception "Whispers in the Forest" got from you and hope "Let the River Run" will build on that.
Thanks to the endurance and persistence from my editors to put up with my yarns. Guys, Thank You!
You know that when you get a WhatsApp from your editor saying that: “Yeah, a nice weekend ahead. All I need is another Let the River Run chapter to edit.”
That makes me wonder... Does he like to edit my stories? Or do I keep him from running with his buddies...? One will never know, would one? LOL!!!
All the best and God bless!
Bye 4 now!
Hi all!
I do hope you are all doing well.
I’ve been following the lively debate among readers regarding Ruan’s rank insignia—specifically the "pips vs. bars" discussion—and I thought it was time to set the record straight.
When it comes to military heraldry, "Captain" doesn't look the same in every corner of the world. While many of us are used to the British/Commonwealth three-pip system or the US twin-silver bars, Ruan’s uniform follows a different tradition.
The Anatomy of a Volynia Air Force Captain:
In the Volynia National Army (and by extension, the Air Force), the rank of Captain is represented by the specific shoulder board. Here is a breakdown:
• The Four Stars: Unlike the Western "three pips," a Volynian Captain wears four eight-pointed gold stars arranged in a horizontal line.
• The Vertical Bars: At the shoulder seam, there are two vertical gold bars featuring a distinct zigzag "v-pattern" embroidery.
• The Service Emblems: The insignia is completed with a gold button featuring the Volynian Coat of Arms (the silver Falcon and shield) and a wreath containing crossed rifles, signifying the wearer's status as a commissioned officer.
Why the confusion?
The debate is understandable! Most Western readers are conditioned to look for:
1. Three Pips: The British Army/RAF standard.
2. Two Bars: The US Air Force/Army "Railroad Tracks."
However, Ruan’s world is built on different heritage and specific international regulations. So, when you see those four stars and twin decorative bars on his flight suit, make no mistake—you are looking at the rank of a Captain.
In 1991 Volynia got independence from the USSR and went back to their Kingdom and democratically elected Parliament system, thus breaking the tradition of using the USSR two side by side stars on a gold two paralleled stripes for the rank of captain.
And to take the confusion further; the rank of Captain in the rest of the world is not the same as Captain in any Navy. A Navy Captain is equivalent to a Colonel in the Rest of the armed forces. (Some of my readers and even a Captain from the Indian Navy, when they found out of my rank before I retired, though that I commanded six or eight platoons. (LOL!!!)
And that Indian Navy Captain commanded a Carrier that I stood on the flight deck of when I was a boy of 9. The ship was then in the Royal Navy fleet when the Royal Navy visited Cape Town and later sold the carrier to India. Small world, isn’t it?
I for many years had the gold 3, five-pointed-stars, decorate each shoulder as a Commissioned Officer. And although I retired, I still hold that Commission and are entitled to be addressed as “Captain”, something that I don’t insist on, but many of my ex-colleagues still address me as such. Looks like if you retire, you are just placed on permanent vacation. LOL!!!
Hopefully, this clears up the "pip" count and lets us get back to the cockpit, romance and action!
So, here is chapter 16 of “Whispers in the Forest.” Enjoy!
All the best and God bless!
Bye 4 now!
Hi all!
I do hope you are all doing well.
Thank you for all the emails and comments. A warm welcome to the new followers as well. It’s good to have you here.
Things are starting to heat up for the Queen and the Duke, but it seems like the two lovebirds just take it in their stride, and Volkov’s headaches are mounting. It’s tough to be the Head of Security for a Queen. LOL!!!
So, here is chapter 15 of “Whispers in the Forest.” Enjoy!
All the best and God bless!
Bye 4 now!
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