Tedbiker: Blog

I've just submitted chapter one of the latest Delilah episode. There will be three more, posted alternate days as usual.
As it is set in the present situation around Coronavirus/Covid-19, it is necessarily incomplete; or, if you prefer, the completion will have to wait until we know how the infection is going to pan out.
I hope that soon we can return to normality, which probably means waiting on the introduction of an effective vaccine, but in view of the unpredictable and often serious nature of the infection, who know when it will be.
Still, here is more in the life of Sally and Jerry Smallbridge - and Yelka and Lena, of course.

I've had a flood of well-wishing emails about my medical problem, and this is to let everyone know that I'm out, having been fitted in to a cancellation in the surgery list on Friday. Operation went and I'm doing well other than the to be expected soreness. It does mean no heavy lifting, which includes riding Oscar, for four weeks. It's a considerable relief to be dealt with and I can live with some short term restrictions.
I'm still writing sporadically - I actually got some done whilst in hospital - but still struggling with a shortage of inspiration. Hopefully, I'll manage to complete the next Delilah story soon and in the meantime am jotting down some ideas to revisit Dryad and the main characters in Melissa. Don't hold your breath over them, though.
I hope I've replied to everyone who emailed, but I'll say it again - Thank you for your good wishes, encouragement and prayers. It's really helped.
Ted

My readers may be interested to know that I'm currently in hospital (actually, as I write this, I'm at home on 'day leave') waiting for an operation for sigmoid volvulus. If you want to know what that is, I'm sure Google would help. I'll just say that it's a very unpleasant condition which recurs and is potentially dangerous if not treated.
Theoretically, I ought to be able to get some writing done, but I'm afraid my muse has obviously gone on holiday, so any progress is slow and unreliable.
I'm currently working on a new 'Delilah', and a new 'Dryad', but as I say, inspiration is lacking. Annoyingly, the hospital wi-fi has SoL blocked, so I'm dependent on my limited mobile data, too.
All being well, the surgery happens on Monday, and I'm then stuck for 3-7 days before I can get home. I suspect that my activities (like, riding my motorbike) may be constrained too. But I am still writing, or at least trying to, and I expect the next posting will be a new episode in the life and times of Sally and her Master Jerry.
Ted

I will be posting this 8.8K word short story soon. Warning, while it certainly has some romance in it, it includes non-consensual sex; actually state-sponsored rape. It's set in a very backwards theocracy where the leadership are trying to keep the lid on a rising swell towards gender equality.

Interesting times! I've begun a story set during the pandemic... Problem. We don't know yet what the future holds, do we? If things go the same way as previous pandemics, the infection will burn out and eventually become merely an inconvenience. But it seems that the more we learn about the disease, the worse it seems. Besides, the way it's managed, while fewer people are dying (at the moment) there's not much chance of immunity building in the community.
We don't know for sure what the origins are. Is it man made? Or is it something which has made the jump from the animal population? If the latter, why has it not happened before? All I'm saying is that it's going to be dangerous to predict in fiction a positive outcome. I hope I'm wrong. I really do.
A hundred years ago, 'Spanish Flu' killed 50million worldwide, about 10% of those infected, but our medical technology is much more sophisticated nowadays. Is that a good thing?
No-one wants to devalue any life, but we - Homo sapiens - have defied a fundamental rule of all life; strengthening the race by 'survival of the fittest'.
We defy the rule by insisting 'all life is sacred' (at least, all human life).
Arthur Hugh Clough paraphrased the Ten Commandments; the relevant one here being, "Thou shalt not kill: but need'st not strive officiously to keep alive."
I'm torn. Logic, versus emotion. 0ver twenty years as a nurse, though no longer in practice. For the first time since retiring, I wish I were back on the wards... but I'd be a hindrance rather than a help.
Take care. Keep safe. Help friends, family, those in need. Bother Darwin.
Ted