They say that every snowflake is different.
A new story featuring Dan Armstrong, the Orderly of Mingsport Hospital especially for the Christmas season. At Christmas, there are many people who have to work in a hospital and Dan is no exception. This year an admission at the hospital brings a whole new meaning to ‘it’s snowing’.
Read it here.
A Merry Christmas.
RP
Read MoreChapter 13 – it all ends here…
This is the final chapter of The Rising Tentacle – Part I – A Fear Of The Dark (although there is an Epilogue to follow next month). It builds to a climax, hopefully in both story line and humour and in a sense, it stops. This is good, it end, there’s a cut-off point but if it leaves you with a feeling that there must be more, then that’s good too. Because there is! It comes in The Rising Tentacle – Part II.
Now, if we come back to this chapter… Bernard’s gun makes the second of its appearances in the story, The Amulet raises its head and there’s a Gatekeeper. There has to be a Gatekeeper, ever since Ghostbusters introduced Zuul, it’s been law!
So, there you have it, Chapter 13. The Epilogue follows next month to ’round out’ what began in the mists of time. ‘But was it a mist, though?’
Just remember, if you get into difficulties – ‘Hold it erect! Hold it erect!’
RP
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A recent purchase of mine.
The brush is non-Badger hair, it’s artificial from The Body Shop. The Bowl, from Crabtree & Evelyn is wooden, so a little bit more sustainable than a plastic one. I think Harold would approve…
RP
Read MoreI can’t believe it has been a month since I hurriedly published Chapter 8 and here we are, time for Chapter 9. I just can’t!
In my defence, I have been busy. I’ve been working on scripts for my comic strip; Schrödinger’s Coffee House and that’s been taking up a lot of my time. This time away from Harold and The Rising Tentacle has made me realize just how much I miss him and it. I’m going to be writing another Tentacle Tale soon and I’ll publish it (under Short Stories) as soon as I’m finished. Anyway, back the task in hand. Now what can I tell you about Chapter 9?
Well, I love it! It’s one of my favourite chapters, not least because it has a reference to Black Metal. Now I’m a god-fearing bloke but I do love a bit of Black Metal – Immortal are my poison.
The seagull makes an appearance. There’s something about seaguls, isn’t there?
Victoria takes centre stage and I almost felt the whip handle! I see her as a cross between Catwoman & Indiana Jones. She wouldn’t put up with any nonsense from any of the male characters. She carries that whip because she knows how to use it. She is a strong, independent female character and I wouldn’t want you getting to think she was anything else!
Gang of Four get a mention – always remember the single Armalite Rifle released on Damaged Goods/Armalite Rifle 7″. I bought my, now brother-in-law a compilation album one year and it had Armalite Rifle on it, he loved it! Punk’s not dead!
And the fog – or was it a…
More soon..
RP
Read MoreChapter 7 added 13 February 2011.
Chapter 7 – The rains come… There’s something about rain, its wetness! There’s also the way it sneaks up on you. You think, ‘oh, it’s raining’, next thing you know, everything’s a sodden mess! A similar thing happens to our team of characters. One minute they’re reading about the mysterious Sound Stone, next minute, they’re in the middle of a deluge. Then there’s the boat…
This is a short chapter but I’m pleased with the way it advances the story.
Chapter 8 – When the Boat Comes In will be published on 13th March 2011.
RP
Read MoreChapter 6 added 13 January 2011.
In Chapter 6, a mystery develops centred around Jeremiah Nule and Harold and Bernard visit a bookshop, more by accident than design. At the bookshop, two new characters are introduced; Victoria and Carlton.
I love bookshops, especially the independent kind that provide a unique environment in which to indulge my addiction passion. Two of note include
Chapter 7 will be published on 13th February 2011.
RP
RP
Read MoreChapter 5 added 13 December 2010.
In chapter 5, a discovery is made thanks to Jeremiah Nule and it leads Harold and Bernard to a bit of a work out.
I’m always worried when I visit Museums! I’m conscious of the fact that just a little inattention could lead to the catastrophic destruction of a priceless artifact. I still visit, I’m just a nervous wreck when I’m there.
Did you know that the plural of octopus is octopodes? Octopuses is the commonly accepted but octopi is distinctly frowned upon. It’s all to do with the origin of the root of the word [ Wikipedia entry ]. I prefer Octopussy myself. I shied away from the argument in thus chapter and went for a singular octopus.
Have a Merry Christmas and see you in the New Year on 13th January 2011 for Chapter 5. Meanwhile, look out for a short Christmas story to be published soon…
RP
What with Winter coming, all the snow we’ve had and the approach of Christmas, what better image to capture it all than Herge at his best. Got this badge as a present some years ago and it has a pride of place on my shelf of honour.
RP
I’ve just putting the finishing touches to a new short story I’ve written.
It’s set in the same world and is contemporary with, Harold but has a new character; Dan Armstrong. Dan is an Orderly at the hospital in Mingsport and gets embroiled in the ‘goings on’ in the town. It’s entitled Graft. I’ll be posting it soon and it will reside under the Short Stories page.
I’ve also started a second short story entitled Sauce in a similar vein.
There’s a third in the pipeline, no title as yet.
It’s a little light relief from the day-to-day of Part III of The Rising Tentacle but that’s progressing too.
I am also starting to research for a different type of story. It will be a fantasy. It’s very early days for this one yet but I have high hopes…
RP
Read MoreChapter 4 added 13 November 2010.
In chapter 4, Harold and his new companion, Bernard visit Jeremiah Nule, the author of Mingsport – Ritual and Custom. This is a short and playful chapter with a couple of bits I really like
I love the boxes – 1 Upper Cut – get it?
I love the way Jeremiah gets angry at the ‘door knock’ scene. It seems to me that an academic, so wrapped up in his own world wouldn’t have time for interruptions and would have little patience
Jeremiah’s name was invented to obtain the Leftcroft, Nule & Voyd name for the law firm. I use them all the time!
See you on the 13th December for Chapter 5.
RP