Happy 2016!

Thank you for reading my blog ~ whatever the old year meant to you, I hope this new year will bring you what you need and maybe, something you dream about…

 

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #FrancesMacaulayForde  #Happy2016  #HappyNewYear  #DreamsComeTrue  #WhatYouNeed  #WhatYouWant  #SomethingSpecial

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mouth, full.

I remember a time in my life when I felt exactly the same…

AVA.

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Rhino Wrap-up 2015

If you have the means to help…

Fight for Rhinos

We can’t emphasis enough how important YOU are to the success of Fight for Rhinos. Thanks to all of you, this is the difference we were able to make in 2015..

*The dehorning of Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center poaching survivors; Dingle Dell and Lion’s Den at a total cost of $1250.00.  This was essential in not only keeping them safe while they’re at the center, but also in preparation for their eventual return to the wild.

Lion’s Den & Dingle Dell photo: Fight for Rhinos

*A total contribution of $3080.00 to Ol Pejeta Conservancy for

• Rhino audit (to carry out an independent verification of all individual rhinos on OPC ($2000 usd)
• Monitoring equipment – 6 GPS devices @ $ 180ea

Black rhinos at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya. photo: OPC

*Three months of funding to cover expenses of the Black Mambas APU, including food, supplies and miscellaneous expenses (at a total of $2345.00 usd)

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Boxing Day…

20th March 2014 ~ AMcCS entertained us at UWA, in Perth.

Alexander McCall Smith posted a note on Facebook to his fans today and I’d like to quote the last bit:

QUOTE:  May I conclude with lines from a poem I wrote some time ago. I have included it in a small pamphlet I published this Christmas, “The Heart of Each of Us”. It talks about love and about Agape, that form of selfless love of others that is so strong and so important. Here are the lines:

“What we lose, we think we lose forever,
But we are wrong about this: think of love –
Love is lost, we think it gone,
But it returns, often when least expected,
Forgives us our lack of attention, our failure of faith,
Our cold indifference; forgives us all this, and more;
Returns and says, “I was always there”.
Love, agape, whispers: “Merely remember me,
Don’t think I’ve gone away forever;
I am still here. With you. My power undimmed,
See, I am here.”

Happy Christmas!

Alexander McCall Smith : UNQUOTE

 

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #AlexanderMcCallSmith  #LovePoem  #MerryChristmas  #FavWriters  #Poetry

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Introducing Bodhi…

Bodhi ~ born 23rd November 2015

My daughter’s latest artistic creation and my newest grandchild ~ a very welcome distraction.

Sonja & Bella: Beautiful Christmas Fairies.

May you and yours share a wonderful Christmas Time and may 2016 bring you not only what you need, but also, at least one thing you dream of…

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #XmasWishes  #ChristmasTime  #Santa&Bodhi  #ManInARedSuit  #Happy2016  #HappyChristmas  #ARTIST:JessicaMcCallum

 

 

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Meanwhile in Australia…

Thought this was worth reblogging but also, wanted to wish all family, friends and readers a very Happy Christmas!

Perth Words... exploring possibilities.

You Know It’s Hot In Australia When!

1) The best parking spot is determined by shade not distance

2) Hot water comes out of both taps

3) You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron

4) The temperature drops below 32c and you feel chilly

5) You discover that in January and February it only takes two fingers to steer a car

6) You discover you can get sunburnt through your windscreen

7) You develop a fear of metal door handles

8) You break a sweat the instance you step outside at 7am

9) Your biggest bicycle accident fear is “What if i get knocked out and end up lying on the road and getting cooked”

10) You realize asphalt has a liquid state

11) Farmers are feeding there chickens crushed ice to prevent them from laying hard boiled eggs

12) The trees are whistling…

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Time, Fear and Talent: Why You Need All Three Tenets To Make It as a Writer

Just what I need…

Carly Watters, Literary Agent

There are no magic formulas that agents are hiding from writers. Or secrets that published authors are hiding from unpublished authors. But there are a few things that can act like a key to unlock potential. I believe these three things are all it takes to make it in this business.

Time: Books don’t write themselves. Last week I asked people if they have a writing schedule. It was unanimous that while some people have strict schedules (up at 5am to write!) everyone believed you have to find a way to get the words on the page at a regular basis. While most people thought that a writer doesn’t have to write everyday to be a writer, they DO need to buckle down to get it done.

Fear: No matter how important it is to be fearless in your writing, you’re always chasing your fears away. For most writers, they never disappear…

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‘Coral Bay’

Photo of ‘Coral Bay’ from :  http://hubpages.com/art/westernaustraliaphotos#

@FrancesMForde  #FrancesMacForde  #SoundPoems  #POEM:CoralBay  #Poetry  #Nature  #Ocean  #WAWriter  #WAPoet  #ReadingPoems

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“Cover to Cover”

What an excellent program: Meri is the perfect interviewer – interested, focused and knowledgeable. Excellent and very natural responses from both ‘Awesome’ Jenny and Sharon ‘Crow’-ing about local West Australian writers and their Books. I’ll be looking out for the film ‘Carousel’ too.

 

 

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How to tell a good story…

http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/419391/george-saunders-on-story/

Sorry, I don’t know how to make the actual visual appear here, however, I hope you find these links useful…

From the Editor’s Desk: Four Tips on Finding Your Nonfiction Voice

http://www.theatlantic.com/video/archive/2012/05/ken-burns-on-why-his-formula-for-a-great-story-is-1-1-3/257165/

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