This year I was determined not to hear 'Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time' until the day itself. Sadly it first assaulted my ears on November 15th.

Frank Zappa died of prostate cancer on December 4th 1993.

Every time I try to write about tg stuff it goes wrong. One day I'll get it right, but in the meantime here's Megan Ward.

Someone recently asked 'What Makes You Cry?'

This does.

Anyone picked up on this today? According to a report on BBC Radio 5 Emma is not asking for monetary compensation, just a better understanding of the issues she and other trans women have to deal with.

http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/18/transgender-police-officer-sue...

Finding it hard to complete a sentence in a review, never mind contribute any new fiction. It's a long-standing struggle with bureaucracy thing.

On the day that Durham won the County Cricket championship for the third time in six years - stealing it from under the noses of Yorkshire! - let's hear it for the Land of the Prince Bishops and arguably its most gifted son. Yes, the songwriting genius Paddy McAloon has a new Prefab Sprout album out on October 7th. I've heard it all and it's the best thing he's recorded since 'Jordan: The Comeback'.

Down below, down below
What do any of those losers know

http://youtu.be/5WnATZLcXuA

Labyrinth had its moments, but for me nothing can beat the 'waltzing dress' scene from Ridley Scott's Legend.

It is sheer cinematic perfection.

Paddy McAloon does it again.

County Durham's most gifted son has a new album out on October 7th. To my unbounded joy it's already up on You Tube.

Paddy who? I hear some of you ask.

Thursday 25 July

Another afternoon spent on a rocky foreshore watching the tide come in and letting an unforgiving sun burn my skin that little bit darker. Another afternoon wondering where the hell my next piece of fiction is coming from.

You know that feeling when you listen to a piece of music and it says exactly what you want to put across in a story, but no matter how hard you try you can never quite get the same vibe?

It's finally happened! A Briton has won the men's singles title at Wimbledon. The first since Fred Perry 77 years ago. I'm no fan of lawn tennis, but I had to wipe away a tear because this was sporting history.

To make the moment even sweeter, Andy Murray hails from a lovely little town on the edge of the Scottish highlands called Dunblane, which was blighted by tragedy in 1996 when a gunman opened fire on a group of schoolchildren with horrendous results. Andy's triumph has now ensured that the town will be remembered for a different reason.

I was pointed towards this short film (26 mins) by someone on the FictionMania site. There's no overt tg element, but it's a well-made and nicely acted body-swap tale.

http://youtu.be/4Era5OHNHKA

Where are the boys who can't attract girls?

A signature should be something that makes people think.
But I can't keep this to myself.

http://youtu.be/o5haDMqQnYw

Not when the mermaid smiled.

I have no 'real world' tg issues. I'm lucky enough to be happy with my gender identity, and to have a wide circle of friends who understand why I write tg fiction and who approve of my reasons for doing so.

Here in cyberspace (way to show your age Rich, you'll be talking about superhighways next!) it's different. I want a female alter-ego because I believe it might help me grow, both as a writer and a person.

I'm being serious. This has bugged me for a while, and I want it settled.

Name Of The Doctor

Just watched the series finale of Doctor Who on BBC I-Player.