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Inspirations, the Stories Space Coffee House: If you're reading this it just might mean I'm back, sorta. If you're not reading this, well, congratulations.

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Mendalla
Crazy old ape
Quote by hayley

OMG! Do you think peeps think I'm promoting Harney's teas????? Nooooo way .. I think they are the worst teas on the planet...


To be honest, I'd never heard of them until you mentioned them. Must be a UK/European thing. For loose teas here, it's mostly specialty shops like David's and Teavana or else Asian stuff, like Chinese greens and oolongs, sold in Chinese/Asian groceries.

Halloween looms and my annual story is here. Is it a trick? Or a treat? Let me know.

Grace of Bigelow Street | Stories Space
Survivor
Primus Omnium
Good morning Gypsy and Scott.

Still snow on the ground. The temps stay low enough that it won't melt, except the little pathways we tramp out for the pup.

My first cuppa java is brewing now.
Mendalla
Crazy old ape
Good morning, Larry. Kind of soggy here but supposed to chill out and turn snowy later.

My current writing project (a contemporary romance-drama) has reached 4700 words with no end in sight. And that's all SS-friendly so no detailed descriptions of naughtiness. It's all plot and character, basically. I am kind of at the line where I need to decide where to take it, though. The climax (of the story) seems close and that's where it moves into other territory if it is going to.

But that brings me to another thought. How long will this site really tolerate? I know the limit here is technically the same as the other site I write for (10K words), most of what I see posted is fairly short, 2K or less. Even the chapters of Anna's novel run around 3-4K words. Night of the Wind, my last full story, was 4800 words and that seems long among recent stories here. I am starting to think I might want to split this new story if I go too much longer and still keep it SS-friendly. Not for rules but just for readership. Any thoughts?

Halloween looms and my annual story is here. Is it a trick? Or a treat? Let me know.

Grace of Bigelow Street | Stories Space
Survivor
Primus Omnium
Quote by Mendalla
Good morning, Larry. Kind of soggy here but supposed to chill out and turn snowy later.

My current writing project (a contemporary romance-drama) has reached 4700 words with no end in sight. And that's all SS-friendly so no detailed descriptions of naughtiness. It's all plot and character, basically. I am kind of at the line where I need to decide where to take it, though. The climax (of the story) seems close and that's where it moves into other territory if it is going to.

But that brings me to another thought. How long will this site really tolerate? I know the limit here is technically the same as the other site I write for (10K words), most of what I see posted is fairly short, 2K or less. Even the chapters of Anna's novel run around 3-4K words. Night of the Wind, my last full story, was 4800 words and that seems long among recent stories here. I am starting to think I might want to split this new story if I go too much longer and still keep it SS-friendly. Not for rules but just for readership. Any thoughts?


To be honest I haven't a clue what will be tolerated by the readers here. My longest piece was over 8,000 words and it won an RR but it has only had around 600 views from over a year ago. I had another piece just over 5,000 words this year and it's had only 266 views. Personally I stay away from reading things over 5,000 words myself. I generally prefer reading shorter pieces now. My attention span gets shorter as I age.

Having my third cuppa java now. Finally really awake.
magnificent1rascal
Divine Rapscallion
Quote by Mendalla
Good morning, Larry. Kind of soggy here but supposed to chill out and turn snowy later.

My current writing project (a contemporary romance-drama) has reached 4700 words with no end in sight. And that's all SS-friendly so no detailed descriptions of naughtiness. It's all plot and character, basically. I am kind of at the line where I need to decide where to take it, though. The climax (of the story) seems close and that's where it moves into other territory if it is going to.

But that brings me to another thought. How long will this site really tolerate? I know the limit here is technically the same as the other site I write for (10K words), most of what I see posted is fairly short, 2K or less. Even the chapters of Anna's novel run around 3-4K words. Night of the Wind, my last full story, was 4800 words and that seems long among recent stories here. I am starting to think I might want to split this new story if I go too much longer and still keep it SS-friendly. Not for rules but just for readership. Any thoughts?


Speaking for myself, about 6,000 words is the upper end of what I'm comfortable reading in this format. Longer stories are best viewed in ebook format, in my opinion.
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hayley
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by Mendalla
Quote by hayley

OMG! Do you think peeps think I'm promoting Harney's teas????? Nooooo way .. I think they are the worst teas on the planet...


To be honest, I'd never heard of them until you mentioned them. Must be a UK/European thing. For loose teas here, it's mostly specialty shops like David's and Teavana or else Asian stuff, like Chinese greens and oolongs, sold in Chinese/Asian groceries.


Nooo sweet man... Harney's are a US Company founded around 1983 as a startup company in Millerton NY. I had never heard of them until I saw a selection of their teas in a boutique tea shop in Chelsea (London). Then I came across them on my travels, in Australia and again in New Zealand. In Auckland, Kiwiland's biggest city, there is actually a cafe that promotes their brand above all others. Sadly it always seeems to be empty (Sorry if that sounds mean). It is the Menu tea in Auckland's oldest and poshest store, which is where I tried it for the first and only time. The startup bit intrigued me which is why I got interested. Over 300 tea blends seems an awful lot to bring to the market.

David's I am not familiar with. I know they are listed on NASDAQ, fairly recent listing, but I have never tasted their product or ever seen it on a shelf. Will look out for it though and will taste and tell biggrin NASDAQ info lists them as Canadian out of Montreal. You obviously like them heaps so that's both good and patriotic at once.


Asian stores are passionate about their green teas aren't they? Especially if the shopkeeper is from Taiwan. Awesome greens from there.
Unknown User
Quote by Mendalla


My current writing project (a contemporary romance-drama) has reached 4700 words with no end in sight. And that's all SS-friendly so no detailed descriptions of naughtiness. It's all plot and character, basically. I am kind of at the line where I need to decide where to take it, though. The climax (of the story) seems close and that's where it moves into other territory if it is going to.

But that brings me to another thought. How long will this site really tolerate? I know the limit here is technically the same as the other site I write for (10K words), most of what I see posted is fairly short, 2K or less. Even the chapters of Anna's novel run around 3-4K words. Night of the Wind, my last full story, was 4800 words and that seems long among recent stories here. I am starting to think I might want to split this new story if I go too much longer and still keep it SS-friendly. Not for rules but just for readership. Any thoughts?


As a reader, considering the interface here, which is a continous scroll, I would say maximum 5000 words.

You are a good writer and also format your work correctly and that makes a difference as well.

That is not always the case, so I will stop now.
LauraDanielle
Active Ink Slinger
Hey everyone, I'm back on this side after an extended absence due to my forgetting about this side. I take it this is where the cool kids hang out?
hayley
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by LauraDanielle
Hey everyone, I'm back on this side after an extended absence due to my forgetting about this side. I take it this is where the cool kids hang out?


Absoloooodlely
hayley
Active Ink Slinger
Oh my... one of those days when jet lag actually got the better of coffee

Got myself all prepared and ready for my noon video conference with NY... tick ... it is scheduled for noon Wednesday 28th November ... which it was here when I connected with nobody ... but noon Wednesday EST ... sod time zones. Least I haven't missed it How embarrassing would that have been

And it's stopped raining and it's a beautiful day ... oniochalasia coming on
henrietta_fielding
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by LauraDanielle
Hey everyone, I'm back on this side after an extended absence due to my forgetting about this side. I take it this is where the cool kids hang out?


Hello lovely Laura! *waves* gorgeous av and I love the dress!

Not so much cool but cold today here. Another day of freezing gale force winds. Making excuses not to venture out!

Another cup of Earl Grey here, please. ☕
Mendalla
Crazy old ape
Good morning. I'm in a hotel. Boring business stuff. At least I get to go home.

Earl Grey here as well. (Nearly typo'd that as "Early Grey" which, I assume, is Earl Grey with double the caffeine content for when you need to get going early).

Halloween looms and my annual story is here. Is it a trick? Or a treat? Let me know.

Grace of Bigelow Street | Stories Space
hayley
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by Mendalla
Good morning. I'm in a hotel. Boring business stuff. At least I get to go home.

Earl Grey here as well. (Nearly typo'd that as "Early Grey" which, I assume, is Earl Grey with double the caffeine content for when you need to get going early).


'Early Grey' that could be a neat product name.

On second thoughts ... it could be confused with a hair product
hayley
Active Ink Slinger
The rain has stopped and the sky is blue as. The sea is smooth and the sun is on full tan effect. Video conference was awesome and I'm enjoying a choice Ceylon tea, camembert, crackers, fruit, Dutch dark rye, ginger bikkies coated in chocky. This after two large fresh ground extra strong coffees during the conference, seems to have washed all my cares away

Fortunately there is a queue outside Gucci. Unfortunately it's only outside Gucci.
gillianleeza
Story Moderator
Hello everyone. I have missed this place. I had a final count of twenty-one people in for Thanksgiving. It went well, lots of good conversations, laughs and a ton of good food.

My houseguests left yesterday and I have been savoring the relative quiet of my house. Having to be both social and socially appropriate for over a week was a bit exhausting.

I'll take a ginger ale as I wander around the forums. I brought a box of my own cocktail umbrellas. Anyone can use them to spruce up their glasses.

Have a good night everyone!
henrietta_fielding
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by gillianleeza
Hello everyone. I have missed this place. I had a final count of twenty-one people in for Thanksgiving. It went well, lots of good conversations, laughs and a ton of good food.

My houseguests left yesterday and I have been savoring the relative quiet of my house. Having to be both social and socially appropriate for over a week was a bit exhausting.

I'll take a ginger ale as I wander around the forums. I brought a box of my own cocktail umbrellas. Anyone can use them to spruce up their glasses.

Have a good night everyone!


Hello Gill *waves* so glad you survived the mass catering and hostessing of Thanksgiving. smile hope you got plenty of help!

Great to have you back and I'll have one of them there cocktail umbrellas with my Earl Grey tea, please.
Mendalla
Crazy old ape
Quote by gillianleeza
I had a final count of twenty-one people in for Thanksgiving.


I think we maxed out at 17 including four children with our family dinners. With Dad gone, we've been down to 15 in recent years but now one of my nephews is married so it might go up again.

And I'll have a cup of Early ... er ... Earl Grey tea, no umbrellas (Do you really want plastic in a hot drink, curvy?).

Halloween looms and my annual story is here. Is it a trick? Or a treat? Let me know.

Grace of Bigelow Street | Stories Space
Survivor
Primus Omnium
Was so tired I crawled back to bed this morning. I guess I am finally up.

My cuppa java is cold.
Unknown User
Quote by Survivor
Was so tired I crawled back to bed this morning.


Very very wise move,, well done.

I hope the rest of your day is equally sagacious.
Survivor
Primus Omnium
Quote by gypsy
Quote by Survivor
Was so tired I crawled back to bed this morning.


Very very wise move,, well done.

I hope the rest of your day is equally sagacious.


I agree with your assessment. I've warmed up the java and am reading now. With my feet up on the settee and the pup gnawing his squeaky in a shaft of sunlight through the window.
hayley
Active Ink Slinger
Early riser me, never easy after a wonderful dinner the night before. Thai... started with prawn spring rolls which were all prawn in a wonderfully crisp pastry, served with a sweet chilli dipping sauce... followed by my fav, roast duck .. served in a Thai peanut and sweet chilli sauce on a bed of buc choy... all washed down with an ice cold Thai lager beer, Singha. For dessert I had another serving of the prawn spring rolls and a second Singha!
Like my prawns

Sooo .. four and a half hours to catch up on mail.. say hi here and elsewhere.. it's a quarter to ten and I'm off to an area they call Britomart for my first meet of the day.. over coffee of course...


Everyone have a great day.. hope the rain stays away.
Mendalla
Crazy old ape
Quote by hayley
Early riser me, never easy after a wonderful dinner the night before. Thai... started with prawn spring rolls which were all prawn in a wonderfully crisp pastry, served with a sweet chilli dipping sauce... followed by my fav, roast duck .. served in a Thai peanut and sweet chilli sauce on a bed of buc choy... all washed down with an ice cold Thai lager beer, Singha. For dessert I had another serving of the prawn spring rolls and a second Singha!
Like my prawns




Another Thai fan, eh. I'm fond of their noodles and green curries myself. And there's a dish that restaurants here call basil shrimp that I've become addicted to. The duck sounds delicious. Must see if any Thai places around here have it. When I have duck, it's usually Chinese, either roast duck or Peking duck.

Halloween looms and my annual story is here. Is it a trick? Or a treat? Let me know.

Grace of Bigelow Street | Stories Space
hayley
Active Ink Slinger
Quote by Mendalla



Another Thai fan, eh. I'm fond of their noodles and green curries myself. And there's a dish that restaurants here call basil shrimp that I've become addicted to. The duck sounds delicious. Must see if any Thai places around here have it. When I have duck, it's usually Chinese, either roast duck or Peking duck.


Absoloooodlely a Thai fan. Have been there on assignment too and had a train adventure which was an awesome experience. Every stop peeps get on the train with food and hot coffee. They are the politest people ever and their food can be just as good outside the country as in it. I had to change trains and did so at a really fun place that reminded me of real America, a small community that had grown up around a junction, a crossing of rail tracks. Way off the tourist trail, nobody spoke English, which was fun, but obviously backpackers come through as the menu at the place at which we ate had a few typed sheets of blue paper at the back. No mention of Thai food just standard English fare. I can still remember how it started..


1 1 Toast

2 1 Toast Butter

3 1 Toast Butter Jam

4 2 Toast

5 2 Toast Butter

6 2 Toast Butter Jam

7 1 Egg

8 1 Egg 1 Toast

9 1 Egg 1 Toast Butter

10 2 Egg


Bet you can guess 11, 12, 13 ... it's not as easy as it looks .. 11 is 2 Egg 1 Toast

Had the BEST food ever, all ordered by pointing at the dishes the locals were eating. Sorry for rabbitting on but you jogged a wonderful memory and I believe you would have loved being there.

Last night in Auckland the others ate curry, Thai Green an Massaman Beef. I am no curry fan so never go there.
Mendalla
Crazy old ape
Quote by hayley

Have been there on assignment too and had a train adventure which was an awesome experience. Every stop peeps get on the train with food and hot coffee. They are the politest people ever and their food can be just as good outside the country as in it.


Someday ....

My wife is originally from Shanghai, China, so one of our proposed retirement projects is to live there part of the year and use it as a base to see more of Asia. With the 14 hour flight and 12-13 hours of jet lag already taken care of in getting to Shanghai, places like Southeast Asia, Korea, etc. become less of a chore to visit.

Home for the morning as a guy is coming to fix some of our windows. Tea time.

Halloween looms and my annual story is here. Is it a trick? Or a treat? Let me know.

Grace of Bigelow Street | Stories Space
Survivor
Primus Omnium
Good morning, all. Saw a dress rehearsal for Annie last night. Nicely done.

Time for the first cuppa java.
Mendalla
Crazy old ape
Quote by Survivor
Good morning, all. Saw a dress rehearsal for Annie last night. Nicely done.


We keep singing "the sun will come out tomorrow" around here but the sun doesn't seem to want to oblige.

Never seen Annie, but I was in the pit for a production of Annie Get Your Gun back in my clarinet playing days.

Lunchtime green tea is ready.

Halloween looms and my annual story is here. Is it a trick? Or a treat? Let me know.

Grace of Bigelow Street | Stories Space
henrietta_fielding
Active Ink Slinger
Happy Sunday everyone!

A cup of Earl Grey tea would go down nicely, please! ☕
Survivor
Primus Omnium
Should be cold and wet today at we continue with tech week.

Time for the first cuppa java.

Cheers, all.
Mendalla
Crazy old ape
Actually, not that cold here, today, but it's a one day respite. Still grey and wet, though.

I'm completely out at sea with my present story (the one I wasn't sure would be for here or another place). No idea where to go with it right now, just not happy with what I have. My delete key finger is itching but I've worked enough on it that I would rather not (it's something that I do a lot, though, probably a mental thing). And I'm still not sure if it's for here or there, to boot.

I stocked up at David's Tea, so we've got a bunch of cool flavours. Cream of Earl Grey (Earl Grey + vanilla) is in my cup.

Halloween looms and my annual story is here. Is it a trick? Or a treat? Let me know.

Grace of Bigelow Street | Stories Space
Survivor
Primus Omnium
Good morning, all. I'm having my first, very welcome, cuppa java.

Here's a quandry for me and I hope for others. How do I figure out which badge I am missing this morning. I had 21 when I went to bed last night. Now I have 20. For the life of me I can't determine which one is gone. I might add that on another site, that some of us go to on occasion, I had 26 last night and now have 25.

Maybe I am just showing my age. I do hope I can resolve this some time soon.

Anyway, cheers.

Edit: I figured it out. I was messing with my persoanal information and caused my autobiographer's badge to get deleted.