Nearly every city has a high building, a tower, or a large Ferris wheel.
London had the London eye Paris has the Eiffel tower The Galata in Istanbul The CN Tower in Toronto The towers of San Gimignano Pisa has a leaning tower
We’ve managed to see all of the above bar the Galata in Istanbul. One day we might get there.
But, on this side of the world, there are two, the Sydney Tower, and the Sky Tower in Auckland, which we just visited recently.
It’s not a tall tower, but it definitely gives great vies of Auckland, particularly to the north
The mountain in the background at the top of the photo is of a volcano on Rangitoto Island. When we were visiting, there were reports that it might become active again.
To give a height perspective, it didn’t seem all that far down to the apartment building and gardens nearby.
I have the story, the editor is asking for it, and I’m putting the final touches to it
…
Today is another day for character development, and this time it is Inspector Delacrat.
The question is, how do you maintain that air of honesty and integrity in a country that is run by a cruel and murderous military junta.
How do you explain the disappearance of ordinary citizens during the night, when they are reported as missing?
There is, of course, something about the man that makes you think twice about whether he is to be tarred with the same brush as that of the military, or he’s just an Inspector in the police trying to do his job to the best of his ability, without running foul of the junta.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
Something else to be aware of, there are rebels, dissidents, and revolutionaries, all lurking in the background, some overt, some invisible, all working towards the removal of the junta.
The conference is a means to get an international eye on the plight of the country, so will something happen?
Will the rebels make their move?
Will Delacrat find out, and will he try to stop it?
Is our main character’s real reason for being in the country to aid the rebels, or just ensure the safety of one of the delegates?
These are all questions that will be looked at as the story progresses.
…
Today’s word count: 2,829 words, for the running total of 10,724.
I have the story, the editor is asking for it, and I’m putting the final touches to it
…
Today I’m looking at planning a revolution.
Of course, we all know that it is the military forces of a small country that takes over the democratically elected government, or one that is propped up by a superpower.
This is going to be different, and the people are going to run the revolution.
And like those about to make the attempt, I still have to work out the details, and I have a bit of reading to do.
One thing I do know is that you have to take over the airports, military bases, which might take some doing, and the media outlets like radio and television.
Fortunately, the country does not have a large military force, or at least, those among the military that will back the current government when push comes to shove.
They will also need another country’s backing, like the USA, Britain, or Europe. Will there be the CIA, the Russians and the Chinese there? Quite possibly.
We’ll see how it pans out.
Next, I’ll be looking at the conference, the capital city, the lay of the land, and the people.
…
Today’s word count: 2,689 words, for the running total of 13,413.
I have the story, the editor is asking for it, and I’m putting the final touches to it
…
Today I’m looking at planning a revolution.
Of course, we all know that it is the military forces of a small country that takes over the democratically elected government, or one that is propped up by a superpower.
This is going to be different, and the people are going to run the revolution.
And like those about to make the attempt, I still have to work out the details, and I have a bit of reading to do.
One thing I do know is that you have to take over the airports, military bases, which might take some doing, and the media outlets like radio and television.
Fortunately, the country does not have a large military force, or at least, those among the military that will back the current government when push comes to shove.
They will also need another country’s backing, like the USA, Britain, or Europe. Will there be the CIA, the Russians and the Chinese there? Quite possibly.
We’ll see how it pans out.
Next, I’ll be looking at the conference, the capital city, the lay of the land, and the people.
…
Today’s word count: 2,689 words, for the running total of 13,413.
I have the story, the editor is asking for it, and I’m putting the final touches to it
…
Today is another day for character development, and this time it is Inspector Delacrat.
The question is, how do you maintain that air of honesty and integrity in a country that is run by a cruel and murderous military junta.
How do you explain the disappearance of ordinary citizens during the night, when they are reported as missing?
There is, of course, something about the man that makes you think twice about whether he is to be tarred with the same brush as that of the military, or he’s just an Inspector in the police trying to do his job to the best of his ability, without running foul of the junta.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
Something else to be aware of, there are rebels, dissidents, and revolutionaries, all lurking in the background, some overt, some invisible, all working towards the removal of the junta.
The conference is a means to get an international eye on the plight of the country, so will something happen?
Will the rebels make their move?
Will Delacrat find out, and will he try to stop it?
Is our main character’s real reason for being in the country to aid the rebels, or just ensure the safety of one of the delegates?
These are all questions that will be looked at as the story progresses.
…
Today’s word count: 2,829 words, for the running total of 10,724.
The old Shanghai refers to a small area of Shanghai that used to be walled in and remained that way until about 1912 when all but a small section of the wall was demolished. With the advent of the concessions, Old Shanghai became the administrative center until later when it became a shopping complex.
Now it has many restored historical buildings as well as new buildings in a somewhat traditional style that has become one of Shanghai’s main tourist attractions, housing many shops and restaurants.
The “Old Town” is not exclusively old, as you still have a chance to take in the atmosphere if you wander into the quaint side streets.
But, on first viewing walking down the street towards the complex, I’m not sure I’d go as far as to say this is in reality old Shanghai, except for what appears to be a true representation of it architecturally.
The buildings, which are shops and restaurants, are set out symmetrically, with streets, alleyways, and squares which may prove that it was specially built for the tourists, and no mechanized traffic.
Anyway…
The buildings are magnificent, and a photographer’s delight, and you’d finish up having hundreds of photos by the time you leave. All the buildings are exquisite representations of traditional Chinese architecture.
As for buying stuff, remember if you’re not Chinese you have the sucker tourist stamp on your forehead, so be prepared to walk away if the vendors will not bargain.
Nothing here is worth the price tag and in our group discounts like from 130 RMB to 50 RMB and from 1 for 1,200 to 2 for 950 RMB are common.
Here common t-shirts that we can get for 3 dollars back home start at 150 RMB which is roughly 35 dollars. It’s that kind of market.
We end up is a tea room, on the third floor of the meeting point below, and discover all the tour guides sitting around a table counting money, and I have to say it’s the most $50 notes I’ve ever seen in one place. It is, we were told, where they discussed ‘strategy’.
I have the story, the editor is asking for it, and I’m putting the final touches to it
…
Today is a day for character development, and especially for Teresa. She is going to be the devil in disguise, or maybe not.
We get to meet her when Quinn picked her out of a list of prospective candidates for partnering our main character, despite the fact he says he prefers to work alone.
Of course, the reason for that is obvious after the last mishap and the fact that the partner was killed. Before that, he didn’t have a problem, but now, the idea of someone getting killed on his watch is not something he wants.
But, he doesn’t know he’s getting a partner. She’ll be turning up on his doorstep, and he will not be in a position to refuse.
She is currently residing in a prison, well, that has something to do with an errant husband who some would say got what he deserved.
Is she innocent? Not everyone in prison is, despite what they say, and she never protested her innocence.
Quinn wants her on the team for two reasons, she is very dangerous, especially skilled in killing, but controllable, and more importantly, to keep our main character guessing why she is there.
Is she a bad girl from the wrong side of the tracks, or labelled such for so-called bad deeds?
It’s time to get on that particular roller coaster.
…
Today’s word count: 2,144 words, for the running total of 7,895.
I have the story, the editor is asking for it, and I’m putting the final touches to it
…
Today is another day for character development, and this time it is Inspector Delacrat.
The question is, how do you maintain that air of honesty and integrity in a country that is run by a cruel and murderous military junta.
How do you explain the disappearance of ordinary citizens during the night, when they are reported as missing?
There is, of course, something about the man that makes you think twice about whether he is to be tarred with the same brush as that of the military, or he’s just an Inspector in the police trying to do his job to the best of his ability, without running foul of the junta.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
Something else to be aware of, there are rebels, dissidents, and revolutionaries, all lurking in the background, some overt, some invisible, all working towards the removal of the junta.
The conference is a means to get an international eye on the plight of the country, so will something happen?
Will the rebels make their move?
Will Delacrat find out, and will he try to stop it?
Is our main character’s real reason for being in the country to aid the rebels, or just ensure the safety of one of the delegates?
These are all questions that will be looked at as the story progresses.
…
Today’s word count: 2,829 words, for the running total of 10,724.
Nearly every city has a high building, a tower, or a large Ferris wheel.
London had the London eye Paris has the Eiffel tower The Galata in Istanbul The CN Tower in Toronto The towers of San Gimignano Pisa has a leaning tower
We’ve managed to see all of the above bar the Galata in Istanbul. One day we might get there.
But, on this side of the world, there are two, the Sydney Tower, and the Sky Tower in Auckland, which we just visited recently.
It’s not a tall tower, but it definitely gives great vies of Auckland, particularly to the north
The mountain in the background at the top of the photo is of a volcano on Rangitoto Island. When we were visiting, there were reports that it might become active again.
To give a height perspective, it didn’t seem all that far down to the apartment building and gardens nearby.
I have the story, the editor is asking for it, and I’m putting the final touches to it
…
Today is another day for character development, and this time it is Inspector Delacrat.
The question is, how do you maintain that air of honesty and integrity in a country that is run by a cruel and murderous military junta.
How do you explain the disappearance of ordinary citizens during the night, when they are reported as missing?
There is, of course, something about the man that makes you think twice about whether he is to be tarred with the same brush as that of the military, or he’s just an Inspector in the police trying to do his job to the best of his ability, without running foul of the junta.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
Something else to be aware of, there are rebels, dissidents, and revolutionaries, all lurking in the background, some overt, some invisible, all working towards the removal of the junta.
The conference is a means to get an international eye on the plight of the country, so will something happen?
Will the rebels make their move?
Will Delacrat find out, and will he try to stop it?
Is our main character’s real reason for being in the country to aid the rebels, or just ensure the safety of one of the delegates?
These are all questions that will be looked at as the story progresses.
…
Today’s word count: 2,829 words, for the running total of 10,724.
