Since I lived in Oxford for several years, I should show some loyalty. However, I think it's a matter of common sense and context. There are some circumstances where a comma must be inserted. Consider the following: I dedicate this book to my parents, The Queen, and Muhammed Ali. I dedicate this book to my parents, The Queen and Muhammed Ali. Hmm, one of these doesn't really work.
It might be easier to list the things I've done that aren't reckless. Okay, I've never indulged in bullfighting or being a wall-of-death driver. In fact, I don't even drive. It depends on how one defines "reckless," I suppose. One person's reckless is another's sense of adventure. Some people regard me as reckless because, at three times in my life, I have left reasonably well-paid jobs to go and do something I wanted to do. The first one was when I decided to go to university (I was 33 at the time). After I left university, I got another good job, but gave that up to go and do voluntary work in Africa. Two years ago, I took early retirement to write the couple of books that I'd been keen to write. Nothing physically dangerous about any of this (though I needed no less than 13 inoculations before I went to Eritrea), but I know a few people were left shaking their heads and wondering what I was about.
@Tom Locke , it sounds as if your have learned to enjoy your life, no matter the circumstances. I too have learned to appreciate the many choices life presents to each of us. I know many of you must feel that I am a bit of a downer, but in my own defense, the last two years have been the hardest I've ever had to deal with. Now my normal optimistic attitude is returning, and my sense of humor is starting to make life worth viewing again. I really do believe life shows us many choices, and how we perceive those choices is what directs us in our actions. I have noticed that many around me seem to resent the fact I am once again overcoming life's obstacles. My next question is, what do you think helps you deal with the obstacles that come your way, and how do you deal with those around you that always seems think you haven't shown enough despair and anguish concerning those hardships?
I work on the basis that we only get one go at it, so why not try to make the best of it that one can? I might think that, in the context of the country in which I live, that I'm not particularly privileged or affluent, but in comparison to most people in the world, I am. I've had the chance to have a good education, work in fairly well-paid jobs, buy a house, enjoy what few luxuries appeal to me and travel to lots of different places. I've seen what Woody Guthrie called "life's other side" and it's not an appealing place. I am a great believer in context, by which I mean fitting things into their correct perspective. I think that my sense of perspective has broadened immeasurably over the years, as it should. People should acquire perspective with experience of life. Unfortunately, some people don't, but that is their problem and not mine. And if anyone thinks I don't show enough despair about my own situation, then that's just tough. I'd rather feel despair for those that deserve it.
Now, now "children?', let's play nice, and not scare off our captive. Ooops, I mean gracious guest. @Tom Locke , just ignore us and answer zee questions. 1. Who is the early riser in your home? 2. Are you an indoor putterer or an outdoor one? 3. How do you put up with us?
Assuming this is not a euphemism for something else, the answer is no. I once walked across rope bridges at the top of the forest canopy in a rain forest in Ghana and that was quite hairy enough for me.
My first book contains a chapter entitled 'Torture by Crow.' I may go for something along these lines.
Nope, it surely doesn't work... but it got a giggle from me. And now I can't erase that visual. @Tom Locke What was that graphic I saw once? Let me think... oh yeah... Let's eat, Grandma! Let's eat Grandma! Commas save lives.
1 It depends on whose bladder is shouting the loudest. 2 Mixed. At present, very much indoors because it's too cold outside to want to be out for long. 3 Increased alcohol consumption.
Not a euphemism, a serious question. In your travels, you must have met many interesting people. Who is the most interesting person you ever met? And, why not a romance? I can tell you from experience that romances outsell any other genre by far. You can get rich writing them. More women than men buy books and they buy more romances that any other books. Maybe you can write a romantic suspense and have the worldwide best seller. Then you can loan me a few bucks.
To answer the second part first, there is not the vaguest possibility of my writing a romance. I'd rather be impoverished and forgotten than remembered for bad art. It's impossible to name a single person as the most interesting. I can think of many people that I've met in Africa that had led far more varied and interesting lives than me. There was the Scotsman who was working in his nineteenth different African country; the Australian boat-builder who offered me a job in Kiribati, where he lived; the Eritrean colleague at my workplace who shared with me a love of the writing of Thomas Paine; and so many others, too numerous to mention. One encounter I recall was with a Sicilian chap who spoke no English. I speak no Italian (I'm quite good on the names of fruit and vegetables, but not much else), but we discovered that both of us spoke not-very-fluent French. Thus I spent a slightly surreal evening in a bar, conversing in bad French.