Yesterday my sister and I drove to the butchers to buy some sausages. We were delayed. As we got closer a huge cloud of billowing black smoke grew larger and larger and we seemed to be driving right towards it as we neared the butchers. I decided to park the car a way off and get out and walk. 

I take my camera everywhere, even shopping and my reason has always been, "What if a house burns down and I don't have my camera to photograph it." And so when this house burnt down I had my camera with me to photograph it. 

Apparently it was an old deserted shed that some of the homeless slept in, and it is rumored that the fire was lit deliberately. As terrible as it sounds I have always wanted to see and hear a house burning in real life. There was am almost oily smell to the smoke early on, and the crackling of the flames sounded like a piece of loose tarp or thick plastic flapping in a high wind. Like the sound of when a vehicle speeds past with something in plastic wrapping on the back that vibrates in the wind of its passing.

I arrived there at the same time as the fire trucks began arriving. The police took a while longer to arrive so cars continued to drive straight through the smoke that obscured the bridge. Even a mad motorcyclist went through it. 

It did not take the firefighters long to get it all under control though. The bridge made a good vantage point to watch and photograph all the action from. 

 The Argus photographer only got there as the police did. And after most of the flames had got put out, but there was still a lot of smoke for a while after and it looked as if the firefighters were going to let most of the grass on the hillside next to the road just burn itself out.

So our everyday mission of buying sausages turned out to be quite the adventure.

Have you ever seen a house burn down?

Or a bush or grass fire?

I got Out of Darkness Rising by Gillian Bronte Adams for Christmas. I had been wanting to read it for ages, and I was not disappointed by it, except maybe that is was so thin. I wanted it to last longer.

Darkness reigns unchallenged.

For the villagers on the accursed Island, life has only one meaning - death. Bound to the Island by the curse, the villagers suffer beneath the iron claw of the Serpent, daily breathing the poison of his breath and dying to appease his insatiable appetite.

When Marya’s parents are slain by the serpent for their belief in a legendary king, she becomes an outcast. Struggling to survive and avoid the vengeance of the Tribunal, Marya is torn between legend and the harsh reality of the Island. Yet when a forgotten promise springs to life, she cannot help wondering if the old stories might in fact be true. And if they are, will the promise prove stronger than the curse? 

The back cover actually gives away a bit more of the story than I would like, but hopefully you will have forgotten it by the time you read this book. If you don't you will still be able to enjoy it immensely. The first sentence is rather good too. As are the cool dragon/serpent pictures inside. (which I did not take photos of...)

This story is an allegory of redemption. Out of Darkness Rising is a short read, sad, and hopeful and beautiful, the writing resounds with one of the world greatest truths. But it does not forget the story or plot. The characters are fairly relatable, although because of the shortness you only get to know them so much. The story, a retelling of the greatest rescue, is epic. But I must again say it felt over too soon, I wish it was longer. Another point to it would be that some of the writing actually reminded me a little of C.S. Lewis' writing. 

And the cover is seriously cool too, especially since it is a scene in the story, and because it just is. I do like it when it actually happens in the book though. And as it suggests, there are swords and a dragon in the book.

Have you read any of Gillian Bronte Adams' books?

She has only published two, but there are more coming!

Bookmarks can be a simple but nice gift to make for other book lovers. All it takes is a small amount of drawing skill, some pens, cardboard and inspiration.  

I cut out some bookmark sized bits of cardboard and began writing some words on one side, I decorated the text and began to draw. I did not know what the finished product would look like until I had finished. On the back of each book mark (except one) I wrote Art by C L Farrelly and if I got the quote from a book the name of the writer.... Tolkien. 

Drawing it all with a pen can be scary as if you make a mistake there is no going back and you could ruin the whole thing. I really like the effect the pen makes though. So they were all done in pen.

I have only actually made these six, but I do intend to make more because I really liked them. You could put thoughts or bible verses on them, and use different colours on one bookmark. 

This 'words' bookmark is a quote from a Shakespeare play that my sisters and mum went to see ages ago. Jane really liked that bookmark so I gave it to her.

My favourite is of course the quote by Tolkien "Never Laugh at Live Dragons" because everyone knows dragons make a book better so if you use that bookmark then the book is better because it would have at least one dragon in it! 

I made most of them for my brothers though. One who is 7 would spend all day reading if you let him. He is often told to go outside and do something, when he is finished the chapter....... and he is as bad as that as me.

Do you like drawing?

Have you ever made bookmarks?

Which is your favourite?

Many people have read these books and have their own opinions about them, or just heard enough about them to make judgments. People have seen the movies and decided if the books are good or not from them. I have been told many different things about them:

"Every child should read these books"

"These books should be banned, they are evil"

"This is my favourite series ever, you need to read it"

"Oh, no you should not read the Harry potter books."

Having never read or watched anything Harry Potter (at least as far as I can be absolutely sure of doing) I did not like to voice an opinion. But one day, after yet another of these conversations, I decided I would read them so that I could have an informed conversation about them. As it turned out, I like them.

For the last post of 2013 (well probably the last). I have a short story I wrote this year. Critiques are always appreciated. If you are wondering, the illustrations are photos of a sketch I did....edited photos.  

Shimaron: Defeat Beneath the Moon

Firon beat his great bat like wings, smoke curled up from his nostrils. Dropping down upon the unexpecting town, his eyes flamed like the sun. It had been said, in many a legend that no one could destroy him, Firon the lord of the ancient beats, until the Lianel was found and Shimaron came. Who or what Shimaron was, had been little more than the stuff of legends, until now. Now I had Shimaron, or more, he had me; the White Horse, if horse you could call him. In those legends tales were told of how one day The Moon, Shimaron will battle with Firon, The Sun. 

We watched the destruction of the town beginning from atop a hill. Shimaron moved restlessly glimmering in the evening light, and I sat astride him arrayed in gleaming white. On the horizon the sun glowed crimson, making Firon’s scales glitter like rubies as he dived down breathing out fire and destruction. Leaning down I whispered,

“Amanra elama eron Firon” 

Shimaron’s legs flashed out and we were away. His dark hair and mine intertwined as we plunged down towards the beast. 

“Manata Shimaron manata,  elafie a’elafie. Go Shining One go, fly fly.”

Firon turned away from the now smouldering town and faced us. Flames poured out of his gaping jaws and came rushing towards us. Light flashed from Shimaron’s hooves, I felt the Lianel grow hot where it hung around my neck. Unsheathing my sword I called out,

“Shimaron comel e’Lianel e’Linian.” The Shining One comes with The Silver Stone and the Silver Maiden.

Firon swept his spiked tail towards us and then roaring, spat fire, turned and came at us again. Shimaron leaped into the air, I grasped the moon stone that hung from a silver chain around my neck. Holding it up the Lianel blazed, shining radiance on the surrounding countryside. Firon backed away then came at us with renewed fury. Flames poured forth, smoke filled the air until our light could hardly be seen. The Dragon’s claws appeared hazily through the smoke, slashing at us. I stabbed back, but Firon kept just out of reach of my sword. Charging, twisting, plunging like a red sun ray and white moon beam, both could not be there at the same time, one would fail. Fury and death against love and life, claws and teeth against hooves and sword, darkness against light. 

The flaming ball of the sun dipped below the horizon, but the two small suns in Firon’s eyes did not falter. We backed off out of the smoke. Shimaron had a deep gash in his side where one of Firon’s claws had found its mark. I touched the gash with the Lianel. Light shot from the wound, Shimaron leaped into the air, and again we charged towards the dragon.

A blow from Firon’s tail sent me from Shimaron’s back. Darkness enveloped me….. Slowly my sight came back. To my right were Firon and Shimaron moving through the smoke as if in a dance, flashing light and fire, but Shimaron backed slowly away. Then came another light in the east; the moon would rise soon. I got to my feet and held my sword and the Lianel up above my head. I ran back towards Firon. His eyes gleamed red and he turned towards me. Then the moon rose full and shining. The Lianel caught up the radiance of the moon and magnified it. Shimaron charged at the beast with renewed strength. 

The morning dawned cold and clear, Firon the Lord of the Dragons lay dead where my sword, the hooves and light of Shimaron and the Lianel had pierced him.