Matthew

Weight loss injections aren't cheating because it's not a competition and there are no rules.

Here's the prologue and first three chapters of the manuscript I'm currently working on, if you wanted to read it.

medium.com/@mnwjm1981/o...

I intend to finish editing the manuscript I'm currently working on and seeing if I can get be published once more. Even if I can't, I'll be proud of what I've created; my writing has certainly improved (although I can always do better).

My favourite creative thing to do is write. I've done it since I was a kid, writing bits and pieces on my dad's work laptop (at a time when these things were clunky and brand-new). I've been fortunate to have three books and a novella published in the past before I parted ways with my publisher.

My son loves Spanish, and is blooming good at it. He was sent this lovely postcard home today. As you might imagine, I was very proud of him.

I've just finished an edit on my book. It's not the finished article, but I'm beating it into shape. If you'd like to read the opening chapters, look no further - medium.com/@mnwjm1981/o...

#fantasybookthreads #fantasystory #fantasybook

Our Giving Page 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s ground breaking work. Donate to my Giving Page today and help ...

My 14 year old son and I are doing a half-marathon in September, starting at 9.30pm and going through to whenever we finish. It's to raise money for cancer research, so any donation you can make would be gratefully received.

fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/bryans-...

I've managed to complete a first draft of the book I'm working on. I've got a lot more to do; the first draft is, in places, terrible, so it needs a lot of improvement in the second draft. And then the third draft. Months of fruitful work ahead ... :-)

I'm a single dad to a brilliant 14 year son. It's just been us since just after his 8th birthday, and I've never once regretted being a dad - i love my son deeply and powerfully.

#adoption #adoptionjourney #singledad

There should be an Average Olympics. A week before the games start, people off the street are chosen to take part by lottery. No training , and no opting out. It would be spectacular.

I adopted my son six years ago. The answer to that last question is both yes and no. It very much depends on the council, the social worker (and their level of experience), and the caseload. I've had to fight for support for my brilliant son - and it's genuinely felt like a fight.

I'm a 40 year old man who has recently realised whenever I see any friends it's because I have instigated it, well, I'm stopping from today. Let's see if I see anyone again before I die.

This might not seem like much, but I've started work on section 2 of my book. I've been obsessing over developing the summary, but it's about time I actually wrote something down. It might not be much, but I've only gone and made a proper start :-)

If you've like to get an insight in my current project, here is my prologue and the first three full chapters of Section 1. I've just been tweaking the chapters, to factor in some foreshadowing for Section 2, and I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

medium.com/@mnwjm1981/w...

While Bryan is in his Saturday afternoon dance class, I've just finished the outline of Section 2, which I'm really pleased about. Now I just need to write the thing in full and excruciating detail (excruciating for me, wonderfully exciting for everyone else, naturally). Writing is my happy place.

The book is a fantasyesque book, although the entire first half is actually set on Earth.

I've divided the book into two sections. Section 1 is a decent second draft, and I've been working on an outline of Section 2 - outlining in detail what each chapter will contain.

I'm working studiously (some might say obsessively, and they'd be right) on a new book. I've had some published in the dim and distant past, and it would be nice (but not compulsory) to get this published in the future.

Stephen Fry's argument against God and His morals.

There are 195 countries in the world…

But Trump has made 200 deals

He is, quite literally, incredible.

As well as the pleasure of joining much longer queues at airports, we will soon have to get our fingerprints taken too. Will these Brexit benefits ever end? Still, sovrinty, eh?

Another classic from @privateeyenews.bsky.social

Virtual reality: The widely-quoted media experts who are not what they seem Press Gazette investigation into the widely-quoted national media experts who either do not exist, or whose credentials have not been checked.

An absolutely wild story this.

The media experts who don't... or may not... exist.
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...

From Terry Pratchett's Witches Abroad ... bloody hell, I love that man and his creative brain

That is a disgracebook.

He should bring the tariffs back again now for a laugh

My lad had worked brilliantly hard on building the Lego Art set of the Milky Way galaxy, and finished it tonight. He's done so well building this all by himself ... now we've just got to hang it (carefully) on the wall.

My brilliant lad took a ballet exam back in February, and he's found out today he received a distinction. He's made his family very proud, and it's a testament to his hard work and the lessons he has at Masque Theatre School.

Sitting Tory MP and ex minister here:

Demand the right to vote in an election for council seats that will cease to exist straight afterwards. Demand the right to waste taxpayers money so a grifting knobhead can get a bit more attention by making it all about him.

Happy New Year: Now sort your fucking life out It'll keep on pissing itself away until you set goals.

The comments under this week's newsletter, particularly from people who changed their career in their 40s, are extremely lovely. In short: it's not too late. You can still do it iandunt.substack.com/p/happy-new-...