About
Like a lot of bloggers, I started this blog in the belief it was a necessary step towards publication of my novel. What I didn’t realise was how much I would enjoy blogging in its own right.
Since I started (in April 2014) I have published four books – you can find out more about them from the side widgets or my author page, here – and written on a range of subjects, from walking to cooking, travel to my writing process, London and my garden. This is an eclectic blog that defies categorisation. That will either charm and delight or drive you bonkers. I hope the former; if the latter, I’m sorry but you have been warned.
I have also met some fascinating people, both electronically and in the flesh as a result of this blogging lark. I’ve shared some of my writing and enjoyed others who have visited here as guests. Come and say hi and I’ll visit back.
I live in South London surrounded by all the varieties of life that London can throw at you. I will nail my colours to the mast here: I LOVE LONDON. There, said it. So part of this will be to proselytise about my city, and especially the bits where taxi drivers are fabled to hate to go after 10 pm (‘Sarf of the river, mate? Yer kidding me? I’d need inoculations and all sorts’).
I’ve been on the planet a fair few years now so my mistakes are many and varied; if I can help others avoid my pitfalls and pratfalls, well great; if not then at least you can have a laugh at what a twit I’ve been.
Me stuff
My name is Geoff Le Pard and for a few years now I have been trying my hand at writing fiction. I’m a course junkie so have tried Arvon, a Birkbeck College evening class and summer school and, latterly, an MA at Sheffield Hallam. What have I learnt? That I still have a lot to learn. I have a few likes and interests – my incompetent cooking; my passion for walking with Dog and exploring the outside world and the inside me as I do; toiling as a jobbing gardener under the Textiliste’s careful instruction; reading of the good, the bad and the indifferent in fiction; doing some volunteering (as the boy scout picture above suggests); following many sports (as long as no horses are involved); sitting in darkened theatres and cinemas hoping that I am exhilarated and not anaesthetized; dancing both ballroom and Latin to a level which no longer (totally) embarrasses the Vet and the Lawyer – you will note these labels; this is my website and I prefer to keep family and friends anonymous where possible.
I did have a career before all this; it is easy enough to find out what, given my somewhat unusual name, but I don’t intend blogging about that unless it becomes relevant to something current or it might rise a smile
All the ideas here are mine, unless it is blatantly obvious they are not. Ditto with images. Feel free to share but do so with care and respect. And an acknowledgement wouldn’t go amiss. I hope it goes without saying (but I’ll say it nonetheless) that what I write is copyright me and that way only I can be blamed for it.
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As I promised but be aware it is a tad out of my comfort zone as I experiment with genres https://ellenbest24.wordpress.com/2017/06/24/im-only-human-after-all/
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Thank you for the link and well done on the nomination
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My interest is piqued! I look forward to following.
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so glad; hope you enjoy the rummage
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Sounds like you and I have a lot in common. I too started a blog as the next step towards publication. A pleasant surprise came when I began to meet some amazing people. Looks like you are on a fun journey. This blogging thing is pretty cool. 🙂
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Nice to meet you, Geoff. You seem to have many of the same interests I do, so I look forward to hearing more from you. Thanks too for following me. 🙂
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Glad to be here! Jo is a good linker-upper!
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Thanks! Jo is the best! 🙂
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Hello Geoff. Our common friend Rowena sent me your way. I’m finding her to be one very wise woman.
I am the brains behind that Giant Innertube story you read a while back.
Having just completed a rare visit to the hospital for a much needed back procedure! I’m finally getting caught up with some planned blog touring. Your material looks both like fun and instructive. With your leave, I’ll be poking about some and hope we get to know each other.
Thanks again for the fun feedback and your great antidote about blowing a hole in your lawn as a youth. I needed friends like you back then to make me look like less of a walking hazard than I otherwise did.
Do you also love a great prank? I’d love to hear some from your side of the pond or I can offer you my “Kid Bomb” adventure – perpetrated when I was about 23. The affected girl friend was not happy but it still makes for a great tale & laugh to share with friends at a good pub – which is strikingly hard to find her in northern California.
My tour is starting so need to run.
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Gary, delighted to welcome you here; yes, it sounds like we had a few similar challenges in our ‘yoof’. I was never brilliant at pranks because they often, literally as well as metaphorically blew up in my face – I think my mother was grateful we have a free at point of service medical system here with the NHS – no insurer would have touched me. Happy touring
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How come I have never liked your about page? 😱😉💜
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It’s only about right so we’re all a work in progress
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We are indeed, I actually meant I had never read your about page before, not sure why 😊💜
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Hi Geoff, just a nod to let you know; your name has been bandied about a little on my part of the book tour for Dark Visions.. One of your stories reviewed in the thick of the creep.
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Dear Geoff, I hope you visit my new post; where you are included more than once. I truly hope you enjoy it. I have a full quota of links on the post and WordPress refused the last one to your page for a pingback. May I also wish you a fine and sumptuous Christmas and new year. x.
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Dear Geoff, your page is fantastic, very inspiring and your books seem interesting. Wishing you millions in book sales in 2019 and a fantastic new year
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What a unique blog. Loved it! 🙂
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Thanks so much
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Lovely Susie
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a course junkie?✏
good for u for enjoying learning! 👍
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Thank you for coming across
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I visited your website. Nice to see and read
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Very kind. Thank you
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Hi Geoff, nice to meet you. I came across your blog via Hugh news and Views 🙂 I love that you love London because I do too. And my hubby was 40 years a black cabbie 🙂 When the sun is out, you just can’t beat London.
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Hello there. Yes, it’s a splendid city. Grubby, full of the best and some of the worst of humanity, green and wonderful and gritty and grimy and ever dull. I’ve lived in the deepest countryside and a regional city and nothing gets close to this place. Glad the delightful Hugh sent you across. It’s a mixed old world hereabouts and if you stay i hope you enjoy it!
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Nice to hear from you Geoff, and I agree! I’ve lived by the sea (which I love), in the country (which was green and beautiful) and in this big ol’ city. It’s full of character, green spaces, cultural differences, and energy! You can stay anonymous or meet and befriend all kinds of people.
As Samuel Johnson famously said: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” But despite the beautiful sights on offer and the myriad of food, music and cultures, there are certain things that you often hear that will eventually wear you down.
Caz
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Hi Geoff! Excited to know more about London. Recently I finished two books – The Splendid and the Vile, – I’ve got your number, both set in London. So, “London” is taking most of my attention! And then you are from London. Yay!
Enjoyed reading your About.
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Very nice. You love London, I love Paris!
Have a good day!
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Thanks. I love Paris too. It’s equally bonkers but in a more sophisticated way…
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Hi Geoff,
I came across a book and story which I thought you and the textilist would absolutely love and I’m going to order it myself, even though I’m needing to pull in the belt a bit after a few post-lockdown splurges. The book is Shelley Klein’s: “The See-Through House”
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/apr/25/people-fell-under-its-spell-shelley-klein-on-growing-up-in-one-of-britains-finest-modernist-houses
This house is the complete opposite of my grandparents’ home where they’d raised their 7 children and their were little nooks and hidey holes everywhere as well as the two grand pianos.
Anyway, had better get to sleep.
Best wishes,
Ro
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It does sound fascinating though the man was clearly a tyrant and I doubt we’d see eye to eye, but the idea of house as person is intriguing. Thanks Ro
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