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30 Wall Posts

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  by Persia 23 days ago

  My wall chats mostly seem to be on Writing Right! In case you're wondering, I'm still around. :-)
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  by Shakey 1 year ago

  Nice quote Persia. Good advice to bear in mind when approaching agents maybe?
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  by Tony 1 year ago

  Hi Persia, sorry to wake you from your slumbers. I've posted a question on Writing Right, if you've got a minute sometime :-)
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  by Persia 2 years ago

  Thanks, Mockingbird & Tony!
  Somewhere in the dust of my history reading I came across a reference to actual clapping as a symbolic agreement of a contract, or of a covenant (ancient middle eastern type). I'd like to find such a reference again, but have no idea where to start. Tony, the working man's contract had to do with it - if I remember right it was mainly because one or both of the parties could not write or read...
  
  I'll go take a look at your message, Mockingbird!
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  by mockingbird 2 years ago

  hiya - yes, I have come across handshaking as confirmation of an aural contract between men lots of times. It seems to go across the classes too - gentlemen confirmed arrangements, and so did the middling group, as well as in lower classes too who wouldnt have wanted to use lawyers anyway. About clapping - I have come across this as an emphatic hand shake - eg they clapped their hands together when about to shake as so pleased with their dealings - but never took it to mean anything other than male boisterousness in the activity1
  
  Hope this helps.
  
  P.S. Have you had a chance to look at my message yet. I did it - then added a postscript straight afterwards as I forgot something!
  Take care.
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  by Tony 2 years ago

  I saw your question to Mockingbird. In Ireland and the UK it was, and I should think still is, common practice amongst farmers at the market, when they had agree a price for a heifer or a bull, each to spit on his palm and clap these palms together to seal the deal. I've seen the same practice amongst the rougher antiques dealers agreeing a price between them - it's a working man's practice rather than the professionals, who would always tend to shake hands on a deal.
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  by Persia 2 years ago

  Mockingbird, I know I replied to you in a message, but your post just looked so lonely here...
  
  At the moment just for a change of pace, I'm working on a sci-fi piece. I'm doing tons of research, as I want it to be as realistic as is possible for setting something in the 25th century... I'm learning alot about minerals in particular, geology in general, as well as architectural structures, technological gadgets, experiments in science and technology, and and and. It's a blast, and clears the cobwebs of 18th century so that I can dive into the next historical project a bit fresher!
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  by mockingbird 2 years ago

  hello - happy new year and all that!
  Yes I have a new lap top - which has all its keys (thank you Guinness), isnt covered in chocolate cake mixture (thank you daughter) or apple juice (thank you son)! It works. And its all mine, mine, mine ....pause for hysterical laughter!
  
  You asked about my writing - about a year ago I had my first book self published - called A Voice of Discontent - about women in the 18th and early 19th century and their literature, showing that many women were unhappy with the way society treated them as lesser citizens, faced with a double standard. My interest in literature meant I read many novels of the period, as well as more serious works by female writers like Wollstonecraft, Hays, Robinson, Radcliffe, Macaulay etc. And the result was a discovery that a significant number of women did make protest - sometimes open, sometimes covert - in the course of their writings. Book one. I planned three.
  
  I am now researching the Victorian period, continuing the theme of women's emotional experiences/reactions to the situations they faced, but also looking at how other women and men felt about these reactions, and the moves for change in law - and the resistance to change!
  
  My last book took nearly five years to do from initial research, decision to write, to publication and book launch. This one will probably take longer - there is so much more to read!
  
  Well thats my work in a nutshell. At present I am investigating Victorian divorce novels - and seeing where they link to particular phrases/clauses within the legal debates/acts themselves. I spent some time in the autumn looking at marital abuse - and madness before that. I am saving prostitution for the summer.....
  
  Over to you - what are you working on/interested in?
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  by Noel 2 years ago

  Great idea, Persia.
  
  Southern hemispherians have to pull on fur-lined boots and sit sweating under pine trees and northerners have to don swimming cossies and go for a brisk swim.....brrrrr!
  
  Hope you have a luvly Xmas,
  
  Noel
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  by SecretSpi 2 years ago

  Have you got heaps of snow out there?