Jeff Lester
I am part retired but still involved in some construction commercial management services. Now also looking at Non-Executive Board roles. Enjoyed the Creative Writing Course.
Location Pembrokeshire, Wales
Activity
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Yes good picture with a part message of keeping an old telephone box for a new medical type aid device usage. Not sure that an email message relating to a wedding is as romantic as a telegram?
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Access to water or clean water is also a big issue in society moving forward.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Augmented intelligence is a yet another new term for me, as a senior citizen, in the ongoing jungle of new terminology relating to the digital age.
The introduction of new processes starting with the dawn of the industrialised age has not always led to reductions in employment opportunities coupled with re-training but certainly as now various mental and... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Hi, My name is Jeff Lester and I am a semi-retired consultant involved in cost and contract management in the construction and engineering industries particularly in overseas locations and projects. More recently I have been looking at opportunities within Non-Executive Director type roles hence need to look at the current/future workplace.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Sorry but I am a bit late in starting and will try to get up to speed asap.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Sorry but I have run out of time!
Found the course more difficult than Creative Writing but will try to follow through.
Good luck to all
Stay safe,
Jeff -
Jeff Lester replied to Nicky G
Not sure that's good news about Cardiff as I am from South Wales but so be it. Always thought that it was Manchester!
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Generally agree with the comments regarding metre in respect of natural flow of making a poem but good to have some understanding of why possibly our writing flows in such a direction or manner.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
To be honest I am still confused about line breaks in respect of the poem as it appears on the page.
Sorry to return again to Fernhill by Dylan Tomas but I better understood the line breaks after listening to a reading by Richard Burton.
In the example given I suppose that I prefer the line break version but the other version could be improved by the use of... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Running out of time and imagination so have chosen Hope and a sort of nonsense format and then secondly Memory, not sure in what format:
Hope
There was a young man who had hope
But most people thought that he was a dopeHe needed to prove that he could cope
But what could be the scope?Perhaps a trick with a rope
But need to check my... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Not sure why but have chosen Haiku possibly because of it's simplicity?
Plus interest in Japanese culture from my visit in 2019.Have made 2 efforts, one based on the bombing of Nagasaki and the other swallows arriving during the pandemic.
Bombing of NagasakiBombing of Nagasaki
Intense white light and heat impact
People killed and maimedSwallows...
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Sorry to come back to Dylan Thomas poem Fernhill but for me there is a common theme of younger, more satisfying summer like days now sadly gone.
Simple and uncomplicated coming to more life when read. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Hi-spy viewing machines
Lovely holiday memories walking to the end of the pier
The viewing machine will make things look so nearDad gives me a coin to insert and I feel excited
But can't seem to get my eyes focusedIs that a submarine or a whale?
Could be a boat with a grey sailI try to concentrate to make things clearer
Maybe if I take my... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
A couplet consists of two lines generally rhyming but not always.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
I do not think that rhyming is necessary in poetry. Poetry is basically the same as song writing but novels are very different inn respect of format and length etc.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
I like Michael's comments about the important things are what is in your head and on your tongue. I have always written lots of notes but that can be a waste of time if you do not translate those notes into a draft document.
My tools have not changed over time as I am still new to creative writing.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
At the moment I do not have any "method(s) and am still trying to transition from the Creative Writing course to Making a Poem.
I enjoyed the Cento and Found Poem exercises but that was using existing references and not creating a poem from first principles. Plan to look at Rhymezones.
Will have to find a quiet corner for reading aload. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Today is the 75th anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing so have added a known poem section for Nagasaki to my previous Hiroshima submission:
Hiroshima
Little Boy bomb loaded
Enola Gay plane dropped
Pink, orange and white light exploded
Buildings flattened
People killed
People burned and injured
Children orphaned
Radiation impacted
Military not... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have enjoyed the first week particularly looking at and preparing Found Poems which I had not heard of before.
My mind is slowly getting into Making a Poem as opposed to my recent Creative Writing course. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Many thanks for Nick's review and the positive comments.
Not sure if I will get any others now?Yesterday was the 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing and I thought of doing something/relevant found type poem. Will do another on 9th which is the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing.
Hiroshima
Little Boy bomb loaded
Enola Gay plane... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Aspects of Summer
Grass needs cutting
Plants need weeding
Flies need swotting
Lettuce needs washing
Strimmer not starting
Fruit needs chopping
Cars being driven too fast by visitors
Noisy tourists need shouting at
Litter needs clearing up
Red wine needs drinking -
Jeff Lester made a comment
I'm 73 and I know well some of the thoughts on looking at female bodies or rather pretending not to look at them!
Interesting comparison of a previous period and more recent in respect of fashion which I always feel that who ever is controlling the latest fashion is taking the micky as trends come and go to suit commercial gain.Not sure that I fully...
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Though I sang in my chains like the sea
That we are on the threshold
Of the kingdom of the gods of the seaFern Hill by Dylan Thomas
Though I sang in my chains like the seaBy The Sea by Paul Steffan Jones
That we are on the threshold
Of the kingdom of the gods of the seaFor Dylan Thomas, one explanation that I found was to:
'His “chains”... -
Jeff Lester replied to Tanya Gakhar
I have chosen SEA from Dylan Thomas Fern Hill:
Oh as I was young and easy in the mercy of his means,
Time held me green and dying
Though I sang in my chains like the sea.
What do you think it means? -
Jeff Lester made a comment
https://www.un.org/disarmament/poetryforpeace/poems/sahotagurj.html
Below is an extract from one of the entries:
ombing on Hiroshima and NagasakiHow can you do this?
Let people die for
no reason! Those innocent faces and innocent lives that you have taken
away
Their bodies burned,exposed to radiation, having loss of hair,cancer,and most of...
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Have had a first look at some of the various links including
Yosano Akiko and Lilian Moore (Firefly)
If You Catch a Firefly
BY LILIAN MOORE
If you catch a firefly
and keep it in a jar
You may find that
you have lost
A tiny star.If you let it go then,
back into the night,
You may see it
once again
Star bright. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
By The Sea
By Paul Steffan Jones AKA, 2019-09-25I listened to Paul's poetry at a local poetry and music evening plus had a chat to him after the performances.
So have chosen one of his poems as it has my chosen word ' sea' in the title. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
I was born and now live in Wales which is well known for it's culture and we still have Eisteddfods including the crowning of the bard.
Have worked a lot overseas but still mainly read in English, some Welsh, as my language skills are pathetic.
Will have to re-start my reading of poetry for this course but have over the past year or so I have attended some... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Interesting article but not everyone has the gift of writing as opposed to studying methods and techniques.
As I am now in part retirement I have been reading a lot more but not really poetry so this course will I hope make me do that. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
From the Creative Writing course I have had an introduction into the methods and techniques of writing plus of course creating ideas for a story and/or imagination/creation.
To make a poem is now becoming more interesting and to see how this course pans out.
I suppose that I have considered that writing poetry relates to more magical or romantic... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
I have chosen SEA but it could have been HILLS because I live in a coastal area but with hills coming down to the sea.
Also sea is in the last line of the favourite poem Fern Hill
'Though I sang in my chains like the sea'
I would like to further explore the meaning and try put my own interpretation on it. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Over the past few years I have taken more interest in Dylan Thomas and from that process Fern Hill is my favourite. But it took me a while to understand the way that it is meant to be read/flow after extensive listening to Dylan's own recital and also Richard Burton. And then there's Gunga Din and also Spike Milligan!
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Interesting article and have not come across the term ' fair use' before. But these digital days there is a lot of copying going on in most areas of life and business.
The temptation to use or copy in some way to achieve an objective particularly against a tight timeline is challenging. Generally modern society particularly our politicians fail to respect... -
Jeff Lester replied to David W
Good to have made a start after just finishing a short story (1000 words) for a competition with the theme "Loving the Earth". Will need short time to get into poetry and getting ideas/inspiration. Not sure that I fully understand all the contents of the Glossary!
When I was in grammar school I remember some study of Kipling and the poem about Gunga Din with... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
I am inspired by Dylan Thomas, particularly Fern Hill.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Just starting so need to try to catch-up!
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Hi I'm Jeff age 73 and have just finished the Creative Writing Course which I enjoyed and found to be a good but late start with writing. Thought that I would follow-on with a look at poetry writing but no previous experience.
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Jeff Lester replied to Jeff Lester
OK no problem and good luck!
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Jeff Lester replied to Jeff Lester
Yes 1,000 words seems to be a lot until you develop your plot and then you are suddenly struggling to reduce the length. Anyway good luck with yours.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Best wishes to all and particularly to those who made comments on my posts.
Stay safe! -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have enjoyed the course and hopefully will continue on the learning and creative process.
Would have liked to have received more reviews of my final story! -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have not received any further reviews but in the process of further editing/removing duplication and introduction of dialogue plus some further details as 1,000 limit allows.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Need to wait for more reviews.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Have now made my first edit and await any further reviews before trying to introduce some dialogue and possibly a bit more detail.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Making some further edits from my own review including a duplication which should have been found before submitting.
Need to introduce some dialogue. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have had only one review so far from Udokoghi but it was generally positive and wanting to know more about the characters.
Hoping to see more shortly.
Have read several stories to date and a very mixed bag of plots and characters but all had something to offer in differing ways. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
I think that my Karma story generally complies with the checklist apart from the inclusion of dialogue.
But have found one grammatical error and also one para is partly repeated regarding what was Glenda doing in the Western Ghats.
But it took me too long! -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have almost caught up with the group but still need to push on with my editing and submission then reviewing others.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Now need a final push as I was late starting and have rushed a bit through the last couple of sections.
Been driving my family mad with constant references/questions about my various stories and now the final one will get to them even more annoyed! -
Jeff Lester made a comment
No one likes to be criticised and from my background of writing construction claims the most annoying comment for me was "it lacks a punch".
Having said that my final story does lack some punch but not sure how I can fix that in the context of the story/characters. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Yes any criticism should be constructive. I regret some of my earlier reviews.
Of course the reviews by my wife and daughter of my various stories have caused some family scenes!
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Not sure how I may be able to use language in fresh or surprising ways, that's a bit of a challenge. Could go back to my idea of introducing Welsh and Hindi plus Malayalam words.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
My setting is ok but the other points are work in progress.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Not really my style and use of language but does sort of hold your attention and leaves you wanting more.
Have still not really understood what certain parts of American society is all about and now again we have black issues at the forefront again. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have made previous reference to "Snow Falling on Cedars" which for me contains sufficient detail of the location, fishing industry and the lives of Japanese community living a foreign country. But essentially its a love story.
Have also been reading short stories by Somerset Maugham and Alan Bennett with contracting styles and aspects of humour.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Sort of happy with my opening but needs an upfront link to the story-line and location. Middle section generally ok but a bit disjointed. Ending section is too short. So a lot to do.
My characters are not complex but "good"/"normal" type people, one of whom has made a positive impact on the lives of poor/downtrodden people living in the terrible caste system... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have gone back to my Two Nurses story. My current draft sort of flows but the various periods of the relationship of the Two Nurses is not balanced and all of a sudden it ends.
So it needs a lot of editing and input of more punchier narrative and also dialogue sections. Lot of work to do yet! -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have read a lot of crime novels over the past few years with my favourite I suppose being the Wallander series but also Kate Atkinson's character Jason Brodie.
For Wallander I like the description of his own flawed character sort of anti-hero type of detective/warts and all. Plus the description of the negative changes within Swedish society. Plots keep you... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
The message from all is read, read, read plus mix in the theatre and film. I have seen more films that read books but in my retirement that is changing. I also think that the influence of music is important, particularly when linked to a film with some best examples being Cinema Paradiso, Dr Zhivago and the Godfather and yes even Mary Poppins!
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Still trying to catch-up but have just finished a first complete draft of my Final Story with an ending. As for other its over the 1,000s word limit and I still want to include other bits. So a lot of editing to do!
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Thanks for your comments and will discuss further with some of our friends from India plus do some more research about Kerala.
The character from Wales in my final story is actually a Quaker but I do not want to specifically mention that.
Not sure how you are getting on with your final story but I am struggling with the ending for mine! -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Read more now than I am retired and during this course have tried to read a variety of things including short stories by Somerset Maugham but now back to some lighter relief with reading an Inspector Montalbano novel again.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Have found this week interesting but a bit disjointed for me as have been busy with other things relating to the easing of lockdown measures.
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Jeff Lester replied to Emma Dearing
OK thanks and will take a look this weekend.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
OK will try to develop using the recommended layout.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Have at least those number of words from my previous drafts so editing plus finding a meaningful ending are now the tasks this weekend.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Now doing further research into Hinduism particularly the attitude to women and marriage.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
I am going to try to go back to my Two Nurses who met in India story but now making the main character Vanita and her family. Will have to do some more research regarding the Hindu religion including loss of a husband, re-marriage and reincarnation etc.
The meeting of the Two Nurses, Vanita and Glenda (Welsh), will now be set in the Western Ghats of Kerala... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have now written some paras about Peter being disappointed that his son was not following a career in politics but not giving any serious consideration to his daughter based on the ongoing negative attitude to women and their place in society/the family.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Have used my Kerala Politician Peter to try and develop the story to include the latest task but not so sure about these techniques.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Comrade Peter is an intelligent and generally even tempered but not so when he has had too much whisky.
Whilst good looking he has developed a bit of a tummy and his hair is beginning to thin and go grey.
He is now in his 70s and beginning to experience the first signs of memory loss plus lack of concentration when preparing for political meetings.
The... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have thought about Comrade Peter more and added some more detail:
1. I have referred to his brother being a Doctor but now plan to make it his twin brother
2. Added his Daughter, Anju, who is involved in textiles and now natural dyes
3. His involvement in local clubs including Cochin Club
4. Further development of his Mother relating to my Two Nurses... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Physical/biological: Mid 70s; bit of a tummy from drinking too much whisky; eyesight deteriorating; start of memory loss; eye for the ladies
Psychological: well educated and read particularly in Marxism including Che Guevara; generally even tempered but not after drinking too much; relationship with wife now not so good
Interpersonal/cultural: good... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
I think that there is sufficient level of description of the characters to hold your interest but also leaving room to use your imagination. He and also his wife had quite a sad life. The use of dialogue hold your attention.
As per usual for my mid-life period I saw some of the films from the books but never read any of them! -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Yes an interesting short story with a good build-up to an expectation of a result and then a cold let-down. All kinds of tools used to express both physical and biological aspects.
Probably most of us can recall a similar incident(s) but the one that stuck in my mind was calling a girlfriend after an extended break. The conversation was going well until she... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Have to admit that I am finding such subjects, methods and related analysis to be too complicated and involved but will try to use some of them.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Still not too sure about methods but am trying to point my thought process in that direction.
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Thanks for your comments and plan to do some further reading about the Communist Party in Kerala. We were in Kerala during Feb when my daughter attended a Natural Dyes conference in Munnar. She also has a long time friend from Kolkata. One of our neighbours also did charity work in the Western Ghats in the late 1990s and was one of the characters in my Two...
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Yes but I thought that we were supposed to have been introducing conflict to our characters?
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OK thanks but now looking to introduce an element of conflict. So had thoughts on an involvement/turning a blind eye to an assault or worse during a previous election campaign or possibly an affair? Think that it would be going too far for him to come out?
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Peter was preparing for the next meeting of the Communist Party in Kochi but not getting anywhere with his new plans for tackling ongoing social issues in Kerala and more particularly the environment. His son was involved in organic farming near Munnar and was always pressing him to do more for the environment in Kerala.
Perhaps another glass of whisky might... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
I have decided on a new character whose father was part of the large Tamil labour force who went to work in the rubber plantations in Malaya in the early 20th century. His father was involved in fighting the Japanese in WW2 and then became a member of the Malayan Communist Party and fought the British after the Japanese were defeated. He develops...
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Have started thinking about a new character and have a few ideas some relating to my working overseas including a District Officer in Malaya, a sportsman with a drink problem, a Tamil rubber tapper, a QC who specialised in representing difficult cases/criminals and son on. But I have not yet fully developed some of the stories/characters that I started on some...
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Like to think that I have an open mind but not sure if characters will ever jump up on my shoulder!
So far my characters have been "mixed" based on friends/acquaintances, films, books and genealogy type research. Sometimes for me reading the poem or book follows seeing the film, some examples being Gunga Din and Snow Falling on Cedars. Can make for some... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
I terms of developing characters and based on Jo's review I have so far added the following to my La Paz story:
During the period of Military rule in Bolivia he had advised the secret police on methods of torture based on his experience with the SS.
His hatred of gypsies had been extended in Bolivia to the indigenous tribes and he tried as much as possible... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
My last story has started me on the process of new character development rather than using memories of previous situations and people. Need to progress that process this week.
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Not part of this course but I have now finished my travel story (500 words) for National Geographic UK. As per normal I had to do a lot of editing to get it within the 500 word limit!
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Again a very interesting week but have to admit that I have struggled with the application methods used including conflict.
But did try to create something new with my La Paz based ex Nazi story. It was partly based on my working in Bolivia in the late 90s plus knowledge and further research regarding the Nazis who escaped to South America but were... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
The review from Jo was very acceptable and constructive in particular the need for more details of Franz/Luis. Will take on board.
Other reviews awaited.
Have to admit that my comments on various stories were rather limited and too short. So apologies and will try to find some time to have another go but I did struggle with understanding/analysing the method... -
Yes ok sorry
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Very interesting and so far I have used a bit of a mixture of methods but will now re-consider all of them.
Now trying to read extracts from various books to try to analysis the way of writing of each author, including Somerset Maugham short stories. -
Jeff Lester made a comment
I have had I consider an interesting life so far with the main ingredient being overseas travel and work. A friend told my wife that " you will never be board".
No real self influence so far in my characters and plots other than the travel aspect. But there is a lot of interesting material in my own life story so far which could be developed into new...
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Jeff Lester made a comment
Have looked through various comments and have to admit that I am also struggling with challenging my characters in this particular way.
Have introduced Vanita's husband Aja into my Two Nurses story whose day to day work brings him into direct conflict with what Glenda is trying to achieve in the poor villages.
Aja's character could be developed around the... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
I am struggling with challenging my current characters!
Vanita's husband, Aja, worked for the District Forestry Authority and covered the area where Glenda was working within the indigenous tribal villages.
There had longstanding and ongoing conflicts with the DFA who tried to bully the poor villagers in complying with their plans.
Whilst Aja was not an... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
1. The black rugby player who is concealing the fact that he is gay
2. The local councillor, pillar of the community, who watches hardcore porn at night
3. The MP who does his job well in his constituency but is a liar - most current Conservatives
4. The good mother who beats her children
5. The jazz singer who wanted to be a classical pianist - Nina Simone -
Jeff Lester made a comment
In respect of the video:
1. The Chinese lady at the computer who could be looking at a list of clients for her nighttime job of prostitution.
2. The Asian lady with the stolen keys who was making a list as a plan to commit a burglary
3. People at the bus stop or sitting on the bus who could be on their way to committing a murder -
Jeff Lester made a comment
In respect of the video:
1. The Chinese lady at the computer who could be looking at a list of clients for her nighttime job of prostitution.
2. The Asian lady with the stolen keys who was making a list as a plan to commit a burglary
3. People at the bus stop or sitting on the bus who could be on their way to commit a murder -
Jeff Lester made a comment
Interesting but surely the majority of the world population are flat characters and not everyone can be the life and soul of the party!
That having been said one of my favourite characters is Inspector Montalbano and he is certainly not flat. One other is Tony Soprano from the TV series the Sopranos who is a totally screwed up character torn between a good... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
As previous comments I am not sure whether I can introduce conflict etc. into my current stories?
Already have some ideas/prepared a draft for my Two Nurses story in that Vanita's husband could be a Forestry Officer and at conflict with the poor villagers that Glenda is helping to develop with organic farming methods. This could cause a dilemma in their... -
Jeff Lester made a comment
So far my various draft stories have been sort of based on real travel experiences and characters. Have not yet developed something from basic/first principles but will try to give it a go over the remaining part of the course.
