Blog: Mel's Muse

The Basic Rules Of English Grammar

I came across the following rules of English grammar and, since no one seems to know where they originated, am reproducing them here for the benefit of writers and aspiring authors.

I’m not sure that I agree with all of them. How about you? Leave a comment at the end if you have anything...

Posted at 18:20pm on 3rd August 2009

Loss And Bereavement Poetry: Weep For A While

IF YOU WISH TO USE THE POEM BELOW FOR A FUNERAL OR THANKSGIVING SERVICE, OR FOR ANY OTHER NON-COMMERCIAL EVENT, PLEASE SEE THE FREE REPRINT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS ARTICLE.

The poem about loss and bereavement that follows came to me within an hour. I am not a poet! From time to...

Posted at 20:36pm on 29th July 2009

8 Comments

Using Visual Aids In Presentations: Tips On How To Prepare For A Keynote Address

I began a series, recently, with a list of five practical ways to overcome a fear of speaking in public. The first item: Public speaking ideas: how they may be found and categorised, and the way in which they might be arranged to become a coherent talk, formed the basis of that post. I...

Posted at 17:47pm on 27th July 2009

Daughter Catches Stepfather Out: Adolescent Brains Wired Differently

Dear Mel,

I got married again, about six months ago, to a lovely man who’s very good to me, and is keen to know everything about becoming a stepfather. The trouble is, he has no children and he doesn’t seem to know how to cope with my teenage daughter, who lives with us. He complains...

Posted at 14:33pm on 25th July 2009

2nd Blog: Polly, Sean & Alex

Tday we are going to gramas, polly 4 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 4 days

Go in g to cockington park sean 4 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 4 days (We are twins)

Down in Devon with grandma, my cousins have woken me up so im knackered. Alex 12 years, 11months, and 2...

Posted at 09:37am on 23rd July 2009

Free Psychometric Profiling Switch On As The Power Of Positive Thinking Is Unplugged

The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale, has electrified society for over half a century as the means of feeling valued and attaining success in life. Now, it appears, to have been unplugged – or at least to have suffered power failure and fizzled out! Despite an epidemic of positive thinking for the last...

Posted at 09:53am on 22nd July 2009

3 Comments

A Fear Of Speaking In Public: Five Practical Ways To Overcome It

You’ve been asked to do some public speaking for the Gardening Club, or Mums & Toddlers and frankly, you’re terrified. In fact your fear of speaking in public is enough to make you want to hang up your trowel and green wellies forever. And as for mums and toddlers, well your two-year-old is going...

Posted at 16:47pm on 17th July 2009

A Blog By Polly & Sean, Aged 4 Years, 11 Months, 2 Weeks And 2 Days

My daughter, a teacher, told me that children are now being encouraged to blog and would I please get her two to do so. Polly loves reading and writing; Sean loves typing on a keyboard. Here is the result of their first blog which tells the story of the play they put on for...

Posted at 17:20pm on 14th July 2009

6 Comments

Public Speaking As A Means To Enlarge My Vision: Part 2 - Receiving

I wrote, last week, about public speaking as being an act of investing in people, and suggested that it had a three dimensional nature: I give; I receive; I am filled. Having put in the effort to find out something about your audience, assembled your public speaking ideas and arranged them into a coherent...

Posted at 17:52pm on 13th July 2009

2 Comments

Do False Expectations Of Marriage Cause Stepfamily Problems?

What follows is an excerpt from the soon to be published revised and updated edition of Mel's book, Stepfamilies.

It is a false premise to expect that any marriage can ever answer all of our needs. To think otherwise is a totally unrealistic ideal which is doomed to disappointment. And this, perhaps, is one of the...

Posted at 17:51pm on 8th July 2009

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