Hi Jana,

I just joined crimespace, too. How'd you hear about it? I see you like to read Jasper Fforde. I enjoy him, too! Your books sound great. Interesting.

Your single malt might be even cheaper if you travelled northwards from London. We have multiple distilleries - closest are Morangie and Balblair. Far more interesting than your traditional pub crawl. No smog here though, just a lot of spooky mist. Enjoy Crimespace.

The malt can be cheaper - depends if it is "legal" or not - the UK government take a huge chunk in tax. Edinburgh, nice city, but way south of our location. If you want good old fashioned hospitality - go further. You won't need a navigator - there are too few roads up here.

Ounces? Wow, now you are talking old money. When you get to Scotland - just ask for a dram. You'll confuse them by asking for an ounce or probably risk a "European" fine, we are supposedly not using imperial measures. Give me pounds and gallons any day.
Yes, I started keeping sheep 6 years ago - to help keep the grass down - however, as I soon learned, 6 sheep were not enough, so, when the neighbours gave me a Suffolk tup, I went into sheep production - and the learning curve rocketed. Now up to 34 breeding ewes and have 2 tups. I do not recommend anyone with a delicate stomach go into lambing - however, they do taste good.

Now there is a thought, Sheep in Atlanta, that would be novel. But, yeah, getting up every 2 hours was the norm, until this year - when, due to fox problems (first time ever) I was out all night with a torch running round like an idiot. I think this is the only time I have regretted leaving my nice cushy life... well, just a bit anyway.

Trust me, I am not writing this at 9.35 am - more like almost 1am. A shot - how very American, which, as you probably speak with a US accent would have been perfectly understandable - fool them by asking for a dram next time.

My ewes were Cheviots - probably a stupid cross to do as a beginner - the suffolk lambs are huge. Yup, I had triplets once and don't want them again as the third had to be bottle fed - that's my little Rosie. She has since had Baby Rosie and this year had Baby Baby Rosie - her mum and grandma are still with me as well.

I don't like Suffolks - daft, dopey and pretty stupid really. I swopped Noel the Suffolk tup for James a Cheviot a couple of years back - far fitter lambs, faster of their feet.

I am thankful I only have to worry about foxes, we don't have coyotes. There are no wild dogs round here, unless you count the newly acquired part-trained sheep dog. I am honing my whistle skills!

I bow to your superior knowledge of the working collie - any tips - I'll gladly accept. Mac (he's the dog) and I are "learning together". He is 4 years old - way late to be learning, but he tries real hard. He was given to me a year ago, supposedly "trained" - read: shouted and sworn at more like. He is extremely keen and fast - at times, too fast for me. I tried the "rope" attachment trick to control him - that left me flat on my back being dragged up the field. I have finally figured out, that I have to stand in the right place too - so we are beginning to make headway now.

I got a whistle - a half moon, but nearly swallowed that, so got an "A" whistle in its place - this has a string attached so means I am less likely to swallow - so far, I can make only one sound, but hey, I'm learning and the dog is patient...

What is the weather like - hm, not the usual, that's for sure. We have had extremely high winds over last few days, a little sleet and a light scattering of snow on the higher "hills". However, in the main, exceptionally wet - so wet, that I went and gave the hogs a "top up" - which is early. Some mists stay low in the early part of the day as well - but I don't mind that - adds to the quiet. Been an odd year all round - wet in Jan/Feb, then we had a very early summer in march/april, then back to horrendous wet again - never had a year like it - give me snow any day.

I did work the dogs, but my husband did the majority of the training. He'd use a whistle once he got used to it, but mostly voice commands. We were blessed with a dog that just seemed to be born to the work. He started with her very early, which is probably why we had fewer problems. However, if Mac is keen, that's a good portion of it. He just needs to learn to rein in that enthusiasm a bit. They are a joy to watch, even if they're still learning. Kerry (our dog) tried to herd anything that moved, including cats. No success there, of course, but her mother herded pigs, of all things. I thought the breeder was pulling a fast one on me until I picked up the puppy and smelled hogs x 10. I figured if Kerry's dam could herd swine, the puppy would be great. She was. Her sons, however, were daft as a post. Never did figure that one out.

Most of it is just persistence and working them regularly. The rest I suspect is pure luck.

I noted the weather was a bit "off" when we were in England. The trees were turning colors later than usual. Ours is odd, as well. Right now we're in a drought and very likely to stay that way. The trees just started to seriously change in the last ten days while northern NY is roughly on the same schedule. That never happens. We're too far south for that sorta thing.

I like the fog in the morning. We don't get it very often and the effect is ruined in the city. One of these days we'll retire out into the country again, but this time with running water and central heat of some sort. That sorta thing is fine when you're younger, but not now.

what a great page! fascinating stuff. I'm also interested in Ripperology and time travel. i'll have to check into your series. whitechapel is so changed--except or the site of the Chapman murder I believe--although the streets have changed, there is still a sense of how the killer must have stepped away into the shadows. because there is a main street so nearby. that was a busy thoroughfare in the Ripper's day. by the way, which suspect do you think did it?!!

I used to favor Pruitt, but I came to think that it had to be someone local as well. someone who was invisible who lived in the heart of Whitechapel--a person right under their noses! I agree with you. I did read Cornwell's book which favors the artist, Sickert as the killer but I think it's pretty far fetched.

Born in Forest Gate, schooled in Stratford and lived in East Ham, worked in Aldgate. Spent the first 24 years of my life in East London before moving out of the city to Kent. Return now for family visits. were your visitss related to a novel you are writing?

Lordy, over those 24 years you saw a lot of changes in the East End. I genre-blend historical mystery with SF&F and my time traveling heroine spends a great deal of her time in the East End and the Docklands during the time of the Ripper murders. I'm a fanatic for detail, so I trudge around those areas as often as possible, trying to separate the 21st century from the 19th. Still, I'm a Yank and I screw up every now and then. I like to think I gave it my best shot. Besides, Late Victorian England was just so full of plots and intrigues....

I've motored around Kent, going in circles on one occasion as naughty English school boys (according to the locals) had mussed with the road signs. There are worse places to get lost.

Hi Jana,

Nice to find another Ripper 'fan'. My latest novel 'A Study in Red - The Secret Journal of Jack the Ripper' has just been released by Double Dragon Publishing, in e-book first with paperback coming later this month. Please come visit me at www.freewebs.com/astudyinred or www.freewebs.com/brianlp

I've studied the ripper murderrs for over 35 years and like you I love the Victorian era.

Regards

Brian

Hi Jana,
Yes, I love the 19th century, and mnay of my friends insist that I was 'born out od time' and should have been around in that era. Maybe they're right. I've made a long study of the Ripper murders, but funnily enough, the suspect I used to base my own Ripper on for the novel wasn't actually the person I truly believe to have been the killer. It's just that I needed a more flamboyant character for the fictional work! Hope to hear more from you.

Best regards

Brian

Excuse typos in my previous message. Am just out of bed and still half asleep, lol

Brian

Hope to meet you in Chicago. Have one of your books will you have more there? Are you on any panels?

So you were able to use the implied presence of the Ripper in the background as a source of overhanging malevolence running in the background of your plot? Clever tactic.
Brian

Jana, during my research for 'A Study in Red' I contacted the police in Scotland for some historical background, as I set part of my novel in Edinburgh. I was surprised to learn that the city of Edinburgh had a fully organised and functioning police force a quarter of a century before London. I thought you might be interested in that small piece of histroical trivia.

Brian

I didn't realize that. I wonder if it was because of the English view that an organized police force was, in essence, designed to spy on the citizenry. They were quite touchy about that when Robert Peel started the early version of the Met Police.

Hola Jana -- will be seeing you soon at Love is Murder. We're on a pane together, right? If not, we'll start one in the bar. It is a fact that police agencies in America were created to oversee and protect businesses and keep the peace for the well to do. Has much changed? You can read about the Chicago version in City for Ransom, Shadows in Whtie City, and City of the Absent with Inspector Alastair Ransom. Of course, Jana, you've read the first books but City of the Absent refers to the voters in the cemeteries.

Rob

Jana,

Thought you might like to see the video trailer for my ripper novel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuKKNPbzIF8

Regards

Brian

Hey, how do I add you as a friend? Give me a little he'p here, wud ya? I'm not too tech.
was great to see you at Love is Murder, and man, I was excited to win the Lovey for Hystery-mytery!

Rob

I just sent a friend request. Maybe that will help. I'm about as bad with the tech stuff. And the Lovey! Wow! I was going nuts in the back of the room when they called your named. Well done, sir!

Nice to meet you and love your avatar.