Facebook Friends

Do you have lots of friends on Facebook? If you do, research in the US is suggesting that it may be an indication of how narcissistic you are. It seems Narcissistic Personality people have more friends on Facebook, tag themselves more often and update their newsfeeds more regularly, respond more aggressively to derogatory wall comments made about them and change their profile pictures more often. They also claim that young people are obsessed with self-image and shallow friendships,

This isn’t the first time psychology studies have linked Facebook and narcissism, but it is some of the first evidence of two "socially disruptive" elements of narcissism – grandiose exhibitionism (GE) and entitlement/exploitativeness (EE).

GE includes ''self-absorption, vanity, superiority, and exhibitionistic tendencies" and people who score high on this aspect of narcissism need to be constantly at the centre of attention. They often say shocking things and inappropriately self-disclose because they cannot stand to be ignored or waste a chance of self-promotion.

The EE aspect includes "a sense of deserving respect and a willingness to manipulate and take advantage of others".

Unfortunately, the greater the number of friends on Facebook, the higher someone scored on aspects of GE.

Carol Craig, a social scientist and chief executive of the Centre for Confidence and Well-being, said young people in Britain were becoming increasingly narcissistic and Facebook provided a platform for the disorder.

Another researcher added a touch of reassurance by adding it was difficult to be certain whether individual differences in narcissism led to certain patterns of Facebook behaviour, or whether patterns of Facebook behaviour led to individual differences in narcissism.

It is amazing these days what psychologists actually do research, and we’d all better beware of adding friend after friend to our Facebook pages. Who knows what it might say about us to these tricky psychologists? I don’t know how many friends I have. Must remember to check next time I’m over there.

On a more normal note, our little pond has had frogspawn in it for a couple of weeks now. I have a photograph of three frogs clutched together in a sort of orgiastic ball, but am not sure how well it (they?) will show up on screen. Could be a trifle off-putting for some!

Spring is here

Spring has arrived. How do I know? Because three days ago, under bright blue skies and warm sunshine, we had five full-grown frogs in our tiny garden pond – having an orgy. Their contented croaking echoed around the garden all day. Result? Patches of frogspawn next in the murky water next day. There’s also a drake and two ducks on the castle pond and he doesn’t let them more than a yard away from him. Looks like there’ll be more ducklings this year. The trees flourish buds and tiny frills of green about to unfurl. The grass is growing again. There’s no doubt about it – Spring is here.

Rain, rain and more rain

We drove to Rothbury yesterday to meet family, and hoped for good weather.

Why was I not surprised to find drowned landscapes and misty hillsides? Because that seems to be all this summer has to offer. This is a sweep of the

view from the car as we drove north, looking west. Not very appealing, is it? Yet on a sunny day it looks wonderful. We had thunderstorms and torrential rain this afternoon. The land is already sodden, the river is high, and when the water comes down from Alston and Kielder there may well be flooding along the Tyne.

My garden is waterlogged. The lawn squelches when I walk on it. The water ran down the slope and flooded the patio to the extent that Mr Frog was flushed out of his chosen patch of garden. I took the pic through the window. As soon as I opened the glass door, he calmly removed himself to the other side of the

fence where I couldn't see him. Camera shy, obviously.

All the frogspawn we had in February has gone, some eaten by magpies no doubt, but we have lots of tiny little frogs, about the size of my thumb nail, hopping about.
The one this afternon was a bruiser by comparison, fully four inches from head to rump. I hope all the little ones survived. There are plenty of slugs and snails for them to eat.

All went well

Still not a perfect picture, but we've not had any real sun for days. Our old stone sink is now home to many free-swimming tadpoles. I seem to remember from school days that big tadpoles eat little tadpoles which seems sad. This lot don't seem to have any natural predators, so we'll just have to see what happens.

We've had a hectic few days with family but all went smoothly and we've now waved them off to Barcelona. Tomorrow we set off for Cornwall for a day or two and we're hoping for good weather. The forecast for tomorrow is rain all the way down the country - typical. Let's hope we can dodge the showers!

I finished the second draft of my wip. Took out all the unnecessary bits even if I loved them to make room for more drama at the end. Now I think I only need to fiffle with the last chapter, unless my cp takes me to task!

Frogspawn, Oz, Marks & Spencer, M&B

You'll all be happy to know the taddies are swimming free now but I'll wait until tomorrow for a photograph as the sun is not shining and it wouldn't be a good pic. I was going to give you another picture, but blogger seems to be unwilling to participate in the exercise right now, so all things seem to point to tomorrow.

We've had a busy few days with family visiting from Oz and I have to confess I am retail-therapied out! My daughter-in-law is as bright and breezy as ever after a day and a half's shopping whereas I am wilting badly, but I'm happy knowing that d-i-l got what she wanted and still loves Marks & Spencer. Oz is one place where M&S have yet to take over, and there seems to be no equivalent - so if any M&S managers are reading this - hey guys - you'd have quite a following in Sydney!

I sent off a partial for HD to M&B on the 16th, and received acknowledgment today. They're always very good at swift acknowledgements, but they still have my Viking story...and the months are clocking up. Jan 07 for the partial, August sent in the full ms, and still waiting. Perhaps I'd better enquire again.

It's cold outside

No picture of the frogspawn as it is too cold and dismal, but the taddies are starting to break free. One or two are out and about on their own. I hope they survive. I am longing for warm weather, not so I can rush out and photograph them, but just simply to be out and about in the garden and not freezing to death while I'm doing it. I have some sweet peas to plant out any day soon.

Second draft of my wip going apace, and WsB is on the last chapter with the critique group. I've had my eye off the writing ball this last week because I've done a little promoting for DARK POOL on 14 different groups. Let's hope it does some good.

Cornwall and cream teas

Amazing what 8 days can do. It won't be long now. And so far, our tadpoles seem predator free.

I am now the proud owner of Swain's Creating Characters. I'll start reading tonight. (I've been editing and honing the first three chapters of my wip in the hope that I'll get it sent off today, but I'm still not through with Chapter 3, so it will be Monday. However, I console myself with the thought that it will be great when it's done. Ha Ha. )

'What matters is he cares about it.' Those are words taken from chapter One and you'd think it wouldn't be necessary to say that. Every major character has to care about something or else there would be no story. But I'm sure I'll find out a lot more as I delve into the book, and probably find things I never considered. I won't have much time for writing over the rest of the month as the social side of things takes over. Son number one returns from Oz for a holiday and immediately after that dh and I are off to Cornwall for a few days as I think it is high time he got to know Cornwall. Fancy reaching the age of ----- and never having been to Cornwall! I expect I'll find it has changed a good deal since I spent a series of holidays there in the sixties...will they still have scrumpy and cream teas? Will the Old Inn in Mullion still be there, and the Admiral Benbow in Penzance?

Frogspawn, lean-tos and North Shields

How things change and grow! Just look at those little tails forming! The sun wasn't shining when I took the pic, so perhaps I'll get a better one tomorrow.



As well as having a study all to myself I now have a lean-to greenhouse tucked against the side of the house. It catches the sun most of the day and though it was hell to put up (they said erection was a two man job*, but hey - you needed as many hands as an octopus!) now it is up and correctly anchored it is an amazing little room for all things gardening. I might become a "shedder" and take the box of red wine and a book with me, though I'm not sure true shedders would have me. Tomorrow I'm going to plant seed for coriander, basil and lettuce. Tomato plants on Friday. Whey-hey!



*No sniggers, please. I can't be bothered to think up another way of saying it.



My wonderful critique partners have given me some great advice on my wip, so I have a good day's work tomorrow to sort things out. I do so want to get a partial off by Saturday, but I suppose - sigh - it is better to take an extra week and get it right. Might pay off in the end.




This is me down at the ferry landing stage at North Shields. Remember you can click on the pic to see a larger version.
The background is interesting, if not yours truly.